Our Community with Anne Morgan

Dr. Jovina Ang is a hugely successful corporate leader and has worked for multiple Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Dell and Cisco Systems. Throughout her career she has been interested in evaluating the contributors to career success and she studied this topic academically for her Ph.D. Jovina has also spoken widely and written a book about the importance of career lifelines; what are they? Why they are so important for establishing a successful career and how do you go about in developing them? Jovina began our conversation by describing the difference between a career sponsor, a mentor and a coach. All are important but there is a hierarchy and the real career lifeline is the sponsor because they will advocate for you and take active steps to propel you forward. A sponsor is vested in your success. Building relationships is a key skill in any occupation and for those not keen on networking it is especially important to build a strong relationship with a line manager. Part of this relationship includes being prepared to discuss career aspirations. The magic of asking for help and establishing a clear career pathway is a huge step forward. There are a few key reasons why people take the step of becoming a career sponsor; some do it to give back; some to cement their own position and some because it makes them feel better. However, in order to benefit from a sponsor's vital career lifeline the sponsee must engage and be prepared to be an active partner and above all deliver in their role.

As a global corporate leader, Paul Woolley travelled the world opening, growing, merging and sometimes closing businesses. From a $3m Revenue single-site operation base in 1994 through to a 21 entity $600m Revenue business by the time he stepped back from his Global President and COO role some 12+ months ago. When Paul and Omnicom decided it was the right time for him to step away from over 25 years of corporate life he spent some time evaluating how he could craft new roles. He now partners with owners and leaders of a diverse set of organisations helping them to understand the issues and opportunities facing their businesses. His current roles include: -Founding Partner & Chair of BAAA! (Hong Kong) -Vice-Chair, Board Member and Investor: Promotional Payments Solutions (PSS) -Management Consultant and advisor to the CEO of the Pimento network -Investor with Rockpool Venture Capital -Accredited Mediator: CEDR -Chair and Board member CPM Switzerland -Retained as Mentor and Special advisor to the CEO and CFO of Smyle -Retained as Special Advisor to the Chair and CEO of Prolific North -Vice-Chair of Altrincham Junior Football Club (largest Junior Football Club in NW England with 49 x U18 girl/boys teams) -Retained as one of the Lead Mentors by Be the Business - Mentoring for Growth Programme in collaboration with The Growth Company (90 day emergency turnarounds and 12 month growth programme) Tune in to hear Paul talk about the transition; the importance of objective self-knowledge; building a foundation with strong personal values; the surprising things he has learned and how, if you want to create a better world, you can't just sit at home and make the tea

Curious to learn more about the role of a Community Manager? Tune in and hear Alex talk about the Kampung Collective; an initiative he co-founded to establish a trusted tribe for community builders across Asia. He discusses the motivation and mission behind the Collective and how they are channeling the energy of the community. Nobody gets left behind; Alex has also represented Singapore in Water Polo at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and SEA Games. He tells us about his fascinating life and how he has used the strategies learned from being a full-time sportsman to help him overcome setbacks and refocus on changing direction. Alex also comments on the importance of trust and how fatherhood has given him a new perspective. Links: Kampung Collective: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2419861348342034 Alex Loh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-loh-%E5%8A%B3%E6%98%9F%E8%A3%95-9495294a/ Our Community Podcast You can find more information about the podcast here: https://ourcommunity.buzzsprout.com/

Have you ever found yourself ‘screaming on the inside' as you find yourself in a position where you don't understand the unspoken rules, roles and belief systems around you? If so you are certainly not alone! Tune in to hear Kyle Hegarty's refreshingly frank and funny take on the delicate art of cross-cultural communication. His stack of real-life stories breathes life into a subject that can be dry and academic. He's not been described as ‘the Indiana Jones of International Business for nothing! Kyle's book, The Accidental Business Nomad: A Survival Guide for Working Across a Shrinking Planet has been published in Asia on August 27th.

Sam Neo is the founder of one of APAC's top 10 HR and Employer branding consultancies; People Mentality Inc. whose mission is to help organizations become an Employer of Choice. His recent venture is Stories of Asia, a story-tech platform set up to...

