From growing up in Oklahoma, to living in Ukraine and Germany, before finally moving to Singapore in 2020, Michael shares the incredible journey he's taken together with his family.
Category: Stories
A Boomerang Adventure: Chang Yin Hong’s Journey to Silicon Valley and Back Home
Having immersed himself in the cybersecurity industry for the past 10 years, Chang Yin Hong, currently a Cybersecurity Researcher at GovTech, shares his Silicon Valley experience and how he is applying what he learnt to broaden his technical capabilities in the public sector.
5Qs with Sarah Tan, Engineering Lead at Rec Room
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
The Power of Community
Why is building support groups and communities for founders more important than ever? Three global fund founders talked about the necessity of communities in a virtual event hosted by the Singapore Global Network.
Life on The Northern Fringes of the World: 3 Things You Should Know
In the second instalment of our Making Every Second Count series, we follow two Singaporeans embracing the big unknown and living life to the fullest in far flung parts of the world.
Alumni’s Guide to Japan: 4 Secrets to Perfecting your Move to Japan
In our third instalment of 'the Alumni's Guide to The Galaxy' series, Singaporeans Ng Yan Ting, Jorel Chan, and Derrick Lim share sage advice for navigating life in Japan.
Why I built Asia’s first gender lens VC fund
Virginia Tan champions gender lens investing for emerging Asia as she believes empowering women economically is both an untapped commercial opportunity and a driver for positive social change. This #IWD, the founding partner of Teja Ventures, the first gender lens VC fund in emerging Asia and founder of Lean In China, one of China’s leading non-profit platforms for women, shares why the She Economy is the next big thing you should look out for.
How Singaporean Music Director Lenny Wee Empowers Celebrities to Hit All the Right Notes
Ever wondered what it is like to work with celebrities like Jennifer Lopez AND direct a live band performance at the U.S. presidential inauguration ceremony at the same time? We speak to Singaporean Music Director Lenny Wee, the man behind Jennifer Lopez’s showstopping medley performance at Joe Biden’s Inauguration earlier this year.
The Medical Concierge Group CEO and Founder Daniel Choo shares his Start-up Journey and the Secrets to Succeeding in Indonesia
Recognising a gap in the private healthcare market in Singapore and Indonesia when it came to providing a one-stop reliable, ethical and high-quality medical concierge service, Daniel Choo established The Medical Concierge Group (TMCG) in 2013. Daniel candidly shares about his entrepreneurship journey, what he’s learnt from starting a business in Singapore and overseas, the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship and what it takes to succeed in Indonesia.
#IWD2021: Singapore’s Women Leaders Driving Change in China
Women have always been an important driver in economic development, especially in an ever-changing market like China. In conjunction with the #IWD2021 on 8th March, 企航新加坡 and Singapore Global Network had a chat with three Singaporean Women Leaders who are based in China, to share their stories and the opportunities and challenges for enterprises in China. Their experience as business leaders, unique insights and new perspectives on a market like China, demonstrates the strength and resilience of Singaporeans, as well as the success of Singapore enterprises.
5Qs with Susan Seah, Founder of The Koa Club
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
From Strength to Strength: How Life’s Triumphs & Tragedy Have Shaped Olaplex CEO JuE Wong’s Journey
Singaporean JuE Wong holds many titles: an indefatigable champion of women, a dedicated mentor, a doting mom and grandmom, and an accomplished 4-time CEO of global beauty companies. In celebration of Women’s History Month, SGN chats with JuE (pronounced Ju-Ee), now Chief Executive Officer and Executive Board Member at Olaplex Inc., on her remarkable journey that has shaped who she is today.
From Expat to Expert
Ever wondered about life as an expat in Singapore? In our new #FromExpatToExpert series, we follow Marcel, a French expat who is ready to kick off his new life in Singapore! Each month, we will update a new chapter and insight into his transition into expat life here. Enjoy!
