Image by Freepik Every company strives to navigate its strategic course with the lightest possible asset footprint. Yet, finding the optimal balance can resemble solving a complex puzzle. Executives often grapple with a perplexing choice when considering the heft of their assets. On one hand, there is the allure of asset-heavy, vertically integrated models that promise unmatched control. But do they also tether too much capital and lack the nimbleness needed in today's ever-shifting business environment? On the flip side, asset-light business models offer newfound flexibility, but can they be effectively managed? Do they raise concerns with the looming risks of Intellectual Property (IP) leaks and potential depreciation in value? "The art of business lies in the ability to make…
How a Banker Turned Fund Manager Built a Billion-Dollar Portfolio In the Global Financial Crisis? In the world of investing, some of the most successful ventures are born in the most uncertain times. For Christopher (Chris) Cheah, Founder and Executive Chairman of TrustCapital, the decision to strike out on his own in the midst of the 2009 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) was not one of recklessness, but of calculated conviction. Today, his firm stands as a respected name in private equity real estate, with a track record that includes the acquisition of eight prime office buildings in Australia and assets under management peaking at more than AUD 1.6 billion. This is the story of how Chris, a banker turned fund…
Image by Hitesh Choudharya via Unsplash Many have touted the arrival of blockchain technology as the next frontier in business operations, a pioneering breakthrough that possesses the potential to transform conventional procedures across industries. Often associated primarily with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the application of blockchain goes far beyond this investment phenomenon. To understand blockchain technology's potential impact, we must first examine the fundamentals of this groundbreaking approach. At its core, blockchain is a decentralized system where all transactions or digital events get consolidated into 'blocks' and distributed across a network of computers, referred to as 'nodes'. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. The unique attribute of this system is its ability for self-audit - a quality that…
You Can’t Control a Complex System, But You Can Influence It We often think in linear terms: cause and effect, input and output. We’re taught to solve problems by tracing a single cause and applying a direct fix. Yet, complex systems—like ecosystems or business organisations—are a network of feedback, interdependence, and tipping points. In nature, change doesn’t happen in isolation. The smallest shift can echo across the entire system. Coral reefs demonstrate this clearly. They rely on intricate relationships, particularly between coral and microscopic algae called zooxanthellae. A seemingly minor increase in ocean temperature—just 1 to 2°C—can trigger a cascade of systemic breakdown in a coral reef. This slight change causes corals to expel the algae they depend on, leading…
Richmond Associates: Connecting People to Purpose, Not Just Jobs Recruitment is often reduced to speed and scale, but Richmond Associates stands apart. Founded on a simple but powerful insight—that purpose matters as much as skill—the firm has quietly redefined what executive search can and should be. Specialising in recruiting, fundraising, advancement and engagement roles across mission-driven non-profit organisations, Richmond Associates do not simply match candidates to job descriptions—they match people to missions. It all started with a question repeatedly asked in different conversations. Friends and colleagues frequently approached Moyra Brown, the Founder of Richmond Associates and a seasoned professional in the sector asking, “Do you know anyone good for this role?” Everyone was struggling with the same challenge: finding the…
