The Front Row Podcast

Karthik Nachiappan, a Research Fellow at ISAS, specializes in India's foreign and economic policy. He discusses India's aspirations as a global power, emphasizing its military capabilities and strategic decisions amid challenges from China and Pakistan. The conversation dives into India's economic growth hurdles, the significance of its partnerships with Southeast Asia, and the evolving role in international organizations. Nachiappan also offers valuable insights for graduates on navigating India's complexities through literature and travel.

Professor Euston Quah is a prominent Singaporean economist and the Albert Winsemius Chair Professor of Economics at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where he also serves as Head of the Economics Division. Known for his work in cost-benefit analysis, environmental economics, and policy economics, he has advised various government agencies and chaired national committees in Singapore. His research often bridges economic theory with practical policymaking, particularly in sustainability, public infrastructure, and regulatory impact.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction 01:30 Who Is Albert Winsemius? 05:55 How Albert Winsemius Made Singapore Better 20:35 The Art of Economic Advising 27:56 Market Failures and State Intervention 30:12 Intellectual Tradition of Economics in Singapore 31:06 Singapore's Entrance Into An Uncertain World 34:27 Why Cost-Benefit Analysis 42:22 How To Appraise Costs & Benefits 45:37 Limitations of Cost-Benefit Analysis 51:54 How Valuation Works 54:08 Why Sensitivity Analysis 60:09 Advice for Graduates Entering the Workforce

Grace Shao, a financial and tech analyst from Hong Kong, shares her insights on China’s rapid advancements in AI. She discusses how China's entrepreneurial spirit, driven by a competitive ‘copycat mentality,’ is reshaping the tech landscape. Grace highlights the dominance of super apps and the cultural acceptance of AI, contrasting it with the U.S. approach. She also explores China's industrial ambitions and the challenges posed by chip bans, while emphasizing Singapore's strategic role in connecting Chinese tech with Southeast Asia.

Inderjit Singh is a former Member of Parliament in Singapore who served under the People's Action Party (PAP) from 1996 to 2015, representing the Ang Mo Kio GRC. A seasoned entrepreneur and technologist, he is known for his candid views on innovation, entrepreneurship, and policymaking. Inderjit played a key role in shaping Singapore’s start-up ecosystem and has remained an influential voice on economic competitiveness, SME growth, and education reform issues. He is also the founder of multiple tech ventures and continues to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs in Singapore and beyond.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction & Trailer to Inderjit Singh01:13 Inderjit's Journey As An Entrepreneur07:15 The Difficulty In Gaining Funding in 1990s14:09 Can Singapore Produce Our Own TSMC14:28 Singapore's Semiconductor Landscape17:27 Did Singapore Give Up?19:04 Revitalising Manufacturing in Singapore22:01 Becoming the World's Prototyping Hub25:39 What It Takes To Build A Startup31:09 Addressing the Financing Gap for Entrepreneurs33:43 Identifying Opportunities for Singaporean Entrepreneurs38:44 Fostering Linkages Between Research and Industry40:08 Balancing Foreign and Local Talent41:49 Inderjit Singh's Book42:18 Can Singapore Be More Risk Tolerant?44:45 How Government Can Support Industry47:09 Managing A Tech Company & Politics53:14 How Inderjit Navigated Politics54:36 What Makes A Good Political Leader57:17 Singapore's Future Challenges01:04:06 Advice for Fresh GraduateFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

In this discussion, Manoj Pradhan, founder of Talking Heads Macroeconomics, delves into the economic implications of aging societies. He reveals how demographic shifts, particularly in China and Japan, are poised to create a more inflationary global environment. The conversation touches on challenges such as rising inequality and healthcare costs, as well as the potential of technology to enhance growth. Pradhan also suggests innovative approaches to manage these demographic changes while offering valuable advice for new graduates entering the workforce.

Zhou Bo is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University.In his prior life, he was a Senior Colonel in the People's Liberation Army of China. In this episode, we discuss the role China seeks to play on the international stage amidst its intensifying rivalry with the USA. 00:00 Intro01:20 - China's Multifaceted Identity04:47 Perceptions of China: Fear and Uncertainty07:41 China's Historical Context and Future Aspirations10:40 China's Core Interests and Global Role12:06 China's Economic Development Initiatives17:12 China's Security Role in the Global Order20:07 China's Position on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict29:06 China's Role as a Broker in Global Conflicts33:07 US-China Relations: A Complex Rivalry38:58 Navigating the South China Sea Disputes41:13 Lessons from Trump's First Term48:28 Building Trust Between China and the US53:10 China's Image in the Global Arena53:58 Advice For The Young

