But for Chang Yun Chung, founder of Pacific International Lines (PIL), staying at home isn't an option. Despite handing over the role of executive chairman to his son, Teo Siong Seng, earlier this year, the centenarian Singaporean insists on going into the office every day.

"It's my habit," Chang told CNBC in a recent episode of "Managing Asia."

As chairman emeritus of PIL — a title honoring his contribution to the 51-year-old company — Chang said he visits the firm's Singapore headquarters daily to run through its operations and check in with every department.

"Every day, I write down all my activities in my diary, everything," said Chang. "Every department comes to see me."

For him, it's a way of keeping his mind active and staying in touch with the company he set up in 1967 with two second-hand ships.

But routine is just part of it. Chang is also guiding Teo as he assumes greater responsibility for what is one of the world's top 20 shipping companies and its 18,000 employees. Teo said he consults with his father twice a day — once in the morning and once after lunch — to gain his insights and learn more about his leadership style.

That mentoring has proven vital to Teo as he's risen up the ranks at PIL, particularly with regard to managing his temper in high pressure situations.

"When I was younger, I was more bad-tempered, so I was more (of) a hard leader," said Teo. "But my father taught me one thing, in Chinese, it's 'yi de fu ren' — that means you want people to obey you, not because of your authority, not because of your power, or because you are fierce, but more because of your integrity, your quality, that people actually respect you and listen to you."

"So, 'yi de fu ren' is a very difficult thing to do, but I think I'm slowly learning it."

According to cnbc