APCDA Podcast

Rebecca Wong works as a psychologist with elite sports teams and athletes to prepare them for global and regional competitions like the Olympics.

Join us in our chat with Rebecca to learn more about her journey.

Guest: Rebecca Wong | Esport and Sport Psychologist | LinkedIn Profile for Rebecca Wong

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This is the final episode of Season 3.

Join me on this chat with fellow APCDA members Elisabeth Montgomery, Sujata Ives, and Liliya Tleukenova to talk about our learnings from the season.

What kind of developments are taking place in Central Asia?
What are the key labour trends in the region?
What are the employability skills that are in demand by employers but lacking in job seekers?

If these are some questions on your mind, join Liliya Tleukenova and I on this chat with Bolat Mynbayev and Natalia Timofeeva where we talk about the economic and talent landscape in Central Asia.

How can we start addressing water scarcity immediately?

What is the government doing about water pollution? 

As the world moves towards urbanisation, will the cities have enough water to support the growing population?

If these are some questions on your mind, join me on this chat with Ravi Subramanian where we talk topics related to water scarcity and opportunities available for the creative minds to tackle this urgent issue.  

00:08    Topic Introduction
02:05    Guest Background
03:08    Targeted actions that impact water scarcity
07:00    Tech developments for small farms
11:40    Addressing water pollution
18:10    Improving public utilities 
23:15    Emerging careers
26:55    Closing comments

Guest: Ravi Subramanian| Ex-Director, CEO, Boustead Salcon Water Solutions Pte Ltd| LinkedIn Profile for Ravi Subramanian)

I thought water was just used for drinking and sanitation. How do companies use water?
What are companies doing to address the water crisis?
Given the looming water scarcity, what does the future of the water industry look like?

If these are some questions on your mind, join me on this chat with Irshaad Hakim where we discuss issues that the water industry is looking to solve and how you can be a part of it.

00:18 Topic Introduction
02:37 Guest Background
03:52 Water Industry Landscape, Usage Issues, Digitalisation, and Future of the Industry
13:37 Why join water industry – the USP
15:16 Emerging Careers
16:08 Required Competencies
18:15 Closing Comments

Guest: Irshaad Hakim| Senior Vice President, SEA & ANZ at Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions | LinkedIn Profile for Irshaad Hakim)

How do products reach us?
What is the global supply chain crisis?
Why do some companies take a longer time to restock my favourite products?

If these are some questions on your mind, join me on this chat with Sharath Ram Santhanam where we will talk about developments taking place in the supply chain industry and careers that will gain prominence in the changing landscape.

00:25 Topic Introduction
02:10 Guest Background
04:40 Supply Chain Landscape, Vulnerabilities, and Reconfiguration
24:30 Emerging careers
29:39 Skills in Demand
34:22 Closing Comments

Guest: Sharath Ram Santhanam | Head of Supply Chain, APAC at Evident Scientific | LinkedIn Profile for Sharath Ram Santhanam)

What is wrong with our food production model?
Despite all the technological advancements, why are we still tackling hunger as a key challenge?
Will be we able to feed our growing population with all the challenges that climate change is throwing at us?

If these are some questions on your mind, join me on this chat with Howard Story where we will talk about the issues around food production and careers that are emerging as solutions.

00:12 Topic Introduction
02:05 Guest Background
04:15 Landscape and issues in the current approach to food production
22:40 Corporates and their role in reframing the food conversation
29:02 Emerging careers
35:50 Final Takeaways

Guest: Howard Story | Founding Director CEO at Permaculture Institute of Thailand and Asia | LinkedIn Profile for Howard Story

Related Websites
Permaculture Institute of Asia
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, Thailand

What is the New Space Economy? 
What kind of developments are taking place here?
I am interested in space but I am not a scientist or an engineer. How can I be part of the new space economy?

If these are some questions on your mind, join me on this chat with Zaheer Ali where we will discuss about the developments taking place in the New Space Economy.   

00:06    Introduction
02:20    Guest Background
05:45    New Space Economy vs Old Economy 
15:10    Spending on resources for space
24:40    Realistic business cases and profit models
30:35    Space for Earth vs Space for Space
33:20    Being part of the New Space Economy
37:49    Transferable Skills 
42:38    Next in Space
45:38    Final Takeaways

Guest: Zaheer Ali | COO, Positon |LinkedIn Profile for Zaheer Ali)

Space-Related Degree Program
Executive Masters of Global Management (Space Leadership, Business, and Policy) – Thunderbird School of Global Management and Arizona State University

Recommended Reads
The Case for Space by Robert Zubrin
Wayfinding by Chellie Spiller

IT is booming. Is it realistic to transition there?
What is happening in IT in the Asia Pacific and Middle East region?
How can a non-tech person be part of the tech boom?

Join me on this chat with Khalid Nizami where we talk about the developments taking place in the information technology industry.

00:16 Topic Introduction
00:57 Guest Introduction
02:23 Career Journey
06:52 Link to Sustainability
15:57 IT landscape in APAC and ME
25:55 Key Future Trends
34:55 Soft skills in IT
39:11 Reality of mid-career transition

Guest Information:
LinkedIn Profile for Khalid Nizami

Why is the adoption of renewable energy so slow?

Why are fossil fuels not being phased out?

Should I join the renewable energy industry?

Are these some questions that plaque you or your clients when you think about the renewable energy industry?

Join me on this chat with Vignesh Nandakumar where we talk about the renewable energy industry landscape and opportunities that this emerging field presents to the job seekers.  


00:21    Topic Introduction

00:32    Guest Introduction

01:48    Career Journey and Pivots

09:10    Renewable Energy Landscape

24:35    Peripheral Industries

28:30    Hiring Challenges

34:19    Emerging Careers

38:04    Talent Characteristics

Guest Information:

Vignesh Nandakumar is the CEO of Serentica Global that delivers round-the-clock sustainable energy, to hard-to-abate industries. These industries are the hardest to decarbonise and contribute to one-third of the global carbon emissions.

Vignesh has diverse experience in developing and growing renewable energy investments to the tune of US$1 Billion across India, South East Asia, South Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. He is also seasoned in raising funding capital, mergers & acquisitions, business development, project execution; and in managing company operations.

Apart from renewable energy, Vignesh is passionate about electric vehicles and the shared and circular economy. He is also an active angel investor and mentor to start-ups in this industry. 

LinkedIn Profile for Vignesh Nandakumar