Bilahari Kausikan is a Singaporean academic and retired diplomat.He was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the former ambassador to the UN and Russia. Before his retirement, Bilahari was the Chairman of the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore.In this episode, he unpacks the dilemmas and challenges that Singapore and Southeast Asia face in an age of intensifying US-China competition. TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Trailer & Intro01:33 Bilahari's Take on GE202505:09 Navigating an Ambiguous World08:27 The Evolution of International Order16:35 Why Singapore Is Better Prepared17:33 US-China And The New Cold War?31:16 America's Political Dilemmas36:46 How Southeast Asia Is Adapting To A Rising China42:42 The South China Sea Challenge47:52 Can China Benefit From Trump51:33 The Gaza Dilemma 01:07:19 How Singapore Should Respond01:12:21 Singapore's Unique Identity01:17:56 Advice For The YoungFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/

John Carbrey is a Canadian entrepreneur and venture investor. In 2005, he founded Intrafinity, which built powerful web content management tools used by universities, hospitals, and Fortune 500 companies across North America. In 2008, he launched SharpSchool, a spinoff focused on communication and web platforms for K–12 school districts. It quickly scaled to serve nearly 10% of U.S. schools, delivering over a billion web and mobile views annually. After selling both companies to West Corporation (now known as Intrado, an American telecommunications conglomerate) in 2015, John led the global tech team and helped grow West’s education division from $40M to $70M in ARR. Today, he's building FutureSight, a venture studio that partners with SaaS founders to co-create the next wave of high-impact startups.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro & Teaser00:55 Early Entrepreneurial Journey and Initial Ventures04:42 Building and Scaling Companies in Canada09:00 Transitioning from Founder to Executive11:31 The Importance of Reflection In Your Career13:35 Silicon Valley's Work Culture and Its Impact17:56 The Psychological Tax of Hustling24:11 Wanting Well: Redefining Success and Value27:21 Understanding Mimetic Desire and Its Impact33:41 Wounds and Their Influence on Our Desires40:06 Wanting Well: Beyond Individual Desires43:14 The Purpose of Business in Society46:15 Finding Great Co-Founders51:18 Example of An Excellent Founder60:07 Advice For Fresh Graduate

Steven Okun, is the Founder and CEO of APAC Advisors. He is a recognized expert on U.S. foreign policy, global trade, sustainability, and corporate public affairs across the Asia-Pacific region. With over 25 years of experience spanning government and private sectors, he excels at turning complex policy changes into actionable business strategies. Based in Singapore since 2003, Steven has consistently forecasted major geopolitical trends, including reciprocal tariffs, trade policy shifts under a second Trump administration, and U.S.-China decoupling—well ahead of mainstream adoption."00:00 Introduction to Stephen Okun and APEC Advisors01:24 What Was It Like Under Clinton Administration05:02 Campaigning in the U.S. vs. Singapore09:05 How Civil Service Works in The US11:07 U.S. Foreign Policy14:12 The Rise of Donald Trump20:17 Hyper-Partisanship in American Politics23:37 Lessons from Trump 1.0 to Trump 2.027:51 Trump's Intellectual Influences30:23 The Power Dynamics in Congress and the Presidency32:39 Understanding Trump's Tariff Strategy38:26 The China Plus One Strategy43:39 American Inertia To Industrial Policy47:02 How US Businesses Adapt54:55 Opportunities Amidst Geopolitical Uncertainty01:00:02 How To Get Trump To Cut Tariffs01:02:21 Advice For Fresh Grads

Dr. Vaughn Tan is a strategy consultant, advisor, and researcher. He currently leads Southeast Asia executive education for University College London, where he was part of the founding strategy faculty in the School of Management. He is the author of The Uncertainty Mindset (Columbia Univ. Press, 2020), a book about using uncertainty as a strategic tool for designing high-performing innovation organizations.Vaughn works with the leadership teams of corporations, startups, governments, and NGOS to develop their innovation capacity and ability to manage uncertainty. His executive education practice focuses on building programmes that develop participants’ leadership capacity, strategic vision, and innovation ability. He speaks regularly at conferences and for leadership teams on uncertainty, strategy, innovation, and the future of work in a time of AI.He is currently a Fellow of the Singapore Government’s Centre for Strategic Futures, an Rethink Food Executive Board member, and an advisor on diversity and inclusion matters to Wellcome.CHAPTERS: 00:00 TRAILER00:53 Understanding Risk vs. Uncertainty03:30 Navigating Uncertainty in Decision Making09:05 The Importance of Embracing Uncertainty14:46 Learning from High-End Cuisine 17:06 Vaughn's Favourite Example22:07 Designing for Productive Discomfort28:58 How Desperation By Design Works35:11 Singapore As An Innovator39:07 Should Singapore Re-Invent Its Education System? 45:37 Beyond Credentialism In Adult Learning52:23 Reframing Singapore's Economic Strategy57:53 Closing Questions