Ang: A global outlook to escape the ‘red ocean’ while expanding horizons for talents.
In Singapore’s economy, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the bedrock. We account for over 70% of the labour force; we are the training ground where most aspiring graduates take their first steps into the working world.
As a father of six, I always tell my kids that the world is their oyster, and they can achieve anything they put their minds to. It is time we apply that same mindset to our workforce, encouraging them to find meaning and motivation in a more global outlook.
Recent reports indicate a concerning trend where only a small proportion of our local workforce possesses regional working experience. This is a striking irony, given that Singapore is a premier international hub. If you ask a Singaporean how often they travel for leisure, almost everyone has left our shores. Yet, that mobility drops drastically the moment it is for work.
This gap is precisely why SMEs struggle with retention. Young talent often leave not for a higher salary, but because they feel there is little career progression ahead. At the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (ASME), we advocate for businesses to escape the “red ocean” competition of our domestic market.
A regional outlook achieves more than business expansion – it acts as a powerful driver of purpose and progression.
”Professionals in the international MICE industry are uniquely positioned for careers of impact.”
Ang Yuit, president, Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (Singapore)
Selling the steering wheel
The biggest challenge for Singapore SMEs is not just hiring; it is the fear among talent that they will become simply a cog in a machine. To ‘sell the dream’ we must offer them a seat at the table that a larger business may not. I believe that if you want to retain a high-flyer, give them the steering wheel, not a manual, to chart their journey and explore new roads.
As leaders, we provide our staff with a “growth passport”, enticing them with the chance to see how global economies are intertwined firsthand. In an SME, recognition goes beyond a job title. We must give talents a territory to grow into.
Professionals in the international MICE industry are uniquely positioned for careers of consequence. They learn from interacting with people and stakeholders of different cultures, and from different cities like Dubai or Ho Chi Minh City, and bring invaluable lessons and insights that can shape their perspectives and set them up for more profound success.
Cementing the Singapore brand
This approach creates a powerful dual advantage. On one hand, SMEs successfully internationalise; on the other, our talent pool matures into a globally ready workforce that is too invested to leave. Leadership today is about giving your teams the autonomy to push boundaries. We build the stage and allow our team to own the execution.
I hope to see more Singaporean enterprises taking this route. By venturing into the international arena, we do more than just grow our businesses. We cement the “Singapore Brand” globally and ensure that for our workforce, the world truly remains their oyster.