Musings on a brand new year

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: Apart from Covid-related developments, what is your biggest hope (or fear) for 2022?

Victor Mills Chief Executive Singapore International Chamber of Commerce

My biggest hope for 2022 is for all of us in Singapore, and around the world, to build on one of the key lessons from the pandemic: to embrace our common humanity. This means focusing on, and leveraging, all our collective similarities as human beings even as we celebratae our individual differences. This mindset shift enables collaboration, which is the fastest way to innovate, grow and achieve solutions to climate change and other challenges. This same mindset shift is as vital for societal progress as it is for economic growth and badly needed geopolitical maturity. It is driven by consideration for others before self.

Lawrence Loh Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability NUS Business School

"The only thing we have to fear is... fear itself" - this was the rallying call by Franklin D Roosevelt at his presidential inauguration in 1933. America was facing a most severe economic depression. This may be the situation facing the world now. We will be seeing key economic uncertainties that may inflict broad-based damages. Even if nominal economic growths are on track, inflationary pressures will be immense. Adjusting for inflation, these may lead to negative real growths. The policy cures may be more harmful than the malaises - central banks, particularly the US Fed, may overreact. My biggest hope is that these will be calibrated, not knee-jerk responses based on fear.

John Bittleston Founder and Chair Terrific Mentors International

My biggest hope is that more of those responsible for managing and developing others will realise that it need not be lonely at the top, that loss of confidence is not peculiar to them, and that they are coping with an hysterically fast-moving world, generally very well. The secret of handling this is cooperation to balance the extreme competition we have come to assume as essential to all growth. Competition is important for driving discovery. Cooperation is essential for making wise use of that discovery. I believe, for example, that within a very few years, everyone in a position of management will have a mentor-coach working alongside them.

Jeffery Tan Group General Counsel and Chief Sustainability Officer Jardine Cycle & Carriage

There are 3Cs which I hope will materialise in 2022: Collaboration - That individuals, groups and countries will continue to see the value of working together with a common purpose - be it in fighting Covid, rebuilding the global economy or pushing the sustainability agenda for a greener planet. Community - That we are essentially 1 interconnected global village and the actions of one can affect the other. Compassion - It is not about us versus them, but how expressing concern and support for others can only lead to a better world, which we are all a part of. Hopefully, the next normal in 2022 is not the same as the old normal. If that is the case, we would have squandered the valuable lessons and takeaways of the last 2 years of pandemic challenges.

David Sandison Singapore Practice Leader Grant Thornton

My biggest hope in the military and political arena is for a de-escalation of the tensions between the superpowers. A hot nuke in your lap will quickly put wearing a mask or driving an electric car into context. My biggest fear for the economy is inflation. This is the earthquake that has been waiting to happen since the global financial crisis. But like the San Andreas fault, not having had an earthquake for a while is not necessarily a good thing. Overall, my biggest fear is that my biggest hopes do not materialise, and vice versa. If so, we are in more trouble than we might imagine.

Nick Jonsson Managing Director EGN

The pandemic has helped everyone to reassess where they are in life. As business leaders, we have learnt that we can lead with compassion, rather than an iron fist. That we do not have to have people in an office to trust them to get work done. The pandemic has put fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity on the back burner. When you can let go of "what is in it for me", and be of service to others, power goes hand in hand with happiness. Therefore, my greatest wish in 2022 is that more leaders will lead with kindness.

Wong Lup Wai Chief Executive Officer IPI

With Covid-19 showing few signs of abating, we are learning to live with it, and open borders will be a true test of living with it endemically. We need open borders to grow the economy. Economic growth also depends on innovation, and in today's world, innovation takes place across borders, as open innovation is less dependent on the "invented here" philosophy. We urgently need innovation, for example, to advance towards zero carbon emissions. Businesses need to adopt environmentally friendly technologies and practices for a sustainable future. Our greatest risk is not putting our words into actions. By taking action, we can grow beyond our boundaries.

