Bryan

Bryan is an Assistant Vice President in the Finance and Accounting team in the Investment Services Private Markets Department with a portfolio focus on the Real Estate Strategy in the North America. On a day-to-day basis, he works closely with the Real Estate Investment Teams to provide finance expertise on deal closings and existing investments throughout their lifecycle. 

Outside of work, his time revolves a lot around his two Shetland Sheepdogs. On top of the daily responsibilities of meeting their basic needs, Bryan has recently started training them for dog agility courses and hopes to send them for competitions one day. 

Why did you decide to join GIC?

I recalled asking my then manager at the firm where I was interning at for his thoughts and opinions on GIC after receiving an offer to join the firm. His immediate response was that it was a fantastic opportunity and that the people in GIC were the cream of the crop in the industry. That response stuck with me strongly, and ever since that day, there was an expectation buildup of GIC being an incredibly high performing organisation. 

The opportunity to join a firm with a unique purpose was one that was hard to pass up. As a Singaporean, being able to be directly involved in safeguarding our national reserves was a huge draw for me. In addition, the size and scale of what GIC does globally was an attractive proposition as that meant getting excellent exposure and opportunities that few other firms could offer. 

What does your typical workday look like?

My workday is dynamic and varies daily in terms of the work required during different periods. During periods where there are upcoming deal closings, the bulk of my time is spent coordinating funding mechanisms with both external and internal stakeholders. For quarter and year end periods, the focus would then shift towards reporting related work.  

There are, however, two things that I observe religiously at work every day – a cup of coffee the moment I get to the office, and another cup right after lunch.  

What do you like most about working here?

I love that excellence is always a common theme in everything that we do. We are constantly challenging the status quo and pushing ourselves to be better. This creates constant opportunities where I can step in and help to propose changes that will impact how things are being done. Being in a room full of people who are motivated and driven has been one of the most fulfilling parts of working in GIC. There is always something new to pick up and someone new to learn from every single day.  

How would you describe the learning & development culture at GIC?

I joined GIC through the Graduate Professionals Program back in 2019. Through the programme, I have had a chance to rotate to various business lines. The multiple rotations gave me great in-depth exposure into the work that these teams do and was also a terrific opportunity to network and interact with individuals from across the firm. Upon returning to my home department, I also had the chance to rotate within various teams in the department, allowing me to see how it functioned from various angles.  

In 2022, I moved from the Singapore Office to the New York office to take on a new role in supporting the Real Estate Investments Team in Americas. Coming from the Headquarters in Singapore where I have lived and worked all my life, the transition to work in a regional office halfway across the world has been an immensely enriching experience for me both professionally and personally. 

As I reflect on my journey in the firm, GIC has been that high performing organisation that I had built up in my head prior to joining. Teams are constantly looking for ways to improve, people are smart, driven, and respectful and the firm is committed to everyone’s growth. 

What you should know before joining GIC

Strap in and buckle up because you are in for a ride. The past few years that I have spent in GIC have been jammed packed with incredible learning opportunities. If you are hungry, eager, and proactive, I am certain that this will also be your experience here at GIC.