Keith Tan - Deputy Secretary (Industry) & (Energy & Carbon), MTI

When I started work in the last century, not much thought was given to “leadership qualities” where I worked. The unstated assumption seemed to be that “leadership is something you have or don’t”.

The situation seems rather different today! Having experienced some great leaders (including during my time in NS), I believe leadership is a “muscle” that can be cultivated. Some will do it more naturally and others may require a bit more effort (like doing pushups or going running). I have benefited from learning and practising at the feet of inspiring leaders who set high ambitions. None of them were alike, and each had his or her own personal style. I hope to pay this debt forward, to help others to grow in their journey as leaders even as I continue on mine as well.

Along the way, I have worked in MTI, MHA, MINDEF, PSD, CSC and now in STB. I have led teams of generalists and teams of specialists and I deeply value the perspectives of both.