New "INSEAD for Impact" executive programme this June in Singapore

- Three-day executive forum-style programme for leaders, high potential executives and teams to deliver real impact

 

INSEAD has launched INSEAD for Impact (IFI), a three-day immersive executive forum-styled programme designed to be practice-led, future-facing and data-driven. It aims to help leaders and strategy teams turn strategic insight into executable action, and aligns with the Asia Campus' 25th anniversary celebrations by exemplifying INSEAD’s legacy of pioneering leadership development in Asia.

At a time when leaders are overwhelmed with disruption, geopolitical uncertainty and competing advice, IFI shifts the focus from understanding what is happening to determining how to make change happen. By combining faculty insight, industry perspectives and collaborative working sessions, the programme enables participants to translate emerging trends into practical strategies and prioritised actions. 

IFI is deliberately structured to move beyond analysis to execution, supporting leaders as they understand the forces reshaping business, develop practical, prioritised plans for change and build the personal and organisational resilience required to sustain execution. 

Sameer Hasija, Dean of Executive Education and Dean of the Asia Campus at INSEAD said: “By combining practice, future-facing perspectives and data-driven rigour in an immersive format–the INSEAD for Impact programme helps organisations move from knowing what must change to actually making change happen.” 

Narayan Pant, Programme Director of IFI and Professor of Management Practice at INSEAD added: “Today’s leaders live in environments that change constantly and unpredictably. Their challenge, then, is to quiet the noise, focus their attention on what really matters, and then act on it. 

"This programme offers leaders focused time and space to understand what matters to them strategically, deploy AI tools that can help them, and practice leadership approaches designed for a new era.” 

The inaugural IFI session will take place from 22–24 June 2026 at the INSEAD Asia Campus in Singapore. Participants can expect:

 Twice-daily plenary sessions led by INSEAD faculty and external thought leaders to analyse key trends and forces 

 Focused working sessions where participants collaborate in smaller groups to develop actionable responses to key trends with relevance to the specific content pillar. 

 Peer benchmarking and exchange, enabling participants to learn from diverse industries and leadership contexts 

Content pillars: 

 Disruption & strategy: Build smart strategies to navigate the inevitable disruptions affecting your business. 

 AI in action: Better leverage AI within your teams to enhance strategic decision-making and build robust processes for your organisation. 

 Leadership development: Develop a practical framework for development for the evolving nature of leadership skills needed to drive change effectively.

Details

Preferential team rates are available.

View the INSEAD for Impact video at https://youtu.be/ZScj3i7ToUo

Visit IFI or contact the programme team at IFI_Contact@insead.edu

Singtel launches TikTok masterclass for SMEs

Singtel has launched a TikTok masterclass – a brand-building and e-commerce enablement programme, aimed at helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) strengthen their digital presence, connect with customers more effectively, and capture growth opportunities in the digital economy.

Developed in partnership with SIM Academy, the masterclass will equip local enterprises with practical skills to create impactful content, leverage social platforms for business growth, and navigate the opportunities and risks of social commerce. The initiative is supported by SkillsFuture Singapore. Eligible participants from qualifying SMEs can get up to 90% funding for this programme.

Participants will receive hands-on training in content creation, livestream selling, e-commerce activation and cybersecurity – critical capabilities in today’s fast-evolving, mobile-first marketplace. Participants will also benefit from post-workshop support, including engagement with retail merchants to aid e-commerce transition and potential co-marketing opportunities.

Ng Tian Chong, CEO of Singtel Singapore, said, “With Asia’s young, mobile-first population and growing appetite for social commerce, it’s vital that our SMEs are equipped with smarter, faster ways to reach their customers. Singtel is proud to provide SMEs with the digital tools, platforms and training to grow and compete in today’s connected world. Our new TikTok Masterclass is the latest in our series of efforts to help SMEs achieve more in the digital economy."

Ho Seong Kim, CEO of SIM Academy added: “At SIM Academy, we focus on delivering applied, outcome-driven learning through learner-centric course design. The TikTok Masterclass reflects our commitment to equipping businesses with practical skills for their business outcomes in today’s fast-changing digital economy.”

The three-day TikTok Masterclass includes three key components: 

• Training: Learn content creation, TikTok shop setup, and social selling techniques tailored for business growth on social platforms. 

• Application: Gain practical, hands-on experience at Singtel’s TikTok Creator House, located at its 313@Somerset flagship store. Participants will get two hours’ complimentary use of the professional-grade studio to create and livestream content in a simulated selling environment. 

• Cyber awareness: Develop an understanding of cybersecurity best practices for digital marketing and TikTok, to ensure safe and responsible online engagement. 

As of 2023, 82% of SMEs in Singapore had adopted at least one digital solution, with 91% having started their digital journey – leading the Asia Pacific region. Despite this progress, fewer than half report fully successful implementation, underscoring the need for continued guidance and support.

This masterclass is part of Singtel’s commitment to help SMEs digitalise, innovate and grow. In September 2023, Singtel introduced Cyber Elevate to help businesses bolster their cyber resilience, followed by the SPEED programme in April 2025, which supports SMEs in digitalising their operations and aligning them with sustainability goals.

As a SkillsFuture Queen Bee, Singtel plays a pivotal role in enabling enterprises – especially SMEs – to upskill, digitalise and innovate. Its end-to-end solutions – spanning mobility and connectivity, to cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT) and collaboration tools – are tailored to evolving business needs, helping SMEs scale sustainably. 

Details

The programme fee is S$3,000 per participant (before GST), with up to 90% funding available for eligible businesses under the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs programme, supported by SkillsFuture Singapore. To qualify, companies must meet the following requirements: 

• Be registered and incorporated in Singapore 

• Have a minimum 30% local shareholding by Singapore citizens or PRs 

• Have an annual sales turnover of not more than S$100 M or employment size of fewer than 200 employees 

Singtel plans to conduct 24 masterclasses over two years, with each class accommodating approximately 15 SMEs. Businesses interested in the programme can register their interest at https://www.singtel.com/business/smb/solutions/tiktok-masterclass

Improve cybersecurity awareness with ESET training in Singapore

ESET, a global cybersecurity solutions provider, has launched ESET Cybersecurity Awareness Training in Singapore. This online resource is designed to educate, test, and improve the cyber resilience of employees.

With this offering, ESET responds to one of the main problems for business owners — low cybersecurity skills among employees that can lead to costly breaches and reputation losses. At the same time, ESET Cybersecurity Awareness Training helps organisations meet compliance and insurance requirements. According to ESET, 68% of breaches involve a human element, social engineering or an error, while employee education is the No. 1 factor that reduces the cost of a breach.

The launch comes at a critical time as Singapore’s critical infrastructure continues to face persistent threats from advanced attacks that could lead to operational disruptions, economic losses, and loss of trust in Singapore’s digital ecosystem. With higher incidence of business email compromise (BEC) attacks reported by small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) than regional peers, it is becoming increasingly essential for businesses here to bolster their cybersecurity posture to defend against the expanding threat landscape, ESET stated.

“At ESET, we believe that building a cyber resilient organisation starts with well-informed employees,” said Parvinder Walia, President of the Asia Pacific region at ESET. 

