Andrew Chow, CSP

“Climate is the means, Nature is the end” - a quote from Professor Lawrence Loh of the NUS Business School NUS Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS) As we address the climate issue, let's remember: climate is the means, nature is the end. 💡From an investor perspective, sustainable practices drive long-term value. 💡For companies serious about sustainability, it's not just a checkbox, but a core strategy. 💡And for consumers who care, eco-friendly choices are a way of life. It emphasizes that efforts to address climate change should ultimately aim to preserve and restore nature, not just mitigate climate impacts. This distinction underlines the idea that while addressing climate change is critical, it is a step toward the larger goal of protecting and sustaining the natural environment. Let's focus on preserving the beauty and wonder of nature, rather than just mitigating climate change. By doing so, we'll create a better future for all. #Sustainability #ClimateAction #NatureMatters Photo credit: aljazeera

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"It’s a cool and rainy Saturday as I delve into my daily reflections. I remained restless as I always am and I have learned to accept it because it is not going to change anything. " I quoted from Alvin Ng, MSCS's earlier post. It was spoke so much to me that this post has been inspired by it. Whatever the weather is, at this very moment, mine is bright yet full of clouds which can be brighten up even more or become cloudy at anytime - so this is the weather I have here in Wales, UK. Reflections: Isn't this very much like anyone of us, our life can be at one moment full of opportunities next full of challenges which can be totally unseen, unpredictable. We can continue to fight against it or simply accepted it. 💡 Learn the art and beauty of being presence! 💡 Know we have a choice in life even though it may seem that we have none. 💡 Learn to see the beauty of this world be it sunshine or rain When we are present, there is a power within us, not to change the past but to make our future better, for it is now that make the future, not the predicting/worrying about the future nor re-playing in our mind of our past We are present, we have the ability to stop the relentless chasing, to slow down, to focus (increase in productivity at work and listening better - fostering a better relationship) Of course, when we are fully presence we are able to appreciate whatever the world sends our way! As I now simply enjoying my view however long it lasts and enjoy the rains if it comes. What is your reflections for this weekend? Be it the sunny or rainy weather? #mindfulness #presence #selfawareness

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🔥 Singapore wants to become a trusted, neutral hub in the global AI race, navigating between the U.S. and China. But let's be real - can a small nation stay neutral in a world where AI is the new battleground for global dominance? Our leaders champion this middle-ground approach, hosting both American and Chinese AI models. But ask yourself: Is this neutrality sustainable? In a future where AI defines power, ethics, and security, Singapore may be risking its own tech sovereignty for the sake of collaboration with foreign giants. And let's talk about the elephant in the room - AI *is* an arms race. Like it or not, those who lead in AI will dictate the global rules of engagement in the digital world. Singapore can't afford to stay on the sidelines or play both sides without making tough choices. The question is, are we really prepared for the consequences of trying to be everything to everyone? #AI #TechSovereignty #Singapore #GlobalPolitics

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"Western medicine, the cornerstone of modern healthcare systems, has achieved remarkable success in treating diseases and improving quality of life. Yet, it faces increasing challenges—most notably, the soaring costs of care, which have placed a growing financial burden on individuals globally. This trend has only intensified since 2000, revealing a critical limitation: mainstream healthcare systems have reached a bottleneck, stagnating in their ability to effectively address the holistic health needs of diverse populations". Join GIFT's ASIA Young Leaders Programme to understand People-to-People diplomacy and exchange through unlocking access to healthcare for the global majority. DM me or GIFT.

