Bao Jia is a Vice President in the Infrastructure department where she originates and executes investments via private equity, structured credit solutions, and infrastructure funds.
Outside of the office, Bao Jia brings an adventurous spirit to a range of interests, from long-distance running and hiking, to cooking and oil painting. She also serves as a mathematics tutor at the Singapore Prisons School.
Why did you decide to join GIC?
My path to GIC was less conventional. I studied Economics and Energy Systems in China and the US on the Singapore President’s Scholarship and started my career in the Singapore Government and Multilateral Banks before moving into private equity.
GIC’s role as a steward of national reserves gives our work a gravity and provides a long-term discipline that I deeply appreciate. What resonated with me was the firm’s commitment to being intellectually honest, understated, and anchored in integrity — qualities that can serve as a commercial edge in private equity. This environment allows me to pursue my passion for understanding businesses that underpin economies and tangibly better lives, while doing my part for Singapore’s future.
What does your typical workday look like?
I manage a diverse portfolio across different stages of the deal cycle. Hence the tasks for each investment would vary: at the origination stage, the focus would be to identify high-conviction opportunities; in execution, we would be deep-diving into due diligence materials and technical analysis. As we move towards closing a deal, the priority shifts to documentation and ensuring alignment with management and shareholders, while asset management involves ensuring our portfolio companies are tracking against their strategic objectives.
While the granular details of a transaction could be all-consuming, I stay abreast of the macro picture by consistently dedicating time to sift through the news. This constant calibration ensures my analysis remains grounded in the operational realities of the businesses we back.
What do you like most about working here?
Working at GIC offers a vantage point that is difficult to find elsewhere. I am constantly enriched by the insights of our team of diverse individuals and market reflections of accomplished industry leaders in our ecosystem. These help me get honest views of businesses, management individuals, and the macro-outlook.
A pervasive ownership mentality throughout GIC also enables better execution of deals as colleagues across departments – finance, tax, legal, deal team – work through complex deal structures together while ensuring a high standard of thoroughness and a focus on commercial returns.
What I value most, however, is the blend of professionalism, intellectual depth, and genuine human connection. GIC attracts people who are as generous with their insights as they are sharp in their thinking. It has reminded me that beyond the technicalities of a deal, there is always an opportunity to learn from and support the broader community we serve.
How would you describe the learning & development culture at GIC?
We are constantly trying to build and maintain a high level of trust within our team, and across departments, to facilitate an environment of openness, where we can candidly debate investment risks and challenge our assumptions. This is paired with active senior mentorship, that then provides a steep but rewarding path toward becoming a more thoughtful investor.
What you should know before joining GIC
While technical proficiency is essential and a given, the deeper growth comes from having humility to pivot when ground truths shift and having the clarity of thought to communicate complex ideas in a simple manner. If you value ownership and approach work with an open mind and resilience, GIC provides an environment where you can grow as an investor and an individual.