Headstart On Record

The Straits Times
  • 0.0 (0)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Headstart On Record

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Podcasters: Sue-Ann Tan & Tay Hong Yi Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

  1. Should I do a master’s?

    APR 6

    Should I do a master’s?

    A master's can help you get ahead in your career, but consider the expenses involved carefully too. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. It’s a question that comes up in our 20s and 30s - if we need additional educational qualifications to give us a leg up in our careers.  But how do you decide whether to pursue a master’s degree? How do you go about choosing courses, and most crucially, how do you finance such an endeavour?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at whether you should do a master’s and what to consider before plunging into it.  Her guests are Charmaine Yee who studied an MSc in wealth management and now works in private equity, and expert Kenneth Tan from OCBC who is Managing Director of consumer unsecured lending.  Highlights (click/tap above): 3:46 How her master’s got her into private equity 5:06 Do you need an MBA to work in finance?  10:11 How much does a master’s cost? 13:54 How do I fund a master’s?  18:36 Planning now to do a master’s five years later 20:54 Transitioning from work to school again 25:22 How about working and studying part time? Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X Host: Sue-Ann Tan (suetan@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #headstart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
  2. To enter the workforce with a diploma or not?

    MAR 16

    To enter the workforce with a diploma or not?

    Major shifts in the job market and employer practices make for more options but tougher decisions too. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Singapore’s tertiary education system has been shaken up in recent years, with polytechnics and universities among those seeing major changes. These include apprenticeships, structured talent programmes, industry attachments, longer-duration internships and even global exposure opportunities that raise the skills bar and prepare students for skilled roles from the outset. On one hand, some employers, especially in technical fields, seek for diploma graduates who enter the workforce earlier than others in their cohort and gain skills on the job. On the other, there is a push to grow the proportion of the cohort enrolled in university for further studies. ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest, a seasoned education expert on how to make sense of these different forces in charting out your own education and career path. His guest is: Associate Professor Jason Tan, who studies education policy, curriculum and leadership at the National Institute of Education Highlights (click/tap above): 2:10 Where are these shifts in the tertiary education system stemming from? 5:49 Does this mean there are more pathways to meet industry needs from an earlier age? 10:35 What are the challenges that come with these changes? 16:34 Pay structures that look strictly at paper qualifications may not reflect differences in skills 18:08 Keeping an open mind on the best choice Read about one such recent change: https://str.sg/ioJA Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy Host: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #headstart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min

  3. MAR 2

    What’s in the budget for me?

    CDC vouchers are welcome, but young people also want more housing, jobs and childcare help. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Budget 2025 has come and gone - the time we Singaporeans look for some free money and vouchers.  This year, a big theme was around helping to alleviate the cost of living especially with inflation in the last few years.  But exactly how much did the Budget have for us young people in our 20s and 30s,  and what are the remaining problems that are untackled?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at what the Budget gave and what young people might want from it in the future.  Her guests are young financial literacy expert from DBS Shawn Lee, and investment strategy managing director Vasu Menon from OCBC.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:39 What were the top three Budget goodies for us? 6:15 Help for young parents and families 8:58 Feeling the cost of living pinch 12:21 No housing measures this Budget? 18:31 Help for young people looking for jobs? 25:10 What would you tell PM Wong given the chance?  27:44 Giving your Budget 2026 wishlist Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X Host: Sue-Ann Tan (suetan@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #headstart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min
  4. Hitting the ground running for the first job

    FEB 16

    Hitting the ground running for the first job

    An expert shows how fresh entrants to the workforce can gain the prior experience employers increasingly seek. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. It seems paradoxical for prospective employers to seek prior experience even for entry-level roles. This reflects the rising bar expected of fresh entrants to the job market. However, employers are becoming more open-minded towards what constitutes relevant prior experience. ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi speaks with his guest, a seasoned career expert who has worked with tertiary students from different backgrounds, on the help at hand. His guest is: Ms Sarah Neo, head of the career development office at the Singapore University of Social Sciences. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:55 Why are employers increasingly seeking prior experience even for entry-level roles? 4:13 The forms such experience can take, from internships to hackathons 9:05 Is it realistic to expect ever more prior experience from students before graduation? 11:58 How can students who lack experience still land that first job? 14:15 What does Sarah recommend those who remain undecided about their future careers do? Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy Host: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #headstart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min
  5. How to pick good stocks in 2025

