Sheng Wei

Sheng Wei is a Vice President in the Real Estate Department based in the London Office. He works in the investment management team covering real estate in Europe, with a focus on private equity real estate investments in the data centre and logistics sectors. 

In his free time, Sheng Wei enjoys taking long walks in the English countryside with his wife and their dog. 

Why did you decide to join GIC?

The Global Financial Crisis unfolded during my junior college years, which deepened my already fledging interest in economics, finance, and capital allocation. I remember spending hours every day glued to the television, watching bank after bank fail. While unfortunate, the crisis was really fascinating to me, and it solidified my desire to pursue a career in finance.  

At that time, we had a family friend who worked at GIC, and I was intrigued by the breath and dynamism of organisation. I applied for the Scholarship Programme and was fortunate enough to be accepted.  

What does your typical workday look like?

I spend the first hour of my day sifting through emails and reading up on industry news. The rest of the workday depends on whether I am working on a live deal. If not, the rest of the day typically involves a combination of meetings with counterparties to discuss investment ideas and potential acquisitions, analysing and screening potential acquisitions, and reviewing strategic asset management initiatives within our existing portfolio.  

However, if I am working on a live deal, a large part of my day revolves around it. This involves debating the investment merits of the deal internally and building up the investment case, writing up investment papers for our investment committee, site visits, coordinating due diligence processes for the investment, and negotiating joint venture or sale terms.  

What do you like most about working here?

One of the most rewarding aspects of working at GIC is the access we get to key risk takers in the industry. As a GIC employee, you get a front-row seat to the largest and most interesting deals, and everyone is willing to engage you because they value GIC’s brand of long-term capital and expertise.  

Working on some of the largest real estate deals is truly an enriching experience, knowing that the work we do will have a lasting impact on future generations. It is a privilege to be part of a team that is committed to making a positive impact in the industry. 

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

I am grateful to have been accepted into the GIC Scholarship Programme, which led to my participation in the GIC Professionals Programme upon graduation.  

At GIC, Learning & Development is structured and well-organized. Our cohort of fresh graduates underwent 101 finance courses to equip us with fundamental finance skills, enabling us to better leverage the next phase of on-the-job learning. We also had the opportunity to rotate through various departments, gaining exposure and building our network before settling into our permanent roles.   

As I progress in my career, I really appreciate the readily available resources for continual learning at GIC. In fact, we have a dedicated department (GIC School) solely focused on development and training. It is a privilege to be part of an organization that invests in its employees and is committed to their growth and development.  

What you should know before joining GIC

I highly recommend taking the time to go through our annual report. It provides a comprehensive overview of our company and portfolio and offers valuable insights into what we are focused on. You will gain a better understanding of our investment philosophy, strategy, and performance. It is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning more about GIC and our approach to investing.