Headstart On Record

The Straits Times
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. What is it like being a young boss?

    1 DAY AGO

    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
  2. How do we spend less but still travel well?

    DEC 1

    How do we spend less but still travel well?

    Two avid travellers reveal their top hacks, where to sit on the plane and how to cut the budget while having fun. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Singaporeans love to travel. In a survey, people said one overseas trip a year is essential. But how do we travel well while still maintaining our budgets? Would you travel to Europe but eat cup noodles to save money? In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at the top travel hacks from experts, how people achieve “budget comfort” and upgrade the travel experience without splurging thousands of dollars.  Her guests are Youtrip chief operating officer Kelvin Lam, who once left his investment banking job to be a full-time backpacker, and youthful “budget comfort” traveller Prisca Ang.   Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 How Prisca spent $3,500 for seven cities in 10 days in Japan  8:33 Should I take a direct flight or layover; top travel hacks; benefits of (being near) youth hostels  13:59 Flight hacks: what to pack, where to sit, sales 18:00 How much is too much to spend on travel? 23:45 Prioritising experiences, rather than just seeing famous sights 33:00 Must you take at least one overseas holiday a year?  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.

    41 min
  3. How does working abroad help your career?

    NOV 17

    How does working abroad help your career?

    The move may be difficult, but can be rewarding for both personal and professional development. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Talents with overseas exposure are coveted for their ability to help companies realise their global aspirations. There is also robust appetite among Singapore talents to work abroad. However, employers frequently find it challenging to convince talents here to take up overseas opportunities. Journalist Tay Hong Yi speaks to those who have navigated and are helping others to navigate this complex undertaking to work abroad to shed light on the dilemma. His guests are: Dr Nadir Zafar, chief experience officer at the Human Capital Leadership Institute and director of the Singapore Leaders Network Ms Cheryl Lin, a business analyst based in Copenhagen who moved there for further studies Highlights (click/tap above): 2:39 What are the pathways to working abroad? 5:23 What are some of the trade-offs to consider? 7:52 Why do employers find it especially challenging to convince talents to move elsewhere? 16:58 What can you do to increase the chances of an offer? 24:57 What support is needed to increase the number of locals who work abroad to develop professionally? Read the feature by Kai Xiang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/dPro 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.

    41 min
  4. Sustainable finance: Where are the investing and job opportunities?

    NOV 3

    Sustainable finance: Where are the investing and job opportunities?

    DBS’ sustainability chief reveals ways to get into sustainability and why sustainable finance matters. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. The warmer the weather, the more we feel the impact of human activities on climate change. But how do we make a difference? Should we find jobs that work on sustainability, particularly on the environment front? Or invest in more meaningful asset classes in the sustainability field?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan examines why sustainability matters, how to get a job in the ESG field, and what we can do in our daily lives and with our investing to contribute to a more sustainable world.  Her guest, Helge Muenkel, also describes how his career started with a Masters in development economics, and the twists and turns he made before finally landing in his current position as DBS chief sustainability officer.  Highlights (click/tap above): 6:52 What skills do I need to work in sustainability? 10:20 What is sustainable finance?  12:47 Do my individual efforts make a difference? 15:07 How caring about climate change protects what we love 26:03 Three little things you can do to change the world 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
  5. Beyond diversity, inclusion buzzwords: How to be more inclusive at work

    OCT 20

    Beyond diversity, inclusion buzzwords: How to be more inclusive at work

    Observing with empathy, asking the right questions and listening will go a long way to charting out how to give meaningful support. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Diversity, equity and inclusion are aspirational ideals that have permeated conversations of work life and good employment. Yet, there is still room for improvement when it comes to putting these aspirations into practice, if a survey on diversity issues commissioned by The Straits Times and release in August is anything to go by. In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi finds out how employers and employees both have their part to play in making workplaces more inclusive in meaningful ways without patronising those who benefit. His guests are: Ms Winifred Ling, a couples therapist and relationship coach who has lived with an invisible disability for close to two decades Ms Hsu Yi Peng, a young leader who helmed an initiative to provide students with diverse needs internship opportunities at her company, HSBC, on top of her day job as a product specialist. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:46 How did the idea of diversity, equity and inclusion come to the guests’ attention? 5:01 What was the learning curve like for Yi Peng when she took on the initiative? 9:20 Should employers or employees lead the charge to promote inclusion? 13:20 How did HSBC devise the support moves for students in the initiative? 19:12 How to balance between providing accommodations and seeing individuals for who they are beyond their traits? Read the feature by Rosalind Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/x4oC 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.

