10-Minute SEA Discussion

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Matthew McGarvey, Co-Founder, Xylem Capital, dives into bottlenecks that slow down green financing for agricultural enterprises in Vietnam and how businesses, banks and policymakers can collaborate to untangle such challenges.

For more information about Green Finance for Agriculture in Vietnam, please visit my blog page

Guest Bio:

Matthew McGarvey is a Co-Founder of Xylem Capital where he commits to mobilising private capital for solutions that deliver both commercial value and positive environmental and social outcomes. 

He has been an impact investment and sustainable development specialist with more than 20 years of experience in impact investing and social entrepreneurship across Asia. His experience spans clean energy financing, regenerative agriculture and fund development, including developing financing strategies for more than 6 GW of clean energy projects across Asia. .

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠.  

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Pravena K,  Founder and CEO, Virtual Assistance Asia, dives into possible AI-washing signs across Southeast Asia, which businesses are more vulnerable to this phenomenon and how to mitigate such risks.  

For more information about AI-washing, please visit my blog page

Guest Bio:

Pravena K is a Founder and CEO of Virtual Assistance Asia where she leads a team focused on helping businesses improve productivity and operations through virtual assistance and digital solutions.

Beyond entrepreneurship, Pravena is recognised for her thought leadership on workplace culture, employee experience, leadership, communication, career development, and AI adoption. Her LinkedIn content frequently examines the human side of work, including psychological safety, healthy leadership, workplace respect, employee engagement, and the challenges of toxic organisational cultures.

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠.  

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Goutama Bachtiar, Research Fellow, Cloud Security Alliance, dives into accomplishments, barriers and potentials for ASEAN’s cybersecurity collaborations, thereby, recommends imperative actions the bloc should consider to further safeguard the regional cyberspace. 

For more information about ASEAN’s Journey on Cybersecurity Collaboration, please visit my blog page

Guest Bio:

Goutama Bachtiar is a Research Fellow of Cloud Security Alliance with extensive experience helping organisations navigate emerging technology, digital risk and information security. Based in Jakarta, Goutama is also active in the global technology and advisory community, serving on advisory boards and contributing to research and thought leadership. He is recognized by Thinkers360 among its leading global and APAC thought leaders and is a Research Fellow with the Cloud Security Alliance.

His professional interests span AI governance, cybersecurity, information security, cloud management, business analytics and digital transformation. He is also pursuing doctoral-level research and has an AI patent pending, reflecting his interest in connecting practical technology leadership with research and innovation.

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠.  

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Christel Goh, Founder, Grow Public Relations, dives into the sharp transformation of the PR entry role in the age of AI. While enhancing job productivity, this tool also leaves behind several wonders about how the future PR industry can sustain given its growing engagement in every corner of the market.     

For more information about The Future of PR in the AI era, please visit my blog page 

Guest Bio: 

Christel Goh is a Founder of Grow Public Relations. With more than a decade of experience in communications, she has worked with businesses across sectors including technology, healthcare, education, consumer brands, and professional services. Under her leadership, Grow Public Relations has expanded into a regional team serving clients across Southeast Asia.

Beyond agency work, Christel is a regular writer and speaker on entrepreneurship, branding, public relations, and the evolving role of AI in communications. Her insights focus on helping founders and business leaders strengthen their reputation, earn media visibility, and build trust in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠. 

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Mickaël Driol, CEO of Mekong Partners, & Co‑Chairman of the Sourcing Committee at the French Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, dives into measures taken by firms amid several turbulence hit the supply chain, from Covid-19 to the current disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, thereby assessing more resilient pathways for companies to overcome blockages when crises like these start normalising worldwide. 

For more information about The Disruption Norm in Global Supply Chain, please visit my blog page

Guest Bio: 

Mickaël Driol is a cross‑border investment strategist, CEO of Mekong Partners, and Co‑Chairman of the Sourcing Committee at the French Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, advising Fortune 500 companies, leading European listed groups, sovereign‑linked investors and governments on foreign direct investment, cross‑border M&A, industrial investment programs and supply‑chain restructuring across EU–ASEAN corridors. 

