A young start-up founder talks about quitting his job to take the path less trodden, and discuss with DBS the ingredients for success.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Gen Zs are embracing the entrepreneurial life. Instead of working for someone, they want to start their own companies, sometimes fresh out of school. 

There are also more entrepreneurial programmes for them even in secondary schools. Online platforms also let them start businesses online and have a wider audience for their products and services. 

But what exactly is involved in starting a start-up? Is it something only for the rich kids or is it within reach of everyone?

In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at how people can start their own business even in their 20s, and what’s involved in the process. 

Her guests are Accredify founder Quah Zheng Wei, who started his business aged 27, and DBS Head of Corporate and SME Banking Koh Kar Siong. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:52 The steps to starting a start-up

5:33 Quitting his banking job to venture out on his own

8:39 Entrepreneurs as young as 12 

14:40 How to get funding 

21:16 What defines a successful start-up and what’s the survival rate?

24:28 What are your ingredients for success?

28:05 Will starting my own business make me rich? 

Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

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ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Good leadership that inspires confidence cuts across age.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

It isn’t possible to draw lines along age, tenure, skill and leadership in the working world as neatly as previously.

The image of top leaders has expanded beyond the notion of someone assuming their position after a long-drawn process.

This is a convention upended, perhaps most prominently, by the heady proliferation of influential start-ups with precociously young leaders at the helm, one of whom journalist Tay Hong Yi spoke to in the latest episode of Headstart On Record

His guest is:

Mr Looi Qin En, partner at venture capital firm Saison Capital, who co-founded careers discovery platform Glints.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:00 How did Glints’ co-founders start a business that young?

3:20 How did Qin En grow both his technical skills and soft skills so quickly?

6:30 How to convince people to look past your age as a young leader?

14:53 How to inspire confidence among those you lead?

16:59 Has Qin En ever felt he has peaked early in his career?

20:32 Where young leaders have the most room to learn

Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

Follow more podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Two avid travellers reveal their top hacks, where to sit on the plane and how to cut the budget while having fun.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Singaporeans love to travel. In a survey, people said one overseas trip a year is essential. But how do we travel well while still maintaining our budgets?

Would you travel to Europe but eat cup noodles to save money?

In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan looks at the top travel hacks from experts, how people achieve “budget comfort” and upgrade the travel experience without splurging thousands of dollars. 

Her guests are Youtrip chief operating officer Kelvin Lam, who once left his investment banking job to be a full-time backpacker, and youthful “budget comfort” traveller Prisca Ang.  

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:00 How Prisca spent $3,500 for seven cities in 10 days in Japan 

8:33 Should I take a direct flight or layover; top travel hacks; benefits of (being near) youth hostels 

13:59 Flight hacks: what to pack, where to sit, sales

18:00 How much is too much to spend on travel?

23:45 Prioritising experiences, rather than just seeing famous sights

33:00 Must you take at least one overseas holiday a year? 

Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

Follow more podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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The move may be difficult, but can be rewarding for both personal and professional development.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Talents with overseas exposure are coveted for their ability to help companies realise their global aspirations.

There is also robust appetite among Singapore talents to work abroad.

However, employers frequently find it challenging to convince talents here to take up overseas opportunities.

Journalist Tay Hong Yi speaks to those who have navigated and are helping others to navigate this complex undertaking to work abroad to shed light on the dilemma.

His guests are:

Dr Nadir Zafar, chief experience officer at the Human Capital Leadership Institute and director of the Singapore Leaders Network

Ms Cheryl Lin, a business analyst based in Copenhagen who moved there for further studies

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:39 What are the pathways to working abroad?

5:23 What are some of the trade-offs to consider?

7:52 Why do employers find it especially challenging to convince talents to move elsewhere?

16:58 What can you do to increase the chances of an offer?

24:57 What support is needed to increase the number of locals who work abroad to develop professionally?

Read the feature by Kai Xiang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/dPro

Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

Follow more podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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DBS’ sustainability chief reveals ways to get into sustainability and why sustainable finance matters.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

The warmer the weather, the more we feel the impact of human activities on climate change. But how do we make a difference? Should we find jobs that work on sustainability, particularly on the environment front? Or invest in more meaningful asset classes in the sustainability field? 

In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan examines why sustainability matters, how to get a job in the ESG field, and what we can do in our daily lives and with our investing to contribute to a more sustainable world. 

Her guest, Helge Muenkel, also describes how his career started with a Masters in development economics, and the twists and turns he made before finally landing in his current position as DBS chief sustainability officer. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:52 What skills do I need to work in sustainability?

10:20 What is sustainable finance? 

12:47 Do my individual efforts make a difference?

15:07 How caring about climate change protects what we love

26:03 Three little things you can do to change the world

Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

Follow more podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Observing with empathy, asking the right questions and listening will go a long way to charting out how to give meaningful support.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are aspirational ideals that have permeated conversations of work life and good employment.

Yet, there is still room for improvement when it comes to putting these aspirations into practice, if a survey on diversity issues commissioned by The Straits Times and release in August is anything to go by.

In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi finds out how employers and employees both have their part to play in making workplaces more inclusive in meaningful ways without patronising those who benefit.

His guests are:

Ms Winifred Ling, a couples therapist and relationship coach who has lived with an invisible disability for close to two decades

Ms Hsu Yi Peng, a young leader who helmed an initiative to provide students with diverse needs internship opportunities at her company, HSBC, on top of her day job as a product specialist.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:46 How did the idea of diversity, equity and inclusion come to the guests’ attention?

