As we celebrate our sunny island turning 56, here are a list of 56 things that our SGN community loves and miss the most about our little red dot! Whether you are an overseas Singaporean missing home, an expat living in our sunny island, or just a fellow patriotic Singapore, thank you for sharing with us all the reasons why you love SG!
Category: People
5Qs with Yiying Lu, Award-Winning Artist, Food Emoji Designer & TEDx Speaker
From the Twitter Whale and Dumpling Emoji to Disney Shanghai Mickey Mouse, Yiying Lu creates iconic brand designs which transcend linguistic barriers and enchant a global audience. She shares inspirations behind her new art piece created for Singapore’s 56th birthday celebration.
Chasing Passions: From Paris to London to Hong Kong and back to Singapore
As our nation turns 56 this year, we put the spotlight on the exciting journeys fellow Singaporeans chasing their dreams. Laura Peh has come a long way, after stints at many different cities, she is finally home, and through cinnamon art stories, is aiming to make a positive difference in a child’s life. Read about her journey!
What is a home, truly?
As our nation turns 56 this year, we shine the spotlight on the exciting journeys of fellow Singaporeans chasing their dreams. Krithi Roy has come a long way since she left Singapore back in 2011.She pens her thought about being Johannesburg, South Africa and her exciting plans for the year ahead.
Together, as an overseas Singaporean
As our nation turns 56 this year, we shine the spotlight on the exciting journeys of fellow Singaporeans chasing overseas dreams. Suzanne has been living in Hong Kong for more than 10 years, and given the proximity of the 2 cities, has always been close to home. However, with the pandemic in place, the National Day holidays took a turn. Find out how she remains close to home, even from miles away. She also has a special NDP song to encourage Singaporeans during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Cultivating Meats with Science: How Shiok Meats’ Founder Ka Yi Ling Grows Sustainable Seafood with Cell Technology
When we think of seafood, we think of shrimps, crabs, and lobsters freshly caught from the ocean. At Shiok Meats, chief technical officer and co-founder Ka Yi Ling leads a team of scientists to grow sustainable and environmentally-friendly crustacean meats by cultivating stem cells in a lab tucked away in Singapore.
From Singapore to Space: How NASA Research Scientist Gang Kai Poh Landed His Dream Job
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to do important work at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA. That’s what Singaporean scientific researcher Poh Gang Kai discovered when he was hired by NASA to work at the Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland. His role is studying the space environment on Mars so that humans can, as one famous television show proclaimed, boldly go where no one has gone before.
Banking on Accessible Art: How Aleksandar Abu Samra Co-Founded the World’s Largest Network of Everyday Art Galleries
Making art accessible in urban cities like Singapore is all about maximising accessibility to art, ArtWallStreet is a newly founded start-up that works with real estate partners to connect art creators and collectors. Co-founder Aleksandar Abu Samra is the urban technologist who runs the start-up with his partner from the real estate industry.
One Community, Many Inspiring Stories
Jennifer reflects on her journey in the Singapore Global Network and shares 3 insights gained from her numerous community interactions.
5Qs with Elisa Djuhar, MBA Candidate at Harvard Business School
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.
Sailor, Architect, 7-time Serial Entrepreneur: Meet Co-Founder and CEO of German Entrepreneurship Asia Claus J. Karthe
What does it take to propel your start-up from a local operation to a global one? Meet Co-founder and CEO of German Entrepreneurship Asia, Claus J. Karthe who accelerates cross-border start-ups between Germany and Asia. Claus shares his take on the unique characteristics of Southeast Asia’s start-up scene, the sectors and markets to watch, and how his unabashed passion for sailing has taken him around the world.
Meet Susanna Hasenoehrl, The Sustainability Speaker Drawing Up Future-Ready Solutions for Environmental and Social Causes
In Southeast Asia, where extreme weather is common and climates vary, digital farming solutions are powerful tools in any farmer’s arsenal. So, what’s holding farmers back from adopting these tools? In this Sustainability in Focus feature, we chat with The Sustainability Speaker, Susanna Hasenoehrl, to understand how her deep professional experiences – in the digital, mobile and agricultural industries – have shaped her understanding of sustainability. She also reveals how digital farming may hold the answer to securing ASEAN’s agricultural future and how Yara International is shaping up to help farmers thrive and feed the world, while protecting the planet.