Helman Sitohang Chief Executive Officer, Asia-Pacific Credit Suisse

In my last 30 years in the banking industry, I have found that each year brings its own opportunities and challenges. I am sure this will hold true for 2022. We expect a continued shift towards economic recovery in the year ahead, and we see a lot of opportunities in Singapore and across Asia-Pacific. At Credit Suisse, we have a clear mandate to grow in this region in 2022 and beyond, with a steadfast focus on serving our clients through our integrated approach. These are exciting times as we pivot to faster growth in Asia-Pacific as the bank for entrepreneurs. There will no doubt be challenges along the way, but with our resilient franchise, solid foundation and culture of partnership, I believe we will be able to forge ahead with strength and determination. My hope is that, together with many others in the Asia-Pacific region, we will be able to make good progress towards a strong recovery in 2022.

Dileep Nair Independent Director Thakral Corporation

A global economic recovery is my foremost wish for 2022. For Singapore, as a highly globalised country, this is crucial. Our economy thrives and our people prosper when international trade, finance and tourism grow. The biggest roadblock to the recovery, of course, is the pandemic. But that aside, supply chain bottlenecks, inflation and natural disasters can also pose major obstacles. Added to this list are the geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. With so many imponderables, let us pray that the stars are in alignment for the world economy to recover in 2022.

Sumir Bhatia President Lenovo ISG Asia-Pacific

Fear is the absence of faith. As we move into 2022, my belief in the power of technology continues to grow. My biggest hope is that we can harness new and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing, 5G, and edge to help solve humanity's greatest challenges. From energy efficiency to smarter supply chains, from disaster mitigation to genome sequencing, the solutions that companies build today will determine the face of tomorrow. Be it governments, conglomerates, or small-scale enterprises, the more we encourage and invest in innovation, the better the results.

Keith Choy Region Head Asia-Pacific, Consumer Healthcare GlaxoSmithKline

2022 has the potential to see a global shift in the way we meet our own healthcare needs. While we all hope for the best in our fight against the pandemic, my other biggest hope for this year is that we focus our recovery on developing greater compassion and humanity. Companies that venture to go beyond and do what matters most for the good of their employees, the everyday consumer and the larger environment, are better placed to reap benefits. In turn, empowered individuals are more likely to take a proactive role in their self-care, and this care for people at both the organisational and personal levels can only lead to better everyday health for all.

Leon Perera Chairman of the Board Spire Research and Consulting

I hope that 2022 is the year when governments worldwide get serious about embracing Industry 4.0 technologies deeply and not only superficially. Governments have a crucial enabling role to play in crafting legal safeguards, building infrastructure as well as helping workers to transition to emerging industries like AI, crypto/blockchain, drones, electric vehicles, the Internet of Things (IoT) and many more. Right now, most governments are paying lip service to these disruptive technologies and business models by encouraging investment alongside existing, legacy industries. I hope that governments start to seriously plan ahead for the inevitable disruption to these legacy industries and business models, so that we can cushion society against the possibly radical effects of these changes on employment and inequality.

Yean Cheong Executive Director SGTech

As we gradually return to the office this year, I hope employers and employees can reflect and align on what the new work-life blend means to job roles, performance evaluation, co-worker relationships, and individual mental wellness. The impact of virtual/physical mash-ups and the changing use of spaces is still unravelling. While we embrace this still-evolving new world, I hope that the tech companies will lead by example, as sustainable corporate and social citizens, to inspire young leaders and nurture the next-gen workforce to feel hope and purpose and, crucially, to dare to continue dreaming.

David Kuo Co-founder The Smart Investor

If there is one thing that we should have learnt from the last 2 years, it is that it would be irresponsible for the world to go back to the way things once were. Nature has sent a message to all of us that we must stop destroying the planet in the name of pursuing economic growth. We have dodged a bullet this time around by the skin of our teeth. But we might not be as lucky next time around. My hope is therefore that we, consumers, must hold those in authority to account. Meanwhile, shareholders must push companies to be more transparent and sustainable.

