Q&A: Jeffrey Seah is in the hot seat

What is your current state of mind?
Cathartic, after a rigorous start to 2010.

What is your greatest fear?
Vacillating before a decision.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Obsessive compulsion for order.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Not being comfortable with oneself.

Who is your hero? Why?
Charles Darwin. The multi-skilled will be selected by the nature of business.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Client exclusivity.

On what occasion do you lie?
I lie about Arsenal Football Club - that they will win the EPL every year.

Name one thing about yourself that few people know.
I like Pet Shop Boys, besides Stephanie Sun.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Collective. Commitment. Leadership.

What’s your most evocative childhood memory?
Crossing a road aged five, alone, to buy a cake.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being a father to three kids.

What is your most marked characteristic?
The ability to openly admit mistakes.

Which historical figure do you most identify with and why?
Charles Darwin again. Think, or be extinct.

What makes you happy?
Providing help. Everyone needs another chance.

When did you last cry and why?
When I last read a story of self-sacrifice. Humanity can never be overstated.

What is your greatest regret?
Not becoming a doctor.

If your office was burning down, what object would you save and why?
Janus, Publicis Groupe’s thick employee manual. The carbon footprint generated as a result of its combustion will be large.

What would you do if you were invisible for the day?
Look into Sir Martin Sorrell’s satchel. He has a big calculator.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?
Eye bags. Youth ravaged by pitches, hair lost to pitches.

What’s your best joke?
Did you know Tiger changed his name to Cheetah?

This article was originally published in the 25 March 2010 issue of Media.