JLL Phils. Inc. Country Head Christophe Vicic is a senior executive who enjoys working in international business environments, as they give him opportunities to learn new things.
At JLL, the French native believes he has the best of both worlds because he sees his organization as “an achiever” and empowers its people to create programs based on local conditions.
Apart from his corporate endeavors, Vicic also shared in an e-mail interview his passion for the outdoors and sports, especially in marathon running, where he likes to push himself to the limit.
Since being assigned in the Philippines, what have you observed in the local property market?
The Philippine property market is extremely buoyant with tremendous developments and opportunities. But challenges are plenty too, especially because real estate depends on the speed of infrastructure improvements, financial attractiveness and business-environment friendliness.
Notably, areas of investment and developments are in hotels and hospitality, health, student housing and manufacturing sectors.
What are your valuable experiences in working within multicultural environments?
I’ve been to numerous countries and worked in so many environments. One life truth that I can share is that there is always something new to learn from another culture. People in general from any cultural background want to succeed and do well.
What I found most enlightening is that, in countries where the environment is harsh, you will find an even more positive attitude toward work, which results to outstanding business ethics. As a leader, I always ascribe to treat people the way you’d want to be treated. And I always highlight that you should never underestimate the power of education and professional development.
Do you instill a new management policy when you are assigned to a post?
Globally, JLL has a very good structure in place that translates to every territory we do business in. This is why I believe it is not really (so much in) adapting a new policy, but rather fine-tuning (existing ones) and bringing innovations for further improvements. JLL Phils. is not an exception; it is not in a development stage in terms of management-policies development—(it only requires) small, incremental changes, rather than revolutionary ones.
How did you cultivate your growth and development strategies?
The first step is always immersion and gaining familiarity. During the first few months of a new assignment, I deliberately develop an understanding of the overall market, with real estate as (the) centerpiece. Then, I take the global and regional strategies under JLL’s “Achieve Ambitions” overarching motto, review them and customize them during a strategic gathering of the top 30 senior leaders of JLL Phils.
Compare your current assignment in JLL Phils. and other JLL units in Russia, as well as countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
It is similar, and dissimilar, in several aspects. As mentioned, JLL has a very effective structure that allows our corporate culture to trickle down to all of our territories. This assignment here in the Philippines is similar because it is about building a better JLL within a very dynamic environment, as it was the case in Russia from 2010 to 2014.
What would always spell the difference are the social factors in each country. The growth in Russia could not be sustained due to geopolitical reasons, which made it a difficult country to do business in. But if we talk about the people, (everyone in JLL is similar, in the sense that) we all want to succeed by supporting the economic development of the country we operate in.
What makes working in a real-estate company like JLL exciting?
I’d like to think that we have the best of both worlds in JLL: We’ve developed a culture of achievements and performance within a corporate entrepreneurial environment. We are a global company—one of the biggest employers in real estate—but we give our people the freedom to develop local initiatives that are strong and rewarding.
Do you feel your work complements your passion for traveling?
A lot less than it used to at the beginning of my career, but it still does. I’ve had the privilege of working in Africa, Eastern Europe and even the Middle East, with [extensive] traveling associated with my roles. Right now, it is more about local travel as I’ve really started to enjoy seeing the sights the Philippines has to offer. I’ve discovered multiple attractions, including the wonderful beaches!
How did you develop your passion for sports and the outdoors?
I am a very active individual by nature and a born competitor. I used to play football and tennis; now, I do yacht sailing, trekking, marathon running at least once a year, and I’ve also started playing golf. Sports is an integral part of my work-life balance and helps me become successful in a high-stress professional environment.
Since you are a very busy professional, do you still have time for sports or even join marathons? How is it like when you finish a marathon?
Yes I do, and sports is a big part of my routine. I play golf during weekends, and run four to five times a week. On holidays, I always incorporate an element of sporting to sailing and high-mountain trekking. Running is both the biggest and easiest part. You can jog almost anywhere, either indoors or outdoors and does not require club facilities.
When I prepare for a marathon, I start intensive training three to four months prior, combining short and long runs.
The feeling is about surpassing your own self and achievements. I have now completed 12 races out of 15. Completing a marathon is always exhilarating: from perfect planning, then training, to race day and crossing the finishing line.