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"There is a strong sense of belonging here… As much as we want to excel individually, we also want to see each other succeed," says DCEO Doris Ong, talking about one of the defining qualities of the organisational culture today.
The team at ERA Singapore sees "we rise by raising others" as more than a motto – it’s the foundation of how the organisation grows. With a workforce comprising close to 9,000 agents, one thing Doris Ong (pictured above, left), Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of ERA’s Management Sustainability Committee and Pauline Teo (pictured above, right), Assistant Vice President, Human Resources are proud of is the organisation's people-first culture defined by trust, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Working closely together, the duo has embedded a structured ESG framework that links business performance with community impact, strengthened leadership development, and invested in technology to help agents stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.
It’s this alignment between leadership and HR that keeps ERA’s culture dynamic and future-ready, they tell us – one where innovation and care go hand in hand, and every individual is empowered to thrive.
In this interview with Priya Sunil, the leaders share how their partnership is driving engagement, growth, and long-term success across the organisation.
Q What do you both see as the defining qualities of ERA’s culture today?
Pauline Teo: At ERA, I would describe our culture as dynamic, collaborative, and growth-oriented. There is a strong sense of unity built on shared learning and mutual support among our nearly 9,000 agents. Our employee engagement initiatives do more than build skills. They create meaningful touchpoints where agents can connect, collaborate and grow together.
Another defining quality is how forward-looking our culture has become. With nearly half of our training focused on technology, our agents are not only keeping up with change but leading it.
This has fostered a mindset of agility and confidence, where people are open to new ideas and ready to adapt. It is this combination of care for people and drive for progress that truly defines ERA’s culture today.
Doris Ong: Over the years, ERA has fostered a culture built on trust and unwavering commitment among our agents. They see themselves as trusted advisors who are equipped, supported, and constantly challenged to be better, in the best interests of their customers. That comes from our emphasis on leadership development, where we actively invest in cultivating the next generation of leaders.
There is also a strong sense of belonging here. Through our activities such as engagement events, training, and continuous learning opportunities, we engage and connect with our agents and create meaningful spaces for them to bond. It creates an energy that is both competitive and supportive. As much as we want to excel individually, we also want to see each other succeed.
That balance is what makes ERA’s culture distinctive, and it’s what sustains our success as we continue to grow. After all, at ERA, we believe we rise by raising others.
Q Doris, as Chairperson of ERA’s Management Sustainability Committee, how has the structured ESG framework shaped the company’s role in the community?
Our ESG framework shapes our role in the community by providing a clear structure for how we integrate sustainability into both our operations and outreach. It ensures that our initiatives are not adhoc but strategically aligned with global standards such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In particular, the Social pillar guides how we engage with people and communities. We prioritise the well-being, professional growth, and inclusion of our employees and agents, while upholding fair and equitable employment practices. Beyond the workplace, we place great emphasis on fostering a sense of belonging through retreats, employee engagement events, and team-building activities, which strengthen collaboration and community spirit.
This same commitment extends outward into the communities we serve. We actively support local initiatives that reflect our values, aiming to uplift lives, strengthen communities, and build lasting trust with people from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds.
In this way, our ESG framework translates into tangible action, whereby principles such as equity, inclusivity, and wellbeing become practices that not only drive organisational success but also create lasting, positive impact in society.
Q Pauline, from your point of view, how do these community and ESG efforts influence employee engagement and pride at ERA?
From my perspective, our community and ESG efforts play a big role in shaping how employees feel about working at ERA. When people see the company going beyond business goals to genuinely support wellbeing, inclusivity, and the communities we serve, it fosters a strong sense of belonging. There’s pride in knowing that we’re not only doing well as a business, but also doing good in ways that make a real difference.
These efforts also make day-to-day work feel more meaningful. Employees can see a direct connection between their contributions and the company’s positive impact, whether it’s through engagement events or community outreach. That alignment between personal values and organisational actions strengthens commitment, loyalty, and pride in being part of ERA. It’s very much the spirit of “we rise by raising others,” and it’s what keeps our culture vibrant.
Q With close to 9,000 agents in your workforce, how do you ensure your talent not only thrives in the short term but also build sustainable, long-term careers here?
