Marie Teo

Yesterday I moderated a lively Roundtable in Singapore in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Association of Communication Directors and Ruder Finn Asia, where we focused specifically on how senior marketers and communicators are gearing up for the AI era, amid widespread caution and concern. Unlike previous discussions I've participated in on this topic, this was a group of executives who are already relatively immersed in the technology. So their insights in terms of experimentation, usage and evaluation were very timely and topical, even if they also raised issues in terms of of public trust, misinformation and ethics. The feature will be out next week. For now, here is the advice each of them offered when it comes to adopting and deploying generative AI across communications and marketing departments: 🧪 "It's important to continue experimenting, but it's also important to maintain that human oversight because I don't think the capabilities of AI are quite there yet" - Ramya Chandrasekaran 🧐 "Stay curious. I think as comms professionals, we need to be on top of what's around us, what we can use to our advantage — drive not be driven" - Pia Tyagi ❤️ "Revisit your values that underpin your organisation and have that be the center of how you pivot on this. Because you might lose people, emotionally. And I think that's a risk" - Lauren Myers-Cavanagh ⚖️ "Be fearless and fearful at the same time. Fearless in terms of experimentation, be open to the potential for transforming the way that we work, live, learn and play. Fearful in being very deliberate in thinking about the dark side and the dangers" - David Ko 🎨 "You can positively use AI to do almost everything (well), but stay creatively flawed to make it even better" - Shruti Gupta 🧰 "Use these tools shamelessly because unless you use them, you'll not know the limits of where their value ends and your value begins. I would also hope for all of us is to bring others along, so that collectively we can benefit" - Sanjay Nair A huge thank you to the participants for a great discussion. Elan Shou Pamela Phua Phoebe SHEN Brian Witte

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AI is here to stay, whether we like it or not. And the only way to deal with it is to embrace it, experiment with it, push it to its limits, and harness it to make it your ally!

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Here’s to a future powered by #GreenEnergy. Wavemaker Impact just launched Octayne Green Fuels, a pioneering venture transforms #FarmWaste into #CarbonNeutral fuel in #SoutheastAsia. By converting over 400 million tonnes of post-harvest crop residue into renewable, scalable, and carbon-neutral #BioEnergy fuel, Octayne hopes to lead the way to a #green 🌿 and #sustainable future. ♻ The US$525,000 funding from Wavemaker Impact (WMi) will be used to accelerate Octayne’s mission of tapping SEA’s vast agricultural sector for primary feedstock to create carbon-neutral fuel alternatives for energy production. It will be deployed to execute pilot projects, develop a technical product and platform, and recruit a specialised team with experience in green energy and industrial projects. Octayne will initially operate in Indonesia 🇮🇩 , Thailand🇹🇭 , and Vietnam 🇻🇳before expanding across the region. #WavemakerImpact #BioWaste #Agriculture #Decarbonization  #RenewableEnergy #ClimateAction  #VentureBuilding #Entrepreneurship https://lnkd.in/g4auTCUv

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Another nail in the coffin for news outlets: Yahoo Singapore is no more. 💀 This shift has impacted 17 staff members as the outlet moves towards syndicated content. It continues to be a tough road ahead for media companies. This is a stark reminder that we need to sharpen our pitches to reporters as newsrooms shrink. It's crucial to demonstrate the immediate relevance and impact of the news we're pitching - why now? https://lnkd.in/drFWMCkb #MediaIndustry #PublicRelations #MediaRelations #Journalism #NewsMedia #StrategicCommunication #MediaTrends #DigitalMedia #PRStrategy #MediaLandscape