“Our Cybersecurity Awareness Training is designed to change behavior through interactive content, gamification, and real-world cybersecurity insights. Backed by over 30 years of research and hands-on training expertise, it equips employees at every level with the knowledge they need to stay secure.”

Businesses can reinforce the training using realistic phishing attack simulations via a phishing simulator. This tool helps organisations test their employees with an unlimited number of phishing tests using hundreds of regularly-updated templates, or create their own simulation. Employees can thus be tested on real-world scenarios while companies can adjust their training plans based on the results. 

Key features of ESET Cybersecurity Awareness Training include: 

- Interactive training: Uses gamification and real-world scenarios to make learning engaging and impactful. 

- Phishing simulation: Allows deployment of realistic phishing campaigns using prebuilt or custom templates. 

- Smart reporting and compliance: Real-time tracking, dashboards, and detailed reports to monitor progress and meet compliance needs. 

- Regulatory alignment: Supports requirements such as Cyber Essentials Mark, GDPR, PCI DSS, and NIS2. 

An easy-to-use dashboard gives IT admins an overview of available courses, statistics about employees’ training progress, and phishing campaign simulation results. Admins can also organise employees in customisable groups so they can prepare campaigns and training enrollments tailored to the needs of both employees and their superiors.

ESET has also reduced all necessary IT administration duties typically associated with employees’ training to a minimum. The deployment is easy and seamless thanks to deep integrations with many popular third-party, cloud-based services, and a full API. Whether employees are using learning management systems (LMS), single sign-on (SSO), customer relationship management systems (CRMS), or human resource information systems (HRIS), ESET can sync with businesses’ existing workflows. 

All these features follow the ESET commitment to a prevention-first strategy that minimises the attack surface and reduces the complexity of cyberdefence. ESET Cybersecurity Awareness Training covers most human-related attack vectors, and its smooth deployment and management help to keep cybersecurity simple.

Explore

Find out about ESET Cybersecurity Awareness Training features, capabilities, and management options at https://www.eset.com/SG/business/solutions/cybertraining/

BLINK Design Group is going places

BLINK Design Group is broadening the horizons of its team through a new programme of travel grant ‘rewards’ and talent swaps with likeminded industry innovators. 

The inaugural S.W.A.P. programme, a six-week cultural and design exchange with Keiji Architects in Tokyo, allows participants from both firms to immerse themselves in new projects while gleaning invaluable insights into different markets and practices. 

BLINK founder and creative visionary Clint Nagata called the programme an exciting way to reward and inspire talented team members, while helping strengthen BLINK’s foothold in Japan.

“Talent inspires talent and needs constant nourishing,” said Nagata. “One handpicked designer from each firm will participate in the exchange, with potential to expand globally with other likeminded firms in key destinations.”

BLINK has already established its own following in Japan with its award-winning work on the Six Senses Kyoto. Other recent notable projects for the firm include Banyan Tree Dongguan Songshan Lake, Capella Shanghai Jian Ye Li, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort, Six Senses Uluwatu, Roku Kyoto LXR Resort, Regent Phu Quoc and Amanoi Spa Houses.

Meanwhile, BLINK’s Kayte McMillan A Wish to Remember Travel Award series, now in its 6th year, has five travel grants set to be awarded for high-performing team members in 2025 to visit the destination of their dreams.

The first of 2025’s winners is Ploypak Ayasanond, a designer from BLINK’s Bangkok studio. She has visited Japan and was thrilled to view the two completed BLINK projects in person. 

"This trip could be said as an opportunity for my personal growth to explore the culture of the places where I can learn and of course recharging myself,” Ayasanond said.

Source: BLINK website. The central lobby space at Six Senses Kyoto overlooks the inner courtyard of the resort. Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) displays, natural materials and earthen textures encourage a connection to nature in the interiors.

“Experiencing Six Senses Kyoto allowed me to truly appreciate how thoughtful design can transform a space into a sanctuary—where every detail, from the materials to the ambiance, fosters a profound sense of peace and connection. To create spaces that resonate with cultural authenticity and sensory engagement.

“I am grateful in receiving this award, this has been an inspiring milestone and profoundly enriching. The experiences and insights gained have significantly contributed to my development as a designer. I am thankful to BLINK for fostering an environment that encourages us to be explorers, not just designers. And thank you to Kayte for being a continual source of inspiration to all of us.”

Kayte McMillan, a BLINK design director who died from cancer in 2018, was known for her lust for life and love of travel and new experiences. To celebrate her memory, selected team members get a trip to remember as well as an experience that will help fuel their passion for travel, hospitality and embracing new places while truly living BLINK’s brand values. 

Nagata said the award has become a story of motivation, inspiration and reward for team members. “The spirit of travel and exploration is perfectly aligned with BLINK’s philosophy,” Nagata said. 

“I was incredibly fortunate to work closely with Kayte McMillan. She was an amazing individual who really had a strong passion for travel and for life, and she was taken from us tragically far too soon. In her honour we created a travel grant for to reward team members who are excelling, so they can recharge, get inspired and experience the different aspects of travel and living abroad, seeing and experiencing amazing things.

There is no greater inspiration than the world around us and we encourage everyone at BLINK to be an explorer, and to strive for excellence so that they might win the award.”

BLINK has studios in Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai and London.

NTUC LearningHub reveals perception gap on learning between leaders and employees

Source: NTUC LearningHub. Infographic on the leadership gap uncovered by recent research.

Leaders today are expected to thrive in a dynamic and digitally driven workplace, while cultivating human-centric capabilities and competencies, said NTUC LearningHub. In research conducted by the organisation, over four in five business leaders (11% "very well", 72% "quite well") believe they demonstrate emotional intelligence well, whereas only half of employees believe their leaders possess the skill (2% "very well", 48% "quite well").

According to employees, emotional intelligence (31%) is in fact the top skill they believe their leaders are lacking, followed by effective communication (30%), and people development (30%).

Similarly, the majority of business leaders are confident in their ability to lead effectively and achieve organisational goals (13% "very confident", 73% "quite confident"). However, only half of employees are equally confident in their leaders’ capabilities (3% "very confident", 52% "quite confident").

This disconnect between the two groups is evident in how most business leaders believe they understand their employees’ needs (17% "very well", 72% "quite well") and meet their evolving expectations (11% "very well", 73% "quite well"). Yet, less than half of the employees share the same sentiment, where 46% agree leaders understand their needs “very well” or “quite well”, and 45% agree leaders meet their evolving expectations “very well” or “quite well”.

These are some of the key findings from NTUC LearningHub’s Leadership and Coaching Report, which investigates the essential skills and competencies that future leaders must cultivate. The research also explored the role of coaching in driving individual and organisational growth across all levels and roles.

Based on a survey involving 150 business leaders and 300 full-time working professionals, the report also examines how organisations can develop and sustain strong leadership pipelines by leveraging people-centric approaches and emotional intelligence to build resilient, high-performing teams.

More than nine in ten business leaders (41% "very important", 51% "quite important"), as well as employees (32% "very important", 56% "quite important") view emotional intelligence as important in leadership.

