After beginning her career in New York, Sequoia India & Southeast Asia investment advisor Anni Cai explains why she returned to Singapore and how Southeast Asia is a region loaded with growth potential.
Category: People
Next Stop, Metaverse: the Evolution of a Music Media Company
Bandwagon founder Clarence Chan tells us more about introducing Asian artists to global audiences through metaverse experiences.
5Qs with Kirstin Chen, Award-Winning Writer
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.
5Qs with Jane Shi, Character Designer and Illustrator
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.
A Singaporean Chef’s Recipe for Success
With a spoonful of drive, a dollop of hard work, a splash of opportunity and a bucketful of determination, Mathew Leong may well be on his way to his dream of opening a Michelin starred restaurant. Find out how a 13-year-old’s brush with a simple salmon dish fuelled him to the head chef position at Norway’s RE-NAA today.
5Qs with Nicholas Tang, Private Chef
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.
From flipping sneakers to minting women-led NFTs: Two-time 7-figure entrepreneur Lily Wu charts her startup journey
Sydney-born Lily Wu bootstrapped her first business at 16 and her second when she was barely out of her teens. Currently based in Singapore, the Southeast Asia Startup Partner Lead at Stripe is also a co-founder of WOW Pixies – the first NFT club to invest in women- and diversity-led projects – which sold out within three days of launching.
Why The World Needs More Software Engineers
Software engineering has the power to revolutionise every industry – yet there is a massive global talent shortfall. Stanford graduate Neo Kai Yuan founded Rocket Academy to address this gap by building the Stanford of coding bootcamps.
Women to Watch
This #IWD2022, we round up a list of women across various industries who achieved commendable and meaningful impact in their field and communities. Here’s to all the inspirational women we know!
How One Singaporean’s Multi-racial roots led to the birth of a Social Enterprise
Mirfie Chan, founder of Love, the Chans, shares how her experiences as a Singaporean immigrant, wife and mother raising a mixed-race Asian American family have led her to champion diversity and the birth of a social enterprise.
Making ‘A Sense of Home’: How filmmakers stuck in Singapore captured stories of Singaporeans in China, Oman and Switzerland
Producers Daniel Yun, Raymus Chang and writer-director Jerrold Chong share how they created A Sense of Home – six short films featuring individuals around the world – all without leaving Singapore.
5Qs with Josh Lee, Co-founder of LawTech.Asia
Know any International lawyers who are also accomplished dancers? Meet Josh, a Masters of Law student at UC Berkeley, co-founder of LawTech.Asia, and one of Singapore’s most prominent street dancers.
Meet Rebecca, a Singaporean actor and voiceover artist in London
As a teenage performer in school plays, Rebecca Yeo never imagined that she would one day be clinching roles in film and television or recording radio dramas, audiobooks and video games. She explains the drastic ups and downs of an actor’s life, and how living overseas has strengthened her Singaporean identity!
5Qs with Pudding Ibrahim, Hypnotherapist
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
Coming full circle: Singapore-born Simone Heng finally finds a sense of belonging
Simone Heng has grown up in Australia, studied in Switzerland, and worked in Dubai, but her life journey has circled right back to her country of origin – Singapore. She explains the sheer joy of earning her Singaporean permanent residency (PR), how it granted her a sense of belonging, and why human connection is so precious in the post-pandemic age.
Meet Ben, the Singaporean composer who broke into the inner circle of China’s music industry
Despite a late start in music, Benjamin Lim Yi has become a sought-after composer in China through sheer grit and relentless drive, writing for national events and blockbuster TV programmes. He recounts his beginnings as an outsider, and how this perceived handicap turned out to be his greatest strength.
Beyond nostalgia – Studio Juju ponders the future of Singaporean design
In a little over a decade, husband-and-wife duo Timo Wong and Priscilla Lui have garnered awards and international recognition for their progressive design thinking. Timo looks back on the highlights of their journey thus far and contemplates the possibility of Singaporean designers developing a collective identity.
A founder at 19, he is breaking barriers to opportunity and inclusion for migrant workers
Like most people, Sazzad Hossain initially thought giving back to society was something he would do after completing university and making a decent living. But personal interactions with migrant workers in Singapore highlighted their urgent needs and inspired him to found SDI (Social Development Initiative) Academy, a social enterprise that empowers lives through education.
Meet Colin & Yen Yen, a creative power couple promoting language learning through comics
Following the birth of their daughter, Colin Goh and Woo Yen Yen created Dim Sum Warriors as a playful and entertaining way to learn languages through comics. The Singaporean couple discuss raising their child in New York and Taipei, all the while helping her stay rooted in her cultural identity and develop a fearless curiosity towards other cultures.
Why this Grab product leader returned to Singapore after 20 years in the States
A veteran of the tech world, Jesse Lim has worked for Microsoft and eBay and launched products to millions of users around the world. After living in the States for over two decades, he moved back to Singapore – with his wife and two cats – to join Grab as their Head of Product (Consumer Experience & Platforms).
