Finding Common Ground w/ Shiao-Yin Kuik

Everyone in the social impact space shares a common goal: to do good and to make an impact.

But sometimes, our strongly-held beliefs, perspectives and values can pull us in many different directions.

How can we help each other move away from an “Either/Or” mindset and embrace a more collaborative “Both/And” approach instead?

We'll talk about:

• What are the common polarities that exist in the social impact scene?
• How can we tell when we’re leaning a little bit too much in one direction?
• Why polarity thinking is a helpful tool for self- and other-awareness, team management, organisational development?

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Meet Joanne Yoong

In this episode, we talk to Joanne Yoong, Founder & CEO of Research For Impact, a a Singapore-based research organization dedicated to making the behavioural and social sciences accessible, inclusive, and transformative for all.

Get in touch with:

• Joanne Yoong: LinkedIn
• Research For Impact: Website

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Resources

• Polarity Mapping

About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

Data is everywhere! 

It’s even a part of us: our conversations, knowledge, stories, opinions, and history. It’s more than just numbers, statistics, and spreadsheets.

How can we, as practitioners, use data for empowerment, not just as a power move?

We'll talk about:

• What does feminism and decolonialism have to do with data?
• How can we treat data - and people - with dignity and respect?
• What data is worthwhile to collect when we want to measure our impact?

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Meet Loh Pei Ying

In this episode, we talk to Loh Pei Ying, Head & Co-Founder of Kontinentalist, a studio advocating for a more equitable world with a focus on Asia’s sources of knowledge.

Get in touch with:

• Loh Pei Ying: LinkedIn
• Kontinentalist: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

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About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

There are many issues that we advocate for today that have gone mainstream.

But what if we wanted to talk about something more specific? Not just animal welfare, but senior rabbit welfare. Not just mental wellbeing, but mental wellbeing of children. Not just Singapore’s history, but the indigenous history of Singapore’s surrounding islands.

How do we help others understand why our niche cause matters?

We'll talk about:

• How can we balance the emotions of love and anger in advocacy?
• What can advocacy look like when done creatively?
• How can we sustain the work for the long game?

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Meet Firdaus Sani

In this episode, we talk to Firdaus Sani, Founder & Director of The Black Sampan and Orang Laut SG. Firdaus feels deeply about bringing attention to the indigenous people of the islands surrounding Singapore, so much so that he not only founded Orang Laut SG, a non-profit advocacy organisation, but also The Black Sampan, a creative agency that is committed to reinvesting their resources back into Orang Laut SG to educate and advocate for Singapore's indigenous histories.

Get in touch with:

• Firdaus Sani: LinkedIn
• The Black Sampan: Website | Facebook | Instagram
• Orang Laut SG: Website | Facebook | Instagram

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About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

The world is in a mess. As practitioners of impact work, we do what we can to make things a little better in our own corners of society.

But what if the good work that we are doing also has unintended consequences that add up to a zero-sum game where everyone loses?

Should we stop trying? Probably not.

We'll talk about:

• The deep, dark rabbit hole that is the metacrisis
• How that impacts us and our impact work, and frankly, why should we all care about it
• And most importantly, what can we really do about all of this 

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Meet Hong Khai Seng

In this episode, we talk to Hong Khai Seng, Founder & Director of Studio Dojo, a trans-disciplinary strategy, design and innovation practice. With a growing curiosity about the metacrisis, Khai Seng wants more practitioners to get curious about how the social issues we care about are interconnected and how those links shape the solutions we design.

Get in touch with:

• Hong Khai Seng: LinkedIn
• Studio Dojo: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn 

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About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

There are a lot of misconceptions about activists. They’re seen as angry, anti-establishment, impulsive, divisive. The work is thought of as unpaid, unserious work. And the list goes on.

But what if activists could also be the people creating safe spaces for tough, necessary conversations? The ones engaging with stakeholders on all sides, especially when few dare to? And what if their time and professional skills were recognised and fairly compensated?

We'll talk about:

• What does it mean to professionalise a ground up group?
• What are the pros and cons of online activism vs offline activism?
• What are the unseen complexities and considerations involved in engaging with really tough topics that we wish could be more visible to others?

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Meet Yulianna Frederika

In this episode, we talk to Yulianna Frederika, Gen Z Founder of Lepak Conversations, a research and advocacy platform bringing attention to Malay/Muslim issues in Singapore and beyond. What started out as an Instagram page in 2022, is now turning into a safe, community-centric offline space for more of these conversations.

Get in touch with:

• Yulianna: LinkedIn
• Lepak Conversations: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

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Additional Resources

• Listen to Hafeez Hassan's episode: Nurture Healthy Masculinity w/ Hafeez Hassan

About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

In Singapore, the arts have long been misunderstood and seen as less important. During the pandemic, the arts was most famously dubbed as “non-essential.”

But what if we are underestimating the power and potential of the arts — not just in the final product, but in the process itself — as a key approach to change?

We’ll talk about:

• The arts, not just as an output or a form for consumption, but the arts as a process
• How the arts is a useful intervention in different fields of work, like healthcare, community building, social sector, etc
• What could it look like to approach our own work, lives and practices more artistically?

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Meet Ngiam Su-Lin

In this episode, we talk to Ngiam Su-Lin, a creative producer, community builder, counsellor, former full-time pastor. Today, Su-Lin is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of ArtsWok Collaborative, an intermediary that bridges people, ideas, and resources across sectors to connect and collaborate in meaningful ways.

