Breakfast with Ryan Huang, Emaad Akhtar and Audrey Siek

Every year we hear about them. University rankings have formed the crux of any one student’s decision-making process. However, a number of prominent Universities have spoken out against such rankings, which cannot measure the multifaceted goals of higher education. So, do university rankings still matter for students in Singapore? Jason Tan, Associate Professor, Policy, Curriculum and Leadership at The National Institute of Education shares his expertise on whether we should really pay much attention to these rankings.

21 months - that’s how long it took for the UK to negotiate terms before striking the deal to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.  British High Commissioner to Singapore, Kara Owen shares about that journey and the UK’s economic pivot to Asia. [Find Us on Podcast Platforms] Awedio | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | OmnyStudio [Contact Us] Presenter: Lynlee Foo Producer: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)

As Geneco celebrates its fifth anniversary, the leading electricity retailer is doubling down on its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. It is partnering with the National Park Board’s registered charity and IPC to support the Singapore Botanic Gardens Seed Bank, by contributing to their efforts to conserve the seeds of threatened plant species in Southeast Asia due to climate change and habitat loss.  LynLee Foo finds out more about their collaboration and plans ahead with Lim Han Kwang, Chief Executive Officer of Geneco and Dr Jana Leong-Skornickova,Principal Researcher, Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board. This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg)

China concluded its first in-person Boao Forum since the COVID-19 outbreak last week. Coming on the back of that, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who met China’s top leadership is calling for new ground rules so that global trade can continue without decoupling, in an increasingly divided world. So, how can countries achieve that fine balance?  Dr Tan Khee Giap, Chairman of the Singapore National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation shares his perspective.

U.S. markets posted strong gains last Friday on the back of lower-than-expected inflation readings for February. How will this translate to movements in Asia when markets open today for a fresh week of trading?  Willie Keng finds out more from Matt Taylor, Senior Director, FTI Consulting, plus what else to look ahead this week.

Alibaba Group Holding’s logistics arm, Cainiao Network Technology, that is currently valued at more than $20 billion, has started preparations with banks for its Hong Kong initial public offering.  This comes after the Chinese tech giant announced that it will split its empire into six business unites. Chinese tech stocks also jumped following the news. It seems very vibrant now and is the a sign of easing of China's tech crackdown? On Bigger Picture, Willie Keng finds out from Chong Ser Jing, Co-founder and portfolio manager of Compounder Fund.

"Do not let your background define your future." That is how we would describe our guest on Mind Your Business today. Coming from a humble family background, he had no access to mentors whom he could consult or look up to. That was what prompted him to start a mentorship company as a side project at the height of the pandemic. But his business grew so rapidly that his boss told him to either focus on the full time job or his side project. Well, the choice was obvious. Striving towards his vision of a world where education and knowledge sharing is free and accessible to all, Felix Lee, Co-founder of ADPList, a global mentoring platform, shares his journey, the mentors who have helped him and his aspirations for the global community that is exploding at lightning speed. This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg)

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is currently on a highly sensitive transit through the US, with a tentatively scheduled meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy triggering fears of a heavy-handed Chinese reaction. Lim Tai Wei, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute shares his take on the situation.  [Find Us on Podcast Platforms] Awedio | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | OmnyStudio [Contact Us] Presenter: Lynlee Foo Producer: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)

Despite national conversations about gender diversity in tech, women are still underrepresented, underpaid, and often discriminated against in the tech industry, numbers show. According to a 2020 report from McKinsey, diversity is critical to IT performance. Diverse teams perform better, hire better talent, have more engaged members, and retain workers better than those that do not focus on diversity and inclusion. In this episode of Why It Matters, our guest is a female tech top brass, who's based in the San Francisco Bay Area and a Woman of Influence in the Silicon Valley Business Journal. LynLee Foo speaks with Kavitha Mariappan, Executive Vice President of Customer Experience & Transformation at Zscaler, to discuss issues such as the ongoing layoffs, the outlook of the tech sector, plus why is there a need for more women and girls in STEM and what can they bring to the table in this male-dominated industry. This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg)

Are you thinking about setting up your own business? If the answer is yes, well, you're not alone. The pandemic has prompted many people to think about their future, such as having work-life-balance, doing what you enjoy instead of grinding out in a job that one doesn't really enjoy.  Many people, especially the younger generation now, started their own business during the pandemic.  Our young guest on Mind Your Business, only 26 years old, took that leap of faith, to start a business - halal gelato ice cream - after finding a gap in the market. She is also one of the 100 young entrepreneurs, selected by the Sandbox Somerset - a partnership between the Somerset Belt and Invade - to share their journey with aspiring entrepreneurs. Lyn Lee Foo chats with Riefa Ashikin, Founder of Motor Folks, on her experience, challenges and tips for those who are considering to start their own business. This podcast is produced and edited by Anthea Ng (nganthea@sph.com.sg)