Easwara Moorthy

🎉Huge shoutout to the team at TodayOnline and Excited to be featured in TodayOnline's "Big Read"! Big thanks😘 to Wan Wei, Soh, AI Visionary Society and Nikki Y. for this amazing opportunity to share my thoughts on the complexities of a monolingual national identity. As a parent, it's natural to have expectations for our kids, especially when it comes to academics. Sometimes, we even try to push our own ideas on them, thinking it's for their own good. For instance, I absolutely love Chinese—whether it was back in school or now, reading Chinese books is still a passion of mine. But I know I can't just force that on my son. I've learned that it's more important to understand your child's unique needs and find a method that really clicks with them. Every kid is different, and taking the time to tailor our approach can lead to better results and a happier learning experience. If we push too hard, we might end up pushing them away instead. The article really highlights the rich mix of language, culture, and identity that makes Singapore so special. Definitely check it out!🤗 Thanks again, everyone! Let’s keep celebrating the stories that make Singapore our beloved home. Happy National Day 💖 #Language #Culture #Identity #Parenting #Diversity #NationalIdentity #Singapore #BePartofTheirWorld #NDP2024

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Stories like this show us that poor #CX, #userdesign and #customerinterface can create opportunities for scams and fraud. As a proponent of #instantpayments or #realtimepayments, I've been thinking about how new payment rails need to evolve in pace with customer behavior and user needs. New features like readable, standardized receipts, need to go hand-in-hand with public education for both retailers (from hawkers to e-commerce companies) and citizens across a wide spectrum of digital literacy levels to encourage not only mass adoption, but to pave the way towards more sustained and thoughtful integration of methods like #paynow as a viable alternative to cards and digital wallets. In this spirit, it's been exciting working with the IMDA on their #DigitalSkillsforLife campaign. We're keen to learn more about how Singaporeans think about digital payments, and how we can equip our community with meaningful skills and relevant tools to make the most out of opportunities in the digital world. If you have views, we'd love to hear them in this quick survey: https://lnkd.in/gEpK3Sup https://lnkd.in/gViKG66p https://lnkd.in/g2f-Tdy9

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Today, Singapore takes a bold and significant step forward as one of the first countries in the world to formally recognize and protect gig workers through the passing of the Platform Worker Bill. As someone deeply involved in this journey over the past two years, I am proud to have worked alongside policymakers, industry players, and the vibrant community of platform workers to bring this transformative legislation to life. This bill represents a critical moment, not just for Singapore, but for the global gig economy. It’s being closely watched by other countries and industries looking to adapt to the evolving nature of work. As Singapore positions itself at the vanguard of these changes, it is demonstrating a "uniquely Singapore" approach of how platform workers—Ride-hail and delivery drivers can be accorded protections including insurance coverage and retirement adequacy. As we move forward, I am excited to see how these changes shape the future of gig work in Singapore and beyond. The is just the beginning and the work continues in creating a better, fairer ecosystem for our driver-partners.

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Always been a strong believer in public-private partnership. And it was a privilege to represent the Safeheron team alongside my colleague Yifan Zhang to share about best practices in digital asset management to Singapore Police Force (SPF) team, attended by Commercial Affairs Department, Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department, at the Police Cantonment Complex. Unfortunately digital assets lost due to hacks, scams and exploits are still commonplace ($1.7B lost in 2023). #Crypto crime (e.g. ramsonware, darknet) remains a concern. We covered on how seized assets can be securely managed to ensure proper checks and balances, aligned with good governance and accountability. At the same time, we discuss security strategies to counter threats, especially on phishing attacks and private key leakage. #SPF leads the fight against cybercrime. But the battle is a shared responsibility. At Safeheron, we look forward on continually being a responsible actor in the security community and contributing towards a safer ecosystem for everyone, alongside our law enforcement colleagues. #SPF, #Cybercrime, #DigitalAssets, #Safeheron

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Click through for full details here: https://lnkd.in/dHUXv-yq #TheExpectationGap can cause a divide between professionals and companies. Great to see our insights making headlines in The Straits Times again. #TT24

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In light of World Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Day, I would like to share about the impact of #toxic stress in a child’s youth. Common adverse #childhood experiences children in #Singapore face are witnessing community violence, being bullied, physical abuse, amongst other factors. Health experts have found that extreme psychological #stress overwhelms a child’s internal capacity and inner resources to cope, and that toxic stress affects the brain’s developing structure—which means that it has lasting effects on their future. Studies show that the brains of maltreated children were affected in the areas that dealt with emotions, memory, cognitive abilities, decision-making and self-regulation. As #parents, #teachers, #leaders, or simply an adult that is involved in a child’s life, we should be hyper aware of this vulnerable stage in a child’s life and how toxic stress can change everything for them. Cyber bullying, cancel culture in schools, and stress at home are things we should watch out for and try to prevent by any means possible. The ramifications are literally life changing. Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE) Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Ministry of Social and Family Development, Singapore (MSF) #CancelCulture #NoToDoxxing #NoMoreCyberbullying #mentalawareness

