Stephen Tan

Exclusive: From Business to Activism: The Uncommon Journey of a Hong Kong Entrepreneur (Part 2) In this video, Xu Xiaolan recounts the various humiliations she experienced in prison, as well as the tragic deaths or "outcomes" of two other personnel from Hong Kong and Taiwan. There are two particularly noteworthy questions. First, she was imprisoned from 2012 until June 2023 when she was released and returned to Hong Kong. The changes in Hong Kong from 2012 to 2023, over these eleven years, might be a gradual process like boiling a frog in warm water for the average Hong Konger, but for someone who has been away from Hong Kong for eleven years, this change would seem to happen overnight. So, I asked her what the most significant change she felt was. The second question was whether she would do business again in the future, and what advice she has for other Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Western people who are still doing business or planning to do business in China. Her response to this is also very much worth listening to. https://lnkd.in/enScr6SS

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🌟 Seeking Top Talent: What Makes Singapore the Global Leader in Youth Development? Singapore takes the crown according to the latest Global Youth Development Index Report, outperforming nations worldwide. 🚀 Standout Stats: - With a youth development score of 0.868, Singapore leads the globe, showcasing its steadfast commitment to nurturing the next generation. - Commended for offering unmatched growth opportunities, competence building, and fostering active citizenship among its youth. - Compared to Asian peers, Singapore leads with Brunei and Malaysia in close pursuit. - Singapore's consistent top performance since 2020 underscores its long-term vision and strategic focus on youth development. 💼 Talent Attraction Insights: As the global talent war heats up, Singapore's youth development prowess presents a golden opportunity for organizations. Investing in holistic youth growth, Singapore has built an ecosystem that empowers, engages, and values its future leaders. 🔍 For companies eyeing top-tier talent, understanding Singapore's youth-centric approach is key to building a diverse, innovative, and future-ready workforce. In summary, Singapore's youth development success not only distinguishes it globally but also provides a playbook for nurturing talent in today's dynamic landscape. Credit: Straits Times Young, engaged and valued: Singapore youth take top spot in global index https://lnkd.in/g9yebUE2 #YouthDevelopment #TalentAttraction #Singapore ********************************************* Empowering real estate investment communities through tailored training in Emotional Intelligence and Resilience. As a Senior Leader and Top 5% Realtor, I focus on driving success and fostering growth in the industry. Let's connect to explore how we can work together to make a lasting positive impact! 🚀

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Sirene Lim 林美莹's article on the benefits of play, even for adults, sums up the importance to promote 'playfulness' in Singapore beginning with our children. There is a consensus that Singapore's strength lies in its ability to organise and execute. Perhaps, it is time to set up an inter-ministry taskforce on Play to promote interdisciplinary research on play, to push for changes to polices in health, education and even workplace to incorporate playfulness, and to designate a National Play Month! https://lnkd.in/gvJ7EWbV

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Excellent piece by Masakazu Takeda, CFA at SPARX on pros and cons of homogeneity etc. in #Japan. As he says, Japan is getting ripe for meritocracy, and hopefully less lockstep, slow decision making, which has prevented labor productivity from catching up with countries like the US and UK for many years; in fact, it has been losing ground. This is primarily because these aspects have a big impact on service businesses, which are almost 80% of GDP. We and economists analyzed this for the ACCJ white paper I led in 2010 (will send if you like), and basically little has changed since then. Maybe there are some green shoots. Still, it is hard to raise wages unless productivity increases...... #corpgov #Japan Sparx Mari Kiyohara https://lnkd.in/g9SYxd5N

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🌟 You are not your business 🌟 I recently had the honor of being a panelist at the HKU Entrepreneurship Academy 2024. At the end of the discussion, Janet Dong, the moderator asked for one final piece of advice to share to the students. And, I shared: You are not your business. As an entrepreneur, it's crucial not to tie our self-worth to our business success. Set personal metrics of self-worth that are independent of our professional endeavours. This ensures that with or without our business, we can still live a fulfilling life. Remember, our value extends beyond our entrepreneurial achievements. #Entrepreneurship #SelfWorth #HKUEntrepreneurs