Blair Hall's long and distinguished career in the U.S. Diplomatic Service led him to hold key roles in the U.S. Embassies in Tokyo, London, Copenhagen, New Delhi and Singapore. Blair was also at the forefront of many global high-profile missions including the Northern Ireland Good Friday Peace Agreement. Since retiring from diplomatic service Blair holds several senior advisory roles and is the Managing Director of Westminster Minato LLC where he provides strategic advice to international business organizations on political climate, market and investment conditions and facilitates relationships with governments, potential business partners and stakeholders. Our conversation began with Blair's fascinating insights into building trust as part of the negotiation team for the Northern Ireland Good Friday Peace Talks. Blair then talked about taking a break to decompress after thirty-five years in the diplomatic service; how he drew on his experience to shape his new career; building a sense of connection lashed to purpose; the importance of maintaining connections and cultivating a sense of belonging to a community; looking forward to new opportunities in the future. References: You can learn more about the American Association of Singapore here: https://www.aasingapore.com/

Most Events Managers have had to fight fires but not many have been Firefighters! Helen Starr is Head of Events at the British Chamber of Commerce and has overseen the Chamber's recent rapid transformation from offering face to face events to a multifaceted digital offering. In order to help her do this Helen has drawn on the skills she has developed in her previous diverse roles, one of which included being a firefighter for the London Fire Brigade. We began our conversation with Helen talking about the fluidity she needed to learn new applications as she and her the team quickly adapted to offer a series of podcasts and online webinars; none of which formed part of the chamber's previous offering. The major upside was the strengthening of the team's relationship and an increase in their knowledge and understanding of each other's roles. Helen also felt that over recent months the Chamber's members were drawing closer together to support each other in an open and human way. The crisis making them more comfortable to reveal themselves. Another upside was that the new digital platforms greatly made it easier to add the sheer volume of content available as many members offered to help and provide valuable information for others to benefit from. Being digital has also given the Chamber the opportunity to strengthen links and actively collaborate with other Chambers in the Region.

Federico Folcia is an entrepreneur who is passionate about contributing to improving the quality of life of the ageing population and their perception in our society. He is the founder of Crane; a multi-generational community for lifelong learning; a social space where likeminded individuals gather for fitness, workshops, lifestyle events, and co-working. Through the Crane community, members are encouraged to share life experience and professional expertise, particularly in the fields of sustainability, social impact, and holistic wellness. Federico is also the Managing Director of Powerhouse; a one-stop-shop providing startups and mature companies with the expertise and resources to drive innovation. During our podcast, Federico talked about his interest in exploring the use of shared resources in the wider community and how he is creating a vibrant mixed community of content creators willing to share a breathtaking range of expertise and passion. Curiosity and open accessibility are key as the community is built by people using the space in different ways. If you are interested in communities, engagement, and life- long learning then Federico is well worth listening to. References: You can learn more about Crane here: https://www.crane.club/ Get Together; How to build a community with your people: https://www.amazon.com/Get-Together-build-community-people-ebook/dp/B07TXDDNPR

Michael Bungay Stanier (MBS) is the author of The Coaching Habit, the bestselling coaching book of this century with over 700,000 copies sold. His new book The Advice Monster focuses on what it takes to stay curious a little bit longer and tame your Advice Monster. He is a global high profile speaker and is at the forefront of making coaching an everyday leadership behavior. As many of us live through tough times Michael is on hand to share thought-provoking, potentially life-changing material. His Year of Living Brilliantly is a beautifully curated 52-week collection of bite-sized lessons delivered by inspirational teachers. He also hosts a podcast called We Will Get Through This where he asks the best in the world how to stay resilient. It was a great pleasure to talk to MBS as he was serving quarantine in a hotel in Sydney. Our wide-ranging conversation explored how to make bolder, braver choices by overcoming our inbuilt risk-averse behavior; thinking clear headedly about the outcomes; applying a robust process, and amping up our own behavior to put ourselves firmly in the game. Taking time to really understand core values starts with looking back and working out what were your peak moments? What were you doing at this viscerally connected time? Understanding this will give you the insight to understand what you are all about and what your 10 out of 10 value looks like. In order for this vision to be true and succeed we need to reference our current activity and think about what we need to stop, start, and continue doing. Tune in for a lively conversation and find out what MBS thinks about being naked on stage?! References: You can learn more about Michael Bungay Stanier here: https://www.mbs.works/