Business leaders cited the ability to communicate more effectively (55%), make better decisions (55%), be more flexible and adaptable to changes (53%), build strong relationships with employees (51%), and motivate employees more effectively (50%) as the top reasons why they perceive emotional intelligence as important for leaders. While employees voiced similar sentiments, they also highlight the ability to better manage and resolve conflicts (65%) and react to challenges or highly pressurising situations calmly (58%) as other key reasons.

The perception divide also shows up in leadership styles where business leaders are most likely to apply democratic leadership (40%), followed by situational leadership (39%), and laissez-faire (hands-off) leadership (31%). Meanwhile, employees ranked situational leadership (44%) as their most preferred leadership style above democratic leadership (43%) and transformational leadership style (41%).

Business leaders have to contend with keeping their teams engaged and motivated (38%) as a consequence, managing relationships with employees (35%), and balancing performance with employee wellbeing (29%) in today’s workplace. This is also accompanied by other challenges cited such as developing future leaders (29%) and adapting to change and uncertainty (28%).

On the other hand, three in five business leaders (60%) acknowledge gaps in their leadership abilities and have identified areas for improvement. However, fewer than half of business leaders (44%) have participated in relevant training to enhance their leadership skills in the past year, with two in five (39%) rarely attending training. Lack of time (48%), high workload (47%), and lack of motivation (31%) are among the top challenges business leaders face when participating in leadership training programmes.

Paradoxically, roughly four in 10 business leaders (38%) express a desire for more frequent training to develop their leadership skills. Three in four business leaders (9% very effective, 67% quite effective) also believe that the leadership training they received was effective in developing their abilities.

Jeremy Ong, CEO, NTUC LearningHub said: “The apparent disconnect between leaders and employees highlights an urgent need for leadership to evolve in tandem with workforce expectations. As leadership expectations broaden beyond formal roles, organisations are looking to cultivate a culture where more employees feel empowered to take initiative, make decisions, and contribute to team direction.

"Technical skills alone are no longer enough today, as a more balanced and human-centric approach towards leadership has become a key competency that will enable leaders to adopt the right leadership approach, connect meaningfully with their team, sustain employee engagement, and ultimately drive organisational success. Therefore, it is important for leaders to continuously improve themselves through learning and development as a strategic imperative to bridge existing skills gaps and nurture future emotionally intelligent and visionary leaders.” Details

Download the Leadership and Coaching Report at www.ntuclearninghub.com/media/research-reports/2025/leadership-coaching

More information about the courses, training, and grants can be found at www.ntuclearninghub.com.

Dalio Market Principles Online Program launched globally

The Wealth Management Institute (WMI) has launched the Dalio Market Principles (DMP) Online Program globally in a move to democratise access to premier, practice-based investment management education worldwide.

Based on the research and insights developed by the investor Ray Dalio over five decades, the programme is designed to help learners understand the universal links driving markets and economies. Cutting-edge technology such as generative AI is used to provide an immersive digital learning experience that is accessible anytime and from any location.

“The world is changing in ways that we’ve not experienced in our lifetimes but have happened many times in the past,” said Dalio, who is Founder, CIO Mentor and Member of the Board, Bridgewater Associates. 

Source: WMI. A fireside chat at the global launch of the Dalio Market Principles (DMP) Online Program with Ray Dalio (left) moderated by Foo Mee Har (right).

“To deal with these changes well, investors need to recognise the deeper patterns of history and the underlying timeless and universal principles driving markets and economies. My hope for this course is that it provides this knowledge as well as an opportunity for investors to further refine their own investment principles." 

Foo Mee Har, CEO of WMI said: “With Singapore being a leading global wealth management hub, we are thrilled to introduce this first-of-its-kind investment education initiative. The Dalio Market Principles Online Program is designed to empower finance professionals and investors with a strong foundation for understanding the forces driving markets, enabling participants to build investment portfolios tapping drivers of differential asset returns, economic and currency cycles, and paradigm shifts. 

"Most importantly, this programme is designed to fully equip those aspiring to establish successful careers in various sectors of the finance industry.”

Participants will be able to ‘live through’ major market events as an investor or policymaker, assess how their expectations for the future and investment decisions measure up, and learn from mistakes. A Portfolio Simulator will enable them to create and stress-test portfolios, evaluating their investment performance across different macro scenarios with data from up to 40 major economies over the last 120 years.

Providing participants with a personalised learning experience, the Program’s Generative AI Tutor will guide learners through the curriculum. The Tutor can answer questions, generate quizzes, get feedback, and search through Dalio’s writings over the past decades to help participants to learn at their own pace.

In addition, participants will also gain opportunities to learn, network and thrive with peers and leaders from the industry. Through cohort-based activities such as discussion forums and live online workshops, participants will be able to glean multiple perspectives on investments and the financial markets from industry players from diverse backgrounds. There will be opportunities to apply for a Dalio Fellowship in the future.

Ideal participants include investors seeking to sharpen their insights, as well as finance professionals focused on asset management, wealth management, family offices, reserves management, and policy. The Program is accredited by the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF), and eligible participants may receive up to 70% course fee subsidies. The Program is also SkillsFuture Credit claimable.

Blockchain basics on offer at Smartcademy

Source: Unsplash, via Smartcademy. A reference image of Blockchain with cryptocurrency as one of the implementations.

Smartcademy, a Singapore tech educator and digital career transformer, has introduced an Intro to Blockchain course for complete beginners. The month-long course teaches concepts as well as fundamental terms, practical applications of Blockchain in the financial sector, and how Bitcoin works. At the end of the course, individuals will be able to manage the risks and returns of digital financial systems better. 

While many have heard of digital assets like TerraUST and Bitcoin and know that they are risky, both are built on Blockchain which has a lot of potential to improve finance as we know it.

"At its core, Blockchain is a distributed ledger* to which transactions between multiple parties are added to. Different organisations are able to implement their own rules around the reading and updating of this shared ledger, including whether this ledger is publicly accessible and how new transactions are added to it," explained Kai Shin Aw, a Blockchain expert and trainer at Smartcademy.

Aw said one use case for Blockchain is replacing traditional cross-border transactions. He elaborated that cross-border transactions typically go through a few intermediaries such as banks, in a complicated process that lacks transparency.

"Blockchain helps to remove these intermediaries, using automation to verify and secure transactions seamlessly. Transactions are also locked into a shared digital ledger, preventing alteration and providing full accountability to all parties. Essentially, Blockchain increases efficiency and saves cost,” he said.

"There is no restriction on the data that can be held on the ledger as the technology leaves such interpretation to its users. This means that Blockchain technology will be able to value-add in instances where multiparty consensus is required, regardless of the domain. (That is, it significantly improves efficiency in cases where multiple parties have to come to an agreement on the latest data.)"

Use cases of varying risk levels can be built on Blockchain, including a high-risk cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, Aw pointed out. "(Bitcoin is) a specific implementation of Blockchain technology for the purposes of publicly transacting value between peers, without the need of middlemen," he said.

Details

Potential trainees can receive up to 90% of Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) funding for Smartcademy’s courses. Singaporeans aged 25 and above can also tap on SkillsFuture credits to offset the remaining amount.

*A distributed ledger is a set of recorded data which is stored in more than one place.