Takehiko Ryu Managing Director Panasonic Asia-Pacific

My biggest hope for the year is to see acceleration of collective action against climate change. As a company with products that are used by over a billion people across the globe, we are committed to achieving net-zero CO2 emissions for all operating companies by 2030, working with our suppliers towards a more energy-efficient supply chain, and creating renewable energy to power our activities. We will also propose various products and solutions to business-to-business and business-to-government customers that will help reduce CO2 emissions. By making sustainability our corporate priority and rallying our customers and partners to come along with us on this journey, we hope to make a bigger impact together with them, to help shape a better world for everyone.

Caecilia Chu Co-founder and CEO YouTrip

The pandemic has displayed the true meaning of "change is the only constant", and this was best encapsulated in the wave of tech that reinvented the way we live our lives. Entering the new year, I am excited for the next wave of fintech innovation targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that will further revolutionise the ways they conduct and grow their business. One exciting trend will be breakthroughs in blockchain technology to eliminate fraud, and facilitate cheaper, faster and safer cross-border payments. Personally, I am also hopeful about the travel comeback, with the cautious expansion of more Vaccinated Travel Lanes set to be a huge boost to the economy, and a necessary step for people to reconnect with the world.

Steve Dixon President Lasalle College of the Arts

"Rising above" is my biggest hope for 2022 - not just transcending current challenges, but uplifting our ideas and mindsets, and Singapore's aspirations. Rising above circumstances is just 1 aspect; far more important is rising above ourselves. Surely this is the year, if there ever was, for bold ascensions, creative leaps of faith, and visionary innovations. Let us make them happen. Synergistic partnerships and collaborations will be crucial. The progress towards the establishment of Singapore's first university of the arts is a case in point. Rising above, Lasalle College of the Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts are now forging stronger, more collegial bonds together, to take the nation's arts education to new heights.

Ludan Wang Head, Corporate Risk and Broking, Singapore Willis Towers Watson

With the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) coming in force this year, my biggest hope is for Asian companies to leverage on the advantages and opportunities of the RCEP so that we can form regional models and create solutions to support the growth of businesses and ecosystems in Asia. At the same time, we are going to see continued disruption in the world and the economy in 2022. Asian leaders should therefore adopt a mindset with risk and commit to elastic innovation as they expand their market access in the RCEP member countries. This mindset is game-changing as leaders will need to be agile in planning for a portfolio of risks and be ready to act decisively when disruptive events happen, regardless of supply chain risks, regulatory risks or unanticipated risks from natural catastrophic events.

Brooks Entwistle Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and North Africa Ripple

2021 was the coming-of-age of crypto, but to unlock its full potential in 2022 and beyond, regulatory clarity will be critical. With more financial institutions and enterprises embracing digital assets, regulators and policymakers will have to think long-term and lay down clear rules of the road - only then can real-world utility of crypto truly take off. For instance, tackling the inefficiencies of cross-border payments is a US$120 billion global challenge where crypto has compelling utility - and is already being used today. Looking ahead, as crypto further breaks into mainstream consciousness, we can expect to see more crypto-enabled financial solutions like trade flow or treasury management come to the fore.

Andy Thompson Managing Director Go-Ahead Singapore

Better commute, better communities is my hope for 2022. Singapore is constantly enhancing the reach and attractiveness of its public transport system. Equally important is a strong "heartware". For a shared public space that is used by an average of 5 million commuters daily, we need a mindset shift to make public commute time a quality window that allows us to enjoy our "me time" or bond socially. The decorum and pleasantry we have at home and work, if extended to fellow commuters, go a long way in creating quality social spaces. It is not just the onus of staff and commuters, but also motorists on the roads. Together, we can ride towards a more gracious community.

Rob Stummer Chief Executive Officer, Asia-Pacific Syspro Asia My biggest hope for 2022 is for the world to open up its borders again so we can once again collaborate face to face and build genuine relationships, both business and personal! I am very excited and extremely optimistic for more wonderful times ahead. We live in such an amazing world, so it would be such a shame not to see as much of it as we can! Finally, let us not lose sight of our undervalued commodity - time; it is precious and finite. Let us not waste the limited time we have on this great planet and make things happen!

