Navigating the future

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: As the country turns 53, what do you think is one trait that Singapore society should cultivate more of?

Kenny Yap Chairman & CEO Qian Hu corporation Limited

Like our country, I've turned 53 this year. As I grow older, I've realised that being kind to people actually makes me feel happier. My late father and uncle have always prioritised humanity before business, and this is something that had been ingrained in all of us. I truly believe that if everyone in Singapore can show kindness and be gracious to one another, we probably would not require much law enforcement!

My wish for Singapore, and for Singaporeans, is that all of us would be kinder to one another, and to treat one another with respect and dignity regardless of status and wealth. We must be kind to our parents by taking good care of them, and we must also inculcate these values in our children so that they grow up to be kind people too.

With kindness as our dominant culture, we as Singaporeans and residents will continue to bring happiness to all in our nation.

Max Loh EY Asean and Singapore Managing Partner Ernst & Young LLP

Inclusiveness is that one important trait to nurture, given Singapore's diverse make-up and the meritocracy and competitiveness of our open economy. Optimising Singapore's resources and talent pool must be a strategic imperative. Better questions that we should ask ourselves include: How do we create an environment where Singaporeans feel belonged, are valued and respected, and where they are able to contribute their personal best notwithstanding their differences in socio-economic background and life experiences? How do we ensure that everyone can achieve their potential and is inclusively brought along on the country's journey of progress? How do we leverage on the fact that differences matter but when guided by a shared purpose for Singapore, help us arrive at the best solutions to our country's opportunities and challenges?

Leon Perera Chief Executive Officer Spire Research and Consulting

At 53, the one trait Singapore needs more of is confidence. Confidence means not allowing our fears of the worst-case scenario to inhibit us from dreaming of a better life and a better home, nor of taking intelligent risks to pursue those dreams to the fullest extent possible. Confidence means not allowing our familiarity with past success to blind us to the need for fresh thinking and even the reversal of tried-and-tested past strategies where the facts justify it. Confidence means cultivating trust in our fellow Singaporeans to be good citizens and good stewards of Singapore's business, social and cultural eco-system - because expecting more from one another can beget better outcomes from all.

John Bittleston Founder & Chair Terrific Mentors International Pte Ltd

Research has shown that Singaporeans seek a more gracious, more inclusive and kinder society. At 53, Singapore is mature and can aspire to these things. Mature societies take a lively interest in the rest of the world and in international politics which, especially in Singapore's case, so influence our standard of living and expectations. How other societies manage themselves, what their political, economic and social values are, plus the history of how those societies came about, are all things Singaporeans can learn from. This is vital as we enter the stage when humankind must design the next human species.

Charles Tan Co-founder and Executive Director The GIVEN Company

Openness: to new ideas, diversity and change.

As demographic and technological trends reshape various aspects of our daily lives, we must become increasingly adaptable in order to overcome challenges, and continue spurring growth as a society, whilst working hard to ensure that no one is left behind.

Openness is a key trait exemplified by our nation through the years, and against a backdrop of increasing protectionism and nationalism globally, it is more vital than ever that we embrace new ways of thinking and dismiss the comfort of the status quo in search of happiness, prosperity and progress for all.

Sheena Chin Country Director, Singapore Veritas Storage Singapore

It is encouraging to see (from the National Values Assessment survey) that Singaporeans are citing higher-order values such as caring for the environment and the elderly as priorities for the society. As Singapore turns 53, it will be desirable for the society to cultivate a greater sense of empathy across the different segments of the population. This will go a long way in promoting a better understanding among people and also across issues, especially when there are conflicting perspectives and interests. With greater empathy, we will be more conscious of negative traits such as sense of self-entitlement or self-centeredness, and collectively progress as a society that embraces positive values such as respect, care and compassion.

Victor Mills CEO Singapore International Chamber of Commerce

People are the same all around the world. We describe ourselves as having values which we don't always find in society at large. This underscores the fact that too many of us see societal values as something over which we have no influence. We do. All our interactions in our daily lives provide us with opportunities to practise what we preach, to live our values and to treat others the way we want to be treated: with respect. As we celebrate National Day this week, let's all take responsibility and live this year's NDP theme every day: "We are Singapore!" Majulah Singapura!