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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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The headline screams, “Singapore’s adult literacy, numeracy proficiency rankings IMPROVE”, but dig deeper, and the picture isn’t so rosy. Yes, we’ve climbed the ranks in numeracy. But our literacy scores remain BELOW the OECD average - a glaring issue for a nation that aspires to lead in talent and innovation. The headline frames progress as victory, but what about the gaps it conveniently glosses over? 🧐 Key questions we should ask: - Why are our literacy scores still lagging despite years of initiatives like SkillsFuture? - Are we truly equipping our workforce for the future, or are we just benchmarking mediocrity against global averages? - Is the “$4,000 SkillsFuture top-up” solving the root problem or just plastering over systemic cracks? Misleading narratives hinder real progress. It's time to focus on quality over optics and ensure that every worker; young or old, high- or low-skilled is equipped to thrive in an ever-changing economy. 💬 What’s your take on how the media frames these “success stories”? Let’s discuss in the comments. #Singapore #WorkforceDevelopment #SkillsFuture #Upskilling #MediaLiteracy

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We much appreciate our brilliant foresight analysts, Wipattra Totemchokchaikarn and Siyada Witoon. Your work on 'Futures of AI in Thai Education' sparks awareness and positive societal changes! #FutureTalesLab #TheStandardEconomicForum2024

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"𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬..." 💔 A couple of weeks ago, one of my coaching clients, Wei Ting Hong invited me onto her podcast @hugtohearttalk with Souperstar. We spoke about coaching, healing, consciousness, parenting, relationships and everything in between. This experience, apart from being absolutely energising (even though I was 27 weeks pregnant then!) made me realise that I have many thoughts and feelings towards these topics. The experience also reminded me of why I do the things I do in this world. I started my education career and my coaching practice with a single purpose: to make a difference to humanity. Over time, I realized that the deeper desire (purpose) is to grow ME and heal ME. 💕 This makes sense because who I am is… …how I teach… ...how I lead... …how I coach… …how I show up in life as a mother, wife, daughter, friend and more… And my healing and evolution is what truly enables me to make a difference to humanity. After all, I can only take people to the depths I am willing and able to go myself. 🌊 Link to the full episode in comments. 🎙 - - - Hi, I’m Sheena! I write about #coaching, #mentoring, #leadership, #relationships, #parenting, and the #thehumanexperience. 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: Sheena Ang 洪颖慧, PCC ,CPCC, CNTC, IFS Trained Coach 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞: sheenaang.com

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Singapore's commitment to upskill professionals with AI knowledge is undoubtedly forward-thinking and reflects the nation's ambition to remain at the forefront of technological advancement. But as we embrace this wave of AI training, it’s essential to consider both the opportunities and the challenges that come with it. 🔍 *Depth vs. Breadth*: While expanding AI training across all sectors is a commendable goal, there's a risk that we may focus too much on breadth at the expense of depth. It’s crucial that professionals not only learn to use AI tools but also understand the ethical considerations, potential biases, and limitations of these technologies. Superficial knowledge could lead to misuse or overreliance on AI, undermining the very progress we seek. 💼 *Inclusion or Division?*: The idea that AI proficiency will be key to job security is a double-edged sword. While it empowers many, it could also alienate those who struggle to adapt, particularly older workers or those from less tech-centric industries. We must ensure that this initiative doesn’t inadvertently widen the socio-economic divide or create a new class of “AI have-nots.” 🎨 *Balancing Innovation with Creativity*: AI has the potential to revolutionize creative industries, but it’s vital that we don’t lose sight of the human touch. AI can assist and enhance creativity, but it should not replace the unique insights and originality that only humans can bring. The challenge lies in finding the right balance. 🎓 *Quality vs. Accessibility*: Streamlining certification to attract more trainers is a practical step, but we must be careful not to dilute the quality of education. It’s essential that those who teach AI are well-equipped to provide a deep understanding, not just a surface-level overview. Singapore's AI upskilling strategy is a significant and necessary move, but it requires careful implementation to ensure that it benefits everyone. Let’s focus on creating a workforce that’s not just AI-capable, but AI-conscious. The road ahead is promising, but it’s one we must navigate with care and foresight. #AITraining #FutureOfWork #Singapore

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#DiaryOfANonProfitFounder As we almost conclude the next 5-year vision exercise, we realize it doesn’t have to be perfect, just consistent. For almost 10 years, we had no anchor funders just well meaning individuals who stood by us. Just kept our heads down and worked. जब बिलकुल पैसा नहीं होता तो सोशल मीडिया algorithm समझ आजाता है! 😁Made mistakes. The only thing that matters is don’t repeat the same mistakes, keep making new ones. From here and beyond, its our values again that’d guide us to build the social work practice at grassroots in India. Healing childhood trauma and empowering young girls. Protsahan India Foundation.