Rajesh Ganesan Vice-President, Products ManageEngine Due to competition and changes in the market landscape, the digital transformation initiatives of organisations will evolve. My biggest hope is that business leaders, especially those in SMEs, take steps to ensure their technology strategies align with business objectives. In 2022, I see businesses increasingly embracing innovative technologies, such as AI and analytics, that will help them overcome the operational challenges they might encounter and put them on a path to sustained growth.

Manish Bhai Chief Executive Officer UNO Asia We expect that globally there will be further significant advances in digitalisation and blockchain-based offerings, with a rush to adopt e-payments, e-finance, e-education, e-training, e-assisted remote manufacturing and crypto-based payments and trading. Funds will continue to shift from traditional sectors to new sectors. We will also likely see humongous public and private sector commitments in medical research, which will improve trends in mortality rates and standards of living, as we have recently seen in China, where malaria has been eradicated.

Alex Tan Vice-President, Sales and Operations, Asia-Pacific TrustYou Our biggest hope for 2022 at TrustYou Singapore is that tourism will finally pick up again and that hotels can quickly recover from the past 2 years. Tourism is a vital economic sector and Singapore remains a highly desired destination for people from across the globe. Welcoming travellers back and enabling hotels to accelerate their recovery process is essential to rebuild a strong economy. People crave in-person experiences, and I believe that Singapore has everything that it takes to create unforgettable moments for residents and visitors alike in 2022 if we get the chance to make it happen.

Owen Gan Regional Vice-President Apptio More than ever, in 2022 there is a greater need for the C-suite not to operate in silos, to speak the same language, and to present a cohesive front. To accomplish this, they need greater visibility and data insights to inform their decision-making, because never has acceleration to digital transformation been more imperative. Implementing innovation requires cost transparency and chief information officers need to know where they can free finance that is no longer serving the business and reallocate it to innovation. That is when frameworks like TBM (technology business management) can aid business agility and continuous planning to easily adjust to the internal and external forces at play.

Eileen Chua Managing Director SAP Singapore Having weathered the pandemic, businesses are primed for a strong recovery in 2022, enabled by technology for long-term growth. Technologies like AI and data analytics play a crucial role in transforming industries and empowering intelligent enterprises to diversify their operations, expand and transform capabilities to increase flexibility, visibility and efficiency. With the hope of a new year, businesses need to bolster supply chain resilience and proactively adopt a green strategy for an enduring sustainable future. By becoming a network of intelligent enterprises, they will able to achieve greater responsiveness, navigate disruptions, adapt to changes and thrive in the never normal.

Rathakrishnan G Chief Executive Officer London School of Business and Finance The new year brings new hope! Much has changed in the last 24 months. Things we once thought "normal" are not normal anymore! Given the current situation and business climate, I hope for 3 things: The first is for governments and businesses to remember our experiences, learn from them and never let such an event catch us with our pants down! Secondly, I hope that despite the many calls for staff to return to the office, we control this urge, and be serious in making this new normal in workplace trends work. We have this one chance in our lifetime to make this right! Lastly, I hope all the divide in the global political arena comes to a halt, and return to embracing global businesses and mobility of people. My fear, however, is one where there is all the talk, and no action!

Ramesh Singaram President GE Asean and ANP 2021 was a year of momentous change and growth for GE. Despite the ongoing pandemic, we continued to advance innovation to build a safer, cleaner, and more secure future for everyone. I am hopeful that we will continue our upward trajectory this year - especially with our refined focus on critical industries that will allow us to shape and unleash the full potential of the future of flight, precision health and the energy transition. At GE, we remain committed to driving long-term value for our customers, investors, and our employees, and I look forward to what lies ahead as we build a world that works in 2022 and beyond.