Foundation for The Arts and Social Enterprise Founder Michael Tay On How the Smallest Act of Giving Can Transform the Arts Scene
In 2003, fuelled by a love for the arts and music and a passion for Singapore, Michael Tay, the then-Ambassador to Russia, commissioned Russian composer Vladimir Martynov to compose a symphony about Singapore. The symphony, now titled UTOPIA, has been recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under their LPO label and released worldwide in November 2020. But Michael’s passion for the arts would carry on in the later half of his career – as Founder and Director of The Foundation for The Arts and Social Enterprise, he has helped to connect many local artists to opportunities across the world. SGN speaks with Michael about how his passion has led him to build he bedrock for a thriving arts scene in Singapore.
Building Bridges with Music: How Russian Composer Vladimir Martynov Composed a Symphony Inspired by Singapore
Inspired by Singapore’s culture and identity, renowned Russian composer Vladimir Martynov accepted a commission by ex-Singapore Ambassador to Russia, Michael Tay, to compose a symphony in 2003. UTOPIA, which premiered in 2005 in Russia and performed in 2007 in Singapore, was most recently performed and recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) and London Philharmonic Choir in Abbey Road. The symphony will be performed live in Singapore at the Esplanade in 2022. SGN goes behind the scenes and speaks to Vladimir Martynov on his creative process in creating UTOPIA and his experience getting to know about Singapore’s rich culture.
Mythbusters: Debunking Singapore’s Misconceptions
We know what it is like to see Singaporean noodles on the menu and wonder just what on earth is that. In our #mythbuster series, we hope to debunk some of these strange misconceptions that people have of our sunny island! 🇸🇬
Meet our Expats: I now call Singapore ‘home’
From Bristol to Sydney to Toronto and New York, Kash Hasan’s exciting career in the events and MICE sector has allowed him to travel the world! Currently residing in Singapore, he shares more about witnessing and experiencing the genuine sense of community here, where to find his favourite hometown fish and chips, and what makes Singapore the ‘perfect destination for the MICE industry’.
The digital developing economy: Southeast Asia in five objects
This is part of “The Edges of Southeast Asia” project by Deloitte, the Singapore Economic Development Board and the US-ASEAN Business Council, which shines a light on the bright spots of creativity and innovation in the region. Looking at emerging 'edges' or customer segments, geographic markets or products that offer high growth potential opportunities in ASEAN, we begin with the rapidly growing digital economy.
A Taste of Home: Support some of our favourite SEA restaurants in the U.S.!
The Year of the Ox is here, and nothing speaks more to our hearts than an authentic taste from home. We reached out to our community and helped curate a list of Southeast Asian (including Singaporean!) restaurants in the U.S. to help you and family celebrate!
#couplegoals: Love Across Borders
As they saying goes, “there is only one happiness in life – to love and be loved”. With the pandemic season upon us, we know that there are many couples in long distance relationships missing each other. For this upcoming Valentine’s Day, we had a chat with Terrence, who heads the Singapore Airlines (SIA) office based in Shanghai, as he shares about his long distance relationship (LDR) with his wife, Anna! Trust us, this is a good story <3
A Reel Dream Come True: Oscar-winning Lighting Artist Roger Lee on His Disney Animation Career
Roger Lee has come a long way from Punggol, Singapore to his current residence in Arcadia, California. However, Roger's animation career wasn’t always smooth sailing. A father of triplets, he shares his experience working on some of Disney's biggest hits such as “Zootopia” and "Frozen", including setbacks, challenges, and sage advice for aspiring animation artists.
5Qs with Amy Pryke, Founder of Native Noodles in NYC
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
Why Google, Stripe and DBS built their engineering teams in Singapore
There has never been a better time for companies to catch Asia’s digitalisation wave from Singapore. The city-state has the capabilities to ensure that companies building engineering teams here are all set for regional expansion, according to representatives from Google, Stripe and DBS at a recent Singapore Tech Forum webinar.