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝. Yesterday’s session with Diana Yuen Kei Chan was a game-changer. She shared practical ways to refine how others see you. This session left us all inspired, with actionable tools to thrive in any field. 💭 Which of these lessons resonates most with you? If you missed it, you can still catch the replay and join the next 10 sessions. Haven't registered yet? Now is your chance! It's free - link in the comments ⤵️ #CareerDevelopment #12DaysOfCareerGoals #Careers

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The Commodification of Education: When Learning Takes a Backseat. Imagine preparing to teach a course at your alma mater, pouring hours of effort into crafting an engaging curriculum, only to be informed five days before the start date that your course has been canceled. This is exactly what happened to Haresh Sharma, a Cultural Medallion recipient, who was set to teach playwriting at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The reason? "Low enrolment numbers." This isn't just a story about one course being dropped. It's a reflection of a troubling trend: the commodification of education. In a world where education is increasingly treated as a business, are we losing sight of its true purpose? When decisions are driven solely by numbers and bottom lines, the rich, intangible value of learning - especially in the arts - gets sidelined. Students miss out on the opportunity to learn from the best, to explore their creativity, and to engage deeply with their chosen fields. But beyond the immediate impact on students and educators, this raises a bigger question: What kind of society are we building when the arts, and the people who create and teach them, are so easily dismissed? The arts are not just an "extra." They are fundamental to our culture, our ability to think critically, and our capacity for empathy. Yet, when institutions prioritize profits over people, the arts are often the first to go. It's time we re-evaluate how we value education - not as a commodity, but as a crucial part of human development and societal well-being. Let's support our educators, cherish our students, and remember that true education is about more than just numbers. #Education #HigherEducation #Commodification

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📣 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕! Commitment to what? To the work of entrepreneurial leadership coaching. To the work of nurturing future leaders! And as an indication of this commitment, I am launching my service website. 2 years ago I started this journey venturing out on my own. A leap of faith it was. The past 2 years have been a journey of self-discovery. I’ve always known I have a gift for emotionally connecting with people and spotting their unique qualities. This gift naturally lends itself to coaching leaders of future generations, a passion that has been central to all my leadership roles. The growth of each of my team members were my gratification. I began to yearn to connect with more future leaders, to be their comrade and confidante on their leadership journeys. Yet being able to coach is one thing, venturing out as a solopreneur to coach is another. The transition was challenging. I took small steps, experimenting to shape my service offerings. I was fortunate to start small-scale coaching, and to be deployed into a scale-up to help set up the HR function. These 2 years have been incredibly fruitful, with my path becoming clearer, and my first batch of coachees providing invaluable affirmation. Having spent decades in corporate roles, I yearned for REAL autonomy - to align my work with my values. Being intuitively entrepreneurial in nature, it was on hindsight that the traditional corporate structure felt restrictive, pushing me to finally muster the courage to leave my full-time job and step into the unknown. So I left behind over two decades of comfort (but not too comfortable) zone to embark on this new path - with no turning back. As a Gen Xer, I often faced questions like, "Are you semi-retired?", “Wow, you get to choose your own time to work now". The truth is, this venture is far from semi-retirement. It's a commitment to dedicating my life to nurturing future leaders. I have many people to thank. To: - Patrice Claire Bayo Verosil, your learning and progress reassured me that I’m on the right path. - Kevin Ng, you gave me a wonderful head start when I didn’t even know how to define my unique offering. - Edwin Yeo, thank you for the opportunity to try executive search early in my venture when I was exploring possibilities, from whom I learned a lot. - Gustavo Liu, whom I haven't met. You shared an inspiring article about Gen X women starting businesses on the SEA Startups and Founders Community Channel. The article was instrumental in my journey of introspection. - Genine Loo, thank you for slogging out the DIY website with me!! On this journey as a solopreneur, I’m learning to ask for support. So here it goes: If my services might benefit you, DM me, or visit my website to submit a request to meet. If you believe your community would appreciate my work, please re-post. Work on your strengths, chart your moves and build your presence with me.