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As an avid follower of the Edelman Trust Barometer, I was thrilled to explore how NotebookLM, now available in Asia-Pacific, could amplify my research experience. By sifting through multiple years of data, it provided a streamlined approach, surfacing key insights and citing relevant information. My NotebookLM highlights: ☑️ Conquer Information Overload: NotebookLM is a lifesaver when navigating multiple datasets, helping to organize and prioritize information.  ☑️ Credible Citations: Inline references allow for quick fact-checking and deeper exploration of the original reports.  ☑️ Presentation & Communication Pro: Generate outlines and summaries effortlessly, based on notes and uploaded sources. Remember, NotebookLM is a research companion, not a substitute for critical thinking. I encourage you to visit notebooklm.google.com and see how this AI research assistant can enhance your workflow. If you are already a user, share your tips – let's learn and grow together with#AI!  #EdelmanTrustBarometer #AIResearchAssistant #ResearchTips

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Ben McQuhae will be speaking at Moody's Ratings' Green Tech Innovation Summit 2024 on "Leveraging green tech innovation on Asia’s path to net zero". RSVP https://bit.ly/45a58aW Date: Wednesday, 19 June Time: 2:00pm to 3.30pm HKT/SGT (GMT+8) Discussion topics include: ➡ What are the drivers of and hurdles for green tech innovation in APAC? ➡ Where will the financing for green tech come from? ➡ How can governments support economic development and carbon transition? ➡ How do we avoid unintended environmental and social consequences from decarbonisation? Joining him on the panel are: - Monica B. Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) Director of Investor Practice - Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - John Wang, CFA, Vice President - Senior Analyst, ESG, Moody's Ratings - Ada Li, Vice President – Senior Credit Officer, Project & Infrastructure Finance, Moody's Ratings - Natasha Brereton-Fukui, Senior Vice President, Global ESG Research, Moody's Ratings . . . hashtag #greentech #netzero #decarbonisation #decarbonization #APAC #greentechnology #technology Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA)

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The 5th edition of the Southeast Asia Green Economy report by Bain & Company, GenZero, Standard Chartered and Temasek, launched at #Ecosperity this week, puts a spotlight on the innovative financing solutions needed to support green transition.   Among the initiatives highlighted in the report are three Bayfront IABS transactions from our Markets & Investor Services team, structured and issued for eligible green and social assets. These are examples of our commitment to developing and structuring financing solutions that help accelerate the net zero transition. To find out more about the transition challenge, and opportunity, read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gfaKquZ8

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Amidst the regional investment news and announcements created by #Ecosperity #GenZero and the #PhilanthrophyAsiaAlliance it's great to note Singapore Business Federation's plan to support local businesses on their decarbonisation journey through the launch of the Emission Factors Registry. Will this drive the necessary action to enable listed companies to be ready for mandatory climate-related disclosures in 2025? Let's hope so. #Sustainability #ClimateAction #SingaporeBusinesses #EmissionFactorsRegistry https://lnkd.in/g2i8cadx

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Another great article from BISIH published in our stellar e-publication, the Central Bank Payments News. If you were curious to know more, had doubts, or just wanted to share your opinion with the author, here's your chance!! Join us in KL and learn from global experts such as Kah Kit Yip who will attend along with another 200 or so leading industry experts from the central bank and FMI community.... Firsthand knowledge and premium networking... all in a niche atmosphere. It doesn't get any better that this folks. See you there. #payments #podcast #pitexchange #cbpc2024 #globalpaymentssummit

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The “What Worries Malaysia” study released by Ipsos Malaysia this month found that Malaysians who believe the country is on the wrong track are on the rise. There has also been a surge in concerns about taxes with the upcoming introduction of new taxes this year and the level of corruption in the country. But on the positive side, the steady loss of consumer confidence in 2023 has partially stabilized in Q1’24. More details on this release are available at:- https://lnkd.in/gAqTXgBB #IpsosMalaysia

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Building your brand as a trusted advisor is critical in this competitive landscape. It does not matter if you are selling a consumer product or an enterprise technology solution, it is vital your brand is seen as 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫. This will help you have a unique voice in the industry. To find out more on how to do this, read our blog below.