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Is Singapore’s reliance on foreign investment a ticking time bomb? 💣 Singapore secured $5.4 billion in fresh investments in the first half of 2024. On the surface, this sounds like great news. But are we ignoring the bigger picture? While new investments pour in, we are also witnessing companies such as Dyson, Samsung Electronics, Amazon, and Google scaling back or exiting. The government says it’s market shifts and changing global strategies - but is this the full story? Singapore’s economic engine relies heavily on foreign capital and multinational corporations. Let’s not forget - 60% of Singaporeans earning over $12,500 a month work for foreign-owned firms. What happens when these firms find greener pastures elsewhere? Sure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and AstraZeneca are investing billions, but are we really creating sustainable, future-proof jobs for Singaporeans? Or are we just shifting from one wave of foreign investors to another, hoping the tide doesn't turn? It’s time to ask the hard questions: *Can we build a future that isn’t so vulnerable to the whims of global corporations?* Can we innovate beyond being a safe haven for capital and trained labor? Or will we continue to rely on foreign giants to prop up our economy? Share your thoughts - this isn’t just about economics; it's about Singapore’s long-term survival. #Singapore #Economy #Investment #ForeignInvestment

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🎤 Today, I had the opportunity to be part of an engaging panel discussion at the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum in Hong Kong by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charity Trust and Institute of Philanthropy. We delved into some of the most pressing and exhilarating themes in the world of AI and its intersection with philanthropy. ✨ 🌟 Here’s a quick recap of our discussion: 1️⃣ Exciting AI Developments: The current innovations in AI are pushing boundaries, opening up new possibilities for creating impactful change. 2️⃣ Navigating Risks: Beyond the well-known risks, I highlighted the often-overlooked risk of not embracing AI and missing out on the potential to enhance your organization with these powerful tools. 3️⃣ Getting Started: For impact investors, foundations, and philanthropic organizations looking to venture into AI, start small! Implement a pilot project or create a sandbox environment to experiment and learn. 🔍 I shared a few use cases: 📘 AVPN Social Investment in Action in Asia, tracking the social investment activities of the network's 600+ members 📘 Bayer Foundation: Analysis of applications for the foundation's programs as well as ongoing monitoring of program awardees to track their impact and growth. 📘 UNDP: SDG impact investor maps with analysis of policies, tech scans, capacity gaps and more to identify IOA's (investment opportunity areas) These examples highlight the power of AI in knowledge sharing and amplifying impact, ensuring that resources are deployed effectively and efficiently. As the cost of implementing AI continues to decline, embracing these tools is more about adopting the right mindset than overcoming financial barriers. Importantly, integrating AI in the impact and sustainability space isn’t about job displacement. It’s about reducing the workload of dedicated foundation and philanthropy team members, allowing them to focus on their core mission of improving conditions for people and the planet. I'm grateful for the insightful discussions and looking forward to seeing how we can collectively harness AI for a brighter, more impactful future. 🚀🌏 🙏 A heartfelt thank you to the incredible team at The Hong Kong Jockey Club for hosting such an outstanding forum. The level of execution is truly remarkable and rare to see. Your efforts and dedication are highly appreciated and have left a lasting impression. 👏 #PhilanthropyForBetterCities #AI #ImpactInvesting #Sustainability IMPACT INTELLIGENCE

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Read my latest mental health article in Living in Singapore Magazine!

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ESG in Forest Bathing --- A smart snap by one of our founding members David ST Loh, a well-travelled naturalist photojournalist. He photo this panoramic view at Sungai Sedim, near to #penang island, where he owns a studio of a boutique museum ambience. Forest (not jungle that is untended for #dei and #biodiversity) bathing is a huge part of #planetaryhealth which rests many of the #esg ideals. Malaysian Association of Public Advocacy for Nature (MAPAN) https://linktr.ee/esgmapan #environmentalsocialandgovernance