    32 min
  6. Should we play with FIRE?

    OCT 6

    Should we play with FIRE?

    We don’t all have to live frugally and retire by 40 years old, but we need to be financially disciplined so we can retire meaningfully. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. FIRE in this context, stands for financial independence, retire early - a movement that points to the desire to retire earlier than the usual age range of 65 to 70, through a regime of aggressive investing, saving and frugality during one’s working years.  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan investigates if Fire is for everyone, and if there are other ways to sustainably achieve financial freedom and retire at leisure.  Her guests are Mr He Ruiming, 35, who as co-founder of the Woke Salaryman, talks about how he initially wanted to retire at the age of 32, and DBS financial literacy expert Lorna Tan, who feels that retiring meaningfully is more important to her.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:42 What are the different types of Fire? 3:14 Ruiming’s journey to achieve Fire by the age of 32 9:40 If I’m 25 now, what should I do to retire at 40?  12:56 What Ruiming wished he knew when he was younger 16:45 Lorna’s alternative to Fire, which is 'Firm' - financial independence, retiring meaningfully  21:46 Trends like loud budgeting which support more financial discipline  27:29 Using excel spreadsheets to track finances and goals  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.

    34 min
  7. How do young workers view pay?

    SEP 15

    How do young workers view pay?

    Salaries need to be structured more flexibly to reflect broader aspirations. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Views on pay issues vary widely among young workers depending on their professional and life goals. This was borne out in a survey of 1,000 young people commissioned by The Straits Times, carried out in May by market research firm Kantar and released in August. In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi digs deeper into the implications of the results and underlying beliefs that give rise to different attitudes. His guests are Dr Fermin Diez, a researcher on compensation issues with over 30 years of corporate experience, and young professional Jonathan Ng, who juggles being a business development manager with robotics company Otsaw while studying for a degree in marketing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:38 How has working and studying at the same time influenced Jonathan’s views on salary? 4:10 How have career norms shifted? 8:33 Are companies keeping up with these shifting norms in how pay is designed? 12:43 Why does satisfaction with one’s salary and work-life balance decline with age? 15:29 Disclosing salary details  22:14 How can employers deal with inter-generational differences on how pay is perceived? Read the feature by Prisca Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/9aLR 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.

    28 min
  8. Investing with $100 a month as an undergrad? Why not!

    SEP 1

    Investing with $100 a month as an undergrad? Why not!

    Start early, compound your wealth, and try not to beat the market.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times. Finance literacy experts always tell us to “start young” so we can make full use of the effect of compounding and grow our wealth from a young age.  But how early is early enough for first-time, young investors? Can an undergraduate without a full-time job start investing? Crucially, if someone has just $100 a month to invest, what can they do with that amount?  In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan also looks at how university investing clubs help undergraduates to start growing their money, and the first investments that they can buy to begin.  Her guests are Associate Professor of Finance Matthew Dearth from NTU who brings 30 years of finance experience, and NTU undergraduate Victor Tan, who has invested since age 18.  The NTU Investment Interactive Club helps to link students to the finance community and hone their practical investing skills. It was founded in 1999 and now has over 5,000 members. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 How did Victor start investing at 18?  4:53 What’s the recommended age for people to start investing? 9:25 What products should people buy as a first investment? 12:17 Should we try to beat the market or do individual stock picking? 16:06 The biggest investment mistakes our guests have made 21:27 Where do you get your investing advice or knowledge from?  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.

    32 min

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.

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