5:01 What was the learning curve like for Yi Peng when she took on the initiative?

9:20 Should employers or employees lead the charge to promote inclusion?

13:20 How did HSBC devise the support moves for students in the initiative?

19:12 How to balance between providing accommodations and seeing individuals for who they are beyond their traits?

Read the feature by Rosalind Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/x4oC

Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

Follow more podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#headstart

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We don’t all have to live frugally and retire by 40 years old, but we need to be financially disciplined so we can retire meaningfully.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

FIRE in this context, stands for financial independence, retire early - a movement that points to the desire to retire earlier than the usual age range of 65 to 70, through a regime of aggressive investing, saving and frugality during one’s working years. 

In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan investigates if Fire is for everyone, and if there are other ways to sustainably achieve financial freedom and retire at leisure. 

Her guests are Mr He Ruiming, 35, who as co-founder of the Woke Salaryman, talks about how he initially wanted to retire at the age of 32, and DBS financial literacy expert Lorna Tan, who feels that retiring meaningfully is more important to her. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:42 What are the different types of Fire?

3:14 Ruiming’s journey to achieve Fire by the age of 32

9:40 If I’m 25 now, what should I do to retire at 40? 

12:56 What Ruiming wished he knew when he was younger

16:45 Lorna’s alternative to Fire, which is 'Firm' - financial independence, retiring meaningfully 

21:46 Trends like loud budgeting which support more financial discipline 

27:29 Using excel spreadsheets to track finances and goals 

Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

Follow more podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#headstart

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Salaries need to be structured more flexibly to reflect broader aspirations.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Views on pay issues vary widely among young workers depending on their professional and life goals.

This was borne out in a survey of 1,000 young people commissioned by The Straits Times, carried out in May by market research firm Kantar and released in August.

In this episode, ST journalist Tay Hong Yi digs deeper into the implications of the results and underlying beliefs that give rise to different attitudes.

His guests are Dr Fermin Diez, a researcher on compensation issues with over 30 years of corporate experience, and young professional Jonathan Ng, who juggles being a business development manager with robotics company Otsaw while studying for a degree in marketing at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:38 How has working and studying at the same time influenced Jonathan’s views on salary?

4:10 How have career norms shifted?

8:33 Are companies keeping up with these shifting norms in how pay is designed?

12:43 Why does satisfaction with one’s salary and work-life balance decline with age?

15:29 Disclosing salary details 

22:14 How can employers deal with inter-generational differences on how pay is perceived?

Read the feature by Prisca Ang discussed on the podcast: https://str.sg/9aLR

Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/AAxy

Host: Tay Hong Yi ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

Follow more podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#headstart

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Start early, compound your wealth, and try not to beat the market. 

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Finance literacy experts always tell us to “start young” so we can make full use of the effect of compounding and grow our wealth from a young age. 

But how early is early enough for first-time, young investors? Can an undergraduate without a full-time job start investing?

Crucially, if someone has just $100 a month to invest, what can they do with that amount? 

In this episode, ST business correspondent Sue-Ann Tan also looks at how university investing clubs help undergraduates to start growing their money, and the first investments that they can buy to begin. 

Her guests are Associate Professor of Finance Matthew Dearth from NTU who brings 30 years of finance experience, and NTU undergraduate Victor Tan, who has invested since age 18. 

The NTU Investment Interactive Club helps to link students to the finance community and hone their practical investing skills. It was founded in 1999 and now has over 5,000 members.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:30 How did Victor start investing at 18? 

4:53 What’s the recommended age for people to start investing?

9:25 What products should people buy as a first investment?

12:17 Should we try to beat the market or do individual stock picking?

16:06 The biggest investment mistakes our guests have made

21:27 Where do you get your investing advice or knowledge from? 

Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Host: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected])

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis, Lynda Hong & Joanna Seow

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: https://str.sg/headstart-nl

---

Follow more podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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New episodes from our rebranded podcast channel will drop here: https://str.sg/wB2m

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, get a headstart in your personal finance and career with The Straits Times.

Our previous Money and Career podcast channel is now rebranded Headstart on Record, taking on a fresher and sharper approach on how to chase your aspirations and grow your money. 

Hosts Sue-Ann Tan and Tay Hong Yi will speak with guests on how to navigate jobs and finances in a daunting, complex world. 

Hong Yi has been covering manpower and talent topics for ST, with a focus on careers, the job market and workforce trends. 

Sue-Ann will look at how to invest your money and the delicate balancing act between saving and living. Sept 2 Monday sees her first episode dropping across our audio platforms and the ST app.

Stay tuned for more episodes on chewy topics like how far would you go for your pay cheque and how you can invest from age 18.

Read Sue-Ann Tan's articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Read Tay Hong Yi's articles: https://str.sg/w6cz

Follow Tay Hong Yi on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/D6vT

Get business/career tips in ST's Headstart newsletter: str.sg/headstart-nl

Produced by: Sue-Ann Tan ([email protected]), Tay Hong Yi ([email protected]),  Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim

Edited by: Amirul Karim

Follow Headstart On Record Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/wB2m

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wuN3

Spotify: https://str.sg/wBr9

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get ST's app (with a dedicated podcast player section):

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#headstart 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.