Luxasia is not just a pretty face, as founder patrick chong sets the wheels in motion for a transformative change inside out.
If a book can be a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s self, then the apps on the first page of a smartphone is probably telling of its owner’s personality too.
As one would expect of a chief executive’s device, there are the usual app suspects of news agencies, e-mail, calendar and the stock exchange on Patrick Chong’s iPhone 6. But a closer inspection discloses a deep appetite for connectivity. There are six messaging apps, including Wechat, Skype, Line and Tango (Whatsapp has its special place in the bottom dock). Whereas most business leaders stay away from social media citing privacy concerns, the head honcho of Luxasia has Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin. Since he’s in the retail business, apps like Aveda (which Luxasia distributes), courier service Zyllem and code scanner QR Reader help to keep him in the know. Apps are also categorised in folders, which are titled with emoticons such as the newspaper for news apps, a telephone for messaging apps and an aeroplane for travel apps.
His daughter, Sabrina, says: “He’s always the one who goes, why are you not using this app or that? Check out this new thing I have on my phone.”
Chong tells The Peak: “I’m not a digital native. I’m curious and I want to know as much about technology as I can.” He has no qualms letting on that he downloaded a popular dating app “just to see what the fuss was about”. The day before this interview, he was tinkering with Golfshot, which would supposedly help him with his handicap of 23.
“He’s the early adopter, in tech terms,” son Alwyn, who prefers to wait for updated versions, chimes in. Chong was the one who introduced traffic and navigation app Waze to his children.
Chong says: “I’m a big fan of tech and what it can do. Technology is an enabler. It can make life so much more fun and efficient.”
This story is from the August 2016 edition of The PEAK Singapore.
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This story is from the August 2016 edition of The PEAK Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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