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The OCBC campaign, conceptualised by GOVT , kicks off with two films shot by Desmond Tan from Atypical Films, supported by Fuse. Both “Perfect Fit” and “Greater Heights” tell different, human stories about one’s purpose in life. Both stories were developed to support the bank’s purpose to empower aspirations all across ASEAN and Greater China. Koh Ching Ching, head of group brand and communications at OCBC Bank, said: “Through the two films, we hope to share that as OCBC helps to realise your aspirations, our solution is perfect only if it perfectly fits for you, and that we will walk the journey together with you to achieve greater heights. This is OCBC’s Purpose." Meanwhile, Tim Chan, executive creative director at GOVT Singapore, commented, “We’ve been working with the bank for almost 8 years now. This long-term partnership is one that we value deeply, and this year’s campaign is another one that we’re massively proud of. Kudos to the team and our external partners.” #brandcampaign #brandpurpose #banking ------ -[Awards] MARKETECH APAC is launching its inaugural "Marketing Technology Awards" where we recognise the groundbreaking achievements in marketing technology, uniting the brands and tech organisations within the region’s marketing community. Learn how your brand can be a part of it by checking it more details HERE: https://bit.ly/3SVtoIa -[Industry Series] We have launched our latest industry initiative "E-commerce Marketing Series" where we aim to equip businesses with the latest strategies and insights to navigate the dynamic world of e-commerce, as well as discuss cutting-edge concepts, trends, and case studies shaping the future of online commerce. Learn how you can be part of this industry discussion by checking out more details here: https://bit.ly/4aiMEX4 -[Report] Discover the latest trends in omnichannel communications, and explore how mobile messaging channels are preferred by consumers to seek deeper connections with brands by checking out this report HERE: https://bit.ly/3RckF4z

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A while ago, the Terra-X team attended the "Putting Words into (Climate) Action: Ushering in Corporate Transition Plan" event, where we heard Carol Yuen from The Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL) share with us the Climate Transition Guide. We have also gotten insights from Yen Sen Chan from StarHub and Shanice S. from Razer Inc. who candidly discussed how they have integrated sustainability in their respective companies. The event was moderated by Sean Tseng from APCEL, who also worked on the Climate Transition Guide. Here are our personal key takeaways: 📌 Initiative driven from both top-down and bottom-up is crucial for real change. 📌 Addressing the Triple Planetary Crisis: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. 📌 At a minimum, companies should aim to use SBTI for goal planning. 📌 Types of risks to factor in a Transition Plan: • Physical risks (Climate impact events) • Transition risks (Push by government, market, and consumer trends) 📌 How to implement a transition plan and keep it relevant: • Speak to experts, work with partners and communities. • Monitor changes in frameworks and regulations. • Prioritise up to three teams to work with and propagate sustainability initiatives. • Achieve stakeholder buy-in: Involve different departments and personnel in proposed initiatives. To top it all off, we got ourselves two UN SDG goals badges to remind ourselves of our commitments to the betterment of the planet! 🏅🏅 If you are in a SME looking to make your company more sustainable, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you achieve your sustainability goals. Together, let's drive the corporate transition towards a more sustainable future! 🌍💚 #Sustainability #ClimateAction #CorporateResponsibility #GreenBusiness #TerraX #SDGs P.S.: Remember to take a look at the guide!

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I've got to say, #NotebookLM is my favorite Google research & productivity tool today. If you haven't already checked it out, I promise it will change how you engage with and get insights from large amounts of information. 📔 This article from Fast Company is a great quick read to understand what NotebookLM is most useful for and has some superb tips on how to get the most of it: https://lnkd.in/gXdPjknA. The best news is that NotebookLM is now available everywhere. 🌏

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"We are seeing an increase use of LinkedIn by politicians, why is this so and what does it indicate?" This was the question posed to me by Rezwana Manjur and Camillia Dass. Indeed, in the last two years, we are seeing an increase use of LinkedIn by politicians and C-suite (will need Adrian Tay to share the statistics to back my claim!). Many of them are starting to spend time on LinkedIn for sharing of professional news and knowledge. It is also a platform that is able to bring together older workers and those who are starting to join the workforce as it becomes the preferred platform for job searches. As such, many have separated their social media lives into 'personal' vs 'professional'. It can mean posting about policies and work issues on LinkedIn, and keeping personal posts to Facebook, Instagram and/or TikTok. It is interesting how I have been involved in many conversations in recent months about the use of LinkedIn, with both for-profit clients and where in the non-profit groups I serve voluntarily in. What is the role of social for you? Have you been using more LinkedIn in the past one year?