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Master Session 5 with Syed Salman Rabbani, VP AI & Product Management (ex-Blackhawk Network & American Express), hosted by Shravan Tickoo & Rethink Systems     What do you get when you mix a master strategist, AI wizardry, and leadership insights? A session that makes you rethink everything you knew about AI, leadership, and product management.     Mr. Syed Salman Rabbani, exuding the composed genius of The Professor from #LaCasadePapel minus the red jumpsuits and elaborate heist plans (though I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s masterminding the next big AI revolution). 🎩 His aura said, "I know 10 ways to solve your problem before you've even finished explaining it." Insightful? Absolutely. Intimidating? Only if you showed up without a notepad!     I sat there, ready to absorb every nugget of wisdom like a sponge that refuses to drip.   Here are the key lessons I took away: 💡 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 = Survival + Growth Relevance isn’t just staying up to date; it’s about running ahead of irrelevance, which chases us faster than ever. The secret? Constantly upskilling, evolving, and being curious.   🎬 𝗣𝗠𝘀: Directors, Not Heroes We don’t need to hog the spotlight. Let the technology dazzle; our job is to direct its brilliance and align it with human needs. Think Spielberg behind the camera, not Iron Man in front of it.   🤖 𝗔𝗜 & PM: A Match Made in Logic AI isn’t a magic wand; it’s a tool. Use it where it fits, and don’t be afraid to say, “Nope, Excel will do.” It’s about the right solutions, not the trendiest ones.   🔒 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 & Security: The True North AI is like a supercar—powerful, exciting, but disastrous without brakes. Ethics and security are those brakes. Always prioritize human decision-making over blind automation.   🚧 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗳𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 & Guardrails: Handle with Care AI’s potential is enormous, but in areas like deepfakes, human oversight isn’t optional—it’s vital. Test rigorously, validate constantly, and build safeguards. Watch the video attached below and tell me if he does not resemble the professor.     Gratitude Corner: A big shoutout to Shravan Tickoo Bhaiya and #RethinkSystems for orchestrating these mind-expanding sessions. To Syed Salman Rabbani thank you for being a walking, talking knowledge vault. Your insights, strategies, and vision were like sipping wisdom from a firehose overwhelmingly enlightening! Also shoutout to my awesome mentor Unnati Nakra who has always been an inspiration and my team who pushes me to give my best. Lalit Khatri, PMP Mamta Pandey Shubham Parashar Sonakshi M. Yogendra lakshminarayan Shraddha D Harshith kumar GS Ankita Sinha In a world debating whether AI will replace us or enable us, this session was a masterclass in how we can embrace it as a tool, not a threat. Here’s to staying curious, relevant, and ethical in our AI journey. #Leadership #AI #ProductManagement #EthicsInTech #RethinkSystems

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Over 33,000 Malaysians lost RM1.3 billion lost to scams last year. Here are 8 tips to spot scams based on my conversation with Raymon Ram, MSc (Econ. Crime Mgt.), CFE, CAMS, ISO 37001 LA, courtesy to Gen AI. I highly recommend listening to the full conversation to learn more about how to spot and avoid scams, but also the rising trends to watch out for. > Be Skeptical of Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers: Promises of high returns with little to no risk are major red flags. Legitimate investments always carry some level of risk. > Don't Be A Mule: Be aware of the rising use of mule accounts, where individuals rent out their bank accounts for laundering funds. This is illegal and can have severe consequences. > Urgency and Time Pressure: Scammers exploit emotions like fear and greed to create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act quickly without thinking. Be wary of deals that demand immediate action. > Use Strong Cybersecurity Practices: Implement strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and regularly update your devices and software to protect against malware and phishing attacks. > Unsolicited Messages: Receiving unexpected emails, calls, or messages from unknown sources asking for personal or financial information should be treated with suspicion. > Protect Personal Information: Legitimate institutions will never ask for sensitive information like passwords or bank details via email or phone. Avoid sharing personal or financial information online, especially through unsolicited emails or messages. Scammers often use this data for identity theft and fraud. > Mismatched URLs and Email Addresses: Check for inconsistencies in email addresses and URLs. Phishing scams often use addresses that look similar to legitimate ones but have slight differences. > Unexpected Group Adds: Being added to WhatsApp or Telegram groups without consent is a tactic to expose you to scams. Exit these groups immediately. https://lnkd.in/gaK-_-XV

