David Gabriel

I have been involved in running my own businesses almost all my working life. I started out in the financial markets, working for Citibank and the Banca Commerciale Italiana in the early 1970’s. I quickly moved to being a money broker, becoming the managing director of Degani, Tullett and Riley in the mid 1970’s. I built and ran the company until 1980, when I left for the UK to read law at the University of Buckingham.

Following on from law, I changed direction to become a journalist. I spent two years in television working as a current affairs presenter and a newscaster, after which I moved to the Business Times. During this time I also worked for the BBC World Service and Commercial Radio Hong Kong.

In 1990 Julia and I started Julia Gabriel Communications Pte Ltd at our then home in Halifax Road. We both worked according to our respective strengths: Julia looked after the teaching and programmes while I looked after the administration and finances.

This is how it continues. I believe that my strength is in making sure the business is strong, that the finances are in order and there is a strategy in place. This is my expression of my best self and my leadership proposition.

I would like to see all key players in our company develop to hold a clear point of view on where the business will be in the next five years. This may concern the business or it may concern the teaching programmes. If everyone can be coaxed into holding such a vision for the business, strategic planning along with a clear direction for the future will remain in place.

Strong continuity and a sense of direction, is the legacy I would like to leave behind for the next generation of company leaders.