David Chua Chief Executive National Youth Council

Singapore youth hope for a more inclusive Singapore. In a digital sensing poll conducted recently for the Youth Conversations series, 1,400 respondents expressed the desire for a more inclusive society as the top aspiration and more opportunities to work together for societal good.

There have been many recent debates on inequality and diversity. For diversity to become a strength and access to opportunity become more equalised, being inclusive and having a mindfulness of inclusivity in Singapore are essential.

True inclusion does not only mean co-option or accordance of membership; it means deliberately reaching out, laterally and vertically, and giving citizens the dignity of voice, the stake of ownership and the rights of empowerment.

An inclusive Singapore leads to shared responsibility and shared endeavours. It also deepens our shared identity. If we are to be confident, cohesive and caring as a society, this journey of inclusivity is vital, and it is heartening to know our Singapore youth have the correct instinct and aspiration.

Benedict Soh Chairman Kingsmen Creatives Ltd

In terms of personal happiness, Singaporeans have been rated rather low; largely a nation of whiners. This is a strange phenomenon, as the country enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world. It has progressed from third to first world status in less than 50 years. Its frenetic upwardly mobile trajectory was largely driven by first-generation leaders, who were determined to be successful despite the odds. Of course our system was not the best, as no system in the world can claim to be. However, Singapore's global standing and domestic achievements have been lauded internationally.

The current generation wants more of everything but contribute little. What is lacking is indeed a sense of appreciation and gratitude for what they have and to give more to the less privileged.

Toby Koh Group MD Ademco Security Group

Honour. The one trait that I feel is very important for our society is honour. Honour thy family, country, community, company and oneself.

Honouring our family means to respect and take good care of our loved ones. Honouring our country means protecting our homeland and national pride. Honouring our community alludes to our pledge to respect everyone regardless of race, language or religion, and to foster racial harmony. Honouring our company means doing our best to contribute to the organisation where we work in. Honouring oneself means we endeavour to be the best that we can be.

Honour is a trait that will do us well in the coming years.

Cherian Varghese Regional Managing Director & Vice President, ASEAN Oracle

Adaptability and resilience - these are qualities needed in any individual and society to thrive in our world today. We are living in an era where change is the only constant and technological innovations are happening at an exponential rate, bringing about disruptive effects and opportunities across all industries and in every dimension.

Technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and autonomous are transforming industries, the way businesses operate and how people work. This necessitates development of new skills to help individuals within the society, and both the public and private sectors have a part to play to enable and prepare them for the future.

Tan Mui Huat President and CEO, Asia International SOS

Singapore is a unique multi-racial society with each race retaining its own culture and traditions. As Singapore turns 53, one trait that I think we should cultivate more of is that of graciousness. The early success of Singapore was built on this graciousness to understand, accept and care for our neighbours regardless of race, language, religion or social stratification. We should continue to be gracious and less critical of each other's weaknesses, build on each other's strengths, celebrate successes together, and be kind and helpful to the less privileged. I believe these are essential to help preserve the richness of Singapore's multi-racial society.

Albert Phuay Yong Hen Chairman and Group CEO Excelpoint Technology Ltd

I think it is important for Singaporeans to develop a mindset of continuity. As the Chinese adage goes, "The older generation plants a tree, and the next generation enjoys the shade". This saying is an apt testament to our pioneers who laid the groundwork and overcame all adversities more than 50 years ago to enable Singapore to flourish and prosper into a world-class developed nation today, where present and future generations can benefit and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Hence, we have to instil in each generation the mindset of always paying it forward, to continue building firm foundations and bringing about positive changes for the next generation, so that each cohort will enjoy the shade too as they grow old.

With this ecosystem of continuity, we can keep progressing together and build a better Singapore for many generations to come.