A Singaporean’s Guide To Singapore
Think Singapore is just another urban concrete jungle? In this guide from the lens of a fellow Singaporean, you can find a list of establishments in Singapore, from parks to bars, that gives it “that little more soul".
My Great-Grandma’s Pineapple Tarts, A Yearly Tradition
With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, James Chia reflects on his family’s yearly tradition of making Nyonya pineapple tarts and shares his Peranakan great-grandma’s recipe for them.
Meet Ghib Ojisan: How A Backpacking Trip Led to Full-time YouTube Career in Singapore
It’s not every day that we get to meet a Japanese YouTuber based in Singapore. Yup, you already know who we’re talking about – in this edition of our Meet Our Expat Series, we have a candid chat with the 184,000 followers-strong Ghib Ojisan about his experience living in Singapore and what he has picked up from the city over the years.
From 3 to 120: How a Swiss innovation company built top-performing tech teams in Singapore
Poised for accelerated growth amidst COVID-19, the Singapore tech scene is thriving with innovation and set to become a regional powerhouse. We speak to Zuhlke — a Swiss global innovation and technology company – and their employees on the local tech scene and what makes Singapore a prime location for regional innovation as a tech hub.
From Myanmar to Singapore (and back): former A*Star researcher and consulting firm founder and MD Dr Myo Thida shares her incredible journey
In her decade-long journey from Myanmar to Singapore and back, Dr Thida has met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Nobel Laureate iconic politician, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, published over 10 international scientific papers and founded Myanmar-based consulting firm VigorZwe. We speak to her to learn a more about her journey and what it’s like to straddle Myanmar and Singapore.
Singapore Brands Going Overseas: Heritage Brands Gone Global
Growing up in an Asian household meant that you would most likely find all sorts of traditional balms and oils for various purposes in the back of your medicine cabinet. In this Singapore Brands Going Overseas series, we take a closer look at how heritage brands Chop Wah On, Lotus Leaf Brand and Three Star Brand have evolved their products and leveraged on digital technologies to expand their reach to the wider audience.
Bean There, Done That: Venezuelan Coffee Roaster Marian Aguilar Perks You Up with Good Coffee
For us, coffee is how we kickstart each day. For Marian Aguilar, coffee is her way of life – she runs a thriving coffee roasting and consultancy business in Singapore. In the second run of our Unusual Jobs series, we catch up with Marian about life in Singapore, her business, and staying connected to her Venezuelan roots.
Investing in The Right Hustle: How Koh Shiyan Is Tapping into SEA’s Potential
Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem has matured over the last 10 years with record deal sizes, an increase in exits, and a huge influx of venture capital into the market. We chat with Koh Shiyan, Managing Partner at Hustle Fund, about her experiences building NerdWallet in Silicon Valley, why she decided to go from operator to early-stage investor in Southeast Asia, and her belief in Southeast Asia’s founders.
Women in Tech: Uplifting Sisters in Cybersecurity
Magda Chelly has made it in the world of tech as a renowned cybersecurity consultant, and now she wants to uplift other women in the industry. In this edition of our Women in Tech series, we chat with her about her career, why she feels women need a role model in tech and her thoughts on the cybersecurity scene.
5Qs with Lyon Liew, Simulation Technical Director, Pixar Animation Studios
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
A Journey Away from Singapore…and the Turns That Took Me Back
After spending nearly ten years in the United States, Valentina made her decision to return back to Singapore.
Food For Thought: How Kausmo Redefines The Dining Experience
Ever wondered what goes on your plate? Kausmo (derived from the word “Cosmos”, referring to a system of thought), a dining concept launched in 2019, takes food for thought to the next level, with aims to spark conversations about practicing thoughtfulness and conscientiousness in the way we dine and live. We speak to young founders Lisa Tang and Kuah Chew Shian on how they’re redefining the dining experience.
Raising little travellers: Vaiva and Thea’s favourite kid-friendly spots in Singapore
In this Meet Our Expats series, we connect with Vaiva, who’s originally from Lithuania, and her daughter Thea of Raising Little Travellers on their life as an expat family in Singapore and their tips on where to go in the city for family fun!
