Chris Ang is quiet in front of the camera, but as someone who has raised his company’s revenue 250 percent to the current record-high of $70 million over the last five years, you can bet he has a silver tongue. “I’ve always been good at selling,” he affirms candidly.
That said, the 38-year-old Pollisum Engineering CEO is a compliant model who adheres to suggestions at this cover shoot without fuss. He is also good at following instructions, so it is surprising that he used to be a “slacker” and once “didn’t like the idea of working”.
Taking over his family business—which he joined as a management intern in 2016—however enabled him to maximise his potential. Although there have been many stumbling blocks in his way, he proved himself time and again and climbed the ranks. Today, Pollisum is Singapore’s fastest-growing crane leasing firm with an annual compound growth rate of more than 30 percent.
Given that business deals involve building trust and relationships, Ang is also adept at courtesy, bringing baked goods for the crew to the shoot. He makes sure to be as thoughtful as he is persuasive.
Ang answers a couple of questions posed by his wife.
If you could choose a fictional character to represent your leadership style, who would it be and why?
I’d pick Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece. Although being able to stretch like rubber would be useful, Luffy leads with his heart first. Even when the odds seem ridiculous, he believes in his crew, brings out the best in them, and dares to dream big. Rather than leading by fear or authority, he supports the unique dreams of each crew member, often placing their aspirations on the same level as his own.
Like Luffy, who steers the ship towards the Grand Line no matter how stormy it gets, I believe in charting bold directions for Pollisum while remaining grounded in our values. A leader who can laugh with his team, fight alongside them, and inspire them to chase the impossible— that’s the kind of leader I aspire to be, straw hat optional.
If you could master one talent overnight, what would it be?
I’d choose to master inspirational leadership because an incredible team who will work alongside me and support the vision together beats going solo. Vision can take you far, but inspirational people are the ultimate cheat code.
What is one place in the world you’d like to visit?
I would like to return to Bolivia, specifically to Salar de Uyuni. There’s something about standing on a vast expanse with a mirror image of sky and earth; it quietens the mind. The salt flats strip away all distractions and remind you of how small we are and how boundless life can be. This place holds precious private memories for me and gives me clarity and perspective.