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Panel Speaker Introduction Female Business Leaders in Asia Series Luncheon - 10th Oct, 2024 (Thursday 11am to 3pm) Powered by: Asia CEO COMMUNITY x GLOBAL CEO COMMUNITY Panel Speaker: Dr. Mariana Kou - Chairperson & CEO at Cinese International Group (1620:HK) About Dr. Mariana Kou: Dr. Mariana Kou is chairperson and CEO of Cinese International Group, a travel services group listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange (ticker: 1620), with operations in Canada, the United States, and Mainland China. She also serves as INED at GMFIU:US and an advisor to education ventures. Prior to this, she was CEO of Research Study Education Group and recently award-winning Head of China Education and HK Consumer Research at brokerage and investment group CLSA, where she was involved in 12 consumer and education IPOs. In 2020, she published her first book “Investing in Dragons: Education Industry and Capital Markets”. Dr. Kou was appointed a member of the modern finance industry task force of the Macau SAR Government Talent Development Committee in July 2023. She is also a Forbes Global Young Leader, a Senator for China by the World Business Angels Investment Forum, a member of YPO, the founder of charitable organisation Asia Education Society, a member of Pacific Basin Economic Council, the founding co-lead of Columbia Venture Community's Hong Kong chapter, and an advisor to the service committee of Zonta Club of NTII. She sits on the board of International Youth STEAM Education Association and from July 2020 to August 2023, Dr. Kou also served as an external adviser to the board directors of EDTXU:US. Event Information: Moderator: Maki Wan - Deputy General Manager, Planning and Business Development Department - Mitsubishi Corporation Hong Kong Limited Panel Speakers: 1. Dr. Mariana Kou - Chairperson & CEO at Cinese International Group (1620:HK) 2. Angel Li - Founding Partner at Avatar Capital Management Pte. Ltd. 3. Kenix Rosie Chan - CEO at RainForest Capital Global Company Limited 4. Jennifer Chan - Co- Founder at Orientis Ltd | Chairman at DT Capital Ltd | Board member, Hong Kong Science Technology Parks | Board member, Hong Kong Competition Commission Registration - Female Business Leaders in ASIA Date: 10th Oct, 2024 (Thursday 11am to 3pm) Venue: Hong Kong, Central RSVP: https://lnkd.in/fnBa9DU Other Upcoming Events London Chapter - Happy Hour 🗓️ Date: 10th Oct, 2024 (5:30pm to 8pm) 🎟️ RSVP: [email protected] Vietnam Chapter - Business Opportunities in ASIA 🗓️ Date: 31st Oct, 2024 (5pm to 8pm) 🎟️ RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gfMcpRdN Hong Kong Chapter - Business Leaders in ASIA Event 🗓️ Date: 8th Nov, 2024 (2pm to 5pm) 🎟️ RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gCaPAmKQ JOIN ASIA CEO COMMUNITY: https://lnkd.in/fW74hTC #ASIA #BUSINESS #BUSINESSMAN #Indonesia #Australia #Vietnam #BUSINESSWOMAN #CEO #CXO #STARTUP #FINTECH #entrepreneur #china #hongkong #Malaysia #singapore

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NST: Lack of access to financing remains SMEs' major problem - Gobind "We must assist our SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs in any way possible. Their contribution to the nation's prosperity is significant, and we must not fail in supporting local enterprises by enhancing their capabilities and productivity." #MalaysiaMADANI #ICT #SME #MSME

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“By 2050, the Asia-Pacific will be home to 1.3 billion people aged 60 and older – a staggering one in four of the population, according to United Nations projections. Southeast Asia is forecast to bear the brunt of this demographic shift, with over 170 million elderly accounting for 22 per cent of the region’s people.” #ageing #demography #society #southeastasia #population #asiapacific

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In today’s The Straits Times article “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐲: 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 ‘𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝’ 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬” Vikram Khanna observed that “The landscape of philanthropy in Singapore is going through a sea change, with new players, new incentives and innovative financing mechanisms.” We believe this momentum in philanthropy will continue and innovate by incorporating the principle of ‘𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝’ in the form of 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 to build a 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲. Most recently, Prof Lawrence Loh of NUS Business School Center of Sustainability and Governance wrote in the The Straits Times emphasizing adding "𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬" in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) to take a more balanced approach. I have the privilege to be involved in a couple of family-owners led 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 from changing the lives of migrants workers to building inclusive economies that combine financial returns with social good. To quote one of the patriarchs, “𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉? “ It’s more fulfilling and brings long-term benefits, fostering self-sufficiency and empowerment. By investing in education, skills development, and sustainable practices, we enable communities to thrive independently and create lasting positive change. Vikram Khanna article: https://lnkd.in/gbvrGRid Prof 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐋oh article: :https://lnkd.in/g7ZD8-kS The 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 article: https://lnkd.in/gpdWKG72 Bernard Sabrier Poman Lo Chavalit Frederick Tsao Lawrence Loh En Lee Leap Philanthropy Dr. Kenneth Tan Bernard L. #innovation #philanthropy #impactinvesting

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