Harnessing the Data Revolution: Madhu Shalini Iyer on Investing with Data Science
Growing up in Singapore as a teenager, Madhu Shalini Iyer shares her journey from being the Chief Data Officer at Gojek to becoming an investment partner in the Bay Area at Rocketship.vc. We chat with Madhu to learn how she is leveraging data science and tech to uncover rising companies across diverse sectors and identifying the exciting growth markets to venture into.
Indonesia’s Omnibus Law: A Magic Wand amidst a Global Pandemic?
Our story has the makings of a palace intrigue – a piece of breakthrough legislation meant to create jobs during the most difficult economic downturn in Indonesia’s modern history; a false announcement to distract the bill’s most vociferous detractors as they plotted mass demonstrations across Jakarta; a sudden decision by the Indonesian legislature to pass the controversial bill ahead of schedule, amidst a city-wide lockdown and road closures around the legislative building; and the eventual enactment of the Omnibus Law by President Jokowi, while the capital reeled from massive protests.
SG Junior Part 2: The little overseas Singaporeans
Last month, Lim Monica Devi spoke to parents to find out how they keep their Singapore spirit alive. In the second part of this story, she continues her journey and speaks to several Singaporeans living overseas and their children to find out just how Singaporean our little Juniors are.
From Singapore to Down Under: An Alumni’s Guide to Being the Wizards of Aus
In our second ‘the Alumni’s Guide to The Galaxy’ series, Singaporeans Ian Ling and Shamane Tan share their personal stories and insider’s tips to navigating the work and business landscape in Australia.
5Qs with TaP Music U.S. President, Wendy Ong
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
Thank You, Tech Forum Ambassadors!
The 3rd Singapore Tech Forum recently concluded, but our event ambassadors who supported and promoted our campaign across the U.S., UK, and Singapore will be here to stay. Ranging from tech leaders, engineers, entrepreneurs, VC partners and even podcast hosts, some of the ambassadors share their Tech Forum experiences!.
Singapore Brands Going Overseas: ‘Tis The Season to #SupportLocal
No matter where you are this Christmas, you can’t miss the festivities in the air. It’s the season of giving and one exciting affair we can’t miss is ripping open the presents on Christmas morning! If you’re scratching your head over what will make the perfect gift this year, we’ve curated just the list of local holiday gift ideas from Singaporean brands you must check out!
ICYMI: Singapore Tech Forum 2020
The third edition of the Singapore Tech Forum took place from 17th – 20th November 2020. This year’s forum was held virtually with short sessions and panels featuring top movers and shakers in tech, business and politics from around the world to share their insights on Singapore’s and the region’s tech ecosystem. In case you missed it, we recap on some of the highlights that happened during the event.
“Where are you from?”
22 years ago, armed only with a couple suitcases, Rebecca Bisset moved to Singapore as a ‘trailing spouse’ with her then young family in tow. She had grown up as an expat in different countries, so moving was something she was used to. As Editor in Chief of Expat Living Publications, she has now been helping other expats settle into Singapore for nearly 20 years. Read about her journey below.
Making Every Second Count: Living University Life to The Fullest
Believing that there should be no boundaries when it comes to chasing after her dreams, Nicole Anne Hia set off to South Korea to pursue higher education, spurred by her interest in studying international relations but also wanting additional global exposure and a regional focus in East Asian affairs.
SG Junior: The little overseas Singaporeans
Singapore is a country of immigrants. We are constantly welcoming newcomers to our shores, but we are also bidding adieu to many who leave to set up homes overseas with their foreign spouses or to pursue their careers. In the process, many Singaporeans take their children along, or have children born away from the island. How much do these children, “SG Jr.”, know about their parent’s homeland?
Meet Wendy Ong, the Singaporean woman who manages Hollywood’s biggest stars
Meet Wendy Ong, a Singaporean who manages Hollywood's biggest stars.
