The First Word: Why leadership must respect “purposeful presence” in the workforce?
Singapore’s corporate sector is currently navigating a shift in workplace dynamics that carries implications for long-term gender parity goals. While women held 25.5% of board seats in top SGX-listed firms as of mid-2025, the trajectory toward the national target of 30% by 2030 is meeting a formidable structural resistance. An emerging “ambition gap”, where 80% […]
Five data points HR should track for gender progress
Data plays a critical role in advancing gender equality. Without measurement, progress remains anecdotal and difficult to sustain. Across Southeast Asia, regulatory expectations and investor scrutiny are increasing, placing greater emphasis on transparent reporting. HR professionals must move beyond high-level diversity percentages to track meaningful indicators that reveal structural gaps. In regional organisations operating across […]
Five workplace policies that truly enable equity, not optics
Workplace equity has become a visible corporate priority, yet not all policies translate into meaningful change. In Southeast Asia, where organisations increasingly highlight diversity commitments, employees are quick to distinguish between symbolic gestures and substantive support. Policies that enable equity address structural barriers rather than simply promoting awareness. Across markets such as Singapore, Thailand, and […]
The First Word: Elevating mobility in crisis planning
The year 2025 has been marked by heightened volatility—from geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainties to abrupt changes in visa policies and widening skill mismatches arising from technological shifts. The pressure on organisations to manage talent has intensified. Many companies have invested heavily in business continuity planning, focusing on building robust systems and safeguards into their […]
Five leadership behaviours that support women through career transitions
Career transitions, whether returning from maternity leave, stepping into leadership roles, or moving across functions, represent critical inflection points for women in the workplace. Across Southeast Asia, these transitions often determine whether talent progresses or exits the organisation. While policies provide structural support, leadership behaviour plays an equally important role. In markets such as Malaysia, […]
The First Word: Rethinking how Malaysia builds for the future
What do we really want from work today? Stability? Flexibility? Meaning? Across Malaysia, these questions are quietly reshaping boardroom discussions, hiring decisions, and business strategy. Work has become more digital, more dynamic and yet, for many, less connected. As industries evolve and technology accelerates, one truth has become clear: the future of work is no […]
Five ways HR can move from gender intent to measurable impact
Across Southeast Asia, many organisations publicly commit to gender equality, particularly around International Women’s Day and broader diversity initiatives. Yet intention alone does not guarantee progress. While statements and pledges signal awareness, measurable impact requires consistent structures, accountability, and transparency. In markets such as Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia, gender participation in the workforce is […]
The First Word: Redefining leadership for APAC’s evolving workforce
Across the Asia-Pacific, leaders are being asked to deliver results in talent markets that are tighter, more complex, and less predictable. As workforce expectations evolve and competition for critical skills intensifies, traditional models of leadership are no longer sufficient. Increasingly, success depends not just on what leaders know, but on how effectively they build capability […]
Five approaches to building trust early in the employee lifecycle
Trust is formed early in the employee lifecycle, often before an individual completes their first few months in an organisation. Initial experiences during recruitment, onboarding, and early role integration strongly influence how employees perceive leadership, culture, and long-term credibility. In Southeast Asia, where relationship-building and stability are highly valued, early trust plays a critical role […]
The First Word: Why fulfilment is now a leadership advantage
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative force reshaping industries worldwide, with extensive applications especially within human resources (HR). From recruitment, administration and finance, dispute resolution and workforce planning, it’s well known that AI has the ability to change how HR teams operate and the quality of decisions they make. The big question is: even with […]