Nicholas Lim Chief Executive Officer, Asia The Travel Corporation My greatest hope for 2022 is for everyone to be able to resume travel across the world. While things may never return to the way it once was for some time to come, I do hope that governments find the courage and sensibility to restore travel-friendly policies to facilitate cross-border travel, which ultimately will help in the recovery of the battered travel industry and economies as a whole. Reluctance to travel will persist if harsh protocols and quarantines continue to be in place - surely, policymakers need to recognise this and find the right balance. As others have pointed out, "lockdowns are not a public health policy, but... they signify a failure of health policy"; I hope that governments around the world would stop implementing policies that defy common sense. My greatest fear, though, is to see the next scientist speculate on the next Covid variant, just to feed their ego. In summary, in 2022, I strongly believe that the world can come together again if we put our minds to it. If there is a will, there is a way.

Parvinder Walia President, Asia-Pacific and Japan Eset Regardless of the pandemic, the cyberthreat landscape will continue to evolve as cybercriminals will always find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. In 2022, I hope that businesses and governments alike will be better prepared in responding to a potential cyberpandemic. Recent high-profile incidents such as the Log4j exploit and Kaseya supply chain attacks have shown that large-scale attacks affecting businesses worldwide can, and will, happen again. By taking a proactive stance and investing significantly in cybersecurity, the public and private sectors can build a stronger foundation for digital resilience.

Kotaro Tamura Adjunct Professor, Executive Education , Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy National University of Singapore This year's risks are geopolitical and rising US interest rates. Just before the US midterm elections and President Xi Jinping's term extension, tensions between the US and China may rise, and miscalculations could lead to bad events. China and Russia are colluding to test the United States, so Russia may do something in Ukraine at that time. Another concern is about US dollar being sucked up from South-east Asia due to the rise in US interest rates. Here, the economies of emerging Asian economies could be exposed to cold water. If the Japanese yen plays the role of US dollar then, I think it will help raise Japan's presence and prevent the yen from depreciating.

David Chan Managing Director Adnovum Singapore With another pandemic year in the books, we are certainly looking forward to better things ahead and significant advancements in technologies. The recent years saw a dramatic rise in the volume of data stored and computational capabilities, which drove massive AI advancements. 2022 would be a year in hope that adoption by businesses and technology solutions scale even further. Machine learning could be introduced in a broader range of use cases for increased process efficiency and automation, as well as enhanced cybersecurity solutions. These will enable more robust operations in organisations with cost efficiencies.

Toby Koh Group Managing Director Ademco Security Group The last 2 years of Covid have been extremely trying for people around the world. We have seen many instances of admirable resilience, kindness and adaptation to change and transformation. My hope for 2022 is for Singaporeans to continue to rally one another, continue the acts of kindness and build a resilient nation that will emerge stronger from these challenging times. On the business front, I hope that more Singapore businesses will continue to spread their wings overseas. Perhaps more support, financial and otherwise, can be given to overseas subsidiaries of Singapore companies. Making international forays is challenging but essential for growth. The reality is that the larger markets lie outside our little island. Opportunities beckon at this time.

Sandeep Sharma President, Asia Workday Amid a fast-evolving and uncertain environment, organisations must re-imagine and re-energise their workplace to boost operational agility and resilience. My hope is that leaders will continue to embrace digital transformation to be prepared for disruptions. In catalysing finance digital transformation for example, it is essential for businesses to tap on platforms that provide actionable insights and data-driven analysis to accelerate decision cycles and continuously inform business strategy and planning. Leaders must also ensure employees are engaged, productive and empowered. As the war for talent rages on, leveraging technology to elevate the employee experience and enhance well-being will be crucial in retaining and attracting talent. By enabling employees to develop critical skills for the future, organisations can also look forward to building a workforce well-equipped for the digital era, and position their businesses for long-term success.

Christanto Suryadarma Vice-President, South-east Asia Sales Zebra Technologies Asia-Pacific After the year we have had, 2022 will be about building confidence and trust (again). In 2021, many industries faced issues with trust gaps in expectations and fulfilments between decision-makers, employees and customers. As businesses spend 2022 repairing relationships and reputations to close the gap, my biggest hope is for these businesses to pave the path to repair and recovery with technology. New technologies, policies and process structures must be implemented to enable these companies to pivot their operations seamlessly in preparation for similar disruptive events in the future. In 2022, the emphasis should be on quality control, on-time and accurate delivery, safety, as well as increasing transparency and accountability.

