Five strategies for attracting Gen Z talent in Asia
The landscape of workforce recruitment is rapidly evolving, with Generation Z emerging as a critical demographic transforming organisational talent strategies across Southeast Asia. Born between 1997 and 2012, this generation brings unique expectations, digital fluency, and distinct workplace values that challenge traditional recruitment approaches. As organisations in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines […]
The First Word: Why human skills matter in a tech-driven world
Some of the most influential professionals I’ve met in recent years didn’t come from finance, consulting or luxury initially. They began their journeys in hospitality—welcoming guests, managing teams under pressure, and learning to listen beyond words. Today, they’re leading change in industries that, until recently, wouldn’t have imagined hiring them. What’s happening isn’t a coincidence. […]
The First Word: Closing the AI talent gap for a future-ready workforce
As artificial intelligence (AI) makes ever-greater inroads into organisations’ operations, closing the AI skills gap has become crucial to embrace the opportunities that such technologies bring while managing its risks effectively. To acquire the right talent quickly, some companies choose to leverage AI-proficient data scientists from within the organisation. While this may be a short-term […]
The First Word: What middle managers really want – privacy
As organisations across Asia adapt to hybrid work and evolving collaboration norms, one group is often left out of the workplace design conversation: middle managers. Positioned between leadership and teams, they juggle competing demands, manage sensitive information, and operate under constant pressure to perform—yet their specific needs are frequently overlooked. While leadership often emphasises visibility […]
The First Word: Can coaching be a game-changer for businesses in Asia?
Companies across Asia are facing an alarming leadership crisis, one that’s directly impacting their bottom line. With turnover rates climbing and employee disengagement on the rise, businesses that neglect leadership development are losing millions in hidden costs. Managers are key to aligning employees with the company’s goals, setting expectations, clearing obstacles, and helping teams navigate […]
The First Word: Training and growth as key job factors
Nearly a quarter of the workforce (24%) has quit their jobs due to the lack of development opportunities. Randstad Singapore has released further data from its 2025 Workmonitor survey, covering 750 locally-based employees and job seekers. The study found a significant gap between employees’ desire for training in technical skills, especially in artificial intelligence (AI), […]
The First Word: Strategic shift for HR, business leaders and managers
The 2024 Graduate Employment Survey in Singapore[1] revealed that 87.1% of graduates secured employment within six months of completing their final exams, a slight drop from 89.6% the year before. While the difference may seem minor, those of us working closely with young professionals recognise a deeper trend: many graduates are entering the workforce with […]
Five methods for delivering cross-cultural training
In Southeast Asia’s diverse business landscape, effective cross-cultural training has become an essential component of organisational development. With countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines each hosting unique cultural nuances, HR professionals face the challenge of equipping employees with the necessary skills to navigate these differences successfully. The region’s rapid economic integration […]
The First Word: When strategy fails, it’s usually not the plan—it’s the people
In over two decades of helping organisations implement strategy across the region, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern: businesses rarely fail because they lack good ideas. They fail because people aren’t aligned behind those ideas. Singapore is a perfect case in point. With over 400,000 registered businesses and a population of just under 6 million, there’s […]
The First Word: How Gen Z entrepreneurs redefine leadership in uncertain times
Singapore’s economy, once celebrated for its stability, is facing a new kind of test. Inflation remains sticky, living costs have continued to climb, wage growth is uneven, and younger professionals face a more precarious future than previous generations. As companies adjust to a post-pandemic reality marked by inflation, digital disruption, and evolving workforce expectations, a […]