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No hunger. At the risk of sounding politically correct, I think there are nuances. And Singapore has progressed somewhat since our founding - this has resulted in societal changes. My take is, in the 1960s, 70s, it was survival mode. Everyone was hungry and thus, work took precedence. Life took a back seat while adults slogged long hours to bring home the bacon. Fast forward to now, Singapore is a prosperous little city state. People want more to life than just work-work-work. Many are also part of a sandwich generation with aging parents and young children to care for. Are people less hungry? Perhaps. It could be said that we are less hungry for the same survival mode tangibles as compared to our forefathers in the 60s & 70s. Do we need to go back to that survival mode? Arguably, yes. Cos there are those looking to eat our lunch and they are succeeding in taking bite-size chunks at an increasingly unsettling frequency. Yet, we cannot discount a real desire for work-life balance. So maybe, we need to change the arena where we fight. IMHO, best not be in the same arena, i.e. industries as those hungry for survival. Move up the value chain where we can; no need to be ahead of the curve but at the apex will do. That said, admittedly, it is easy to say & far more difficult to do..... https://lnkd.in/ggPZhWmZ

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This afternoon, I had an insightful discussion with professionals from top organizations in Singapore on the use of #privacyenhancingtechnologies (PETs) in their respective fields. Here are the key takeaways: - Each field should focus on what works best for them; using PETs may not benefit every use case and could hinder progress. - PETs are most effective when used alongside existing technologies and methods, avoiding forced integration. EVYD is pioneering trustless solutions in healthcare, leveraging blockchain technology for data reliability. - Successful PET implementation requires buy-in from all levels within the organization, not just management, to ensure data is structured, analyzed, and cleansed effectively. Special thanks to Josh Lee Kok Thong for facilitating this enlightening discussion. Excited to continue exploring PETs with industry leaders! #PrivacyEnhancingTechnologies #DataSecurity #TechInnovation

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Today marks the 2nd anniversary of my Bytedance journey. I'm sharing some thoughts and learnings as an employee of the company. 1. Set PACE as company culture. 🥁 It's commonly known that the pace at Bytedance is unprecedented. However, lots of people in the industry mistake it for extended working hours, a.k.a 996 working hour. I have complained and struggled with the slow paced velocity in some workplaces. It feels like you have to drag others ahead rather than be propelled by others. A fast paced workplace enables hustlers to make things happen when everyone spins at similar speed and sings the same song. There are times when I felt drained for sure and I'm thankful that the team and XFN partners fill the gap for me to not drop the ball. 2. Address the GAP between operation and strategy. 🏁 Rarely did I see a leader or a team can succeed in making the ends meet. Most leaders are capable of setting high level directions and are lost in operationalizing them in reality. In every company, leaders talk about operational excellence, which is as complex as direction setting. The key is to define and track action metrics that are influential to results rather than focus solely on discussion on results. Strategies without clear action metrics to drive operational rigour are just wishful thinking. 3. Bring CLARITY in the midst of ambiguity 🌅 In today's world, some problems are conventional and can be solved with minimal effort while others are hard, ambiguous problems left require us to find the truth few people agree on and can only be satisfied with serious effort. All looks up to someone or a few people to get to the bottom and solve the root cause. Be that person.

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Surveys such as this can bring up a silent tussle of egos - the inflated one vs that of the deflated! The list of top 250 employers in Singapore is dismal for MNCs, interspersed as they are with local firms. Cisco has come in at rank 222, E&Y at 234, PWC 205, Accenture 244, Meta 168, KPMG 169, Mastercard 229, Citibank 180, HPE 129 and Nokia 200. Genesys is not in the list as the survey is only for firms employing 200+ personnel in Singapore. Infosys is placed 220th, two ranks higher than Cisco, with TCS Singapore at 159. Microsoft (26), Amazon (46), SAP (47) and DHL (56) have fared a little better. I doubt the Singapore rankings are taken seriously by MNCs - with all those at the bottom half here scoring high and coming at the top in global surveys! Still, it will deflate the egos of those working for companies with a poor rank! I do take pride in having once worked for Cisco, particularly because it had a visionary appeal under the leadership of John Chambers when I joined them. At that time, the hiring process was among the toughest - I went through 11 interviews followed by reference checks and background screening! It took more than six months for the hiring to be formalised. No longer so! These days even three interviews over a two-month period are frowned upon, ending up with wrong choices!