The rise of the third space: post-pandemic, flexibility is key to the future of real estate
With empty offices around the world and homes full of workers, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed our use of buildings. To understand new trends in the future of work post-pandemic, we reached out to Indonesia-based SGN member Joel Shen, whose law firm, Withersworldwide, provided a perspective on the real estate in the ASEAN region.
From Cambodia to Myanmar: Non-Profit Consultant Haanee Tyebally shares her unconventional journey in developmental work
In most developing nations, there is a strong demand for trained individuals to serve in the non-profit sector. Non-profit Strategy and Project Management Consultant Haanee Tyebally shares the unusual path that’s brought her everywhere from Cambodia to Myanmar.
5Qs with Community Builder and Radio Deejay – Emily Teng
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
Behind the Scenes: Singapore Tech Forum in the Making
Putting together a mega event like the Singapore Tech Forum requires painstaking preparation, seamless teamwork, and attention to detail. Michelle Loh, SGN’s Regional Director based in New York and a member on the organising team, offers her behind-the-scenes perspectives to help you navigate the event of the year.
In Code-nito Mode: Uncovering the Role of Tech for Public Good in Singapore
Technology has the power to radically enhance our lives. Previously based in the U.S., GovTech Singapore’s Deputy Director, Open Government Products, Li Hongyi and software engineer Janice Tan share their passion about the Tech for Public Good movement and what’s needed to ensure it continues to make a positive impact on life in Singapore.
Back to the Little Red Dot
When asked how long he has been in Singapore, Teymoor finds it a difficult question to answer. After all, he has had his first contact with our island from way back in 1993. Read about his journey back to the Little Red Dot after being away all this time.
5 Reasons why you should join the #SGTechForum
If you have not yet heard, the event of the year is coming to you soon! This year, we are bringing together the top movers and shakers in tech, business and government for out third and biggest tech forum yet! If you are still considering whether to join us, let us convince you why this is the event to round off your 2020.
Southeast Asia: The Next Growth Frontier for Tech Companies
Southeast Asia’s tech sector is thriving with increasingly connected consumers and a spike in businesses adopting digital solutions. We chat with Prithvi Rai, Founder and CEO at borneo and Forrest Li, Chairman and Group CEO of Sea Group, to find out what makes Southeast Asia and Singapore a growing market for tech.
Singapore: An Emerging Bright Spot for Tech Business
Singapore has experienced stellar growth in the technology sector, and it is beyond a commercial centre today. Global tech companies have set up regional headquarters here and are steadily building industry-leading product and engineering teams, and homegrown companies are flourishing with Singapore as a springboard for the region.
For SEA diaspora, advancing to a New SEA Non-Technical Startup Role
The dramatic rise in successful regional startup early-stage fundraising rounds has led to ever-increasing interest from SEA diaspora and foreign talent in joining the SEA tech scene. Read on to find out how SEA diaspora and foreigners scout and jump on the best opportunities.
5Qs with Filipino Expat and Start-up Founder Rudi Ramin
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
A City to Finally Call Home
Born in the US, his father a black man from Jamaica and his mother a white woman from Cleveland with Russian and Czech heritage, Triston has been acutely aware of racial differences since his childhood. Read about his journey as he finds a place where he finally feels comfortable enough to call home.
5Qs with Texas-based entrepreneur, leadership coach, and technologist Sarah Kim
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
5 Lessons from Chasing Dreams around the World
In the past 15 years, positive mindset and perseverance helped Anna Ratala pursue her career adventures across 3 continents and 5 countries. From Finland through Belgium, Germany and the U.S., Anna navigated a unique path, which finally led to her current job as CEO & co-founder of Zvook, an AI-powered audio advertising platform that started in Singapore.
What investors need to know about Indonesia’s Omnibus Law: Katadata Insight Centre Research Director and senior public policy specialist Dr Mulya Amri breaks it down
Katadata Insight Centre Research Director and Jakarta Property Institute Program Director Dr Mulya Amri is an Indonesia-based senior public policy and urban development specialist with over 20 years of experience working with government officials, businesses, and civil society groups through policy analysis, regional economic development, and city planning projects in Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, China, and the U.S.