Jayajyoti Sengupta Head, Asia Pacific Cognizant

Happy 53rd birthday, Singapore! To continue successfully navigating the future, two factors are key. First, Singapore should keep its focus on staying agile to manage change. Global innovation and development is more rapid than ever before.

As a society, we must be quick to adapt while ensuring that no one is left behind. Second, we should ensure responsible all-round development of our communities and environment at all levels of society to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy Singapore which we know and love. With these in mind, there is no doubt that Singapore will continue prospering well into the future.

Ronnie Tan President FranklinCovey Singapore & Greater China

As an ever-growing global city, Singapore should continue to be competitive and driven to improve the quality of life for ourselves, our families and our community. Sustained quality of life requires us to be "principle-centred". Principles are timeless and like compasses, they point the way - especially important in today's chaotic and uncertain environment. We have met or read about the successes of principle-centred individuals and leaders who built "true North" principles into their lives, their relationships, their communications and contracts, their management processes and their mission statements. By living a "principle-centred" life, one can then enjoy sustained moral, physical, social and financial wellness.

Karl Hamann CEO QBE Insurance (Singapore)Pte Ltd

Every National Day, Singapore is reminded of the tremendous transformation it went through to become the country it is today: a thriving global metropolis that every Singaporean should be proud of. It is that sense of national pride that sees Singapore continue to punch above its weight in the global arena. Through the years, Singapore has built strong connections and enjoys good global standing. This is illustrated by its strong relations with other countries and the sheer number of bilateral and multilateral agreements it has with major economies, highlighting a willingness to collaborate and an inherent openness as a business hub. Singaporeans also play their part in cultivating this collaborative mindset in their day-to-day lives, which helps make it possible to attempt innovative approaches to emerging challenges.

Magesvaran Suranjan President, P&G Asia Pacific and P&G Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa

Singapore is a first-world economy and a first-rate society, where people respect each other and work together to achieve common goals. I believe that positivity and a can-do spirit are critical today and in the future. In P&G, I see this can-do attitude everyday - not only in overcoming business challenges, but also in giving back to Singapore. We are proud to work with many external partners to have a positive impact in our community - whether it's making Singapore more sustainable, or caring for vulnerable communities, or countless other worthy causes. Singapore has proven that nothing is impossible when we work together to achieve it!

Ana Dhoraisingam CEO, Singapore PineBridge Investments

The one trait that I think Singapore society should cultivate more of is "empathy". In its simplest definition, empathy means the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. In our nation-building journey to achieve progress and prosperity, we should remember to step back and put ourselves in someone else's shoes. To be in their skin. By continuing to harness an empathetic society, I think we would be better equipped to have deeper and more honest conversations around topics and challenges that impact various elements of our society, such as end-of-life care and caring for the under-privileged, whether we're personally impacted or not. When we care for the well-being of those around us along with - or at times even above - ourselves, this allows us to cultivate a society centred around humanity.

Dileep Nair Independent Director Thakral Corporation Ltd

Despite an inauspicious birth and the prognostications of naysayers, Singapore's development has been a stellar success. The foundations were laid by the pioneer generation who displayed an indomitable can-do spirit. We need to nurture and cultivate further this Singapore spirit of pulling together as one people and giving of our best. Some voices today talk of an uncertain future and of increased fractiousness and divisiveness. We must divine in the Singapore spirit the value of pluralism. Diversity must be seen as a source of strength, not of weakness. Inculcating the attitude of give-and-take will promote social cohesion. We need to renew and reinvigorate our faith in the Singapore spirit and never forget that Singapore is the result of human imagination and endeavour.

Steve Settle Managing and Regional Director CFO Centre

It is easy to forget how Singapore has transitioned to the global stage in such a short period of time and how young Singapore is as a city-state.

Taking time out to pause and reflect on the incredible journey the city (and its inhabitants) have been on - to "stop and smell the roses" as the saying goes - will encourage all to realise that there is much to be grateful for. This will help moderate the feelings of kiasu-ness and hopefully develop greater compassion and respect all around.