LAYOFFS have swept through global consultancy and professional services companies, but the wave has spared Singapore so far, with big players in the Republic noting continued demand for their services. Since 2023, the industry has been plagued by a rash of job cuts worldwide. After rounds of layoffs last year, Big Four firms are seeing more. Last month, PwC Australia said it would make over 300 roles redundant. In February, it was reported that Deloitte was set to slash 100 more jobs in the UK. Ernst & Young is now reportedly weighing further cuts in Oceania. Outside the Big Four, McKinsey & Co began global

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Recently, i had posted my chat with Lee Kuan Yew https://lnkd.in/d_m43uTB This post celebrates THE SAVIOUR, my then CEO & occasional-partner-in-crime Chintamani Rao In fact, Chinta saved my interview TWICE. FIRST, sensing our channel’s reluctance to air a rating guzzler, he offered the asset to Haresh Chawla, his opposite number in Network18 Media & Investments Limited Result? CNBC-TV18 ran the full interview many times, something that neither happened before nor after NEXT, 10+ years later, when I managed to lose the video in my archive, Chinta scooped it out from his Am grateful for BOTH these acts Later, heveven sold the rights to Jet Airways for its flight to Singapore We weren’t as lucky with “Supermibds”, a show we co-conceived. It couldn’t get past the ratings committee. Sabeer Bhatia, Shashi Tharoor (then contesting for United Nations SG), & Matti Vanhanen, PM of Finland for 7 years, were filmed, but between Chinta & me, we couldn’t find a sponsor FIRST! Superminds was killed…Sigh! Chinta was a co-founder of NBA. When he moved to Times, i became our channel’s nominee. Befittingly, Chinta chaired my Observer Research Foundation roundtable on media regulation FF to last night. At a do to mark 50 years of his work life, I saw how dozens (if not hundreds) of his colleagues in marketing, advertising, media & broadcasting have benefitted similarly — from Chinta’s wisdom & steel, goodwill & exactitude. (See gracious host exchange4media’s blog citing, Sh Piyush Pandey, Sh Lloyd Mathias, Sh Santosh Desai, (MD & CEO, Futurebrands India), Sh Avinash Pandey (former CEO, ABP), Sh Rajul K. (CEO, Agilis Plus) & me https://lnkd.in/dGPkRXKQ) There are interactions i can’t cite from our tenure at the TV channel, but equally interesting are the ones we’ve had 15 years eversince. We even co-hosted a “reunion” lunch of atleast one of three alma maters that we have in common (see image at the Jamun Tree) Then, there’s our love for words (read intolerance for modern English). Our 😡 for silly stuff leads us to “DM mode” pretty often. But, unlike me, Chinta calls a spade a spade on SM. Check out the gem on Capt Amarinder Singh & Navjyot Sidhu, not to miss Rahul Kanwal being tagged. Chinta isn’t active on X, but his is a TL to follow https://lnkd.in/dB8EvBk8 This tribute will be incomplete without recognising Sh Annurag Batra. He, more than anyone in know, has walked the talk ON CELEBRATING THE LEGENDS of INDIAN M&E, & our tribe as a whole. Thank you AB for inviting me to speak as well 🌺. Video: https://lnkd.in/dMgTv6wf Was nice to see Smt Reena Rao; their elder son Krishna Rao with wife Layla & grandson Kiaan; & younger son Ambar Rao, cutting a cake & cheering the “gentle giant” 😊🤩 Despite 50 at work, IMHO Chinta’s best is yet to come. A compendium of CHINTA-ISMS, anyone..!? More bonding welcome…

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4 day work week. As with the WFH/RTO tussle, there is going to be a gulf between employees and employers on this 4 day work week idea. I think we can all just be reasonable adults here. Trying to cramp 5 days of work into 4 days is going to be tough. And there are also many jobs where a 4 day week is going to be painful to implement - e.g. work shift arrangements will need to change. How about meeting in the middle? Start by not having long meetings on Friday, especially afternoon - unless u have to work across time zones. And letting staff head off slightly earlier on Friday or allow them to WFH. And then, have everyone really take the weekend off. Means no expectation to reply on work emails etc. TBH, many companies are already implementing these. And employees are happier for it. No need to enforce a 4 day week. Agree? https://lnkd.in/gR8PNDmG

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Ghost jobs. IMHO, this is unethical and morally wrong if this is really happening / prevalent. i.e. Posting job ads with no intention of hiring but only to either fulfil a government policy that the position has been advertised or to give an impression that the company is hiring/growing. That said, this is gonna be hard to police unless someone/team in MOM checks on each & every "suspicious" job ad. This also demonstrates that yer olde word-of-mouth & networking can help a prospective job applicant suss out the real job openings...... https://lnkd.in/g5j7a7cE

