Skip to main content
PGIM LogoPGIM Logo
    • Megatrends
    • Annual Best Ideas
    • Quarterly Market Outlooks
    • Market Events
    • Thought Leadership
    • Events & Webinars
    • ESG Investing
    • Investing in Alternatives
    • Investing in Emerging Markets
    • Clients We Serve
    • Defined Contribution
    • Financial Advisors
    • Institutional Relationships
    • Institutional Advisory & Solutions
    • Global Locations
    • Contact Us
    • Overview
    • Leadership
    • History
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Global Locations
    • Jennison Associates
    • PGIM Fixed Income
    • PGIM Private Capital
    • PGIM Real Estate
    • PGIM Quantitative Solutions
    • PGIM Portfolio Advisory
    • PGIM Investments
    • Montana Capital Partners
    • PGIM DC Solutions
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
    • Request for Information
    • Careers at PGIM
    • Job Opportunities
    • All News
    • Press Releases
    • In the News
    • Facts & Figures
    • Media Contacts
glass
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Glass Hammer: Voices of Experience with Fiona ChoTheGlassHammer:VoicesofExperiencewithFionaCho

By PGIM Global Communications — Nov 28, 2022

3 mins

Share
  • Mail
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Copy URL

Share

Fiona Cho, COO of Asia-Pacific Region, PGIM Real Estate, talks to being fearless, speaking up, supporting the voices of others and her intrigue for the details of how ecosystems work, from baskets to buildings.

From Liberal Arts to Real Estate to Asia C-Suite

With a passion for material culture (arts, crafts, design, architecture, urban planning), Cho mastered in and envisioned a career in academia focusing on the history of art and architecture, but soon realized she wasn’t suited for a solitary, stationary life. And her intrigue was forward-looking.

So Cho left academia to explore the dynamic “built environment” of the real estate world. She spent seven years in real estate equity research and two years in investment banking at Wells Fargo in San Francisco before taking an investment funds Portfolio Manager role with PGIM Real Estate based in Singapore, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region, nearly fifteen years ago.

“I didn’t go to business school” says Cho. “But I think the twists and turns and nonlinear path have given me experiences, perspectives and insights that help me to be both a better fund manager and a better leader.”

Cho likens being a regional portfolio funds manager to running a small company – working with people in various functional groups and areas of expertise across different countries to understand a client’s needs, craft and manage the strategy, and hit the investment targets. She is proud of her funds’ strong performance and how the industry and PGIM are bringing ESG and DEI principles into investment decision-making to fuel positive impact.

“The twists, turns and detours are not a waste. They can bring you valuable learning and opportunities. If you have a strict career plan, be open to be a bit more flexible – what if you go left for a while, or right for a while, and not fixate on sticking to a plan?”
Fiona ChoCOO of Asia-Pacific RegionPGIM Real Estate

Being Fearless In Your Voice

“I have a kind of fearlessness. I can enter a completely new career or opportunity, and I’m quite fearless about it,” says Cho. “Of course, I do have my angst too, but I get into the work.”

While her strong work ethic has always propelled her success, the corporate world revealed that hard work alone isn’t enough to advance – elevating your voice is critical. Cho recalls an early experience when she had worked on a project analysis and presentation across several weeks, only to watch a male team member bluffing as the expert in the big meeting.

“I knew the matter inside and out, and I knew he was speaking on the fly, but I didn’t speak up or make my points,” remembers Cho. “And I went home and didn’t sleep well that night. I had to consciously become more vocal and express my views. You need to speak up and be visible so that your hard work bears fruit and is noticed.”

Cho has since watched too many women who are prepared and hard-working, and often perfectionists, back down from speaking up for their work in a big meeting and be frustrated later.

“You should feel comfortable and confident that you can speak up. You might not say everything perfectly or you might even say something wrong, but that’s okay. Plenty of people will talk and know less than you do,” advises Cho to mentees. “I bring my own unique perspective to the table. Adding my voice may steer the conversation or decision-making in a certain way, or add more nuance to the overall discussion.”

She also advises to be patient and give yourself a break: “Women can beat up themselves for days when something doesn’t go in an ideal way, whereas I see a more easy-going, forgiving attitude towards oneself by some men – and we can embrace more of that.”

The Art of Inclusive Leadership

“Being a leader in the C-suite requires more patience and listening than just managing funds,” she notes, as she’s had to elevate her vision to having the right people and supporting them to move the entire region forward. When it comes to inspiration, Cho feels she has integrated traits she’s admired from various individuals into her leadership style – from how someone led a meeting to how someone practiced inclusion to someone’s way of expressing their expertise on a topic.

“The technical expertise is, in a way, the easiest part of whatever you do. It’s the more intangible, personal things – like how you make teams come together and inspire each person – that are more mysterious and harder to learn,” she says. “Being influential, getting people to feel comfortable sharing their views and to ultimately trust you as a leader. When you see someone do that with grace and ease, it’s an art.”

Cho has lived ‘difference’ all her life. She grew up in the U.S. as an Asian woman of Korean descent after immigrating at five. She stepped into an industry dominated by men. Now she lives in Asia but is far from fluent in the Korean language. She’s attuned to creating space for all voices.

“As a manager or a leader, you have to create those spaces for people who are more quiet or less vocal to speak up,” says Cho. “By doing that, they become more comfortable and engaged in the conversation.” One way she might call in an underrepresented voice is to say, You and I were talking about this point last week. What do you think?

