Mr Wilson Tan: We must also adapt. It is easy enough to master technology but past experiences may limit our willingness to try new possibilities.

Conferred the IT Leader Award - Hall of Fame accolade by the Singapore Computer Society this year, Mr Wilson Tan’s career almost parallels the developments of the infocomm industry here as it underwent paradigm shifts from being a business productivity tool to its all-pervasive presence in everyday life today. He has also been involved in some of the major milestones in the industry, including seeing though the emergence of the Singapore Information Technology Federation in the late 1990s. iN.SG catches up with Mr Tan, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of CapitaMall Trust.

What was your reaction to winning the IT Hall of Fame award?
My first reaction was that I have “arrived”, since I am now a member of the Hall of Fame. Then (with a laugh) I suddenly realised I was also officially a dinosaur!

But seriously, infocomm technology has developed at such a pace that keeping up to date must become second nature to all involved in the industry. At the end of the day though, it is how you deal with developments that is important. Nothing is ever lost. I am now a user at CapitaMall Trust and I come with a background of IT knowledge and experiences that can help me do my current job better. Today, it’s how we use the technology that matters!

How has IT changed in the course of your career?
I spent 25 years in IT. In the early years, the 1980s, technology itself was important for manufacturing but IT was a young business. I have lived and worked through a journey into a world that is thoroughly dependent on IT. It is now an integral part of work, life and play.

What was the most useful advice that you have received?
Mr Johnny Moo, considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of Singapore IT, inspired me. Johnny, Group Managing Director of CSA Holdings, taught me that life was a never-ending series of changes. He was the man at the centre of the evolution of IT in Singapore when it underwent what I call seismic shifts to become so ubiquitous today.

I learnt from him the importance of coping with changes in terms of our skills and knowledge, in fact, of staying relevant. I guess he could see even then the impact that IT was going to have on our lives.

What do you consider to be the major milestones in your IT career and why?
There are a number. One of them would be making a difference by being involved in the IT community, like seeing through the merger of the Singapore Federation of Computer Industries and the Microcomputer Trade Association of Singapore to form SiTF. This is to give the industry one common voice as we work with the various stakeholders including government agencies.

Another would be when, as president of the Singapore Computer Society, I helped set up Infopier which provides a platform for IT professionals to upgrade their skills and stay relevant in the ever-changing IT landscape.

I’ve also been involved with BizLink Singapore, a non-profit VWO which evaluates, trains and places clients with various forms of disabilities in a sheltered workshop or open employment, and the Council for Third Age or C3A, which promotes active living among senior citizens. These are enriching engagements!

Did you ever encounter anything that you would consider to be a crisis (from an IT perspective or a career perspective)? And if so, what were the lessons you took away from the experience?
There is no such thing as a crisis; just a set of problems to be solved sooner or later. Even in a so-called crisis, the answer is there somewhere. It may take time but if we search hard enough, we will find it. Learn how to look beyond. Not every situation is life and death and has to be solved instantly. There is usually a longer-term cause and effect and some people actually see opportunities in such situations. In short, life and time can be the best teacher.

Over the years, you have served on many committees and in many non-profit organisations. What have you taken away from that experience?
We should constantly be evolving and finding the best practices for each activity. We must push the envelope. We must also adapt. It is easy enough to master technology but past experiences may limit our willingness to try new possibilities. Sometimes experience by itself is insufficient and can be limiting. We have to take calculated risks to move to the next level. This may apply as much to your career path or the next destination for your organisation.

Can you tell us about your post-IT career, in Singapore Post and CapitaMall Trust? How did it feel to be out of the IT industry?
My IT exposure has allowed me to develop better insights into business procedures, how to go about getting the best out of business processes. Though I am now an IT user, I still have to push the envelope and seek new possibilities - something which I used to do while in the IT industry.

There is no alternative to rolling up your sleeves and working at ground level, where you will find that your personal inputs will make a difference. Think of work as a piece of art or architecture, they all add up – with efforts put in by everyone - into one equation or outcome.

If you were to select a phrase to describe yourself, what would it be?
I consider myself a student of life till the day I depart. I am thankful to God for what has been laid before me and count my blessings.