My guest today, Claire Langree Saf is a notable figure in the sustainable development community. She is the founder of Simply Champagne a boutique importer of premier champagne from family-run artisan estates, deeply committed to sustainable farming and winemaking practices. Claire has spent her professional life working with major companies helping them to implement complex change. After qualifying in business sustainable management she has founded 3Pillars Advisory to help businesses adopt sustainable practices. Our conversation is a revealing insight into the heart of the sustainability community in the Champagne vineyards. Claire explains how sustainability is intrinsically linked to future-proofing business and the hard fact that there can't be infinite growth because there aren't infinite resources. Available resources must be conscientiously used and there is a growing movement for communities to gather together to pool resources, be creative, and act responsibly to preserve traditions while also safeguarding the business for future generations. This collective approach is also apparent in many communities and Claire is optimistic that the will to preserve and sustain will make a tangible difference.

My guest today, Heather Garlick, is a notable entrepreneur and original thinker who builds businesses in the heart of her community of Stretford in Manchester. Heather founded Stretford Sip Club, a community bar located in an old office above an estate agents and this year she is in the process of opening an outdoor cinema and ‘curiosity garden' on the top floor of a multi-storey car park which will run for the second half of the summer season. In the Autumn Heather will push ahead with her passion project; sourcing an ethical and sustainable tonic water for the on-trade. It was a special joy to speak to Heather and in our wide-ranging conversation we talk about community; how people rarely say no when asked to do something; having ideas and the art of exploring which ones are likely to work by being dispassionate and objective. Hard work and perseverance; and how not being daunted by the enormity of a task can have surprising results; as can emailing the United Nations!Finally, never underestimate the importance of a notebook and the ability to see beauty and wonder where others do not.

Yen-Lu is a notable figure in the tech and innovation community, he was an Apple Distinguished Technologist and advises the government and is asked to speak globally on entrepreneurship and innovation.Following the tragic death of his son, Yen-Lu now dedicates most of his time to his family Foundation, WholeTree, which champions youth mental wellness and human wellbeing. In our conversation Yen-Lu discusses how approaching the difficult subject of mental wellness starts with people sharing their story and being brave enough to admit they are not perfect and to be open about what they have experienced. All human beings have flaws and they also have the ability to show great empathy. Yen-Lu notes that leaders such as Satya Nadella of Microsoft are reimagining their company's culture and championing empathy as a central value. We also discuss how there is a shift towards employers having to demonstrate a sense of safety and belonging for their employees. Yen-Lu also stresses the importance of uniquely human skills in the workplace. AI is replacing many technical and repetitive jobs increasing the need for people to demonstrate skills that machines can't replicate.Yen-Lu concludes by acknowledging that we need to use this time to deeply connect with ourselves and have a high degree of self-compassion. We also have to help or ask for help and this will make our community stronger. With a bit of support, we can maximise our creative potential.

Having the chance to talk to someone who has made a huge difference to your life has for me been one of the great joys of podcasting. Over thirty years ago I started my career at Ellert Retail Field Marketing and my guest today is the company founder, Rob Ellert. In our conversation, we talk about the importance of trust and how, if business leaders don't invest in people in the good times they will have nothing to draw upon when things are challenging. We also consider how diversity is vital to business success and that the ability of teams to ignite their energy is a product of culture as well as great leadership. Finally, Rob shares some fascinating stories about how his entrepreneurial business led the world in technological advances but was not able to fully capitalise, primarily because of timing. Throughout the conversation, it is clear what an enormous difference working at Ellert Retail made to many. The abundance of focus, insight, energy and passion was palpable, and as an added bonus there was the priceless opportunity to make life-long friendships.