Get started on a cloud computing career with AWS re/Start

Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company, has announced the launch of the AWS re/Start programme in Singapore. AWS re/Start is a skills development and job training programme that prepares learners for cloud computing careers, and operates in more than 100 cities across more than 40 countries globally.

In Singapore, the programme will operate as a collaboration with Lithan, a digital learning and talents platform with the mission to deliver growth for talents and enterprises in the digital economy. Lithan is offering the programme under the Career Conversion Programme (CCP) for Cloud Professionals – AWS Cloud Specialist by Workforce Singapore (WSG). Companies can obtain salary support from WSG when they tap on the CCP to hire mid-career individuals without prior experience or redeploy eligible to take on cloud practitioner roles. 

Concurrently, companies can enrol their employees for optional structured classroom training offered by Lithan and leverage applicable course fee funding by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to subsidise the AWS re/Start structured classroom training component within the CCP duration.

Upskilling the Singaporean workforce is increasingly important as digitalisation accelerates. New research commissioned by AWS and carried out by strategy and economics consulting firm AlphaBeta shows that the need for digital skills training in Singapore became more acute during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 91% of workers reporting they need more digital skills – the ability and knowledge to apply digital technologies for tasks in the workplace – to cope with changes in their jobs. 

The Building Digital Skills for the Changing Workforce report also found that cloud and cybersecurity skills will be the top two most demanded digital skills by employers by 2025.

For individuals, AWS re/Start covers fundamental AWS cloud skills and practical career tips, including interviewing and resume writing. Through real-world, scenario-based exercises, labs, and coursework, students with no prior experience in cloud computing learn to build Linux, Python, networking, security, and relational database skills.

The programme prepares participants for entry-level cloud roles in operations, site reliability, infrastructure support, and more; it also prepares participants and covers the cost of the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification exam, so graduates can validate cloud skills with an industry- recognised credential. Individuals may apply for the CCP for Cloud Professionals with a participating employer to undergo AWS re/Start structured training and on-the-job training to take on their new job role.

“The industry demand for cloud adoption continues to outpace the number of new, cloud-savvy workers, leaving organisations struggling to find and hire the talent needed to implement cloud services,” said Conor McNamara, MD, AWS ASEAN.

“To overcome this divide, cloud talent must be cultivated from non-traditional sources. AWS re/Start provides individuals in Singapore with little to no technology background with the fundamental hard and soft skills to kickstart their cloud career, helping address the current skills gap within the tech field as well as provide people with the opportunity to pivot into this exciting and ever-changing industry.”

Lithan founder and CEO, Leslie Loh, expressed his confidence in the collaboration that aims to lead digital upskilling in cloud computing in Singapore. In his words, “Rapid digitalisation necessitates the development of a pool of talent that’s relevant for the new economy. The goal of this collaboration with AWS re/Start is to develop this pool of talent by helping adult learners to transit into a high growth career, and helping enterprises improve their existing digital workforce. This programme offers enterprises the opportunity to stay one step ahead of digitalisation in their industries.”

Support and assistance to the learners will continue even after they graduate from the program. Leveraging its partnerships with industry-leading institutions, Lithan aims to provide placement opportunities to all graduates within six months after the completion of the program. In Singapore, hiring partners Cloud Kinetics, Geco Asia, Graymatics, and StarHub, have fully committed themselves to welcome graduates of the programme to their companies.

“Cloud skills development is a critical foundation for organisations looking to embark on the digital transformation journey,” Haji Munshi, CEO, Cloud Kinetics. “By collaborating with AWS, we will be providing real-world scenarios and projects for the candidates to work on. We believe this will help fill the talent gap with true cloud practitioners.”

“Cloud roles have accounted for some 40% of our hiring at GECO, year to date. We aim to be an employer of choice for career transiters, as there is good mentoring and coaching support. Currently, we have 45 cloud roles to fill by August. The salary hike is approximately 50% compared to similar roles which are based on traditional non-cloud and on-premises administration or support roles,” said Christie Dao, Director of Capability & Organization Optimization, Geco Asia.

“An upskilling programme, such as AWS re/Start, is an excellent springboard for anyone who has interest in transitioning to a modern IT career in infrastructure management.”

“Graymatics ensures continuous developments and enhancement of our intelligent platform VISTA to solve real-life problem statements,” shared Jagdip Yadav, Manager of Graymatics APAC, a cloud platform providing digital video and image recognition technology to products. 

“The AWS re/Start programme will support us in building cloud talent for our growing market, and the tangible hands-on approach in the course will also provide our team with real life scenario practice, something we would like to cultivate our talents to focus on.”

“Connecting digital lives as part of StarHub's five-year transformation strategy DARE+, we are swiftly expanding our cloud offerings, and are placing strong emphasis on attracting, hiring, and retaining talents in this field," said Catherine Chia, Chief Human Resource Officer of StarHub. 

"We are pleased to work with AWS and Lithan on the AWS re/Start programme, which enables us to strengthen our pipeline of talents in cloud technology, while empowering non-tech professionals to embark on a new career. More than just tapping on a pool of unconventional candidates, we believe in nurturing and developing people, to seek the best opportunities they deserve.”

Details:

AWS re/Start is a global programme delivered in 40 countries and connects more than 90% of graduates with job interview opportunities. The programme is offered as a standalone or as part of the CCP for Cloud Professionals – AWS Cloud Specialist initiative. Individuals should apply for the CCP through their company. The first AWS re/Start Singapore cohort will kick-off in June; registration is now open. Apply for a Singapore cohort.

NVIDIA opens workshops to general public

For the first time, the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI) is making its instructor-led workshops available to the general public. Anyone can learn from expert NVIDIA instructors in courses on artificial intelligence (AI), accelerated computing and data science.

The virtual full-day workshops offer hands-on exercises and guidance from expert instructors certified by DLI. Courses are delivered virtually and in many timezones, in English, Chinese, Japanese plus other languages. 

The training is now open to individual developers, data scientists, researchers and students. Previously, DLI workshops were only available to large organisations that wanted dedicated and specialised training for their in-house developers, or to individuals attending GPU Technology Conferences.

“Our public workshops provide a great opportunity for individual developers and smaller organisations to get industry-leading training in deep learning, accelerated computing and data science,” said Will Ramey, global head of Developer Programs at NVIDIA.

“Now the same expert instructors and world-class learning materials that help accelerate innovation at leading companies are available to everyone.”

The public DLI workshops for individuals include:

March 2021

- Fundamentals of Accelerated Computing with CUDA Python

- Applications of AI for Predictive Maintenance

April 2021

- Fundamentals of Deep Learning

- Applications of AI for Anomaly Detection

- Fundamentals of Accelerated Computing with CUDA C/C++

- Building Transformer-Based Natural Language Processing Applications

- Deep Learning for Autonomous Vehicles – Perception

- Fundamentals of Accelerated Data Science

- Accelerating CUDA C++ Applications with Multiple GPUs

- Fundamentals of Deep Learning for Multi-GPUs

- Applications of AI for Anomaly Detection

May 2021

- Building Intelligent Recommender Systems

- Applications of AI for Anomaly Detection

- Fundamentals of Accelerated Data Science

- Deep Learning for Industrial Inspection

- Building Transformer-Based Natural Language Processing Applications

Details:

Register. Registration fees cover learning materials, instructors and access to fully configured GPU-accelerated development servers for hands-on exercises.