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A few years ago, I was phished from a website purportedly for ordering a pizza. My card from the biggest bank in Singapore suffered a man-in-the-middle attack and encountered loss as a result. The scammers did it by replicating the card number and adding it to their Apple Pay account. The funny thing was that 1) I am not an iPhone user, and 2) There was no second-factor authentication when adding a card to the e-wallet, which I think was nonsense when 2-factor authentication was quite mature then. Apple Pay and the bank should require 2-factor authentication using the official number of the card owner before the card can be added to the e-wallet. It seems this loophole was overlooked, as the card was added and can be used immediately. There was also no cooling period. These days, it is best to use a debit card linked to an account with very little money when purchasing online. You will have the convenience of cards without the risk of misusing credit lines. As Alf pointed out in the article, more can be done, and the risks should be shared between banks and telcos. Some measures have already been implemented. That said, when more than $50K transactions are detected, it is too late. The material sum is quite huge for many people, and I hope that clients can set limits for themselves in the future. The bank should always provide additional confirmation that the transaction is legit if the spending pattern is out of the norm (best use of AI, IMHO). At least MAS has implemented the new rules. Now, we will see how the banks implement them. We will wait and see.

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COMPASS and Beyond: Future-Proofing Your Workforce COMPASS is a points-based system for assessing Employment Pass (EP) applications in Singapore, introduced to ensure that foreign professionals complement the local workforce. It evaluates candidates on individual attributes like salary and qualifications, and firm-related attributes like workforce diversity and local employment support. From September 2023, new EP applications need at least 40 points under COMPASS.   Impact on Businesses 1.    Strategic Workforce Planning: o  Businesses must adapt their recruitment and workforce management strategies to align with COMPASS criteria, focusing on maintaining a diverse workforce and hiring high-quality foreign talent when only needed. o  Companies heavily reliant on a single nationality may need to diversify to meet COMPASS standards. 2.    Compliance and Preparation: o  Companies are encouraged to review their business activities, update them with ACRA if necessary, and utilize MOM's workforce tools to analyze workforce composition. 3.    Resource and Recovery Planning: o  The BIA stresses the need for businesses to identify and prioritize critical resources to minimize disruption. This includes assessing the potential impact on business processes if the local workforce ratio falls below the desired levels in the long run. o  The BIA suggests focusing on recruiting local talent and ensuring a strong "Singaporean core" to mitigate the risks associated with dependency on foreign talent. 4.    Outage Impacts and Mitigation: o  Businesses might face delays in hiring due to stricter compliance measures and need to allocate additional resources to ensure adherence to COMPASS requirements. o  Strategic adjustments, such as diversifying recruitment and engaging in government programs, are recommended to align with the new framework and minimize potential downtime. Conclusion This analysis provides a strategic roadmap for businesses to navigate the changes brought about by COMPASS, helping them prepare for long-term success in Singapore’s evolving regulatory landscape. Adapting to COMPASS will require a thoughtful, strategic approach that balances compliance with Singapore’s immigration policy and continued the need for skilled foreign talent who complement the local workforce. By aligning workforce practices with COMPASS criteria and national priorities, businesses can ensure that they remain competitive, resilient, and capable of achieving long-term success in Singapore's dynamic regulatory landscape. Employment Pass renewals will require companies to be more strategic in their workforce planning and replace with right local talent and avoid disruptions to their business operations.

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Recently, I came across a post from a former colleague that deeply affected me. He had lost a close friend to suicide. His friend had been struggling with depression after being retrenched, spending nine months trying to find a new job, only to face a significant pay cut. The weight of this situation became too much for him to bear, and sadly, he took his own life. This hit me hard. It made me realize just how much men, in particular, feel the pressure to remain strong, even when they’re struggling inside. It also made me realize how important it is to talk about these issues and encourage others to seek help before it’s too late. That’s why I started the “𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀” campaign. Men’s mental health is often overlooked, and many suffer in silence because they feel like they have to bear the burden alone. But it doesn’t have to be this way. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝑶𝑲 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝑶𝑲—and asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Through this campaign, I aim to raise awareness about the mental health struggles men face, break the stigma around seeking help, and share tips and resources that can make a difference. I invite you to follow along, join the conversation, and help spread the message. Together, we can create a space where men feel comfortable speaking up and reaching out for support. 🔗 Follow the conversation with #BreakTheSilence Let’s make a difference, one conversation at a time. #MensMentalHealth #ItsOkToNotBeOk #MentalHealthMatters #BreakTheStigma

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