Helen Ng Chief Executive Officer General Storage Company Pte Ltd

As our country turns 53, I hope Singaporeans can develop a global world view and appreciate the significance of issues such as mass migration, the rising tide of populism and climate change, among others. We have the tendency to focus only on issues that impact on our everyday lives. We can ill-afford to be insular as the world becomes more interconnected. We need to be global citizens in order to succeed in the age of globalisation.

Henry Tan MD Nexia TS

One trait that Singaporeans should cultivate more is a four-letter word - love. If we love one another, we are willing to listen more to one another. When we listen more to one another we learn to put ourselves in the shoes of that person and hence empathise and know why certain actions or decisions were taken.

Likewise, if we love one another, we will take care of one another. This cultivates a giving culture, with the able helping the poorer or less able, and everyone contributing to society as a whole. If we love one another, we learn to appreciate those who succeed and are able to encourage them even more, and not feel jealous or desirous of beating them - and start being kiasu. So the greatest value must be love.

Tan Chong Huat Managing Partner RHTLaw Taylor Wessing LLP

We believe that the one trait which Singapore society should cultivate more of is compassion. Compassion embodies many positive values including care, understanding, warmth, kindness and charity.

These are some of the values that we encourage among our colleagues and partners through our RHT Rajan Menon Foundation, a registered charity and grant-making philanthropic organisation approved by IRAS.

Established in 2015, the foundation acts as the corporate social responsibility vehicle for RHTLaw Taylor Wessing and the RHT Group of Companies.

The foundation supports four main causes, namely education, disadvantaged groups, the environment and the arts. In addition to its Successful Ageing Project, an ongoing initiative on eldercare, the foundation is also embarking on a new sustainability initiative called Greening ASEAN: Initiatives & Leadership.

Jean Drouffe CEO AXA Insurance

Even as Singapore has evolved to become the world-class city that she is today, it is vital that we don't leave out those who are struggling to keep up with the speed at which the nation is progressing.

Every one of us has a part to play in fostering a caring and inclusive community that is able to support the disadvantaged and those struggling to overcome obstacles in their life.

At AXA, we believe that caring for our customers and community empowers them to live better lives, and one way we try to make a difference is in partnering with the community to strengthen the culture of responsibility for one another.

Through the AXA Bounce For Good challenge, we are rallying people in Singapore to join us in supporting those around us who are facing adversities or challenges in their life.

Mark Innes General Manager and Executive Vice President, APAC Salesforce

Family comes in all shapes and forms and no matter the make-up, deserves equal standing in society. It will be a true vision to see Singapore compassionately support and empower all types of family structures.

Let's shape national legislation and policies to create a society that every Singaporean can be proud of, for generations ahead. As a business that passionately believes in the concept of Ohana (family in Hawaiian) and #EqualityForAll, we are proud that our Singapore employees can claim costs of up to S$10,000 under our adoption and fertility programme which covers almost 70 per cent of one IVF cycle and 50 per cent of child adoption fee in Singapore.

Maren Schweizer Director Schweizer World Pte Ltd

Singaporeans are characterised by citizenship and a lot less by national identity. Multi-ethnicity and an "invented tradition" have successfully led to accepted rules, rituals of symbolic nature and certain values and norms.

Now we need a sense of purpose for the digital era in Singapore, that everybody is committed to and feel like they can benefit from.

And we have to slow down. Manage the transition from a fast pace, primarily efficiency-driven work to an economy of visionaries, creative thinkers and collaborators based on knowledge, trust, credibility and a focus on results. Develop a clear understanding of how to be both empowered and valuable and of service. Understand how to navigate on one's own through a constantly shifting landscape of work.

Juliana Mamoni Sliwka Founder & CEO JMAMONI Lifestyle & Etiquette Institute

You can read a lot about a country when observing the attitudes of its drivers - this is where extremely self-centred personality traits are revealed. In general, soft skills and more benevolence need to be cultivated to balance out the kiasu mentality that has been drilled into the minds of the people. There are practical reasons for the kiasu mindset, but for the society to thrive, other traits like respect and compassion have to be equally developed.

