Adam Taugwalder: Private Office International's President on Work-Life Balance
As we caught up with Adam Taugwalder, 8:30p Bangkok time (6:30am Los Angeles time), he was in a taxi cab on his way to a meeting at The St. Regis Hotel, Bangkok. Still very upbeat and working on a Thursday night, one thing was clear: this man loves what he does.
Having spent over 10 years with some of the world's premiere luxury companies, Adam says he's always had a clear vision of what he wants. From Berkshire Hathaway-owned NetJets to most recently running the real estate division for Six Senses Resorts, one of Asia's leading 5-star brands, it would seem Taugwalder was grooming himself for his true life's pursuit: Private Office International.
Of his business, Taugwalder says "luxury real estate has always been my passion, both in terms of its design and business aspects, plus its tangibility. I feel very fortunate to have managed to combine passion with business."
As Bangkok develops into a more prominent global hub, and with developers throughout the city becoming more creative with projects, Private Office International is at the forefront of the luxury market. With the island of Phuket now the number one tourist destination in all of Asia, the Thai real estate market has a very bright future.
When asked about Private Office International's beginnings, Taugwalder was clear about his vision, saying "I had a very concise idea of what Private Office International should be, so besides a few administrative issues, there were no real struggles." Taugwalder's wife has played an integral role in his success as a leader, as well. "To have family support is an absolute necessity. My wife's backing has been tremendous. We often bounce ideas and she is able to add value by looking at things from a very different angle."
In a world where we are all online or on our phones, Taugwalder believes that technology helps people stay connected and enables the exchange of information across a network of clients and partners, in real time.
“It enables me to be everywhere at the same time. Fifty percent of our business is international already, and I believe that this figure will keep growing,” Taugwalder says. "Once I've managed to win over a new account, my aim is to keep the client forever and become his trusted advisor. And this sometimes means helping him or her either source or dispose of a high-value real estate asset at the other end of the world — and technology allows me to share such information."
Self-described as a bit of a workaholic, Taugwalder makes sure to save time for himself as well. "It's all about balance," he says. In his free time, Taugwalder stays pretty active. "I have a passion for travel and hotels. My wife and I fly somewhere every month, and I spend a lot of time visiting clients all over Asia and Europe. Plus, doing sports is very important. To cope with a fast-paced and busy work environment, it is important to remain physically fit."
Taugwalder stays very busy with his company and his passion, stating "if you have a vision that you truly believe in and a great strategy to go with it, the sky is the limit!"