“They prepared me for 13 years and then sent me to India,” David Lau, General Manager of Singapore Airlines (SIA) in India, says philosophically. A Malaysian national, Lau is no stranger to the challenges and opportunities of working in a developing country.

He’s heading the India operations of the airline at an interesting juncture in its history. Recently, SIA became the first carrier to operate the Airbus 380 jumbo jet out of India. The carrier is also preparing the groundwork to establish a new airline with the Tata Group.

In a free wheeling chat with Business Line , Lau talks about how he and his family feel enriched by the India experience. Edited excerpts:

You have been in India for over six months now. Could you describe your experience in a nutshell?

The diversity of India really strikes me. The culture is different in every state and it’s a totally different way of life. It’s both a challenge and an opportunity, as there is no one way of doing business or dealing with people. Something that works in Mumbai may not work in Chennai or Kochi. So, India allows the expatriate to use his creative side.

I know that many expatriates wish to work in a market which is predictable and set in its ways of conducting business. I think that there is nothing more exciting than finding an innovative solution to indigenous market needs. Predictability ensures little scope for growth, for adding value, or going for that quantum leap.

On a separate note, I would say the vibrant colours of India really stand out for me.

What are the main challenges for an expat CEO in India, on both the professional and personal front?

An expatriate must be ready to adapt. I have lived in seven countries and each country has its own set of challenges. The important thing is to be prepared, talk to people, learn and immerse oneself in the host country’s culture.

If I am prepared to eat Indian food, drink Vodka and have my meals at 11 pm, then there should be no roadblocks.

You could say that infrastructure is a major problem in India, but most developing countries have similar issues as their economies are growing too fast, too soon. Many people say driving in Mumbai can be a pain. I have lived and worked in Indonesia and the traffic jams in Jakarta are worse than Indian cities.

When I came to Mumbai, I told my colleagues it’s such a breeze to drive in the city, much to their bewilderment.

What about graft? A lot of expat CEOs see that as a major deterrent to working in India…

Graft exists in almost every country, but in different forms.

The big question for any country is whether the citizens today are better off than they were 5-10 years ago.

Is more money flowing into education? Are more resources being made available for development? In the Indian context, the answer is Yes.

Could you articulate an aspect of India, which is, in your view, peculiar to this country?

Incessant honking on the roads is truly an Indian phenomenon.

However, it becomes music to your ears after an hour on the road.

What is your view about employees in India? How different are they from their counterparts in other countries?

Indian employees are more articulate in airing their views and that’s a very positive thing. Everybody in India has strong views about everything ranging from politics, socio economic problems, sports, to commercial events. In many parts of the world, employees tend to be quiet. I have been to meetings where I am the only person who talks and everybody else listens. That’s clearly not the case in India.

How has your family responded to the Indian experience so far?

The family moved in much later, but they have adapted well.

My 14-year old daughter recently was part of a group performing ‘hip’ dance in school from the Bollywood movie ‘Ramleela’. I may be slightly biased, but I think she was as good as the Indian girls. The crowd was on its feet as they were amazed to see a ‘Chinese’ girl perform to a Bollywood number. That to me is adaptation.

This is part of a series on expat CEOs working in India

Related Topics