My guest today is a notable figure in the arts and culture community; Jane Iyer. Jane is the CEO of Jane's Singapore Tours, a previous President of Friends of the Museum and a passionate supporter of the performing arts. In our conversation we talk about the blossoming arts scene in Singapore; how the arts community is adapting to reach their audience; how attitudes to careers in the arts have changed over recent years; how the community is telling and sharing stories; and throughout, Jane gives us a fascinating glimpse into some of the rich cultural offerings that are vital to Singapore's thriving art scene. You can find out more about Jane's Tours here https://janestours.sg/ You can see Elissa Viornery's poetry accompanying artwork on "Frequencies 1 Series 2” by Zaki Zulkafor here - https://www.stpi.com.sg/printmakers-assembly-2020-resource-centre/elissa-viornery-on-frequencies-1-series-2-by-zaki-zulfakar/

On today's episode of the Our Community podcast, I'm joined by Arnaud Frade, futurist, analyst and trusted advisor to senior executives across a wide range of businesses and government departments. We talk about the world of retail and Arnaud shares his thoughts around accelerating trends that were already apparent before the current pandemic. He notes that lack of investment in training has led to poor customer service and this combined with unappealing product ranges has resulted in many retailers becoming hopelessly distant from their mission. He advises that successful retailers must have a passion for, and be anchored in the heart of their community. They must use their knowledge of the community to carefully curate their products and hone a personal customer service that will build loyalty and trust. The use of technology and social media must focus on fostering human connection. For brands, a strong transparent ethical framework where failure as well as success is honestly communicated will foster trust. Diversity and inclusiveness must also be part of the mix. An emphasis on using technology to reduce friction between the brand and the buyers needs to be constantly refined. Arnaud is always worth listening to and I'm hopeful his analysis and predictions will ensure the retail industry will serve all of us better in the future.

On today's episode of the Our Community podcast, I'm joined by Melinda Murphy: Storyteller; Emmy Award-Winning Journalist; Singapore's Journalist/Writer of the Year 2018 (MPAS). Melinda writes stories and articles about events that impact people including COVID-19 which has dramatically impacted her own family. Melinda talks about writing openly, sharing her experiences, and the overwhelmingly positive response she has received from people who have reached out to help. We also talk about the need to create structure and routine and how Melinda imparts a brave positive attitude to her children. Melinda also talks about the power of mentoring in her life and what makes a compelling story. You can learn more about Melinda here: linkedin.com/in/murphymelinda And see some good news stories here: https://www.copehopeandalotofsoap.com/

On today's episode of Our Community podcast I'm joined by Chris Richards MD, APAC and Middle East for Ultimate Fitness. Together we talk about how the fitness industry is managing the transition from physical gyms to virtual delivery and how building a technical digital presence represents a big challenge for smaller gyms. We also talk about how people are building fitness into their lives and how small changes like daily walking and rediscovering cycling on quieter roads can make a big difference. Fitness is a major focus as we re-evaluate our lives and the fitness industry has to build strong relationships to help us get through this period of disruption and beyond.

In today's episode Mark Leisegang Head of New Markets for Insights Learning and Development shares his thoughts on human behaviour in the workplace and the increasing importance of aligning vision and purpose. He outlines how it's time to be brave and express what is important. Being brave is made easier by the current situation as people are communicating more often and revealing much more of themselves than they would have previously. Authentic, nurturing leadership is crucial and a good fit between the leader and the organisation is key. Mark's advice for people today is to be aware of pace, not everybody is in the same place both personally and geographically and this must be considered and adjustments made.

Margaret talks about how business communities are engaging with their employees and clients. She believes the best delight and strengthen ties by listening and understanding their community before making agile and innovative pivots. Margaret believes this key learning can ensure businesses avoid making changes that may horribly backfire.

Are you craving your community? After all, community is everything and everything in the community has changed.For this series of podcasts, I've reached out to key people in our community digging into their thoughts. How are they staying connected? How are they coping? What's working and what is a challenge? More importantly, what are they doing that maybe you could try? My first guest is Dr Darryl Whetter – Inaugural Director of the first taught Creative Writing master's degree in Singapore and Southeast Asia (at LaSalle College of the Arts). Darryl is a novelist, poet, essayist, scholar, short story writer, and critic from Canada. Tune in to hear Darryl's thoughts as he moves from Singapore to Canada, from one community to another.