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Who are the Singaporeans? 1. Singaporeans are not proud of each other. We're brainwashed all our lives to be proud of our superior government, but not our ordinary selves. 2. We believe that our success is caused by our government. Emotionally, we have never learned how to attribute our success to the hardworking generations of people who made this happen. 3. Our government became the owners of the country, and we became the beneficiaries of their kindness, charity, and leadership. 4. Our government is portrayed as blemish-free and could do no wrong. If something is very wrong, they do not change it. They justify it. 5. We returned the ruling party to power in every election since 1959 because we believe that once they lost power, Singapore will immediately collapse or become like some neighbouring countries. In fact, we developed a smugness that our passport and SGD is much stronger than them. We need to learn to be humble. 6. Because we don't see them at work, we forgot that our civil service did most of the work of the government. Our politicians visibly claim the credit of our hardworking bureaucrats, cut the ribbons, and read speeches written for them by the civil servants, and it looks like they brilliantly did all the work instead of the civil servants. 7. To be fair, we were and are fortunate to have some of the greatest leaders with great qualities that contributed to Singapore's historic success. But it is not fair to attribute everything done to only these few political leaders. It took a whole nation of citizens and foreign workers to make this country work. 8. Our leaders are not flawless, and they can make big mistakes. We need constructive dialogue with citizens. As citizens, we must not lose our agency as owners of our country. Nation building requires loving critics to have the courage to call a spade a spade when it is a spade. 9. Our civil society and NGOs are not the enemy of the state when they criticise the government for making mistakes like selling NTUC Income. They're our loving critics who are important to provide the checks and balances in our country. If we kill them, we will have no voice anymore. 10. On our national day, be thankful for all the good work done by all of us. And be thankful that our politicians did not screw up this country like many others around the world. 11. The world is very screwed up. The country with the least screw-ups wins. That is why Singapore is one of the best countries in the world. We are safe because our people don't believe in riots and no one can instigate us to riot. 12. However, we need to protect our country by reducing the number of our own screw-ups. 13. A long outstanding screw-up is our government's inability to clean up our coffee shop toilets and hawkers centres toilets. Our leaders had never actually sit down on any of these very dirty toilets. Empathy comes when they come and sit down and use it for the #2 Singapore experience. Happy National Day 2024 !

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Are we overcomplicating adult education? 🤷🏼 Singapore’s newly launched Adult Learning Collaboratory promises a revolution in adult education, with fNIRS technology monitoring brain activity, stress levels, and even creativity. But are we missing the forest for the trees? While high-tech classrooms equipped with cameras and neuroimaging equipment sound impressive, we need to ask: Is this what adult learners really need? 🤔 Education isn’t just data points and metrics. It's about understanding, empathy, and personal growth. Can we really capture the essence of learning through sensors and algorithms? Or are we at risk of turning education into a cold, mechanical process? For educators, the pressure to conform to data-driven teaching methods might stifle creativity and passion, reducing the art of teaching to a set of numbers. And for learners? They might find themselves navigating a tech-heavy environment that feels more like a science experiment than a supportive learning experience. This tech-forward approach might be the future, but it must be balanced with the fundamental human elements of education. Let's not forget: behind every data point is a person with unique experiences, challenges, and aspirations. Is this the future we want for adult education? Are we truly helping learners by turning classrooms into labs? Let’s discuss! 🔥 #Education #AdultLearning #Innovation