Cho served as the head of the Asia-Pacific region in the global PGIM Women’s Leadership Network that evolved to become the Inclusion Leadership Network. She appreciates PGIM’s strong DEI commitment – such as hiring practices that include both a diverse slate of candidates and diverse, multi-functional interviewer panel. She notes maintaining that DEI focus becomes more important at top levels, where diversity is needed.

“We continue that lens in the career development and career management process,” she says. “We have to recognize that we all have bias, and we don’t know our blinds spots, but we have to work to recognize that and support the less visible and less vocal individuals.”

Ecosystem Lens: From Baskets to Buildings

Cho is an enthusiast for traditional crafts, and her travels in the Asia-Pacific region are rich with opportunities to explore the industries of textiles, baskets, ceramics and more. From the context of production and the detailed work of the craft to the ultimate usage of an object and the socioeconomic impact on people, communities and the world, Cho is fascinated by the ecosystem of material culture. She’s drawn to find ways to support and preserve the cultural traditions that often underpin the livelihood of those women and their families.

Basket to building, the same curiosity about the eco-system of a basket informs her analysis into a property – “Why is it here? Who funded it? Who is using it and for what? How does it impact the community? What are the returns—both financial and non-financial?” Going further, “How will ESG and digital transformation change the ways we organize, use, and invest in physical space, entirely?”

Indeed, Cho’s outlook is both interconnected and forward-looking.

By Aimee Hansen, theglasshammer.com

  • By PGIM Global Communications

You May Also Like

14 Business Leaders Making Corporate America More Inclusive in an Increasingly Polarized Society
In the News

14 Business Leaders Making Corporate America More Inclusive in an Increasingly Polarized Society

Dec 29, 2022

Business Insider names Kathy Sayko a diversity trailblazer in corporate America.

PGIM expands office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with senior appointment
Press Release

PGIM expands office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with senior appointment

Nov 29, 2022

In this newly created role, Natalie Gill will help drive the continued evolution of PGIM’s DEI strategy.

The Glass Hammer: Rising Stars with Amber Hairston
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Glass Hammer: Rising Stars with Amber Hairston

Oct 5, 2022

Amber Hairston, agency underwriter, PGIM Real Estate, shares her experience on freeing yourself into authenticity.

  • Insights

    • Megatrends
    • Annual Best Ideas
    • Quarterly Market Outlooks
    • Market Events
    • Thought Leadership
    • Events & Webinars
  • Investment Themes

    • ESG Investing
    • Investing in Alternatives
    • Investing in Emerging Markets
  • Clients

    • Clients We Serve
    • Defined Contribution
    • Financial Advisors
    • Institutional Relationships
    • Advisory Solutions
  • About

    • Overview
    • Leadership
    • History
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Global Locations
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
    • Request for Information
  • Careers

    • Careers at PGIM
    • Job Opportunities
  • Newsroom

    • All News
    • Press Releases
    • In The News
    • Facts & Figures
    • Media Contacts
PGIM Logo
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Center
  • Accessibility Help
  • UK Regulatory Disclosures
  • Netherlands Regulatory Disclosures
  • Cookie Preference Center

For Professional Investors only. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital.

This material is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or an offer or solicitation in respect of any products or services to any persons who are prohibited from receiving such information under the laws applicable to their place of citizenship, domicile or residence. PGIM is the principal asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. and a trading name of PGIM, Inc. and its global subsidiaries. PGIM, Inc. is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

The information on this website is not intended as investment advice and is not a recommendation about managing or investing your retirement savings. In making the information available on this website, PGIM, Inc. and its affiliates are not acting as your fiduciary.    

In the United Kingdom, information is issued by PGIM Limited with registered office: Grand Buildings, 1-3 Strand, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5HR. PGIM Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) of the United Kingdom (Firm Reference Number 193418). In the European Economic Area (“EEA”), information is issued by PGIM Netherlands B.V. with registered office: Gustav Mahlerlaan 1212, 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. PGIM Netherlands B.V. is, authorised by the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (“AFM”) in the Netherlands (Registration number 15003620) and operating on the basis of a European passport. In certain EEA countries, information is, where permitted, presented by PGIM Limited in reliance of provisions, exemptions or licenses available to PGIM Limited under temporary permission arrangements following the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. These materials are issued by PGIM Limited and/or PGIM Netherlands B.V. to persons who are professional clients as defined under the rules of the FCA and/or to persons who are professional clients as defined in the relevant local implementation of Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II). In Italy, information is provided by PGIM Limited authorized to operate in Italy by Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB). 

In Japan, information is provided by PGIM Japan Co., Ltd. (“PGIM Japan”) and/or PGIM Real Estate (Japan) Ltd. (“PGIMREJ”).  PGIM Japan, a registered Financial Instruments Business Operator with the Financial Services Agency of Japan offers various investment management services in Japan.  PGIMREJ is a Japanese real estate asset manager that is registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau of Japan.

In Hong Kong, information is provided by PGIM (Hong Kong) Limited, a regulated entity with the Securities & Futures Commission in Hong Kong to professional investors as defined in Section 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571). In Singapore, information is issued by PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (“PGIM Singapore”), a regulated entity with the Monetary Authority of Singapore under a Capital Markets Services License to conduct fund management and an exempt financial adviser. This material is issued by PGIM Singapore for the general information of “institutional investors” pursuant to Section 304 of the Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore (the “SFA”) and “accredited investors” and other relevant persons in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 305 of the SFA. In South Korea, information is issued by PGIM, Inc., which is licensed to provide discretionary investment management services directly to South Korean qualified institutional investors on a cross-border basis.   

Prudential Financial, Inc. (“PFI”) of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom. 

You are viewing this page in preview mode.

Edit Page