Teo: At ERA, we believe that building sustainable careers goes beyond short-term success. That’s why professional training and development remain a core focus. In 2024, we organised 83 training events for 6,497 agents, delivering 421 training hours. We also launched the ERA Trusted Advisors Chapter, which provides subsidised professional development in areas such as leadership and digital marketing, helping our agents build skills that support both immediate success and long-term growth.
On top of prioritising employee welfare and engagement, we invest heavily in advanced digital tools and technological solutions to help our agents stay competitive in a fast-changing industry, while enabling them to deliver exceptional client experiences.
Ong: For example, our comprehensive IT roadmap is focused on continuously enhancing the proprietary SALES+ App and strengthening cybersecurity. The app, first launched in 2022 and upgraded regularly, integrates AI-powered insights and CRM systems, enabling our agents to deliver seamless, high-value services with greater efficiency and precision. It was "built by agents, for agents", stemming from our CEO’s vision to simplify what used to be a manual, time-consuming process of property viewing and recommendations, into one that enables agents to instantly access market intelligence and real-time insights.
Exclusive to ERA, it even became the first real estate platform in Singapore to integrate GPT-4o in March 2023. Initiatives like the centralised myERA dashboard and the exploration of a unified database system further ensure consistency, productivity, and long-term scalability for our agents’ businesses.
Beyond technology, we invest heavily in our people. Through structured trainings that upskill and equip our agents, recognition events that celebrate their achievements, and continuous opportunities for personal and professional growth, we provide a holistic environment where talent can flourish.
By combining cutting-edge technology with strong people practices, we empower our agents to thrive today while building sustainable, future-ready careers.
Q How are you both working together, as well as with your wider leadership team to drive this?
What really drives this is the way we collaborate, by constantly exchanging ideas across the leadership team, and checking in with the agents on the ground.
Q Doris, where do you see the next frontier of growth for your employees, and how will sustainability play a role? How are you equipping your leadership team, alongside Pauline, to ensure they are ready to push for this growth?
We see the next frontier of growth in building our employees’ capacity for innovation, digital skills, and cross-functional collaboration. Sustainability is integral to that growth and it goes beyond the environment. To us, sustainability also means sustaining careers, ensuring our people have the skills and resilience to thrive over the long term.
That’s why we focus on sustaining economic growth through innovation, technology, and digital literacy. By equipping our agents with continuous upskilling opportunities, we help them stay relevant and future-ready in an evolving industry. At the same time, we embed climate-conscious thinking into decision-making and empower teams to deliver solutions that meet both customer needs and our broader environmental commitments.
Together with our leadership team, we are preparing our people not just to adapt to change, but to lead it.
Q Let's end on a fun note! If ERA were a person five years from now, how would you imagine their personality - what kind of colleague, leader, or friend would they be? Teo: ERA would be an inspiring leader, trusted colleague and loyal friend. They’d be the kind who leads by example – ambitious, bold, and unafraid to set the bar higher, but also the first to cheer you on and celebrate your wins. You’d go to them not just for advice on closing a big deal, but also for encouragement when you need a boost. A mix of competitive drive and big-hearted camaraderie is how I’d picture ERA’s personality coming to life.
Ong: If ERA were a person five years from now, I’d imagine them as a colleague who is approachable, collaborative, and inspiring. They would walk alongside you - being a leader who listens, a colleague who collaborates, and a friend who celebrates your wins. That’s the personality we’re shaping as ERA continues to grow: progressive, inclusive, and people-first.
Teo: ERA would be an inspiring leader, trusted colleague and loyal friend. They’d be the kind who leads by example – ambitious, bold, and unafraid to set the bar higher, but also the first to cheer you on and celebrate your wins. You’d go to them not just for advice on closing a big deal, but also for encouragement when you need a boost. A mix of competitive drive and big-hearted camaraderie is how I’d picture ERA’s personality coming to life.
Ong: If ERA were a person five years from now, I’d imagine them as a colleague who is approachable, collaborative, and inspiring. They would walk alongside you - being a leader who listens, a colleague who collaborates, and a friend who celebrates your wins. That’s the personality we’re shaping as ERA continues to grow: progressive, inclusive, and people-first.
Photos / Provided
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