Step into the Colony
From Nuffnang to corporate real estate, Timothy Tiah tells Naressa Khan passion for transforming the way Malaysians work
WALKING into the beautifully designed perimeters of Colony, it’s initially hard to believe that an Internet mogul and blogger was responsible for it. For one, the luxe co-working space located at Vipod Business Centre in Jalan Kia Peng and adjacent to KLCC, no less, must require a lot of real-time maintenance.
But then again, it is Timothy Tiah we are talking about.
Not a minute after my arrival at the space, the former Nuffnang chief operating officer exclaimed: “To end up on the first page of Google search on our first day of opening is super cool.”
Tiah’s fervour obviously did not end there. As he took me on a tour around Colony’s sleek confines, the young businessman opened up about his postNuffnang journey.
“I was inspired to change work and create a different environment in which we can all go to work to. Offices that feel classy are what many of us want and need today.”
Part of the research that he had delved into right after taking a break from Nuffnang include a survey titled “What Employees Want” on his blog, gauging the true needs of working Malaysians today.
The most shocking feedback he had gathered to date?
“That people would actually be willing to earn a bit less for a great working environment. And we are talking about 50 per cent less, not 10 per cent. Many have stated that they would actually decline a 10-per cent salary increase in exchange for a great working environment,” Tiah revealed.
In the present reality where millennials, an environmentally-conscious generation are expected to make up half of the global workforce by 2020, Tiah’s venture into corporate real estate is definitely an act of striking the iron while it is hot.
Asked if he is set to revolutionise the coworking space industry, Tiah was quick to deflect the notion.
“I believe my true competitors are actually corporate offices out there. I want Colony to make them pause and rethink how they are operating their systems. If Colony can become the new standard for working environment in Southeast Asia, I can then say I have achieved my goal.”
LIFE AFTER NUFFNANG
While the rest of us are probably in awe of Colony’s additional provision of rooftop gym and pool access, the perk that Tiah is in for is seeing the affect of his latest venture on people.
“When I was at Nuffnang, I did not get to realise how much I miss the challenges of working offline. Things and experiences are vivid in real-time, and you can actually see people’s connection right in front of your eyes,” he said.
“When people walk down the corridors of Colony, I can see the impact of the space on their expressions, their movements, their emotions. On the Internet, I can only give you impressions of, for example, a cool website on your phone. As for me, I can read traffic reports but I can’t see how it affects you in real-time. You know what I mean?”
Tiah has always been big on business models that allow him to visibly discern his mobility in growing revenues but with Colony being a fixed, offline project, the change is fresh. “If you look at my previous business, it was very obvious — too obvious, in fact — that we were going to make money.”
The stark difference between his current modus operandi and that of Nuffnang is obviously due to industrial differences. That said, there were plenty of common lessons that Tiah could glean and apply to this day as far as work ethics and discipline go.
“At Nuffnang, I not only learnt how to grow a business and raise money but I also learnt how to manage big teams of employees. The hardest part about business, for me at least, has always been managing people,” Tiah said.
While he does not think that he is good enough of a boss yet, Tiah believes that his years at Nuffnang have definitely prepped him for the present. “When I look back at how I managed people 10 years ago, I think I have definitely made it through. It doesn’t matter how bad I was.”
KEEPING THINGS GOING
No doubt, Tiah has successfully survived such a big career leap.
As such, he believes in continuously keeping up his commitment to honest communication with everyone involved in Colony’s growth and later expansion (the premise is set to expand to Vipod in Jalan Kia Peng).
Just because Colony is an offline venture does not mean that the entrepreneur is not maximising resources online. In fact, he is a big fan of keeping things organised, the tech-savvy way.
On his relationship with his investors, Tiah says: “The great thing about our relationship is that we build our trust via simplified technology. We share a Google Drive folder, where our financial statements and reports are deposited. They can see it as immediately as I can and there are no scary surprises. I won’t even have to hide anything. The arrangement really boosts confidence.”
As a result: “They never chase me for everything. So far, so good!”
And contrary to popular belief, Tiah actually spends very little time on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms of the kinds. Apparently, “not even one minute a day.” But he loves his Twitter, the only app he cannot give up on just yet. “I get my news and updates there, and information is really easy to digest. It’s like my morning paper.”
He adds: “Sometimes, I get into trouble with my friends for not going on Facebook enough to accept their party and event invitations! I miss out on a lot of personal news, I suppose. But then again, I can only take in so much information. I make sure that I absorb what I only really need to be great at what I do, which now means making Colony successful. It’s really all about priority.”
Prices for hot desks start at RM528 per month and private offices at RM2,088 per month. For personal updates from Tiah, read his blog at www.timothytiah.com.