From Silicon Valley to Singapore: Silvanus Lee On Returning Home for Tech
Technology has seen explosive growth in the past decade, with Singapore and Southeast Asia’s (SEA) tech ecosystem expanding rapidly on a global scale to unlock many growth opportunities. SGN chats with Silvanus Lee, Director of Twitter’s APAC Engineering Centre and Co-Founder of BasisAI, who went from living every techie’s dream – building and leading critical teams at Dropbox and Uber in California – to returning home to Singapore at the height of his career. Why did he make the switch? Read on to find out and learn how Silvanus continues to pave the way forward for the future of tech in Singapore and the region.
From Singapore to New York City: the Alumni’s Guide to Landing the Dream Job in the Big Apple
Global experiences are always a plus on any resume (or bucket list!) but how do you go about landing such an opportunity? In our new An Alumni’s Guide to The Galaxy series, we crack the code with our SGN community on insider tips when landing your dream job abroad.
Full-time CEO, Part-time Chef : Meet Serial Entrepreneur Federico Folcia
Ever wondered what it’s like to run several businesses at once? In the first of our series exploring the myriad variety of jobs in Singapore, SGN chats with Federico Folcia – full-time CEO & Founder of Crane, Managing Director at PowerHouse, and part-time Founder and Chef at Fork In The Jungle.
The Secret to Building Networks Quickly in a New Place (WFH Edition)
New to your environment? Whether you’re looking to make friends or grow a professional network, these tips will help you get ahead. P.S. Stay with us to the end for an Easter egg.
Marooned for 7-months: The Longest Trip Home
Eve shares how her short trip back to Singapore earlier this year for the Lunar New Year turned out to be her longest visit home in a decade. With a golden ticket in hand, she is finally back in Shanghai after spending 7 months in Singapore, and shares her journey back with her family.
Business and start-ups in Vietnam: Baker McKenzie M&A Practice Head Seck Yee Chung shares a veteran’s view
What is the start-up scene like in Vietnam? How do businesses navigate an ever-evolving regulatory landscape? Yee Chung sheds light on the dynamism of Vietnam’s business landscape and the opportunities present for investors looking to leverage opportunities in this emerging market.
Envisioning Tomorrow’s Workplace: Hiring Solution Start-up Workstream CEO Desmond Lim on Hiring with Tech
As COVID-19 accelerates future work trends, SGN digs deep into the new workplace normal and how behaviours, culture and skillsets are shifting. We chat with the CEO and Co-Founder of San Francisco-based hiring solution Workstream, Desmond Lim, on his success story from humble beginnings in the little red dot to pushing the boundaries of the future of work.
5Qs with NYC-based Singaporean and Tochi Snacks Co-founder Ian Seah
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
Global Talent Arms Race Intensifies in Asia: How Should You Be Prepared?
The future of work has recently accelerated with a few key trends: the increasing economic influence of Asia, the rise in the next generation of big tech companies in APAC, resulting in a large demand for global talent. What will tomorrow bring, and how can talent like you get ready?
The Stacked Guide for Foreigners Buying Property in Singapore
Looking to buy property in Singapore? Here is the full guide for foreigners looking to buy property in Singapore.
Women In Tech: Weaving in Data for Change in Asia
In this edition of SGN’s Women In Tech series, we chat with Aparna Saxena, the Chief Executive Officer of TORAJAMELO and Chapter Head of She Loves Data (SLD) Indonesia, on how she pushes to create and find meaning with data to empower other women in ASEAN.
Millennials of Singapore: Successful Entrepreneurs You Should Be Following Right Now
For some youths, their dream job is to be self-made bosses. For Kendra Liew, Founder of I Love Katfood, and Hong Kai, Co-Founder and CTO of Roceso Technologies, they have taken that step towards pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams – albeit a tough road they’ve had to navigate. Hear their personal stories on why and how they started, challenges they faced, experiences of starting businesses in Singapore, and why you should be following them right now.
