Ms Shobana Baskaram had no higher school qualifications but is now assistant manager at Marina Bay Sands.

Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, the Work Talk podcast helps you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life.

In this episode, host Krist Boo asks these questions: Can a room attendant who barely speaks or read English rise to become an assistant front-office manager? Does a restaurant manager really need a diploma or a degree? Can a secondary-school graduate manage a team of 44? 

She and her guests talk about the plight of Singaporean workers who stop school at, or before completing their secondary education. They make up 27 per cent of our local workforce of 2.3 million. Many of them are doing blue-collar work, which comprise 20 per cent of our jobs. 

The panel comprises:

Ms Shobana Baskaram, an assistant manager at Marina Bay Sands

Dr Laurel Teo, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies

Ms Chloe Huang, strategic director of recruitment platform OppTy

Mr Chow Keng Hai, senior hospitality executive and hospitality consultant

And to celebrate the new Chinese Year of the Rabbit, we have a bonus extra after the podcast with fengshui master Ken Koh. Listen on to how the rat, ox, rooster, dog and tiger might fare this year.  And bosses, if you are still tussling with employees over the great return-to-office negotiation, Master Koh has advice for you. 

Have a good work week!

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:43 Will millennial managers change the game

4:09 My restaurant manager must have a diploma

5:11 A hotel room attendant who could hardly read nor write English

8:40 Why spend resources on them; time to do something

14:38 Huat ah!! A session with fengshui master Ken Koh

Produced by: Krist Boo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

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Feedback to: [email protected] 

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Special edition series:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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