PwC Singapore launches initiatives for digital learning, SMEs

- To help individuals and organisations increase digital acumen and upskill, PwC Singapore is releasing a learning app to the public for free

- PwC also aims to provide support to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accelerate their digital adoption with dedicated digital advisory services, solutions and upskilling programmes

- Other initiatives include providing free virtual learning workshops for charities, social entrepreneurs and social service agencies

Source: PwC. Acquire more digital skills with PwC Singapore's free learning app.

In response to calls in Singapore's Fortitude Budget for more support for upskilling, digital adoption, and financial support for vulnerable communities, PwC Singapore has launched several new initiatives to support individuals and organisations through the COVID-19 pandemic. This move is part of PwC Singapore’s commitment to be part of the solution to support groups that have been impacted by COVID-19.

Yeoh Oon Jin, Executive Chairman, PwC Singapore, said: “We want to play our part in solving some of the important problems that people may be facing now. From preparing individuals for the digital future to supporting non-profit organisations that provide meals to vulnerable individuals and families, we hope that the actions that we are taking can help our community tide through the current situation and be ready for the new normal.”

The need for continuous upskilling and reskilling to become part of the “new normal” was highlighted in the Fortitude Budget. In response, PwC Singapore is making their learning app free for all from 8 June 2020. Digital Fitness for the World will allow users to assess their digital acumen, gain access to recommended learning materials to be more digitally-aware and also gain insight on business and economic issues relevant to our evolving environment.

Fang Eu-Lin, Leader of PwC’s Academy in Singapore, said, “The Digital Fitness App was first used by PwC to help upskill our people’s capabilities in a digital and evolving world. We have updated the app so that this can be made available for use by the whole community. We hope individuals will use the app to gain good knowledge and insights on digital topics, and find it a fun way to learn!”

In addition, PwC Singapore aims to help support SMEs to accelerate their digital adoption journeys with dedicated digital advisory services, solutions and upskilling tailored for the unique needs of this segment.

PwC Singapore has also launched complimentary virtual workshops specifically for charities, social entrepreneurs and social service agencies. The firm conducted a series of four virtual workshops - on digital strategy and transformation, data and analytics, digital marketing and social media, and digital trust and cybersecurity – aimed at helping them address the challenges and opportunities of digital disruption in the social and non-profit sectors. This is part of PwC Singapore’s ongoing skills-based volunteering efforts.

Details:



The Digital Fitness for the World app will be available from 8 June 2020 until 31 July 2020.

Download the Digital Fitness for the World app. Gain free access using the promotional code LRNALL.

Fitch Learning partners Golden Education to offer quantitative finance certificate in China

Fitch Learning has engaged Golden Education, a Chinese financial education provider, to offer the Certificate in Quantitative Finance (CQF) to professionals across the country. The CQF is increasingly recognised in China, with enrolment by Chinese delegates growing 55% in 2019 over 2018.

The CQF consists of six modules, two chosen advanced electives, three exams and a final project. Quantitative finance uses mathematical modelling to analyse financial markets and securities. Two of the modules concern data science and machine learning. More than 5,000 professionals in over 90 countries worldwide have completed the programme. 

“The CQF is highly sought-after by financial institutions including hedge funds, quantitative or artificial intelligence (AI)-driven money managers seeking skill sets ranging from algorithmic trading, risk management and programming. The programme is for anyone who wants an efficient and cost effective way to develop practical mastery of quant finance and machine learning, while earning a globally-recognised qualification,” said Dr Randeep Gug, MD – Public Courses and CQF, Fitch Learning. 

“We are pleased to expand our footprint in China and play a major role in the country’s professional training and development. We hope our training will close the skills gap in China and significantly raise the career mobility of those working in finance, business, engineering and sciences,” said Andreas Karaiskos, CEO, Fitch Learning.

Part of Fitch Group, Fitch Learning delivers learning and development solutions for the financial services industry. In the APME region, it has centres in Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. 

Explore:

Apply for the course. The qualification may be earned part-time online. Students may take up to three years to complete their studies.

Empowering back-to-work mums and mumpreneurs in continuing their careers

Scan the QR code for more information.

Age, technological and skills’ gaps, lack of confidence, fear of changing work environment and generational diversity have been cited as key obstacles for the close to 40,000 Mums@Work members in re-entering the workforce.

This is despite the fact that more than 80% of members had over eight years of work experience, mostly in white-collar jobs in banking and finance, media and entertainment and human resources. Close to half were even in a managerial position previously.

The latest survey findings brought Mums@Work (MW) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) together to help aspiring back-to-work mothers and mumpreneurs with programmes that bridge the gaps. NP has curated a holistic programme to help MW members regain confidence and prepare them for the corporate world and also made courses on digital skills and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and fintech available to them.

Among them is an eight-week SkillsFuture Work-Study Programme - Bootcamp in Digital Marketing and Branding, which is cosponsored by the hiring company. This fast-track programme is designed to teach the essentials of digital marketing within two months, and guarantees graduates job interviews with NP’s network of industry partners. Over 60% of past participants of this bootcamp were successful in securing a placement with the industry partners.

“An integral part of reintegration is upskilling and staying in touch with the latest trends and knowledge. With Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s suite of courses, the member-mums in our network can rediscover their career paths and find different courses to help them restart or develop their career or entrepreneurial journey,” said Sher-Li Torrey, Founder of Mums@Work.

Christy Chung, Director of NP’s CET Academy, shared: “As a mother of five, I had been away from work for extended periods five times over. I can fully understand that the days leading up to returning to work may be daunting. I am thus grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Mums@Work to co-curate learning itineraries for mumpreneurs and returning mums. Whether they are restarting, re-anchoring or rediscovering their careers, there is an itinerary for each of them.”

A total of 15 short courses with durations ranging from half a day to eight weeks will train MW members to be work-ready and future-ready. In addition, a suite of more than 20 microlearning courses under the banner Professions offer on-the-go training in critical lifeskills as well as professional skills for specific industries such as healthcare and landscaping.

MW members can also sign up for NP’s just-launched Masters Collective video docuseries featuring local entrepreneurs like Love, Bonito’s Rachel Lim and Carousell’s co-founder Marcus Tan, to give them some insider insights on setting up a business. More information on the courses available for MW members can be found by scanning the QR code in this post.

SMU and Alibaba Cloud launch first-of-its-kind upskilling programme outside of China

The Singapore Management University (SMU) and Alibaba Cloud have launched a series of courses today to upskill more than 1,000 working professionals in Singapore.

Formalised at a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony, the SMU-Alibaba Series professional continuing education programme is the first of its kind for Alibaba Cloud outside of China, and will be offered at the SMU Academy, the professional training arm of SMU, from March 2019.

Crafted specifically to empower small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the Series aims to equip businesses with the right competencies and capabilities to navigate rapid technological disruptions and fast-evolving consumer behaviour today. The courses will cover the latest trends and digital strategies across a range of industries, including retail, finance, logistics and manufacturing, to bring participants up to speed on the adoption of emerging technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and Blockchain within their respective fields.