With more than 17 years of on‑the‑ground leadership experience across China, Europe, Vietnam and Southeast Asia, he has held senior advisory roles at EY and PwC and worked across corporate, governance and investment ecosystems including Tricor Group (Vistra), Tencent and Qiming Venture Capital. He has led nine‑figure transactions, built and exited two technology ventures in China, and contributed to major policy and market initiatives with KPMG, UNIDO, Nasdaq, Intel, the WTO and international chambers of commerce.

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠. 

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Hazel Yap, Co-Founder & COO, Serious Media, dives into the saturation of Southeast Asian’s influencer marketing, the causes behind the diminishing trust among consumers and how brands can overcome this sharp turn.  

For more information about Southeast Asian Influencer Marketing, please visit my blog page

Guest Bio: 

Hazel Yap is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Serious Media, a digital marketing agency that helps brands craft impactful stories and strategic campaigns. With nearly two decades of experience in marketing and brand strategy, she has worked with global brands and businesses to build meaningful connections with their audiences.

Beyond marketing, Hazel is also a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, where she integrates mindfulness and nature-based practices to help individuals reconnect with themselves and manage stress. Her work bridges the worlds of business, storytelling, and well-being, encouraging professionals to pursue sustainable growth while maintaining balance and clarity in their lives. 

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠.  

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Francis Hoan, Director of Financial Advisory, Financial Alliance, dives into debt structuring as a rising tool for individuals to better control their borrowings in the era that loan-taking is a norm, approaches for effective debt-restructuring at a personal level and how young people can leverage on this.  

For more information about Debt-restructuring, please visit my blog page 

Guest Bio: 

Francis Hoan is a seasoned financial services leader with nearly four decades of experience in wealth and financial advisory. He currently serves as a Director of Financial Advisory, Financial Alliance, where he focuses on empowering advisors to build thriving, multi-stream, fee-based practices and help individuals and families achieve long-term financial goals. With deep expertise in investment strategies, portfolio diversification, and strategic planning, Francis has become a respected voice in the financial community in Singapore and the broader region. He shares insights on financial literacy, mentorship, and life-balance topics, and actively engages with professionals and the public through thought leadership and advisory work. 

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠.  

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Glenn Lee, Senior HR, dives into the turbulence of the 2025 job market in Singapore, what recruiters are now searching for in candidates and how job seekers can stay resilient entering 2026. 

For more information about the Job Market Outlook in ASEAN, please visit my blog page 

Guest Bio: 

Glenn Lee is a senior HR of 25-year experience. His expertise ranges from mechanical engineering, material science to L&D. Throughout his career, Glenn has developed and implemented several transformation initiatives & techniques to attain commercial values for clients such as Cobham, PG Technologies, California Dairies, Jardines Cycle & Carriage, Rio Tinto Oyu Tolgoi, Mauser, Hong Kong MTR. He is also responsible for the setup of a new 50,000sqft forensic facility & awarded $250k government grants @Matcor. 

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠.  

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Saint Yi Htet, Founder and Principal Consultant, Global Food Safety Institute, dives into the food safety matters long existing in the region, approaches to tackle such issues and their complementary regulatory drawbacks posed on F&B ventures.  

For more information about Food safety hurdles in ASEAN, please visit my blog page 

Guest's Bio: 

Saint Yi Htet is a corporate executive turned entrepreneur, on a mission to build safer, smarter, resilient food systems across Southeast Asia. She has 20+ years of experience in food safety and product development, helping Food Business Operators (FBOs) build audit-ready systems, create shelf-stable products, and meet export requirements.

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠.  

In this episode of the 10-Minute SEA Discussion Podcast, Nora, joined by Mickaël Driol, CEO, Mekong Partners, dives into the new ESG norm in ASEAN, hurdles imposed on SMEs of different scales and what future startups need to prepare to fully stay compliant with this mandate.  

For more information about the ESG mandate in ASEAN, please visit my blog page 

Guest's Bio: 

Mickaël Driol is a cross-border investment strategist and board advisor with 17+ years in global markets, including more than 15 years embedded in China, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia. He advises Fortune 500s, institutional investors, and high-growth ventures on FDI, M&A, supply chain localisation, ESG strategy, and regional expansion across emerging markets.

Music Used in this Episode: 

- Background Music - oOsongOo [Link]

- News Logo 1 - moodmode [Link] 

For the latest updates of my Podcast, please click the subscribe button and follow my ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠ and ⁠BlogPage⁠.