Matthew Chinn

Managing director of Macau Enterprise Limited

Matthew Chinn, managing director of Macau Enterprise Limited (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Style Observer (SO): What’s your middle name?

Matthew Chinn (MC): Omar

SO: How would you describe your business style?

MC: I’m pretty laid-back and I believe in an open-door policy where I encourage team members that they always have my ear. I believe communication is one of the biggest keys to success and I try to create a healthy work environment that fosters teamwork and growth. I actually believe one of my biggest pitfalls is that I’ll be too kind when making decisions, so one thing I firmly put in place is to seek the advice of persons who I trust, listen to their reasoning and try to weigh objectively before making any big decisions.

SO: Who gave you your first business lesson and what was it?

MC: My dad, Rory Chinn, has been giving us business lessons since we were old enough to remember and they usually come in the form of sayings such as ‘a fool and their money are soon parted’ and ‘never take a cigarette in prison’.

For better or worse these lessons have been ingrained in me and they have shaped my viewpoints growing up. For example, the ‘never take a cigarette in prison’ is a reminder that nothing in life comes free, so cautiously conduct yourself in business without just taking every deal at face value.

SO: Share with us the last business story read.

MC: I’m not a big business story reader but I did come across a story very recently about how Nike’s stock has plunged by 78 per cent since its peak in 2021, which was surprising to me because I don’t pay much attention to brands so I didn’t know they weren’t doing as well. What I understood from the story was that Nike’s stock is plummeting because they’ve relied too much on brand recognition and failed to launch refreshing and innovative products. There have been many new or relatively new competitors who are perhaps doing a better job at this. It’s a tale as old as time, really: We can’t stay comfortable and assume that success will always be ours. Stay hungry and keep an eye on trends so you can be the trailblazer and not the carbon copy!

SO: What would your advice be to a group of business students?

MC: I studied business at one of the top colleges for entrepreneurship at the time and I honestly can’t remember much of anything that I learnt. They perhaps would fare better than me, as my memory is pretty bad! But nonetheless my advice would be to get into business as soon as possible. There is no school that’s going to come close to the real deal and you really won’t start learning business until you’re living it. Don’t be afraid to try something new even if you fail because so many times it’s in failure that we learn to be successful.

SO: Were you able to knock heads with five business leaders, living or dead, who would they be? What would you ask each of them?

MC: I would include Chris Blackwell on the list. His story of bringing reggae to the worldwide stage must be a fascinating one but I’d be more intrigued as to why he decided to pivot to luxury hotels so much later in his career.

Steve Jobs, for many reasons, but mainly to speak about his work life balance because I got the impression he wasn’t particularly happy, so if he had to do it over again would he change anything and what he would change.

Bob Iger, whose book The Ride of A Lifetime, which details how he started at the bottom and climbed his way to the top, must have great advice on resilience and discipline.

Dolly Parton is fascinating and many may not consider her a business leader but since her passing recently it’s shone such a big light on her philanthropy. I would ask how she did such a great job of managing financial success without compromising her kindness and community impact.

Elon Musk. As one of the richest men on this planet I am personally curious as to his more public and controversial celebrity status in the past couple years. I would ask why he decided to pursue a more public persona and if he felt it hindered or helped his brand.

Chinn ‘s top five business leaders, living or dead (from left): Elon Musk, Dolly Parton (for her philanthropy), Bob Iger, Steve Jobs, and Chris Blackwell .

SO: How can Jamaica position itself as a world-class gaming centre?

MC: To be a world-class anything Jamaica has to learn the art of customer service because we fail badly in that department. I believe if you ask any business owner their service is normally one of, if not the biggest issue that they struggle with, myself included. Jamaicans as a whole need to understand the value of giving good service and how that standard will put us leagues above the rest. We are already amongst the most creative and talented people on this planet. A great casino or hotel can be built easily enough and technology can guide us as to where we need to go. Our infrastructure and planning need to be well thought-out. But if we master service, I don’t believe there is anything holding us back.

Las Vegas gets Chinn’s nod for the best place to gamble.

SO: Share with us a few of your favourite places to roll the dice.

MC: I don’t gamble much anymore because I get too caught up in it, but if I were to I’d say after all this time Las Vegas is still my favourite place to do so, and I’d just walk the strip and then stop at whichever casino speaks to me and find a poker room.

SO: The evening’s dress code is: Black tie. Whose label are you wearing?

MC: Tom Ford!

SO: Which cologne are you splashing?

MC: I don’t wear much cologne, believe it or not, but I’m going to go with Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim, cause that’s what I t’ief and wear!

SO: Which Appleton rum is being poured?

MC: Appleton Estate 21 on the rocks.

Appleton 21 Neat (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

SO: Who’s performing inside the club?

MC: That’s a good one and my taste varies! If we are going to a traditional club it would probably be Bruno Mars or Rihanna but if we doing it my way it will be a bunch of Trini soca artistes or deejays.

SO: Finally, what’s your personal credo?

MC: Live and let live.