Cover Photo: Risis
Photo: Risis
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With no experience in the jewellery industry, here's how auditor Verene Ng took the reigns of local mainstay Risis in the midst of the pandemic and brought the jewellery brand out stronger and better than ever before
How I’m Making It is a weekly series in which Tatler speaks to influential individuals about their unique journeys and what keeps them going.
Risis has long established itself as a unique local jewellery brand. With a legacy stretching back to 1976 when a Singaporean scientist discovered a unique method of immortalising orchids by encapsulating them in 24-karat gold, Risis has since grown to be a renowned local brand with boutiques all over the island.
When Verene Ng took the reigns of the company in 2020 as chief executive officer (CEO), she certainly had a mammoth task ahead of her in preserving the legacy of the brand and keeping it going. It didn’t help that Ng did not have any experience in the jewellery industry and that she was taking the helm at the height of the pandemic.
However, she was unfazed. Here’s how she led the company successfully out of the pandemic all while continuing to maintain the legacy and heritage of the brand.
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“I actually never expected to be doing what I’m doing today,” Ng said with a laugh. “I have a diploma in accountancy and thought I would be a hard-core accountant in my career. In fact, my first job was as an auditor.”
Ng was involved in the statutory audit of various industries which opened many doors for her and allowed her to work at many big companies. “That was where I acquired analytical skills in understanding the various risks associated with different operating environments and business variables,” Ng shared.
Ng also took on various financial roles such as Group Assistant Finance Manager at Mediacorp and Senior Vice-President at Envipure Group.
“It was very different from the industry I am currently in but it gave me the knowledge and leverage to better understand Risis and the business model,” Ng said.
The question then of course is how Ng managed to end up leading a major jewellery brand after years spent establishing herself in the financial sector.
“I’ve always had an interest in fashion and in learning about what’s trending so getting into design felt like second nature to me when I decided that I wanted a change in career,” Ng explained. “I already knew of Risis for many years at that point so when I took over as CEO, I was just very excited to embark on this journey and to expand on Risis’ legacy.”
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Taking over the company at the height of the pandemic though was no easy task as one can probably imagine.
“Challenges were huge at the start of Covid-19. But my team and I took the opportunity to refresh the Risis brand and deepen our expertise, as we saw a window of opportunity to pivot our efforts into e-commerce,” Ng said.
“Risis is an established brand so it was challenging to reposition it to be relevant and compelling to today’s women. I wanted to shake off consumers’ preconceived notions that Risis was just a gifting brand and to get more women to see themselves wearing our pieces themselves,” she continued.
“Other challenges included pushing the boundaries of our plating capabilities and expanding our product variety. We wanted to preserve other organic materials other than orchids such as roses, ferns, seeds, and foliage with meaningful stories.”
At the end of the day, despite the challenges, Ng still insists that charting the course for Risis has been her greatest accomplishment to date.
“Championing and steering the new brand direction of an established brand of over 46 years has been a very refreshing and challenging experience for me as I came from a different industry,” Ng said.
“It was also incredible that we got to kickstart our first collaboration with local fashion designers to materialise the new brand direction for Risis. The collaborations have really opened doors for us as a brand over the years.”
Today, Ng is looking ahead as she continues to develop Risis’ brand proposition as well as align it with current fashion trends and seasons.
“We aim to start collaborations with creative talents in different style industries. This will enable continuous experimentation and exploration to express and re-invent collaborations that can augment and expand this experience,” Ng said.
With everything she has going on, Tatler Singapore spoke to Ng to find out how she is making it. Read what she has to say below.
What is a typical morning like for you?
Verene Ng (VN): Due to my work’s dynamic, things that require my attention change daily. But I typically start the day bright and early clearing my emails before attending meetings or making my rounds at the various departments to catch up with my teams.
What do you usually have for breakfast?
VN: I usually go for something light like salad or oatmeal. Sometimes, I may even skip breakfast. That said, black coffee without sugar is definitely a must to get my day going. I’m an avid coffee drinker.
What does a standard workday look like for you?
VN: On a standard work day, my schedule is pretty packed and filled with plenty of back-to-back meetings between the departments and with key external partners. Sometimes, you may even find me in Malaysia, as I will visit our Malaysia-based factory once a week.
How would you describe your working style?
VN: I’m forthcoming and a strong believer in open communication. I prefer to foster an environment with effective workplace communication where everyone can openly express their thoughts and give feedback to one another.
When everyone is aligned and working towards a common goal, that’s how we can exchange new ideas and propel the business further.
What time do you usually have lunch? What do you usually have for lunch?
VN: I don’t usually have a fixed lunchtime as it is pretty much dependent on my meetings. I usually go for fish soup or yong tau foo soup. Occasionally, if I give in to my cravings, I’ll go with fried chicken wings from Ikea.
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Free time: overrated or underrated? Why?
VN: Having free time is an underrated luxury. There are too many things that I have to attend to on a daily basis and having that extra pocket of time allows me to maximise any unscheduled tasks.
How do you achieve a work-life balance? How do you set boundaries?
VN: It’s all about finding that balance though it’s extremely impossible to set boundaries for my role. Setting aside time for myself is important regardless. It can be as simple as grocery shopping or engaging in relaxing activities like going for pampering spa sessions.
How do you chase your dreams?
VN: Quite simple, just work hard.
Risks: should you take them? Why or why not?
VN: Yes, but it largely depends on the extent of the risks. Taking some risks in business may still be necessary for us to catapult the brand towards success and could considerably increase the chances of achieving our goals.
For instance, if we never took the risk of doing a brand revamp and refresh, we may have lost out on plenty of opportunities in the market and would have never had the chance to be exposed to such wonderful collaborations and opportunities.
How do you deal with your shortcomings?
VN: I recognise and will embrace them and turn them into opportunities. I recognise the importance of turning weaknesses into strengths. I think I’m good at adapting and I make up for my weakness by persevering and gradually honing myself into being good at what I’m weak in.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever gotten?
VN: If you believe in yourself, anything is possible. You just have to have faith in yourself, trust in your abilities, and always strive to do your best.
How do you unplug?
VN: I unplug by choosing to stay present and spending leisure time with my family when I’m not engaged with work. During my free time, I also enjoy baking for my children as I love to bring smiles to their faces whenever they eat my cakes and cookies.
How do you stay grounded?
VN: The key to staying grounded is taking charge of my own thoughts and feelings and being mindful about living in the now and on what matters. It’s all about having a sense of purpose and maintaining that balance. It’s also important that we practice gratitude and just appreciate life’s simple pleasures.
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How do you manage stress?
VN: Plenty of self-care, spending time with my children and indulging in my favourite snacks and sweet treats.
How do you stay motivated?
VN: I stay motivated by constantly looking at how I can better improve the business processes in order to drive success. Looking back at the brand journey and seeing how the company has evolved allows me to see how much I have accomplished and it’s motivating to see everyone in the company working as a team to achieve that common goal.
Do you have moments of doubt and how do you overcome them?
VN: Having moments of doubt is something common that everyone encounters, especially in the face of making major business decisions. But sometimes, it’s all about taking that leap of faith and having a clear objective on what you want to achieve.
What is the last thing you do before you go to bed?
VN: I’ll be on my phone scrolling through social media. Recently, Risis launched their TikTok account so it’s also interesting to gain new ideas and to see what’s trending while keeping myself entertained. It’s a very dynamic platform that can be quite addictive.
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Camillia Dass is the digital writer for Tatler Singapore.
