Cover Michelle Yong, CEO of Aurum Land and founder and CEO of Core Collective
Michelle Yong, CEO of Aurum Land and founder and CEO of Core Collective
1 / 1
Michelle Yong, CEO of Aurum Land and founder and CEO of Core Collective, talks about her sporting pursuits and their impact personally and professionally
Sport can lead to success on the global stage, but this is not limited to the pitch, field, court or track—having a sporting background has the potential to lead to business success too.
Studies have shown that the vast majority—more than 90 per cent, according to a study by consultants EY and women’s sports platform espnW—of women in C-suite positions played sport. Taking up sport later in life can also have a positive impact professionally.
To tie in with Paris 2024, our limited series Top of Her Game sees women currently or formerly in C-suite positions in a range of industries discuss their sporting journeys, the role of sport in their lives, and why they would encourage other women and girls to pursue sport. Here, Michelle Yong, CEO of Aurum Land and founder and CEO of Core Collective, opens up.
Have you always been interested in sport or did it come later? What's your sporting journey?
From a young age, I represented my school (Raffles Girls' Primary School) in netball and tennis. I also represented my club in swimming and did a bit of competitive horse riding, specifically jumping. Later, at secondary school and junior college, I started competing in rugby as well. In university, I was on the women's rowing team, and rowed for the men's boat too (for Balliol College at the University of Oxford). So, I have always been sporty—good enough to compete for school, but not on a national level!
What are your current sports of choice?
I exercise four to five times a week—personal training twice a week, bootcamps once a week, and Pilates twice a week. What I love about Pilates is that it feels both like a workout and having a massage at the same time, as there is a lot of strengthening, lengthening, and a lot of control. I also really enjoy my personal training sessions. I’ve been doing Pilates for the last ten to 12 years but only really started personal training three or four years ago, shortly after I started Core Collective. Initially it was to lose some baby weight where my personal trainer would do boxing with me. I found boxing a great way to release stress, but it's also quite mental because you learn a lot of combinations and punches. With bootcamps, I love the community spirit and the energy that you get from the rest of the participants.
Do you prefer individual or team sports and why?
When I was younger, I preferred team sports due to the camaraderie. Now, in my later years, I can't do team sports as much so I’ve ended up doing more individual sports, which can also be very gratifying.
Above Michelle Yong is the founder and CEO of Core Collective, which operates wellness, fitness and lifestyle centres across Singapore
Michelle Yong is the founder and CEO of Core Collective, which operates wellness, fitness and lifestyle centres across Singapore
1 / 1
How often and where do you do sport?
I do sport about four or five times a week at Core Collective, which I started in 2016, with a vision to help aspiring fitness, wellness and medical professionals start and grow their business, so I try to support the practitioners there. I also do all of my allied healthcare and wellness sessions at Core Collective—I find it very beneficial to have my physiotherapist work alongside my personal trainer and Pilates teachers on injury recovery and dealing with my scoliosis.
How do you make sure you fit sport into your schedule? Any tips or strategies on how to do so as a busy executive?
I prefer to work out in the mornings so that I can get it done and not let the day and various urgent issues that crop up hijack my exercise time, which is also my me-time. So, that would be my main tip: schedule your exercise at the start of the day before anything can go wrong and interfere with your good intentions.
I also prefer morning to evening because I find that my body and mind are too energised after sport. After evening bootcamps, I need to do an ice bath to bring my core body temperature down otherwise I won't be able to sleep until after midnight.
How has/does sport help you personally and professionally?
Currently, it's very important to me because that's my me-time. I rest and recharge during my exercise, and I think that's another reason why I like Pilates so much, because it has therapeutic effects. It’s important to make sure that we prioritise self-care.
As a youth, growing up, I think sport helped me develop the mental strength and resilience to push past challenges, especially when you play at a competitive level.
I believe that one needs to experience success in order to build the confidence and aspirations to continue to work towards success. So, sport and competition—having that sense of achievement and accomplishment—builds further determination and confidence that transfers not just to the sporting arena but to academics and later to professional life too.
There is also the collaborative element of sports—working as a team, playing to each other's strengths, and supporting each other through difficulties. You can't always win, so dealing with defeat and appreciating the experience of the match or game and not just the outcome, as well as learning to deal with failure and come back again, are great benefits of sport.
Above Woh Hup, parent company of Aurum Land, recently sponsored over 120 staff to join the Spartan Race in June
Woh Hup, parent company of Aurum Land, recently sponsored over 120 staff to join the Spartan Race in June
1 / 1
Do you have a proudest sporting moment or achievement?
There isn't one that particularly stands out, but I was always proud to be selected to represent my school in the various sports that I did and proud whenever we did well, or when we would win at the national school games or the county tournaments. I was also proud to be selected to row for the Men's boat for Balliol College at Oxford. I was the only woman on the men's team.
Right now, I'm working towards doing my first unassisted pull up—that is my goal for this year.
Why would you encourage girls and women to take up sport?
Sport is important for both girls and boys. I have four young boys, aged three to 11, who spend far too much time on their devices and not enough time doing sports, so that's something I am actively trying to encourage because of the positive benefits and character development. Esports are not a replacement for actual real-life sport.
For women in particularly, perhaps sports comes a bit more naturally to men than to women. Rising to the challenge and overcoming this is very good for building confidence and character.
What are you most excited about for Paris 2024?
I don't follow any particular Olympic sport, but I am looking forward to watching the Olympics with my family, especially my in-laws, who are huge fans and my two older boys, who are now avid football and rugby fans.
About
Rachel Duffell is regional content director for Power & Purpose, including Front & Female, and former regional content director for Tatler Dining. She is a journalist and editor who has been covering people, gender, impact, leadership, culture and lifestyle for more than 15 years.