From Anxiety to Action: Freelance Artist Afshan Shares What it’s Like to Live through a Pandemic in Texas
Join Afshan, a freelance artist and writer based in Texas, as she shares her experiences during the pandemic, and how the entire family coped through it all.
Building businesses in Thailand: Frost & Sullivan VP and Country Head Eng-Lok Koh shares an insider’s view
Eng-Lok Koh, Vice-President and Country Manager of Frost & Sullivan Thailand, gives us an insider’s view on on-ground business sentiments and shares his view on opportunities in Thailand.
Celebrate SG: Feeling Like Home Away from Home
This year’s National Day is unlike any other – it’s the first digital National Day Parade we’ve experienced! Whether you’ve had a downsized celebration with friends and family or tuned-in for a Zoom party, it’s the perfect time to reminisce the journey of our little red dot through the eyes of some of our overseas Singaporeans and local expat friends.
Worth it lah: a walk through the global Singaporean food trail
Singapore is a gastronomical city that is big on its diverse cultural influences and even bigger on flavour. We chat with our SGN friends living around the globe for the quintessential guide on the best Singaporean eats you must check out outside of the little red dot – hungry yet?
Re-imagining Media & Entertainment: Entrepreneurship in AI-generated Media
Synthetic Media leverages AI technology, and it will completely reshape the landscape of media and entertainment. Learn more from Arif Khan, CEO and Founder of Alethea AI, about some real-world use cases that the technology enables. 5 August 2020 / By Arif Khan…
Read More Re-imagining Media & Entertainment: Entrepreneurship in AI-generated Media
Giving back from the US to Singapore: Building a Home away from Home
From bringing together the community virtually to rallying help for local businesses, these volunteers help make our community a home away from home. With Singapore’s 55th birthday around the corner, we also asked them for their wishes for our little red dot.
An Unlikely Meeting: The Story of How a Girl from East Berlin and a Boy from Mumbai Met in Singapore
As we sing to the tunes of Home this month, Christine shares her heartwarming journey on how she came to make our sunny island home.
5Qs with F&B Entrepreneurs Pat Lau and Holly Ong
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know more about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
Pushing the envelope of innovation: Reshaping the future of fintech and payments
The adoption in fintech has accelerated in the past few months and will continue to do so in a post-pandemic landscape. We speak with Imran Hajimusa, GM & Head of payments platform at Silicon Valley Bank, on what the future of payments will hold and where Singapore stands. Married with three daughters, Imran’s fondest Singapore memories include enjoying seafood at East Coast Park with family and friends.
Lockdown Cooking: A Taste of Home
In the last of our three-part series on Lockdown Cooking, Lim Monica Devi, a Singaporean in Belgium seeks out the Singaporean community around the world to share a common love – food! This month, as we celebrate National Day, many countries are still practising some form of quarantine. With safe distancing in mind, Monica takes a virtual peek into their larders (which often has a second refrigerator) and gardens to uncover how Singaporeans living overseas dish out a plateful of home while away from the island.
Keeping Local Literature Alive: Children’s Books Author Gwen Lee Shares Her Reading List
Singaporean author Gwen Lee shares about her experience growing up in Singapore, and how she wondered why there were no HDBs in storybooks. Now based in the USA and as a writer of childrens' books with a local twist, Gwen shares her favourite Singaporean e-books for kids as young as 3, to adults.
A playlist of what to do this NDP 2020
Celebrate Singapore this National Day no matter where you are – here’s a compilation of the hottest hits that’s one for the calendars.
Women in Tech: Driving business with data
In this edition of our Women in Tech series, we speak to two tech leaders – Dr Megan Yao, head of advanced analytics at NTUC FairPrice, and Shaowen Ang, regional lead of seller operations and listings at Shopee – who are both leading teams to capitalise on data for organisational success.
