Making life a little more beautiful

TO LOSE is to win. That's the mantra that Melissa Kwee, CEO of National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), abides by.

"We are guided (by this phrase) that my oldest uncle taught us . . . it means to be big hearted. To lose is to win when it comes to relationships. No one appreciates someone who is always seeking to maximise (benefits) for themselves. That isn't how you build trust. For a family business, or arguably any business, trust is the foundation," says Ms Kwee.

The 48-year-old is a scion of the Pontiac Land Group family, which boasts a portfolio that includes Regent Singapore, Ritz-Carlton Millenia, and the Conrad Centennial Singapore. However, the anthropology graduate from Harvard University took the road less travelled among family members when it came to career choice, opting instead to join the voluntary sector.