Thomas Holenia President Henkel Singapore Amid the transition to a new normal, our employees and customers remain our top priorities. As more people can return to the workplace, I look forward to more spontaneous exchanges and engagement among colleagues on-site. Meanwhile, Henkel's smart work approach continues to offer flexibility for employees to balance their work and personal lives. For our customers, our focus is: enabling their business continuity and continuous innovation to emerge stronger together from the crisis. For example, we have upgraded our adhesives application engineering laboratory in Singapore to help more customers realise their design ideas and speed up their time to market. For our beauty care business, we have lined up launches of trendsetting hair products with sustainable features to cater to the demands of both fashionable and socially conscious consumers. As a co-founder of the Together for Sustainability Singapore chapter, we will continue working closely with other member companies to implement actions that improve the sustainability of supply chains in the chemical industries in Singapore and across South-east Asia.

Fann Kor Chief Executive Officer Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA). Apart from the pandemic, sustainability-related issues, especially the global climate crisis, need to be addressed urgently. Recent developments arising from COP26, such as the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board, have reaffirmed the pressing need to address climate change and represent significant progress on this front. In 2022, I hope global stakeholders can build on this momentum and redouble efforts to keep the adverse effects of climate change in check. The accountancy profession in particular, as stewards of financial resources and reporting, can take on a more prominent and active role in driving sustainability practices within their organisations. To this end, ISCA's sustainability reporting strategy will continue to encompass initiatives which aim to raise the capabilities of the accountancy profession in driving sustainability.

Koh Chin Beng President The Institute of Internal Auditors Singapore The last 2 years were dominated by a global pandemic and social and geopolitical issues that will carry over into 2022. My biggest hope is for everyone in our community to be safe and healthy - physically, mentally and emotionally. These trying times are taking a toll on us all. It is important that we take care of all aspects of our health, and the health of those around us. Volatility is placing greater demands on employees. We need to focus on our people. The "great resignation" is looming over the audit industry, and it is important that as leaders, we plan for the next normal to meet the growing expectations of internal auditors. The road ahead is long, winding and uncertain. But one thing for sure is that together as a community, we would face any challenges bravely and with solidarity.

Vikas Nahata Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Validus Capital My biggest hope for 2022 is that we adopt the thought of a greener planet in every little action that we undertake. That we leave our planet greener by December 2022 than it was in January 2022, whether it is sustainable/green financing, or even taking a printout, or using a plastic bag. I hope that this consciousness becomes muscle memory for a majority of us around the world.

Kunal Chatterjee Country Manager, Singapore and Brunei Visa 2022 will be a year of transition as Singapore builds on the innovation made in digital payments during the pandemic. Whether small businesses or large organisations, Visa believes sustainable commerce will increasingly become a priority, as it can be a force for good for individual, business and societal progress. Visa looks forward to a more inclusive and green economy, where everyone benefits through greater access to digital payments.

John Lee Managing Director, Asia-Pacific GRF Asia-Pacific Our economy is dependent on foreign investments and export. Increasing geopolitical tensions may disrupt the global economy, with spillover effects to Singapore. On the bright side, the digital acceleration created by the pandemic in remote working and online services will continue in the new year. Organisations that can leverage technology will do well. We need to be vigilant and prepared for the next black swan. Building our business resiliency plan is important.

Gary Lai Managing Director, Asia Charterhouse Partnership Given many countries are slowly adapting their strategies to treat Covid as endemic, governments will focus on rebuilding their economies and ensuring that supply chains do not get overly disrupted. The global supply chain issues have led to higher prices of goods, resulting in rising inflation. Additionally, because of Covid, governments had previously exhausted huge amount of resources to prop up the economy and people's livelihoods, and are likely to focus on replenishing their coffers this year. Inevitably, the average person is likely to fill the pinch with less monies to save for their future.