Chen (left) with Dr Lim (right) after the signing ceremony.

Dr Lim Lai Cheng, Executive Director, SMU Academy, said, “This collaboration leverages Alibaba’s cutting-edge technologies and leading industrial knowledge; as well as SMU’s thought leadership, academic rigour and outreach. I am confident that the courses on offer will benefit many professionals who wish to upgrade their knowledge and skills in emerging tech areas, and companies which are keen to use digital and smart technologies to transform their business models.

“Following the completion of their face-to-face training, we hope to encourage participants to continue learning and sharing through the use of Alibaba’s online platforms. Over time, we hope to build a strong online learning community among Singaporeans and SMEs.”

Dr Lim added that the community will be constantly updated to help members hone their skills. This post-course community is the first of its kind for SMU.

Leveraging its faculty expertise, SMU will also develop cases of successful technological adoption by local companies, which in turn will be used as teaching resources for the SMU-Alibaba Series. In future, SMU and Alibaba Cloud plan to expand the Series to include a mentorship programme to help participating SMEs to implement tech-enabled strategies for their businesses.

Leon Chen, Country Manager, Singapore and Indonesia, Alibaba Cloud, shared that it is a special time to partner with SMU as it is the 20th anniversary for the Alibaba Group, and the 10th anniversary for Alibaba Cloud. He said that Alibaba Cloud set up headquarters in Singapore in 2015 not only to provide infrastructure-as-a-service, but to play as a technology enabler.

"We want to replicate our success in China. We want to bring over our technology, not only infrastructure but in big data, in security, in different vertical solutions," he said. "Singapore is the perfect hub not only for Asia but also the international market."

“As Singapore’s Smart Nation becomes a reality, we will require smart citizens to lead the way. Our partnership with SMU aims to help equip local businesses with the right tools and technology to propel Singapore onward. We hope to provide actionable advice through a blend of success stories and our holistic approach to technology to help create a future-ready Singapore,” he added.

The Series will begin with seven courses from March 2019, all of which will be conducted by Alibaba Cloud scientists who have experience with Singapore:

- Big Data Analytics & its Application in Business/Smart Retail & Marketing, by Long Yin and Yang Kan respectively, which will be based on case studies from Alibaba's own business and that of customers.

- Internet of Things: Technology & Applications, by Chuah Jun Wei

- Smart Finance by Sijukumar Kumaran

- Essentials of Cloud Computing by Gavin Liu

- Smart Manufacturing by Yang Kan, and

- Smart Logistics by Cao Yi, which will leverage lessons from Hema and Cainiao.

Yang said the courses will focus on the latest digital strategies that integrate seamless customer experience from offline to online, transforming business models into smart ones and showing how best practices and digital strategies can enable businesses to compete in new markets while preserving their core business.

Each course features an introduction, case study and workshop segment. "We want attendees to learn from each other, not only from us, so they can create synergies, have brainstorms and create innovative ideas," Yang said.

Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate jointly issued by the SMU Academy and Alibaba Cloud.

Courses under the SMU-Alibaba Series will be funded by SkillsFuture Singapore will be offered as part of the SkillsFuture Series of training programmes to drive training in eight priority and emerging skill areas. Seventy percent of the course fee can be offset for Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents. Singapore citizens aged 40 and above, and SMEs which send their employees who are Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents for the training, can claim a 90% course fee subsidy.

Explore:

There are two intakes from 19 to 20 March, and 11 to 12 June. The courses are basic and generally open to working professionals, with some courses suitable for business leaders and senior managers. Recruitment has already begun. Get details of the courses


View pictures of the announcement on Facebook

Stars facilitate innovation: INSEAD

Good mentors are worth their weight in gold, according to new research from INSEAD.

In Where Do Stars Come From? The Role of Star vs. Nonstar Collaborators in Creative Settings, published in Organization Science, Manuel Sosa, INSEAD Associate Professor of Technology and Operations Management, Jürgen Mihm, INSEAD Professor of Technology and Operations Management and Haibo Liu, Assistant Professor of Management, University of California Riverside, discuss the skills required to integrate, or synthesise, various raw materials in a way that will maximise creativity, and create innovations that help organisations outperform their competitors.

Specifically, the research zeroes in on the creative aspects of interpersonal collaboration from a new perspective: the quality of the collaborator, both stars - people able to generate a disproportionate amount of influential output - and non-stars.

“We wanted to understand, if by working with a star, you would be more likely to become a star; we found that indeed you would,” Sosa said. “The interesting question is how does this happen and why does this happen? What happens when you work with a star that is different from when you work with other people?”

By examining the creative performance of designers who have been granted design patents by the US Patent and Trademark Office over a 35-year period, the authors found that collaborating with star designers indeed significantly increases the chances of becoming a star. Interestingly, they found evidence that creative stars are more likely to possess creative synthesis skills required for creating breakthrough innovations and that they transfer such skill to their collaborators.

Such skills include the ability to understand existing innovation paradigms and create a new one by reconciling distant and often seemingly contradictory viewpoints and then continue to iterate and refine such a new paradigm until it leads to an outstanding innovation output.

All of these creative skills are highly tacit and unlikely to be learnt through a book or in a classroom, the researchers say. While some creative stars may pick them up intuitively or through years of trial-and-error experience, the likelihood of someone absorbing these skills is much higher if they work in close proximity with someone who already possesses them. This allows innovators to observe, learn and practice synthesis skills from the star.

“It is important to note that collaborating with stars doesn’t preclude collaborating with others who are non-stars,” Sosa noted. “Both types of collaborators benefit the innovator’s creative performance and increase the likelihood of creating a breakthrough innovation.”

In fact, some companies today avoid the idea of having a design team with a dominant star, and instead focus on the proven premise that diversity – having a wide-ranging pool of potentially innovative ideas – is key to creativity.

Sosa added, “What we found is that as well as bringing with them new data and experience like a non-star, stars contribute a set of creative skills, rarely found anywhere else, that can have a lasting transformation of the innovator’s creative abilities.”

The paper expands on this to assess the conditions required to maximise the chance of rising to stardom, and noted that this varies greatly depending on whether a star is part of the collaboration team.

When non-stars collaborate, shared expertise or a cohesive social network can limit diversity and steer the team towards “group think” - a phenomenon where everyone agrees with each other, even if the conclusion is wrong. This can negatively impact creative output.

However, when non-stars work with stars, greater shared social network connections and closer similarities in expertise facilitate the exploitation of creative synthesis skills. That is, the circumstances help to build a common insightful understanding of the problem at hand; it encourages collaborators to see similarities among their different perspectives and iteratively refine the most promising ideas, increasing the likelihood of breakthrough innovations.

Most importantly, such cohesive collaborative conditions facilitate the transfer of tacit creative skills from stars to his/her collaborators which in turn increases the chances of them becoming stars in the future.

Cognizant: training curriculums lag behind changing realities

Companies and higher education institutions (HEIs)* are training people for jobs that currently exist, but they need to train them as well for jobs that do not exist as yet.

This was the conclusion from Cognizant's Future of Learning report, based on a global survey of 601 top business executives at leading companies and 262 HEIs. The research aims to uncover insights into the changes these entities are making in their training and educational programmes, and the challenges they face in preparing tomorrow’s workforce.

