Our 5Qs series is a chance for the SGN members to know more about folks in the community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do.
Category: Lifestyle
Singapore – Buenos Aires: Distance is in the eye of the beholder
Gonzalo arrived in Singapore in 2016 to open a commercial office for an international energy corporation here and have really enjoyed every day in the island ever since. He is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, a city for which he has served as the honorary representative of in Singapore since 2019.
Eating my way through Singapore
After a year in Singapore and eating at 255 restaurants and a total of 37 Michelin stars, Jon Lu, an software engineer from New York City shares with us his experiences in Singapore and rounds up his top eats in our gastronomic city!
AMA with Easy Arisarwindha, CFO of e-commerce marketplace Sociolla and Yi Jun Kwek, Co-Founder of organic baby food brand Little Blossom
You asked, they answered. Our March speakers for Coffee Connections, Easy and Yi Jun, address the questions attendants posed in the last SEA virtual networking session centered on Female Entrepreneurship and Leadership.
Singapore Off The Beaten Track
Think of city state Singapore and images of Marina Bay Sands and skyscrapers 🏙 comes to mind, but our sunny island is so much more than just a concrete jungle. In this series of photos, we explore pockets of nature in our little red dot that you may not have heard of! 🌱🌿🌳
Next Gen Food Tech Co-Founder Andre Menezes Shares His Personal Start-up Journey in Singapore
Recognising the untapped potential of the regional plant-based food tech industry, Brazilian-Italian Andre Menezes co-founded plant-based meat company Next Gen together with Timo Recker, founder and former CEO of LikeMeat. We speak to Andre to learn more about his personal entrepreneurship journey, how he met Timo and his views on the growth potential of the regional food tech industry.
Michael Nichols, Head of Innovation Consulting Asia-Pacific at Bosch, shares his Journey from the States to Germany to Singapore
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.
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.
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.
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 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!
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’.
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
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!
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 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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?
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!
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.
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)!
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.
“Singapore ah?” – What expats really think of life in the little red dot
Want to know what it’s really like to live in Singapore? Four expats spill the tea on what it’s really like to live in the sunny island-state.
Lockdown Cooking: For both circuit bakers and circuit eaters
In the very first 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! Over the next few months, 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. Dig in as she rolls out this month’s flavours: baking recipes. Start with the truly simple one-pan, rise to a cake made without an oven, then crank up the heat with a slightly more complicated braided beauty. The recipes here will entice both circuit bakers and circuit eaters!
Overcooked: F&Bs on coping with COVID-19
F&B businesses have taken a hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many experiencing a great dip in the number of customers due to increased social distancing measures. We chat with home-grown brands Sarnies and IRVINS as they share their experience as regional F&B players on coping with the new normal.
“Can everybody see my screen?”: 7 top tips for a fruitful WFH experience
Working from home (WFH) can be a daunting experience especially if you’ve just returned from overseas. But fret not, we’ve compiled top tips from your fellow SGN-ers to make your experience more rewarding.
5Qs with Nadia Ann Huifang
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!
Lights, Camera, Advice: Filmmaker Thomas Lim on Success in Showbiz and Life
Singaporean director Thomas Lim, Head of Sun Entertainment Culture Los Angeles, recounts his experiences as a filmmaker and shares how cheetah cubs in the zoo inspired him to realise his potential on the biggest stage in the world — Hollywood. Growing up in Tampines and having lived overseas for the past 20 years, Thomas says Singapore is still home no matter where he is.
6 Things We Will Not Take for Granted Again After Circuit Breaker Ends
As we continue adjusting to the new normal during the Circuit Breaker period, it has made us appreciate the little details in our daily lives. From dining out to exercising outdoors and travelling abroad, we look at six things we will never take for granted ever again.