5Qs with Cheryl K, Singer-Songwriter and Actress
If you watched “Crazy Rich Asians”, you would have heard Singaporean Cheryl K singing at the opening title and ending credits! Find out more about her journey in the music industry in the U.S. and how she’s living the American dream.
Inside the Fast-Moving, High-Pressure Life at UK’s Biggest Fintech
From the cryptocurrency boom to the rise of buy-now-pay-later, the fintech industry is showing no signs of slowing down. Eric Chin, 28, shares about the rapid rise of his career at Revolut, a startup whose value has grown to a whopping US$33 billion.
Meet Nethra Murali: a Singaporean advancing workplace diversity in the US and beyond
Since she started working in the U.S. seven years ago, Nethra Murali has helped to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for thousands of her colleagues in the technology and aviation industries. Having grown up in the Tampines heartlands, as well as in five different countries, she credits how her multi-cultural background – as well as Singapore’s National Pledge and sambal stingray – have influenced her passion for building inclusive employee communities.
5Qs with Dr Li Wei, CEO of Transfong Ventures
Our 5Qs series is a chance for you to get to know about folks in the Singapore Global Network community, where we pose 5 questions to exciting individuals to find out more about what they do!
5Qs with the Monetary Authority of Singapore New York Representative Office
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.
From Army Captain to Recruitment MD: Andrew McNeilis Shares Expert Job Search Tips
Why do some candidates get selected over others? Andrew McNeilis, MD of Phaidon International APAC, pulls back the curtain and sheds light on what companies are looking out for, talent trends in Southeast Asia, and how you can gain an edge over the competition.
My Tidying Epiphany
It has been a long 2021, and while the new normal is setting in, it has certainly been a tiring journey and happiness seems just a little harder to come by. For overseas Singaporean Eve, her journey through the past year has been full of twists and turns, from getting stuck in Singapore and now back to Shanghai. She shares about how she Marie Kondo-ed a life that is meaningful, and most importantly - sparked joy.
Meet the Singaporean Furniture Mavericks Making a Statement on Contemporary Living
It’s not just about cutting-edge design, it’s a way of living. Joshua Koh, Julian Koh and Gan Shee Wen, CEO, CDO and CMO of Commune, Saurabh Mangla, Founder of ipse ipsa ipsum, and Nathan Yong, Founder of Folks Furniture and Grafunkt, tells us how they built an industry presence, their design philosophy, and how they have integrated retail and online experiences as Made With Passion brands.
Meet Vanessa Tan, the Tech in Asia Journalist turned Xiaomi Marketing Maestro
When Vanessa Tan joined the founding team at Tech in Asia as a journalist, she never expected she would one day be running her own team at Xiaomi. Vanessa shares how she pivoted from being a journalist at Tech in Asia to marketing director at Xiaomi, and her experience navigating cross-cultural teams in China and Indonesia.
Going Green from the Red Dot: How Vikas Garg is Empowering Sustainable Consumption with abillion
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.
A taste of home away from home: three food entrepreneurs finding success in the US with SG tastes
Indelibly interwoven with the story of Singapore is the story of our food.
The Struggles of Two Generations in Singapore
Caught between his parents’ traditional expectations and new opportunities offered to him as a young adult, Thomas Lim took the latter path, living around the world over the past 20 years. Now he’s back to honor his late father and early years in Singapore with a new film “The Fourth Sister” that examines the struggles between two generations of Singaporeans amidst heart wrenching family tensions and spectacular dance performances.
5Qs with Zhang Jingna, Fashion and Fine Art Photographer
From air rifle gold medalist to Forbes 30 Under 30 fashion photographer, Zhang Jingna has travelled the world to pursue passion and creativity. Acknowledged by the likes of Vogue Japan, Harper’s Bazaar China, and even master director Guillermo del Toro, she shares her inspiration, journey, and things she loves.
Discovery. 发现. Découverte.
Born and raised in Singapore, Juliette explores the world with curiosity and wonder, values instilled in her from growing up immersed in the multiplicities of the city-state she calls home.
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.
Singapore Repping with Nigel Stanislaus
What is your childhood dream? Are you living it now? Nigel has been living his dream in various cities around the world – Melbourne, Sydney, then New York, and finally now making Melbourne home. Being a judge on Asia’s Next Top Model, working with faces like Bella Hadid and Adriana Lima are just some highlights of his career thus far! Read all about his exciting journey.
56 Reasons To Love Singapore
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!
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.
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!
The Case for Sustainable Business
This World Health Day, The Sustainability Speaker Susanna Hasenoehrl shares how digital farming may hold the answer to securing ASEAN’s agricultural future by helping farmers to thrive and feed the world, while protecting the planet.
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.