Chris J Reed CEO, Founder, Entrepreneur The Dark Art of Marketing and Black Marketing

Risk-taking. Singaporeans need to embrace the spirit of risk-taking to enable more to become entrepreneurs and better leaders.

One of the failings of entrepreneurs here is that they take no risks - which is manifested in being protected financially by government grants and/or living at home. If this financial safety blanket was removed more would take more risks and more would deservedly fail and either try again and become a better entrepreneur or get out of the way of others who will succeed.

Having many entrepreneurs all failing over long periods of time does not an entrepreneurial ecosystem make.

This also applies to Singaporeans on career ladders. Many live at home with their parents and are happy to give up jobs with no position to go to because they don't like it or had a rough day.

If the safety net was removed, if risk-taking was more culturally accepted more would stick at jobs and make more of it or find another before leaving or move country. And often the latter is what makes a great Singaporean leader - international experience.

You have only one life. You won't regret the things that you did, just the chances that you didn't take.

Uantchern Loh CEO Black Sun PLC

Hakuna matata is a Swahili phrase that was popularised in the Disney animated film The Lion King. Broadly translated, it means "no worries". The Icelanders have þetta reddast (pronounced thet-ta red-ust) which means "It'll all work out in the end".

The Thais have mai pen rai, the Jamaicans have irie mon and of course the Aussies say it the best - no worries mate! Singapore needs our own chill-out word that means no worries in our own way and the perfect Singlish word is hanar.

Here's a quick guide for the uninitiated on how it's used: When someone says "Life is tough", you reply hanar ...; "We could have done better", you reply hanar, hanar and "We are Singapore", you reply hanar!

Vipin Kalra Chief Executive Officer BankBazaar International

As a fairly young nation, Singapore has done a fantastic job of leading on the world stage. The country has made its mark as a technology and innovation hub and attracts leading businesses from across the world.

With a strong educational system and numerous opportunities at their behest, I believe the next generation needs to take on more leadership roles to cultivate a stronger identity for Singapore in the coming years. This will, in turn, empower them to bring the changes they want to see in society.

Rathakrishnan Govind CEO London School of Business and Finance

As a developed nation, Singapore has progressed immensely; in areas of per capita income, business infrastructure, education standards and so on - truly world class indeed. However, as a nation made up of immigrants and lacking in natural resources, we are still some way from becoming world class citizens. By world class, I mean improving on social awareness, equality and true unity amongst the multi-cultural races that underpin our very existence, social etiquettes, political awareness, and less equating of material gains with success. The government of the day plays an important role in all of this too - with more long-term commitment (not instant solutions) to spur risk-taking in its citizens. Perhaps one day, we will see Singapore leading in areas of creativity and business innovation.

Joanne Wong Senior Regional Director for Asia Pacific & Japan LogRhythm

Singapore's remarkable achievements over the years have been made possible by its most precious asset - its people.

Singaporeans have long demonstrated the tenacity to break new frontiers and it is this very trait that we should continue to invest in and cultivate. Whether it is innovation or embracing diversity, we should always aim to emerge with revolutionary standards in whatever we do.

Reflecting on the recent SingHealth breach, Singaporeans should not live in fear of the risks that digitalisation presents. Instead, Singaporeans need to rise to the challenge and prove that a Smart Nation can also be a safe nation for all.

Lim Soon Hock Managing Director PLAN-B ICAG

Singapore has many of the enviable trappings of a First World nation, except in the area of social graces. We still see acts that manifest a recalcitrant lack of social grace: not clearing the tables at hawker centres; indiscriminate parking of bicycles; jamming at the entrance of MRT carriages; etc.

The government in recent years has done much to underpin social graces through more consultations and listening to feedback. It sets the right tone and fosters a congenial atmosphere by trying to be less authoritative, less defensive and more tolerant of dissenting views, to allow social grace to blossom. The ball is now in the citizenry's court to play their part to be more socially gracious, courteous, kind, compassionate and forgiving. It is not about big acts, but little everyday acts of graciousness, courtesy, kindness and compassion, that will truly make Singapore the most livable place on earth.

