Let's Talk, Singapore

The Philippines’ standing as an emerging startup hub has been bolstered by the recent doubling of  Manila’s startup ecosystem valuation. According to the 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, Manila’s startup ecosystem was valued at US$6.4 billion, nearly double the previous year’s valuation of US$3.5 billion. On this episode of Breakfast Special, Minette Navarrete, President, Kickstart Ventures a...

Singapore’s Gifted Education Programme (GEP) in primary schools is set to be overhauled to become more inclusive. This was announced during Lawrence Wong’s maiden National Day Rally speech. The school-based programmes for higher-ability learners, which now cater to 7 per cent of each cohort, will expand to take in 10 per cent, or 3,000 students a year.  There’ll also be after-school supplementary...

Daphne Tan, Director of Business Development, CMC Markets Singapore  discusses how markets are reacting to the latest dovish comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell who has set the stage for September rate cuts. Produced/Presented: Ryan Huang See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of dental care is a significant barrier for many people worldwide, leading them to delay or avoid necessary treatments, especially as one ages. Driven by a mission to ensure every Singaporean can smile confidently into their senior years, a passionate dental leader is transforming the industry with the 8020 Movement. This vision comes to life with the launch of the Advanced Implant Strate...

Chewing gum. Pencils. Blue Jeans. The name 'Tom'. What do all these seemingly random things have in common? Believe it or not: They are all banned somewhere. It seems like no matter where you go, there's always something surprising on the list of what's banned. Audrey and Ryan chat about some unconventional no-nos.   Presented by Audrey Siek & Ryan Huang  Produced and Edited by Audrey Siek Mus...

In an era of heightened economic uncertainty and geopolitical pressures, CEO turnover in the APAC region has surged, with Singaporean companies facing unique challenges. Despite global efforts to increase gender diversity at the executive level, female representation among new CEOs in APAC remains alarmingly low. We speak with Shoon Lim, Global DEI Lead at Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) , to ex...

In its Mid-Year Crypto Crime Report, Blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis says ransomware inflows have already surged to nearly US$460 million. Eric Jardine, Cybercrimes Research Lead, Chainalysis, reveals the extent of crypto crime levels this year compared to 2023; discusses emerging trends; and sheds light on how businesses are comping with ransomware attacks as well as whether law enforcement...

As AI rapidly transforms the global workforce, businesses face a critical juncture: adapt or fall behind. Microsoft's 2024 Annual Work Trend Index, created in partnership with LinkedIn, reveals that while employees in Singapore are eager to harness AI's potential, many leaders are struggling to keep pace. In this interview, we dive into : -the report's key findings, -explore how AI is reshaping hi...

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to deliver the keynote address as she accepts her party’s historic nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Her speech will represent her most exacting test yet in a dizzying month that rocketed her to the threshold of an historic presidency that could reshape American politics. More broadly, she’s proposing to restore the elusive...

We've all experienced this before: You're out for a meal with a group of friends, and the bill comes. How do you handle it when someone orders a steak and you just had a salad? Do you go for an even split, or do you request to pay for your own share? Audrey and Emaad share some expert tips on navigating those awkward moments, plus what to do when your friend picks a pricey restaurant.    Presented...

Alex Morris, CEO, F/m Investments shares his insights on what markets and investors will be looking out for as Kamala Harris sets out a broad picture of her policy vision at the Democratic National Convention and why the better odds have Trump in favour even though Harris is leading in the polls. He also dives into latest developments in the technology sector and how big of a rate cut markets are...

Like other sea turtles, hawksbill turtles are critically endangered due to the loss of nesting and feeding habitats, excessive egg collection, fishery-related mortality, pollution and coastal development. Currently, hawksbill turtles are protected by international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Migra...

When it comes to the Fed, the debate is not about whether policymakers will cut rates in September, but is about how much they will cut. Homin Lee, Senior Macro Strategist, Lombard Odier, shares his views on how the rate cut would affect Asian markets, and how investors should position themselves in the region. Presented and produced by Yeap Junrong   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Ever heard of "plogging?" It's a low-intensity but ecologically important activity that involves picking up litter while jogging or walking. It's a trend that first started in Sweden in 2016 and has also gained traction in Singapore. This is just one form of eco-friendly exercise that has been shown to mitigate the impact that one's physical activity, including nature-based exercise, has on the pl...

Over the last decade, Nanyang Technological University’s portfolio spin-off companies have a combined valuation of over $800 million and it is targeted to grow 10 per cent annually. It filed 953 Intellectual Properties or IPs from 2021 to 2023, a 70 per cent increase compared to the three preceding years. In the same period, NTU had 23 new spin-offs from the IPs and incubated 65 start-ups and team...

As Singapore introduced its fourth round of property cooling measures since December 2021, the HDB resale market faces new dynamics. Key changes include a reduction in the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for HDB loans and increased CPF Housing Grants for first-time buyers. With fewer flats reaching their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) this year, how will these measures impact buyer behaviour, market st...

All the talk among investors in recent times has revolved around rate cuts and how much the Federal Reserve will slash by come September.  In the meantime, the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium is nearly upon us and traders are bracing to hear from Fed Chair Jerome Powell in the hopes that his comments may help extend the recent market rally. So what can we expect on these fronts? Yeap Junrong spoke...

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will be selecting a new leader by September 27. This comes after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s surprise announcement that he will be stepping down. The 67-year-old veteran who took office in October 2021 says he was bowing out of the race to pave the way for a new leader to form a united LDP to make a fresh start to regain public trust, ba...

If you’re a vanilla lover, you’re in for a treat! Meet Singapore’s first and very own vanilla cultivator and processor on Mind Your Business. They’re all about bringing top-quality, sustainable vanilla right to our doorstep. Whether it’s the rich flavours in your desserts or their cool community projects, they are changing the vanilla game in Singapore. Dive into their story and discover what make...

From making you cry in movies to hyping you up during a workout: Music has so much power. It can change or make the whole feel of a movie, it has the ability to transport us to the past, and can allow us to recall fond memories. Audrey and Emaad listen to some of the different kinds of music and why the tunes we listen to can transform our activities, affect our mood and even improve our physical...

Demand for accountancy and related services continues to grow, but since 2018, the university intake of local accountancy students has fallen by over 10 per cent. This has been attributed to factors such as lower starting salaries, as well as long and unpredictable working hours.  And that’s why a fast-track route track had earlier been introduced for accountancy degree students who are interested...

Todd Rabold, Investment Management Partner at the Callan Family Office shares his insights on the significance of Bank of America’s latest aggregate credit and debit card data showing a 1% dip in total credit card spending per household in the week ending Aug 10, biggest point of disagreement between the bulls and the bears, whether Lineage's recent IPO presents a window of opportunity for investo...

Which full-time employee doesn't look forward to some much deserved and needed paid time off? That being said, there is a growing chorus of voices that would like their holidays away from the office to be expanded beyond a standard annual entitlement to include other facets of life. Think break-up leave, pet or "pawternity" leave and even leave that encourages employees to give up bad habits. Emaa...

As the PSLE English examination evolves with significant changes to the Oral component in 2025, one entrepreneur and a mother of four offers expert insights on this new development. With her centre’s impressive growth since 2015 and her deep understanding of effective communication, she will discuss the impact of the revised Oral format, share practical strategies for students and parents, and rev...

If someone asked you to describe your dream home, what would you say? Some want a bigger space, while others say they want a private property, or they want to live closer to the town centre. ERA’s latest report, called "My Dream Home Survey", has revealed that a significant majority of Singaporeans are ready to invest heavily in their dream homes, Audrey speaks to  Eugene Lim, Key Executive Office...