“We are all a part of every person we have ever met,” English Poet Laureate Lord Tennyson wrote that 200 years ago. It remains profoundly relevant even today.
I had the privilege of meeting with Mr. Seow Kee Gan at a Lunch & Learn session organized by QED on March 25, 2025. A distinguished leader, Mr. Gan—former Chair & Managing Director of ExxonMobil Asia-Pacific—shared invaluable insights with over 40+ C-suite executives.
“Don’t be the smartest person in the room, no matter your title,” he advised. “If you do, you’ll never draw out the smartest ideas from the truly brilliant people around you.”
Mr. Gan is currently Chair of GlobalConnect@SBF and Deputy Chair of SingaporeLNG Corp. He was awarded the Singapore Public Service Medal in 2023, the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award by NUS in 2018 and the Medal of Commendation (Gold) by NTUC in 2017.
He emphasized the importance of embracing change as a leader: “Think of your company as a cruise liner—steering it requires experimentation and adaptability. Don’t be afraid to try something different, fail, learn, and start again.”
Mr. Gan also serves on the board of SG Enable, the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore. He co-chaired the Singapore Enabling Master Plan 2030. The session concluded with a discussion on SG Enable’s vital work, led by CEO Ms. Lee May Gee.
The session proved another of Lord Tennyson’s proverbs: “Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.” Thanks for the invite, Ryan Lim, MSID, Natasha Zhao, Ramakrishna Purushotaman.