As a tiny red dot, Singapore has excelled in many areas, such as education, healthcare and public housing, but especially in the area of inter-racial harmony, which we can all be very proud of and is the envy of many nations.

Robin C Lee Group COO Bok Seng Group

As Singapore turns 53, looming over our successes is the stark reality that we are still a tiny country with very little resources beyond our people. As a society, we should aim to remain a progressive and cohesive nation in the face of today's uncertain world. Being progressive entails constant upgrading and enhancing of our infrastructures and processes to do thing better than other countries. And cohesiveness means fostering and preserving trust and respect across all races, religions and cultures while working to bridge the wealth gap and make sure that no Singaporean is left behind while the nation sprints on.

Nilesh Mistry VP, Head of APAC World Wide Technology

Singapore has already achieved tremendous global success in many areas since its independence. To further that success, the nation must continuously promote a culture of collaboration, especially with increasing global competition for resources. Businesses need to see beyond their industries to form new partnerships. Collaboration will spark the innovation that ignites the future economy. An example of this is how organisations leverage technology. Success is more likely in environments where the right technologies complement each other versus environments that constantly chase the newest technology.

Dolly Goh CEO Singapore National Co-operative Federation

It is heartening to know Singaporeans picked responsibility as one of their most important personal values. It reflects how we want our society to be defined and it is a quality that we should promote and nurture as it is this sense of responsibility that also pushes us to be self-reliant and to help ourselves as well as others. As the apex of the co-operative movement, SNCF constantly works to foster a responsible society in our outreach efforts. Besides our scholarship programme that nurtures young individuals with a heart, we also work with schools to form coop clubs that aim to instil values such as self-reliance, responsibility and accountability and understand social entrepreneurship.

Frank Sliwka COO Asia ESL Gaming Pte Ltd

Soft skills can improve your business success by about 25 per cent according to the World Economic Forum. That said, there is a huge value for your business to improve soft skills for leaders as well as the team. Product knowledge and business experience may bring the client to you but soft skills seal the deal. Mindfully focussing on a range of soft skills will help the economy of Singapore because we won't be developing relationships and business deals for today but for the future.

Lee Fook Chiew CEO Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants

Rapid technological changes have transformed the way we way we live, work and play today. Disruptive technologies will continue to unfold on many fronts and the list of "next big things" will grow even longer. While not all emerging technology will change our social or economic landscape in Singapore, many will have the potential to disrupt the status quo. This requires a mindset change of citizens and businesses who are users of technology in different ways, to embrace technological changes and be nimble in adapting to new emerging trends. It is important for our society to cultivate a culture of lifelong learning and continuous pursuit of new ways to advance and innovate. This will enable us to stay ahead of the curve and be prepared to ride the digital wave when the opportunity arises.

Dora Hoan Group CEO Best World International Ltd

For a multi-racial and multi-religion society like Singapore to be known to the world as a peaceful and safe haven, harmony is without doubt the foundation of its success. As our country turns 53, and the population continues to grow with foreign talents, I think our society should cultivate harmony more than ever. For every family, business entity, indeed every country, harmony is a desirable value.

To cultivate harmony, good and healthy relations among people are necessary. However, excessive use of smartphones to communicate has weakened bonds and intimacy, causing people to drift apart due to the lack of quality time spent together. It is also more difficult to build new and meaningful relationships if we just talk on the phone more than meeting up in person.

Singaporeans should reach out even more to one another, to strengthen mutual understanding and trust, towards a harmonious culture in our society and families.

Ian Lee Regional Head, Asia Pacific The Adecco Group

Digitalisation and automation are fast changing job roles and required skillsets. For instance, all of us, in our daily tasks across the rungs from fresh graduates to CEOs, do some activities that can be automated. This means that we will have to interface more with technology requiring us to learn new skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Automation will also increase the demand for - and the need to learn - critical thinking and creativity skills. With this, I would like to see us further cultivate the trait of lifelong learning. We should realise that getting a job is just the start of our educational journey, not the end of it. And encouragingly, I believe that we are starting to see results from the latest Values survey that has found that more Singaporeans now associate employment with "continuous learning".