A winning recipe: my Sleek entrepreneurial journey
Julien Labruyere is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Sleek, a fast-growing Singapore-based business incorporation and management startup. Find out how he built a business in Singapore and expanded his company to the region.
Taking the highway to Singapore’s runways
Behind the glam of fashion’s runways, pressing social issues are an ongoing stem from fast fashion. Brands are taking the highway into being more conscious and are committing to sustainable, green practices and actively championing for living wages for those in the production lines. We chat with local brands August Society, Purnama Outreach, Source Collections and Woonhung on their views of pushing for the greater good in fashion, and how Singapore has been a core part of that journey.
Lockdown Cooking: Beyond Borders
In the second of our three-part series on Lockdown Cooking, Monica Devi Lim, a Singaporean in Belgium seeks out the Singaporean community around the world to share a common love – food! She will be speaking to them about their journeys and joys during the global lockdown, including their favourite dishes to make and memories of the Little Red Dot. Get your forks ready as she dishes out this month’s flavours: international recipes from Italy, Greece, and India. And if you wish, of course you can adapt the recipes to suit your taste – just go easy on the chilli (or not)!
5Qs with Joanna Lau
5Qs with Joanna Lau - Joanna came to the U.S. to attend New York University 13 years ago. As the Founder & CEO of JEMMA, a fashion e-commerce handbag brand, Joanna shuttles regularly between Singapore and New York, where the brand is based.
Giving back from the US to Singapore – Tech for Public Good
When the coronavirus pandemic struck earlier this year, an extraordinary volunteering movement started. From 10,000 miles away, SGN’s community in the US stepped up in many ways to help Singapore battle the COVID-19 crisis. For Part 1 of this two-part series, we shine our spotlight on how the tech community leveraged innovation, creativity, user experience, and teamwork to address COVID-19.
Investing in the future – Carolyn Ng on how global biotech and diversity will change our world
As Managing Director of Vertex Ventures HC located in the Bay Area, Carolyn Ng leads an investment team to fund healthcare-focused opportunities globally. Passionate about biotech innovation, diversity, and gender equality, the former oncology scientist shares how her Singaporean roots and cross-border expertise add valuable perspective to her work with companies and investors.
Startup traps to avoid – building for Southeast Asia
This month, Brian Ma to focuses on what made his company still pass on great founders with creative ideas as they evaluate which companies to accept into the accelerator.
Racism coloured my childhood and I still fight against stereotypes today
Following a childhood in Hungary, and studies in the UK and Australia, moving to Singapore is when Trang finally felt like she belonged. The Vietnamese-Hungarian, who has made Singapore her home for close to a decade now, shares her struggles with racism growing up, and how she fights for greater diversity and inclusion today.
What If.
2020 is an unprecedented year for all of us. Some of us may be fearful, some optimistic. Some could be very anxious, and perhaps some excited. But no doubt 2020 is a year of learning, of survival, of trials and of successes. Hear from Harshika, as she shares snippets of her thoughts through the past couple months.
Remaining rooted to Singapore: “Where are you really from?”
Sharmishta is only 26 years old, but in this short amount of time, she has lived in nine countries, across 3 continents. She shares her rootedness to Singapore even though she has spent a majority of her life away from this island, her insights as a third culture kid moving around the world, and how being a global nomad steered her passion for international affairs and global governance.
Going green from the red dot: How a smartphone app is empowering social change
Singapore is a gastronomical city-state where enjoying good food is a shared culture but vegans may find it a challenge to find options that work for their lifestyle. Vikas Garg, founder of smartphone app, abillionveg that boasts a global community of vegans, shares his plans to change that and rally for more to adopt a sustainable lifestyle.
TraceTogether to #StaySafe Together: How a Smart Nation Tackles a Pandemic
Technology is transforming the way Singapore is combatting COVID-19. The outcome will prove to be pivotal in showing how a Smart Nation harnesses tech to minimise the effects of a pandemic.