ZumVet Founders Athena and Grace: Why Telemedicine May Be the Answer to Your Pet Care Woes
Video consultations for your pets? Athena Lee and Dr Grace Su, founders of Singaporean start-up ZumVet, shares their motivations for starting veterinary telemedicine solution and ZumVet’s mission to provide affordable and accessible veterinary care for all pet owners in Asia.
Tech Entrepreneur Angela Conroy: on Mid-Career switches and Empowering Minorities
The desire to improve traditional and cumbersome processes inspired Angela Conroy, Co-founder and CEO at Notarum, an API led enterprise SaaS solution, to create a business tool that automates due diligence workflow and make a breakthrough as a woman leader in the tech sector. In this edition of Women in Tech series, we chat with Angela on her mid-career switch in becoming a tech entrepreneur and her unyielding commitment to pay it forward by championing others.
From Clementi to Carnegie: Violinist Siow Lee-Chin on Nurturing the Next Generation of Musicians for Success
Siow Lee-Chin has performed in leading concert halls across the world with acclaimed orchestras and maestros. Beyond the technicalities of being a musician, Lee-Chin believes that the reason behind her success is a holistic combination of the heart, mind, and fingers. A violin professor at the College of Charleston for the past 20 years, Lee-Chin is currently visiting home in Singapore. She will be one of the judges for the Singapore Raffles International Music Festival in August 2021. We talk to Lee-Chin about her journey in classical music, including the numerous adversities she faced along the way, and how her pedagogical approach was inspired by her late father’s teachings.
How HUONE Founder Evon Blomstedt Defied Gender Stereotypes to Build Her Empire
After surviving a tough childhood, Evon Blomstedt left her home country of Malaysia at the young age of 19 for Europe. Over the course of the next decade, Evon became a woman entrepreneur and battle-hardened business owner of HUONE, a creative business meeting and event venues operating across Finland, Singapore and Denmark.
From San Francisco to Singapore: Finding Authenticity in a Global City
Back in January 2020, before Covid hit, Emily Fang, a Taiwanese American from San Francisco was travelling Southeast Asia but eventually decided to stick around to explore the tech hub here. Since then, she has been loving the experience and we speak to her to find out what she loves about our city!
5Qs with Merissa Jane Lee, Electric Somewhere Company
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.
Day in the life of a Diplomat: Meet Singapore’s Ambassador to Indonesia Anil Kumar Nayar
Ever wondered what a day in the life of a Diplomat is like? SGN chats with Anil Kumar Nayar – Singapore's Ambassador to Indonesia.
The Defiant Filmmaker
Many parents wish that their kids would follow in their footsteps, but not Eric Khoo. The veteran filmmaker wanted his son to go on a more conventional career path, but Edward applied without their knowledge, and eventually went to New York to study film. Now a graduate from New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts and a recent returnee to Singapore, Edward shares his journey as a filmmaker thus far.
The Crisis of our Generation: Opportunities in the New Economy
SGN's Finance Venture Series is a virtual dialogue, which aims to give a distinctive outlook on the finance landscape in Singapore and the region, through the perspectives of industry experts and thought leaders.
5Q with Dr Sun Xia, President of the Nanyang International Club
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.
Stripe APAC Business Lead Noah Pepper Shares Why Singapore is a Magnet for Tech Talent
Noah Pepper, APAC Business Lead of Stripe, tells SGN his reasons for relocating to Singapore during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and reveals his plans on navigating this new chapter for himself, his family, and the business.
Home Away from Home: How Gillian’s Relocation to Bali Strengthened Her Career and Body
Beyond its reputation as a choice holiday destination, Bali is an island rich in culture and tradition. For Gillian Goh, Bali is where she’s able to pursue her passions in fitness, wellness and female empowerment through the very digital platforms she’s created herself: The Lady’s Lair and Bali Fitness Travel.
Singapore Global Network recommends – DIY Geylang Food Tour!
Ask any Singaporean where to get good food in Singapore and Geylang would definitely be one of the top contenders. So, in true Singapore spirit, Team SGN brought our friends from Wonderlust, on a Geylang food tour! Read to find out what were the 5 delicious food spots we brought them too!
Coming Full Circle to Build a Regional Tech Hub in Singapore
Craig Gravina recognised Singapore’s potential as a health innovation centre during the swine flu and now again with the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to a place that captured his imagination more than a decade ago, and this time he is recruiting talented professionals to build a health tech hub in Singapore.
5Qs with Cherie Seah, Asian Doula and Birth Photographer
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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’.
#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!
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.
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.
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!
“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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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)!