Casey Teh MD Simmons (SEA)

Many companies have "respect" as one of their key core values, Simmons included. Everyone wants to be respected for who they are and what they can bring to the society as a whole. Singapore as a country has gained great respect from many nations for our achievements and all the accolades that we have attained. Therefore, we need to cultivate respect as a core value for every Singaporean, to have a positive feeling and action towards everyone. To be empathetic and inclusive, giving due regard to all before self. As the saying goes, respect begets respect.

Isaac Ong Co-Founder Nano-Star Private Limited

Singapore's rise from a Third World nation to where we are today was fuelled by our willingness to embrace change and constantly explore new ways to build our city. Today, we cannot afford to be complacent. In this regard, Singaporeans need to cultivate a greater sense of environmental consciousness as we tackle the challenge of sustainable development.

Sustainable buildings are gaining more attention in Singapore today but in order for the industry to take the next leap forward, there needs to be a groundswell of support from consumers too. The industry will be more incentivised to choose sustainable options when consumers start to pay attention to the sustainable features of their buildings.

Zaheer K Merchant Regional Director (Singapore & Europe) QI Group of Companies

Since humour has become a key value for Singaporeans, then the one last trait - and perhaps the most important one given our extremely unique "Singaporean" makeup - should be to continuously cultivate our shared identity.

This shouldn't simply be seen from the "kiasu" perspective. Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, and not merely in metaphor, as it has proven to be a success story on the global stage as a nation of diverse backgrounds. Our strength is our united and shared common purpose of creating a homeland of vibrancy, rich in heritage. Even our Pledge says "...one united people... so as to achieve..." As we celebrate our 53rd year, let us reaffirm our common values and aspirations and cultivate our shared identity through mutual respect, trust and understanding.

Aura De Leon Assistant General Manager Sports Builder Pte Ltd

Creating equal opportunities for individuals with physical and mental disabilities is a growing trend in the playground and fitness industry. Singapore has been progressive in instilling inclusivity and providing an equal chance for everyone to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Sports Builder takes pride in the many inclusive playground projects that we have undertaken.

These spaces are perfect opportunities for children to cultivate a healthy lifestyle while raising awareness of the needs of the mentally and physically challenged. We take pride in contributing to building a gracious Singapore and we will continue to discover new ways to meet the varied needs of our diverse society. We are looking forward to showcasing our concepts to visitors at BEX Asia this September.

David Leong Managing Director PeopleWorldwide Consulting Pte Ltd

As Singapore matures and goes into our 53rd year of nationhood, priorities also shift and evolve. From Third World to First is no longer an aspirational goal. What about being first that will be good and relevant to the average Singaporeans? Staying ahead of the competition allows Singapore to strive and thrive so as to provide the expected affordable housing, healthcare, education and transport which must be reliable.

The one trait that must be retained and cultivated in our national DNA is our industriousness and work ethics. Without this sense of urgency to industrialise, to be accommodative to foreign direct investments, to be innovative, Singapore will lose our competitive and comparative advantages.

When the "strawberries syndrome" (squeeze and ooze ) begins to show among Singaporeans, this will mean the end of Singapore's competitiveness and possibly our relevance in regional and global contexts.

Victor Khoo Managing Director Core Concepts Group

Considering rising healthcare costs, an ageing population and the rise in chronic diseases, it is unsurprising that health is top of mind for Singaporeans. Amidst busyness, Singaporeans may lapse in safeguarding their health on a daily basis. The many messages advising us to eat well and stay active can also be overwhelming, resulting in uncertainty on how best to develop healthy habits.

Thus, it is important to cultivate perseverance to stay healthy. This calls for constant investment in preventive health, instead of just responding to ailments. For those who may already be diagnosed as ill, having the mental tenacity to invest effort into getting better is necessary for enjoyable golden years.