Cultivating Cross-Cultural Talent: Learning from Lori and Caleb’s Global Internship Journey in Singapore For most students, a summer internship is a stepping stone to gain hands-on experience and build a resume. For Lori Olga Agbabian, a business student and Caleb Benjamin Kawano, a mathematics major student from the University of California, Berkeley, their six-week internship with Advenz in Singapore became something much more a rare chance to live and work in a region they had never set foot in before, to challenge their worldviews, and to grow professionally in ways that surprised even themselves. This was their first time in Asia. And what started as a professional internship quickly transformed into an experience of personal discovery, cross-cultural appreciation, and insights…
Mr Leslie Loh, Founder and CEO of Lithan EduCLaaS Digital transformation has been knocking on the doors of businesses, irrespective of their sizes. However, it’s the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that arguably face the most challenges on this journey. As the Founder and CEO of Lithan EduCLaaS, a leading edutech business with a Pan-Asia presence, Leslie Loh has always been keen in the field of education, especially in terms of digital revolution. “Every business needs a differentiated solution. If you don't have one, you're not going to scale. And the way to find your unique solution is through digitalization.” - Leslie Loh Before we dive into digitalization, let's address the Return on Investment (ROI) question. ROI is the holy…
With the enormous growth of wealth in Greater China, many wealth managers are focusing on capturing the High Net Worth (HNW) market in the region. Eric Phua is one of the Market Heads at Pictet Wealth Management who looks at this sector. With more than two decades of career experience in the wealth management space, spanning prestigious financial institutions such as Citibank and UOB, he and his team of bankers specialise in partnering HNW clients in Greater China to manage, preserve and help with the transfer of their wealth across generations. In this interview, Eric shares some insights on his career, the needs of HNW clients, methods of wealth transfer and management, as well as trends in Greater China. Mr…
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are complex endeavors that require meticulous planning, strategic foresight, and, above all, comprehensive data. In the contemporary business landscape, where data drives decisions, understanding what information is crucial to the M&A process can significantly influence the outcome. Therefore, the first step in any successful M&A transaction is Data. This article will explore the critical aspects of data in M&A, focusing on identifying the right data, understanding customer and market insights, the role of operational metrics, and the broader scope of data beyond financials. Identifying the Right Data The first step in any successful M&A transaction is identifying and preparing the right data. Sellers often wonder what data buyers need to evaluate the deal and decide whether…
In today’s fast-paced business environment, organizations face numerous challenges, particularly when it comes to attracting and developing top sales talent. In this two-article series, we uncover overlooked strategies to boost sales performance, examining the impact of technology, strategy, leadership, performance management, and other critical factors that drive business success. In a recent interview, Professor Frank Cespedes shared his expert insights on effectively managing the sales function to enhance business outcomes. This interview is divided into two articles. This is Article 1, where we begin by exploring Strategic Approaches to Sales and Sales Talent. We’ll delve into foundational strategies and best practices for building a high-performing sales team. Article 2 will follow in two weeks, focusing on the Leadership Role in…