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#sohkbb The Hidden Gifts of Trauma - What? One of my early influential teachers, Randy Revell, proved to me that every ‘disaster’ has a hidden gift.    It was a life-changing moment for me to realize that despite all my painful previous life experiences, I was gifted with learning and maturing opportunities. Was that an instant realization? No! At times, I recall having had a wise friend and teacher who patiently recognized the right moment to guide me gently to a new perspective, response, and action. I was fortunate. Reading the stories from our co-authors confirms that they all had choices to either collapse into depression, victimhood, hopelessness, or paralysis or move forward. But somewhere from the depths of their soul, they knew that giving in and giving up was not an option. At times, a wise friend, teacher, or mentor was also there, prompting the next best path of their journey.     As harsh and testing as some life events are, a phenomenon commonly happens. It is transformation. It incorporates many gifts we share with our readers in our Handbook of Hard Knocks. The most profound one is a new zest and appreciation for life and all we experience. Curiosity and gratitude replace negative feelings. Resilience, healthy relationships, and a new spiritual awareness and trust in life’s intelligent design replace doubt and uncertainty, allowing us to change our narratives finally. We also learned to look inward but also lean on others. When we can’t hold ourselves up, others can, and vice versa. This is the power of community and support. Reading our stories may be one of the most enriching, enlightening, and encouraging things you can do for yourself. What are your gifts? Anna Rooney Ciara Heneghan - Story Weaver Eamonn Walsh Sean Brosnan Sandra Dee Robinson Peter Ainley Goodwin, CYA Consulting Paula McNicholas Joseph McGuire - Face Facts Paul Rees Sandy Hart - Sales Synergist Mike Deacon Cameron John Robbins Tommi Murshed-Parish Jacqueline T. Audige Daniel Hammond - Author, Collaborator Claudine Tesniere Owen O’Malley Aron O'Dowd Catharina Gimre Lee Tunney-Ware #sohkbb

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ON THE SINGAPORE DREAM again: IT BOILS DOWN TO COMFORT AND SECURITY Of the 5Cs associated with the Singapore Dream, I believe credit card and club membership have long since declined in significance. They are pretty much common place by now. Obviously, cash, including all forms of liquid assets, remain important and will always matter. This is so, not so much for money in and of itself, but rather for the extent to which it could enable one to access comfort and security. And if we believe in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and we also agree that among the middle class and aspiring middle class folks, comfort and security are now (as always) the basic needs, then may I propose the following: That the aspiration to cross the divide between public transportation and private car ownership and between public housing and private housing is not primarily about status and prestige, but actually about comfort and security. If so, what are the facilitators and hindrances affecting the 2Cs of the Singapore Dream? Skills and career opportunities? Good work attitudes? Employment and income insecurity? High costs of living? Higher order needs like self-actualization and meaningful contributions to society matter too, but basic needs, as defined here, remain fundamental to the middle class and aspiring middle class. Your thoughts?

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Reading the latest story about SkillsFuture Fellows like Mr. John Tan - an engineer-turned-horticulturist - is inspiring, but it also left me questioning the larger narrative. 🌱 Yes, it’s great that people are finding passion in unexpected fields, but how many “mid-career” individuals are truly able to pull this off? Whilst SkillsFuture SG showcases these success stories, we can’t ignore the fact that for most people, upskilling alone won’t override the systemic hiring barriers in Singapore. Is it fair to suggest that a few short courses or diplomas can unlock meaningful career change for everyone? What do you think - are we over-promising with SkillsFuture, or does it genuinely bridge the gap? Let’s discuss how we can make upskilling *truly* impactful for ALL Singaporeans. #SkillsFuture #Upskilling #CareersInTransition

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