Steven T. Tan’s story is not one of instant success, but of dedication and passion. It began with a master’s degree in business from the prestigious Paris School of Management, but his first steps were taken not in boardrooms but in the vibrant hospitality industry.

From 1990 to 1998, he honed his customer service skills at the Howard Plaza Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, where through working in the hotel’s many divisions, he learned the art of true customer service.

His adventurous spirit then led him to Shanghai, China, where he was part of the opening team of the Barcelo Grand Hotel. In 2001, he returned home to the Philippines to take on the role of Regional Director of Marketing and Communications for FilBarcelo, handling external affairs for the group.

Joining SM in 2004, Steven started by managing operations at The Podium, SM’s joint venture with Singapore’s Keppel Group. His true impact came in 2006, when he was tasked to launch SM’s crown jewel, the SM Mall of Asia. His success led him to oversee the Premier Malls Division, encompassing not only the SM Mall of Asia but SM’s many iconic destination malls in the Philippines and in China.

In 2020, Steven’s leadership qualities were put to the test when he was appointed President of SM Supermalls. The pandemic presented unprecedented trials, but Steven navigated these with unwavering commitment to the well-being of his many stakeholders: the company’s employees and service providers, SM’s tenant partners and millions of customers. His intense collaboration with the T3 coalition of private and public sector partners to vaccinate majority of Filipinos and provide SM Malls as a venue, contributed largely to the early and safe rebound of the nation’s communities.

Steven’s efforts to steer the business through these tough times have not gone unnoticed. Numerous awards, including the UN Women’s Asian Pacific Leadership Commitment Awards, the Global Filipino Executive of the Year Award and Asia’s Most Influential Filipino stand as testaments to his impact. But for Steven, who spends his weekends visiting the malls with his mom and siblings, the real reward is seeing joy on the faces of friends and families as they experience the magic of SM Supermalls.

Today, with 89 malls in the Philippines and 9 in China, Steven continues to lead with humility, strategic vision and a genuine passion for making a difference – a champion of inclusivity, innovation and sustainability. To SM’s predominantly Gen Z employees, Mr. Steven Tan is an inspiration, a vital part of an exemplary organization in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific retail industry and a testament to the power of dedication, commitment to excellence and an unparalleled drive to succeed amidst life’s challenges.