Findings include:

Preparing the workforce for future jobs is a matter of survival for both businesses and HEIs

The majority of businesses (80%) and HEIs (72%) globally agree it is extremely important to prepare workers and students to work alongside emerging digital technologies. Businesses and HEIs in Singapore estimate that 60% and 55% of their total staff and students, respectively, will be prepared to handle new types of work driven by emerging digital technologies in the next five years. However, a 82% of Singaporean HEIs and 63% of businesses are presently unable to deliver.

Businesses are beginning to bear the burden of learning

Skills have become like mobile apps that need frequent upgrades. While 45% of businesses in Singapore currently update their learning content on an annual or biannual basis, 67% of HEIs only update their curriculum every two to six years. Globally, businesses are intent on speeding the pace of curriculum updates, with 75% planning to move to a one- to five-month or even continuous refresh schedule in the next five years. In contrast, only 30% of HEIs plan to increase update frequency, from today’s two- to six-year cycle to an annual one by 2023.

The work ahead means working together

Preparing the current and future workforce for the work ahead cannot take place in a vacuum. Three-quarters of both businesses and HEIs globally view collaboration as critical to successfully managing the transformative and disruptive impact of the new machine age. Singapore businesses appear less keen to collaborate with HEIs as opposed to educators – only 55% of businesses see collaboration as critical compared to 75% of HEIs.

Emerging technologies such as augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) will supercharge learning by focusing on “how to learn” over “what to learn”

New modes of education delivery will emerge, with Netflix-style, on-demand digital assets allowing for anytime, anywhere self-learning. AI-driven learning platforms will personalise learning, and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) systems will become mainstream, with a 220% increase in the take-up of the technology by HEIs and businesses globally in in the next five years.

Source: Cognizant study. The top priorities for businesses (left) and HEIs (right) on preparing the workforce for the next five years.

Based on the insights, Cognizant has developed an industry solution for businesses and higher education institutions, which they define as a Future of Learning equation. It requires the following elements of change:

- More accurate skills identification to align with actual workplace needs.

- Overhauling the approach of curriculum and training to be more immersive and personalised.

- An environment supportive of self-learning, with access to multiple content sources like open educational resources.

Ultimately, the speed at which these elements are executed will determine their efficacy in preparing an aptly-skilled workforce, Cognizant said, suggesting that businesses and HEIs will need to engage in more flexible partnerships, quicker responses, different modes of delivery and new combined-skill programmes to reliably prepare people for what comes next.

Details:

Read the Future of Learning report (PDF)

*The term 'institutes of higher learning' (IHL) is often used as well.

Fourth batch of entrepreneurs graduate from eFounders Fellowship initiative

Source: UNCTAD/Alibaba. Ma (right, standing) with the 4th
class of eFounders participants.

Thirty-eight Asian entrepreneurs have successfully completed the fourth edition of the eFounders Fellowship, a joint initiative by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Alibaba Business School to arming entrepreneurs with the right skills for their businesses and encourage them to share their knowledge with their communities.

The initiative was started to fulfil the pledge made by Jack Ma, founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, in his capacity as the UNCTAD Special Adviser for Young Entrepreneurs and Small Business. The commitment seeks to empower 1,000 entrepreneurs in developing countries by creating champions for inclusive and sustainable economic development through the digital economy over the next five years.

“This initiative amplifies many of the efforts made by the international community to support digital transformation and innovation for inclusive and sustainable development,” said Arlette Verploegh, UNCTAD eFounders Fellowship Programme Coordinator.

“Investing in youth entrepreneurship can inspire other entrepreneurs in their endeavours and help create awareness about challenges they face and the opportunities the modern economy offers.”

In the fourth batch, entrepreneurs from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Singapore joined peers from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam in the programme. Collectively, the participants represent various industries including e-commerce, logistics, fintech, tourism and big data. All participants are founders of promising startups.

The first eFounders Fellowship Singaporean graduate is part of the fourth batch. Victor Liew is the founder of Xfers, a fintech providing compliance, payments, funds disbursal and e-money solutions in Singapore and Indonesia. Parcel Perform's co-founder Dana von der Heide was also part of the cohort. Parcel Perform, a logistics startup, is based in Singapore.

Participants had a chance to understand the entrepreneurship spirit at the core of Alibaba since it was founded, the integrated ecosystem of platforms including Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, Alibaba.com, Cainiao Network, Freshippo (Hema), in addition to relevant industry trends and developments such as New Retail and the impact of e-commerce in rural areas.

To foster more partnerships regionally, the class had interactive sessions where fellows engaged with the lecturers, participants and advisors. Speakers from Alibaba’s senior management team and network were joined by advisors from East Ventures, Gobi Ventures, 500 Startups and the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). The advisors shared insights and experiences from their local markets and fund raising with the entrepreneurs, including tips on how to grow an entrepreneurial community within their respective digital economies.

The programme gave participants a greater appreciation of Alibaba Group’s support of the digital economy’s growth in China. Entrepreneurs witnessed the kickoff of the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival and experienced the technology, concepts and milestones onsite. Additional field visits and lectures shed more light on the digital transformation that has swept China during the last 20 years.

The entrepreneurs also developed a sense of global and social responsibility by reviewing their business plans against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“With exposure to the Alibaba ecosystem and our network of partners, and our role in developing the digital economy of China, we hope the entrepreneurs will discover more ways to build a more inclusive and sustainable model for their own businesses while championing the growth of the digital economy in their markets,” said Brian Wong, VP, Alibaba Group, who heads Alibaba’s Global Initiatives programme.

“It is such a privilege to be part of this initiative, especially when the senior leaders and founders, including Jack Ma, spoke to all of us in person,” said Liew. “Their commitment to share their knowledge and wisdom liberally is inspiring, and demonstrates how we can and should be contributing more to the community through our businesses and ideas.”

Following graduation, the 38 Asian candidates have been officially inducted as Fellows of the global eFounders Fellowship network. They join a cohort of 89 entrepreneurs who have graduated over the last three editions.

As part of the commitment by UNCTAD and Alibaba to ensure all Fellows actively apply what they have learned within their communities towards developing an inclusive and sustainable economic model, both organisations will continue to regularly monitor and support the progress of the Fellows every three months.

Advisors from five Asian countries were also inducted into a network overseeing and supporting the development of the latest batch of budding Asian entrepreneurs after graduation. These advisors were involved in the course to better understand the programme and entrepreneurs under their charge.

Explore:

New Retail combines the best of offline and online commerce, with a digital twist. Watch a video about New Retail

Japanese fashion retail concepts arrive in Singapore

Source: WMH Group. Kafuku.

World Mode Holdings Group (WMH Group) is looking to elevate the fashion retail industry in Singapore with the launch of its first overseas office, iDA Singapore (iDA’SG).

WMH Group is a Japanese fashion retail consultancy with a proven record of enhancing their clients’ brand presence. The company is the leading player in recruiting sales professionals for beauty and fashion in Japan. The Singapore subsidiary will provide professional support and consultation services aimed at enhancing the skills of retail staff. 