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Feeling the pulse of Singapore's #manufacturing scene. ﮩ٨ـﮩ🏭 📊 The latest figures from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) reveal a dip in overall manufacturing output, but a closer look unveils a more nuanced picture. While some sectors are experiencing a slowdown, others are showing signs of #growth. 📉 In March 2024, there was a 9.2% decrease in #Singapore's manufacturing output year-on-year, with a sharper 16.0% decline on a month-on-month basis. The chemicals and precision engineering sectors are growing, with petrochemicals and semiconductor equipment leading the charge. Transport engineering and electronics are experiencing setbacks, though specific areas within electronics like infocomm and consumer electronics are on the rise. Meanwhile, the general manufacturing cluster saw a 3% decrease from Jan-Mar 2024, with declines in printing and miscellaneous industries offsetting growth in food, beverages, and tobacco. These statistics highlight the varied challenges and opportunities present, urging businesses to navigate the landscape strategically for sustained growth and resilience. 💪 🔍 Dive deeper into these insights by downloading the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gxTuR6xT At SME Centre@SMF (Singapore Manufacturing Federation), we help #SMEs navigate the evolving manufacturing landscape and seize growth opportunities. Book a complimentary 1-to-1 business advisory session here: https://lnkd.in/g_5tassX and let’s discuss how we can help you achieve your #business goals. 💯✅ #sme #smesupport #support #sgbusiness #businessgrowth #businesssupport #businessadvisory #consulting #businessstrategy #monthlymanufacturingperformance #SGeconomy #economicoutlook #businessresilience #growthopportunities #transformation #manufacturingoutlook #manufacturingtrends #industrytrends #operation #productivity

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"...use of self-awareness as a tool to accelerate growth as a leader and to own your own career journey." Often people talk about self-awareness as something that happens in your personal life. A nice-to-have. It's not. It's the shortcut to career advancement and great leadership. I see it consistently among my friends who excel in their industries. The clarity helps them cut through the cacophony and lead companies with purpose and confidence. As actor Ethan Hawke said best, "to thrive, to express ourselves, well here's the rub. You have to know yourself." Hat tip to Sian Sze Wing Leong, PCC for making self-awareness a part of her work and helping others discover their own. #selfawareness #clarity

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The recent “Global State of Social Enterprise” report by World Economic Forum features our “Business for Good: Maximizing the Value of Social Enterprises in Asia” as one of the most widely recognized research initiatives on social enterprise globally. Our report provides insights into the landscape of #socialenterprises in Asia, backed by robust data and comprehensive analysis, while presenting recommendations to unlock their full potential. Read “Business for Good: Maximizing the Value of Social Enterprises in Asia” on the topic of social enterprises in the region, here: https://lnkd.in/gcqkDavj

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📢 Tackling Online Piracy in the Philippines As reported by the Asia Video Industry Association's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) 2024 survey, the Philippines has one of the highest piracy rates in Asia, with 71% of the population consuming pirated content. 📈 In response, Senate Bills 2150 and 2385 propose crucial amendments to the 27-year-old Intellectual Property Code. These changes aim to empower local authorities to shut down infringing websites swiftly, enhancing enforcement and aligning with international standards. Piracy costs the Philippines 7.1% of its GDP, impacting creators' livelihoods and the economy. The proposed revisions are vital to reducing these losses and protecting intellectual property rights. https://wix.to/Ul3huSm #IntellectualProperty #AntiPiracy #Philippines #Legislation #CreativeIndustry #newblogpost

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