    FEB 2

    How to pick good stocks in 2025

    Do your homework and hold for the long term - these are among expert tips for stock picking. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. There are so many different methods to invest these days - from buying roboportfolios, to exchange traded funds or index funds benchmarked to certain indices. But there are also investors who wish to pick their own stocks because they are convinced of their increasing value.  This particularly occurs when it comes to tech stocks that might be rapidly rising, or when certain industries show strong potential for growth.  But how does someone go about stock picking and what are the risks involved?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at how people can choose solid stocks in the volatile environment of 2025.  Her guests are young investor Troy Cheng and ex-ST journalist and veteran market watcher Ven Sreenivasan. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:42 What is stock picking and how to go about it? 6:00 How to decide if stocks are overvalued or undervalued? 8:10 Where do you get your stock picking recommendations from? 11:41 Which industries are promising in 2025?  15:47 What to know before jumping into overseas stock markets? 20:14 Looking at the Chinese stock market 25:09 Opportunities in the Singapore market   Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl Host: Sue-Ann Tan (suetan@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #headstart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min
  6. Neurodivergence: Not merely a “superpower”

    JAN 19

    Neurodivergence: Not merely a “superpower”

    Conditions such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, as well as the ways one lives with these conditions, can provide fresh ways of thinking. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Neurodivergence: A big word, but one imbued with the simple promise of progress. It means to recognise that brains may be wired differently between different people, causing perceptible differences in information processing and social relations, impacting both work and personal life. ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi, who was himself diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) aged 27, talks about the emerging consciousness of neurodivergence and the importance of supporting the neurodivergent to fulfil their potential with his guests. His guests are: Mr Rumi Mohd, associate director for sales and marketing hiring at Randstad Singapore, who was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child Mr Himanshu Chaudhari, a finance professional diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood and board member of awareness group Unlocking ADHD Highlights (click/tap above): 02:30 How did the guests find out about their condition? 05:31 How did their conditions affect them at work? 10:34 What can employers do to meaningfully support neurodivergent team members? 14:33 Is it a good idea to disclose one’s neurodivergence to employers? 20:33 Has anyone ever dismissed the guests’ neurodivergence? 25:17 Is neurodivergence a “superpower”? Read more about neurodivergence in the workplace: https://str.sg/CZz6 Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy Host: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #headstart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
  7. How to start a start-up in your 20s

    JAN 5

    How to start a start-up in your 20s

    A young start-up founder talks about quitting his job to take the path less trodden, and discuss with DBS the ingredients for success. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Gen Zs are embracing the entrepreneurial life. Instead of working for someone, they want to start their own companies, sometimes fresh out of school.  There are also more entrepreneurial programmes for them even in secondary schools. Online platforms also let them start businesses online and have a wider audience for their products and services.  But what exactly is involved in starting a start-up? Is it something only for the rich kids or is it within reach of everyone? In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at how people can start their own business even in their 20s, and what’s involved in the process.  Her guests are Accredify founder Quah Zheng Wei, who started his business aged 27, and DBS Head of Corporate and SME Banking Koh Kar Siong.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:52 The steps to starting a start-up 5:33 Quitting his banking job to venture out on his own 8:39 Entrepreneurs as young as 12  14:40 How to get funding  21:16 What defines a successful start-up and what’s the survival rate? 24:28 What are your ingredients for success? 28:05 Will starting my own business make me rich?  Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X Host: Sue-Ann Tan (suetan@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #headstart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  8. What is it like being a young boss?

    12/15/2024

    What is it like being a young boss?

    Good leadership that inspires confidence cuts across age. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. It isn’t possible to draw lines along age, tenure, skill and leadership in the working world as neatly as previously. The image of top leaders has expanded beyond the notion of someone assuming their position after a long-drawn process. This is a convention upended, perhaps most prominently, by the heady proliferation of influential start-ups with precociously young leaders at the helm, one of whom journalist Tay Hong Yi spoke to in the latest episode of Headstart On Record His guest is: Mr Looi Qin En, partner at venture capital firm Saison Capital, who co-founded careers discovery platform Glints. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 How did Glints’ co-founders start a business that young? 3:20 How did Qin En grow both his technical skills and soft skills so quickly? 6:30 How to convince people to look past your age as a young leader? 14:53 How to inspire confidence among those you lead? 16:59 Has Qin En ever felt he has peaked early in his career? 20:32 Where young leaders have the most room to learn Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy Host: Tay Hong Yi (hytay@sph.com.sg) Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3 Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9 Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl --- Follow more podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #headstart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min
See All (93)

    About

    Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Podcasters: Sue-Ann Tan & Tay Hong Yi Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

    Information

    • Creator
      The Straits Times
    • Years Active
      2022 - 2025
    • Episodes
      93
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © 2025 The Straits Times
    • Show Website
      Headstart On Record

    You Might Also Like

    Content Restricted

    This episode can’t be played on the web in your country or region.

    To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

    Stay up to date with this show

    Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
    Select a country or region

    Africa, Middle East, and India

    Asia Pacific

    Europe

    Latin America and the Caribbean

    The United States and Canada