Get in touch with:

• Ngiam Su-Lin: LinkedIn
• ArtsWok Collaborative: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Youtube

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About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

For change to happen, we don’t always need permission, funding or institutional backing before action can be taken.

All we need is to spot a gap and then fill it.

Do we, as everyday citizens, really believe that we have that power to start and sustain a movement from the ground up?

We'll talk about:

• What really goes into starting a ground up movement?
• What are the conditions necessary for a community to grow and thrive?
• What do good and bad deaths look like for a community?

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Meet The Ordinary Dad

In this episode, we talk to Kelvin Seah and Josiah Ng, two core members of The Ordinary Dad, a community group for stay-at-home fathers to gather and support one another through their journey as the primary caregivers of their children.

Get in touch with:

• Kelvin Seah: Instagram | Blog
• Josiah Ng: Instagram
• The Ordinary Dad: Website

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About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

Social impact work requires long persistence and long-term commitment in a singular direction. But that can be hard to do without adequate funding or without someone who wants to do it.

How can funders and practitioners collaborate to co-create a funding process that is equitable, respectful and effective for all parties involved?

We'll talk about:

• How can funding be used as a powerful tool to shape behaviour?
• What is the relationship between the funder, the practitioner and the community?
• How might progressive funder-practitioner relationships built on trust look like?

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Meet Heng Li Seng

In this episode, we talk to Heng Li Seng, Founder & Director of Green Nudge, a certified B Corp social enterprise that works across the public, private and people sector to nudge businesses and communities towards more sustainable practices. 

Li Seng believes that effective public policies need to be supported by ground-up action and engagement.

Get in touch with:

• Heng Li Seng: LinkedIn
• Green Nudge: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

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About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

Part 2 of 2 

We’re closing off Season 3.5 with a conversation on how each of us can grow into our leadership, regardless of where we are in the “hierarchy”, what our roles and titles are, and how many years of experiences we may have. 

We share our take on leading and managing as a new middle manager, a seasoned middle manager / top, and as a top Executive Director. We get into how our own levels of personal and professional development influence the systems we set up and are part of. 

In this conversation:

• Azrin, Enneagram Type 4 (feel-first, withdrawing stance)
• Shiao-yin, Enneagram 5 (think-first, withdrawing stance)
• Nurul, Enneagram 9 (do-first, withdrawing stance)

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Leading from the Messy Middle is a mini series unpacking the highly complex world of the middle manager. This time, using the Enneagram! We'll be talking to a bunch of middles + a top to hear what each of them are learning about stepping into their leadership.

• Ep 1: Why Do We See the World So Differently?
• Ep 2: How Do I Relate to the World? (Feel-first)
• Ep 3: How Do I Relate to the World? (Think-first)
• Ep 4: How Do I Relate to the World? (Do-first)
• Ep 5: How Do I Show Up At Work?
• Ep 6: How Do I Grow Into My Leadership?

The wisdoms shared by our middles in this series are entirely their own and do not reflect or represent the views and perspectives of the organisations they are a part of. We also do not claim to be Enneagram experts, coaches or practitioners! We are all middle managers who are using the Enneagram to better understand ourselves and each other. And we want to share that with you!

This limited series is a part of the Finding Common Ground podcast.

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9 to Thrive: Managing the Workplace with the Enneagram is a 9-week course for middle managers and team players.

Course dates: Oct 2024 - Nov 2024
Course fees: $400 (excl. GST) - Special launch price!
Register: ourcommonground.com.sg/9-to-thrive

About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube

Part 1 of 2 

We’re closing off Season 3.5 with a conversation on how each of us can grow into our leadership, regardless of where we are in the “hierarchy”, what our roles and titles are, and how many years of experiences we may have. 

We share our take on leading and managing as a new middle manager, a seasoned middle manager / top, and as a top Executive Director. We get into how our own levels of personal and professional development influence the systems we set up and are part of. 

In this conversation:

• Azrin, Enneagram Type 4 (feel-first, withdrawing stance)
• Shiao-yin, Enneagram 5 (think-first, withdrawing stance)
• Nurul, Enneagram 9 (do-first, withdrawing stance)

-

Leading from the Messy Middle is a mini series unpacking the highly complex world of the middle manager. This time, using the Enneagram! We'll be talking to a bunch of middles + a top to hear what each of them are learning about stepping into their leadership.

• Ep 1: Why Do We See the World So Differently?
• Ep 2: How Do I Relate to the World? (Feel-first)
• Ep 3: How Do I Relate to the World? (Think-first)
• Ep 4: How Do I Relate to the World? (Do-first)
• Ep 5: How Do I Show Up At Work?
• Ep 6: How Do I Grow Into My Leadership?

The wisdoms shared by our middles in this series are entirely their own and do not reflect or represent the views and perspectives of the organisations they are a part of. We also do not claim to be Enneagram experts, coaches or practitioners! We are all middle managers who are using the Enneagram to better understand ourselves and each other. And we want to share that with you!

This limited series is a part of the Finding Common Ground podcast.

-

9 to Thrive: Managing the Workplace with the Enneagram is a 9-week course for middle managers and team players.

Course dates: Oct 2024 - Nov 2024
Course fees: $400 (excl. GST) - Special launch price!
Register: ourcommonground.com.sg/9-to-thrive

About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

About the Finding Common Ground Podcast
Deep-dive conversations with change-makers and bridge-builders about how any of us can begin creating the change we long to see.

Get in touch with Common Ground

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Youtube