Navigating the legal complexities of modern businesses can often feel like treading a tightrope. For startup founders, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders, the stakes are high, and every decision carries a risk. How do you ensure contracts, agreements, and compliance strategies drive value while minimizing exposure?
For Yeo Shi Yuan, a legal counsel expert with a unique background in law enforcement and business strategy, the answer lies in a blend of resilience, emotional intelligence, and an unyielding commitment to continuous learning. Yeo Shi Yuan’s journey from the Singapore Police Force to becoming a trusted advisor for organizations across diverse industries holds valuable lessons for those aiming to balance legal expertise with strategic vision.
Key Takeaways:
- Embracing technology and balancing traditional methods with modern tools are crucial for long-term success.
- Facing challenges head-on while maintaining emotional detachment from work helps in making clear, balanced decisions and preserving mental health.
- Treat your career like a marathon, not a sprint. Regular rest, continuous learning, and clear goal-setting ensure sustained growth and success.
Highlights
Strategies for Balancing Challenges and Achievements
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: What I most loved about my job is to be involved and to ensure the conclusion and execution of revenue contracts which are pivotal to organizations’ survival in a very competitive global market. Companies exist to make profits and I see myself playing a critical role in managing the risk mitigation strategies in documentation (i.e. agreements, contracts, letters, email correspondences, etc. that bring value to and do not diminish the value coming to the organizations. Without which, no company will be able to survive. Companies must continue to innovate to stay competitive and lawyers/counsels must continue to upgrade and improve their skill sets to identify new risks and add new value to their employers or clients.
Q: Can you describe how a typical day at work has evolved over the years?
A: I used to start my work when I reach office and turn on my laptop. But things have changed significantly after Covid-19 pandemic. Teams meetings and usage of mobile phones are the new normal today. I do not have to switch on my laptop to start work and I do not have to turn up in the physical office either. Work can be done instantaneously from smart devices and at any location. I still belong to the “old school” and I tend not to make any decisions just with my devices and that little screens although I can be “hard pressed” by stakeholders for decisions. I prefer to spend time to study an entire subject and conduct a proper evaluation and assessment with my laptop and a proper screen.
Q: What initially inspired you to pursue this career, and has that inspiration changed over the years?
A: My first life was with the Singapore Police Force. I saw the application of law in real time environment and life changing scenarios such as apprehending and prosecuting criminals, investigations, police policing, etc. But I felt that there was more to law than just law enforcement and criminal law. Hence, I decided to venture into the commercial side of things where law is more extensively used to benefit corporations, organizations and build better societies and good countries overall.
Q: What has been your most memorable experience on the job, and how has it shaped your career?
A: My most memorable experience was during my stint in Dril-Quip. I recalled having to travel to Houston, Texas in the United States to work for a period of time. My boss and mentor then was a senior lawyer and he fought in the Vietnam War. I learnt a great deal from him both as a lawyer and as a person. He was very generous in transferring his knowledge to and sharing his experience with me. With his detailed guidance and training, it molded the way I see and think about life as a person and work as a corporate counsel. There are so many facets to a matter so long as we do not close our “mind”. Keep on learning and improving. We should be better than who we are yesterday.
Q: What skills or qualities are essential for long-term success in your field?
A: I consider myself to be a “work in progress” and there are more successful people in my field that I look up to. Firstly, our mindset is everything. We need to learn and continue to be resilient to face difficult circumstances and deal with varying personalities in the corporate environment. That itself has not been easy for anyone.
Secondly, it is important to “isolate” and not attach too much of our emotions to the work that we do. Our emotions do play a big part in our mental health and mindset.
Finally, it is very important to say no. Saying no allows us to re-calibrate ourselves from a position of renewed strength and focus on what is correctly ahead of us. Saying no also means walking away from toxicity in a physical and/or virtual environment (such as online meetings). Question to ask is “is it worth your time and attention?”
Q: How do you handle challenges or difficult situations at work, and have your strategies changed over time?
A: Strategies change and vary depending on the type of challenges or difficult situations we face. I will separate issues from the people involved and address the issues solely instead of addressing the situation (comprising of the issues and the people) as a whole but it is not an easy task. We need to constantly remind ourselves that our self-worth is built by us and not determined by others, including employers, supervisors and/or our spouses. I think the latter is extremely important. There is no need to seek approval outside of us.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job now, compared to when you first started?
A: I find myself getting involved in a diverse range of business in a Japanese conglomerate helps me to develop “agility” mentally, having to “switch” when I have to address varying risk exposures for different types of businesses. It is most rewarding for me as I garnered experiences from the challenges, problems and issues that I have had to deal with on a daily basis. It helps me grow as a corporate counsel.
Q: How do you stay motivated and engaged in your work after so many years?
A: I like to engage in intellectual and stimulating discussions with healthy and respectful professionals in the legal and non-legal communities. I like to read books that can enhance my knowledge and take up courses to improve myself as a person, a father and a lawyer. I do have a couple of accountability buddies and we meet regularly to keep one another on the right course.
Q: What advice would you give someone considering a career in your field, especially for the long haul?
A: It is important to bear in mind that our career is like a marathon and not a 100 metres sprint. We need to plan for the long term, where we are, what we are doing today, what we want to achieve in the next 5 years and when we want to achieve that target. When we have a plan, it is crucial that we include some resources and time where we can enrich and upgrade ourselves especially as a professional and specialist in this field. Most importantly, we need to plan for rest.
I usually plan my rest from the macro level such as yearly vacations with family, the occasional drive up north with friends, etc. to the micro level of taking time out every week for cardio activities, walk in the park, etc. Frequent rest periods and exercise keeps me focused and renews my mind to continue “in this marathon”.
Q: How have you balanced your work with your personal life over the years, and has your approach changed?
A: It is threading on a fine balance between work expectations and family commitments. And this is done on a daily basis because our family needs us everyday and not just on weekends, school holidays and festive occasions. I do not believe in staying late in office and so I finish all that I need (most importantly, speaking to stakeholders in office to guide them and propose solutions) and head for home around 6 pm. Once I am home, it will be my time with the family. I will not check, answer my emails or take calls unless they are work exigencies. I tend to slow down and relax myself before I head for the bed before 11 pm because I need at least 7 hours of sleep so that I can wake up refreshed to meet the challenges of the next day.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs and Leaders from a Legal Perspective
In the fast-paced and unpredictable world of business, having the right legal strategies can mean the difference between success and setback. Yeo Shi Yuan’s reflections emphasize the importance of adaptability, continuous growth, and maintaining a balanced approach to work and life. His insights remind entrepreneurs and leaders alike that the road to long-term success lies in building resilience, fostering meaningful relationships, and always staying prepared for the unexpected. As businesses innovate to remain competitive, the role of strategic legal counsel, like Yeo Shi Yuan’s, is more crucial than ever—serving as a guide through the challenges and opportunities of a constantly evolving landscape.
Highlights
Read this article in Chinese here.