Lessons from a circuit breaker
With the lockdown across borders around the world, overseas Singaporean Eve’s short trip back to Singapore for the Lunar New Year turns out to be her longest visit home in more than a decade. She shares her journey during these…
No limits: training like champs while staying home
With travel bans in place due to the global pandemic, it pains us to know that people are separated from their families and friends. With gyms and fitness centres closed, many of us are struggling to keep fit. Local professional athletes, Herlene Yu (triathlete), Radeem Rahman (pro-MMA fighter) and Ng Ming Wei (taekwondo athlete) are especially feeling the heat. These professionals share their experiences adapting to training in the new ‘norm’ and how you can adapt too!
Love Letters from the U.S. to SG
We know it has been a difficult time for everyone, with Stay-at-Home orders and travel restrictions around the world. For many of the members in our US network, they are worried and missing their loved ones back in Singapore. Hence, with Mother’s Day happening this month, we thought it would be a good time to invite some of our members to write a love letter and surprise their families in Singapore. Happy Mother’s Day!
5Qs with Pearly Tan
With travel bans in place due to the global pandemic, it pains us to know that people are separated from their families and friends. HOur 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 Parenting Tips during COVID-19
Arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have closed schools and embarked on home-based learning. Playgrounds and parks are also mostly closed. All these factors, coupled with the need to deliver work assignments effectively under the stay-at-home orders, make it an extremely trying environment for parents these days. Here are some tips for parents who need to balance working from home with their childcare responsibilities during this unprecedented time.
Love in the time of Covid
With travel bans in place due to the global pandemic, it pains us to know that people are separated from their families and friends. However, amidst these challenging times, here are some love letters from our overseas community to their loved ones in Singapore. Love truly knows no distance, and we all hope that the world will be reunited soon. Till then, stay strong everyone!
SG Social enterprises: making a mark beyond the red dot
Singaporean entrepreneurs are making waves of positive impact off the shores of the sunny island and into global waters where they continue to champion for the greater good. Dive deeply into the stories of passion-led organisations – Freedom Cups, Wateroam and Project Dignity – who are successfully expanding their scopes to the globe.
Recipe Ideas for Staying at Home
Many of us are starting to get into cooking our own meals this stay-home season – if you’re craving for some good sambal, laksa or even bubble tea from home, we’ve got you covered with these super easy, quick recipes that will surely impress your taste buds!
From Bak Kut Teh Porridge to Bak Chor Bee Hoon
Discover how Rosalyn Lee (better known as Rozz) preps her fabulous home cooked meals as she survives through 14 days of Stay Home Notice (SHN) alone.
Rethinking Normal
It rained yesterday evening – one of those tropical thunderstorms that leave the air feeling fresh and cool and the entire landscape looking washed clean, ready to start anew. The windows of my Stay-Home-Notice hotel room right in the heart of the city look out towards a balcony adorned with lavender-pink bougainvillea; in the distance, ancient trees rise into the skies, stately and serene. I’m not sure if these trees belong to the Istana grounds – but whatever the case, they are beautiful. Once in a while, I spot some bird of prey with outstretched wings coasting in the air, a dark speck against the steel-blue skies.
The mane attraction: Why the lion city is a shoo-in for entrepreneurs and their families
Despite having lived in Zurich and Los Angeles, learn why Anytime Mailbox co-owner, Marcel Buechi, regards Singapore as a prime destination for his business and family.
Moving to Singapore from the US? 6 things you need to know!
So, you’re thinking of relocating/moving back to Singapore. Whether it’s because of personal reasons or career opportunities, we have prepared this list to address the 6 important things you need to know before you start packing your bags!
Celebrating Chinese New Year in Argentina
Get to know Felicia Lim, a Singaporean based in Buenos Aires, who is passionate about freelance writing, recipe development, food photography, and portrait sessions.
Singapore Heritage Trails
Four Local Trails to hit your 10,000 steps goal!
10 Singaporean experiences you must try before 2019 ends
With only one more month left to the year (and the decade!) here are some ideas for you and your family to spend some quality time together when you’re back home in Singapore.
SGN EZ-link Card Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions for SGN EZ-link Card, in which you can store credit for use in Singapore's transport systems and various other services.
SHNtertainment Templates
Templates to keep you entertained while you are on Stay Home Notice!