“We have the largest market share in successful retail job placements in Japan, having successfully placed 100,000 retail staff to our extensive list of clients, numbering around 1,000 mostly in the fashion and luxury industry. Hiring and training services for retail professionals remains our biggest business in World Mode Holdings. We want to bring our expertise in Japan to Singapore and introduce the concept of Working Dream. The concept represents the support that we can provide to turn retail professionals’ dream of succeeding in a retail career into a reality,” said Shinsuke Kafuku, CEO of WMH Group.

The WMH Group has developed customised integrated solutions and methodology covering recruitment, placement, marketing, store operations management, marketing and advertisement to retail technology. The branch in Singapore will focus on training and recruitment with services extending to learning and development programme development, career guidance, training and coaching for retail professionals, service assessments, consultancy services in retail store operations and providing emerging technology for retailers.

“Taking on the mission of WMH’s iDA and iDA Pro, our vision at iDA’SG is to continue to provide world-class services through strategic recruiting and training of retail professionals while promoting and elevating the retail industry. We hope to build a community of about 600 qualified retail professionals whom we can provide career guidance and upskilling services to by end of 2019. 

"We also target to successfully place 60 qualified retail professionals in the local retail industry by the end of next year. We always have a triple win aim – firstly, to upskill and develop retail professionals especially with the practice of omotenashi* (お持て成し or おもてなし) which will result in quality customer service; secondly, to help our retail clients acquire and benefit from elevated businesses and branding; and finally, to provide an enhance customer journey at the retail stores which will result in repeat visits," said Izumi Matsumoto, MD, iDA’SG.

Retailers will benefit from customised customer insight and methodology that can enhance service standards and maximise store-level resources. The company intends to launch proprietary in-store technology, tracking shopper habits and movements which provide real-time data it can use to provide better solutions for its clients.

Explore:

Businesses, job seekers and retail professionals can contact cindy-chai (at) wmh.co.jp

*Omotenashi is the Japanese concept of offering the best service possible to a customer. WMH explains that it is a traditional code of conduct outlining the ideal guest-host relationship, hospitality and reception. It is infused with principles such as the anticipation of the needs of others, flexibility and adaptability to the situation and approaching relationships with modesty and respect.

SmartUp launches Digital Readiness Experience

Source: SmartUp website.
Screen capture of the SmartUp
platform.

SmartUp, which has a mobile-first knowledge-sharing platform, has launched a Digital Readiness Experience for the workforce featuring microlearning modules on hot tech topics. 

Its Digital Readiness Experience is several weeks long and can be purchased by SmartUp customers for their employees, explained Deborah Tan-Pink, Global Head of Marketing, SmartUp. 

"For the Digital Readiness Experience, what companies are buying is a four- to six-week campaign that aims to transform attitudes and knowledge with the specific purpose of increasing employees’ level of comfort around tech, innovation, and disruption.

"During this campaign, a course of 10-15 microlearning modules will be put into the client’s community for their employees to consume. These courses can be on design thinking, fintech disruption, or Blockchain and cryptocurrency," she said. 

The Digital Readiness Experience includes interactive quizzes and polls to test knowledge retention, practical applications, and lateral thinking. The assessments also help corporate leaders identify blindspots and shifts in mindsets.

Global Head of Talent & Learning at SmartUp Laurence Smith says, “What SmartUp delivers is a broad understanding of digitisation and its implications on work, society and organisations. Employees are taught not only the importance of staying relevant in a digital world, but also how to constantly upgrade their skills.” 

Smith said existing systems, processes and incentives for employees will need to evolve as companies transform digitally. “One of the most important roles of leaders today is to prepare their organisation for disruption by developing a ‘digital mindset’," he said.

“Digital transformation is at the very heart of doing business, and companies need to create the seeds of participation to get the learning process started.”

SmartUp is a microlearning app that allows companies to rework their legacy learning materials into bite-sized cards with videos, images, quizzes and polls. Companies sign up to build private communities where they can populate with their own content or with content from SmartUp.

SmartUp's library is organised by Snapshots, courses of 10-15 microlearning modules each on various topics. The Digital Readiness Experience consists of four to six Snapshots, including the Digital Readiness Snapshot. Customers can purchase a Snapshot on its own for US$3/user.

Details:

Corporates with existing SmartUp communities can purchase the Digital Readiness Experience from US$10/user for a four-week campaign. 

New customers can set up their own SmartUp communities from US$2.50 per month per user. Once the platform is set up, companies can purchase the Digital Readiness Experience and also create their own learning content.

Flightleaders.com to enrich programmes in 2018

Source: Flightleaders.com website. An aircraft cockpit.

Aviation-themed leadership training and facilitation programme provider Flightleaders.com, a division of the McGallen & Bolden Group, plans to beef up its offerings over the course of 2018.

"Corporate training will be a huge thing given the gap between the generations at the workplace, and this will transcend tech and other so-called 'disruptive' evolutions through tech. People and management will always be the breaking points," said Dr Seamus Phan, Flightleaders.com Leadership Trainer, whose specialty is corporate leadership and philosophy approaches.

"The best tech will always fail if you cannot have the right people in place, and manage all the diverse and often opinionated talents cohesively."

 
Flightleaders is best known for What’s Next Leadership - lessons from the ancient East. In this programme, Dr Phan and fellow Leadership Trainer Captain Michael Caston, an expert in crew resource management (CRM) as well as human factors - bring time-tested CRM and Flightleaders' proprietary trademarked benevolence, rectitude, and mindfulness (BRM) philosophy to corporate leadership and business transformation. 

"Unlike what many executives may have previously learned from Sun Tzu's Art of War (孙子兵法), we take our learners through learning points from the ethics classic Analects (論語, wisdom from Chinese sages such as Confucius, Mencius), wisdom from the Three Kingdoms (in power from the year 184 to 220), Hagakure (葉隠聞書) by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, and Gorinosho (五輪書, also known as The Book of Five Rings) by Miyamoto Musashi, both 17th century samurai classics. Our programmes are highly engaging and immersive, with role play, interactive videos, and realistic flight simulator sessions if needed, guided by commercial pilots," said Dr Phan.

Dr Phan, who is  responsible for digital and interactive training programme development at Flightleaders.com, also shared that the curriculum will become richer over the year. "For classroom settings, we will bring in more classics, including the other Chinese military classics - there are seven, which the Art of War is just one. I have already started working on two of the others, which are very fascinating," said Dr Phan.

Dr Phan pointed out that many training programmes today are based on Western thought, which spans just 200 years if US history is considered. "There is lots more wisdom to glean from thousands of years of history from this side of the world. I may include more Eastern history, including Korea, and maybe India," he said.
Flightleaders.com will also create more interactive video content for tech and engineering audiences this year, said Dr Phan. "Going forward, we intend to spend more time in 2018 to create interactive video segments, which will be useful for resource-strapped companies which cannot dedicate a whole class at a fixed timing," he explained.

Explore:

Flightleaders.com offers training programmes for critical infrastructures such as those found in aviation and healthcare; corporate training including Leadership Secrets at 30,000 Feet and IntrinSelling, a sales leadership programme, as well as custom programmes.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about the origins of Flightleaders

Hashtags: #leadership, #management, #humancapital, #aviation, #training