Foo See Yang Managing Director and Country Head PersolKelly Singapore Over the last few years, we were challenged to remain adaptable as a country, and Singaporeans have embraced change like never before. In the evolving workforce landscape, organisations rapidly adopted flexible workforce strategies while individuals focused on upskilling efforts. This new year, I hope individuals can adopt a more resilient mindset, to be proactive with their professional development and be adaptive to opportunities. Businesses, on the other hand, could adopt contingent workforce strategies (temporary/contractual/outsourcing) and regional talent solutions to future-proof their workforce.

David Hardoon Managing Director Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI) At ADI, we are committed to leveraging DSAI (data science and artificial intelligence)-powered applications and solutions to help improve communities across the region. Heading into 2022, I am hoping to see more businesses operationalise AI to create impactful outcomes in areas such as sustainability and social governance. Take UnionBank's alternative scoring model as an example, where we provide loans to the under-banked in the Philippines, or prediction tools we use at Republic Cement to improve quality and cut carbon emissions. Let us continue to build on that! The past 2 years have taught us that we must remember the commitments we have made to our communities, and work towards better serving the people.

Duncan Hewett Senior Vice-President and General Manager VMware Asia-Pacific and Japan I believe the forced adoption of a flexible working model by most organisations in the last 2 years will have a lasting positive impact on driving inclusion in the workplace. The past year has seen more successful women applicants to roles, and even more roles defined by outcomes versus mandatory steps in a resume in the application requirements. My hope is that the growth and acceptance of hybrid and remote work will continue to fuel greater diversity in the workforce. And, employers will use the last 2 years' experience to provide more roles with greater flexibility to allow more women to bring their talents. If we embrace gender diversity as a strategic change, it will enhance organisations' growth and innovation prospects.

Tan Mui Huat President and CEO, Asia International SOS The past 2 years have undoubtedly changed the nature of the workforce. Businesses have risen to be more adaptable and people-centric, as the need for greater employee well-being initiatives and care was brought to the fore. It is our hope that as we navigate 2022, more organisations will commit to building a more sustainable, healthier, and happier workforce by investing in their employees' emotional wellness, physical well-being, and overall health and safety. Beyond adapting mindsets and implementing impactful initiatives for a more resilient workforce, we also hope that 2022 will be a year for re-connection. After 2 years of restricted movements and travel, this would be greatly welcome on both personal and business levels.

Terence Zou CEO and Founder Ryde 2021 has been a year of transition and growth as companies had to adapt and remain flexible amid the evolving Covid-19 pandemic situation, government regulations and hybrid work arrangements. The pandemic has changed the way we do business. Companies had to learn to face a new normal while some had to totally pivot to remain relevant. In 2022, I expect that we will continue the accelerated digital transformation brought about by the pandemic, as people work and live differently than from before. Market demand and consumer preferences have also changed. Businesses will have to seize opportunities in the new digital economy. We will witness the continued rise of e-commerce, increasing reliance on on-demand deliveries and the preference for ride-hailing commute options. Employers and employees will have to grapple with mindset shifts and find a new balance between work-from-home and office arrangements. This is to maintain business efficiency and grow the company culture.

Henry Tan Group CEO Nexia TS Group Besides Covid, my biggest fear is the polarisation of the world - between the vaccinated and unvaccinated; those aligned with the United States and those with China; those who take climate change seriously and those who do not. We do not exist in a vacuum; we live in a world with other humans. Even though we think our views might well be the best, there are certainly alternative views that are equally compelling to others. My hope is that all of us learn to accept one another in our polarised world. Agree on areas we can agree on, and respectfully disagree on areas we cannot. Let us work together on areas that we agree on and move forward to make the world a better place.

Ku Geok Boon Chief Executive Officer SG Enable I see 2022 paving the way for more companies to hire persons with disabilities and embracing workplace disability inclusion as a business imperative. The pandemic has made digital work more pervasive, creating more flexible work arrangements with remote work, and more digital jobs that can enable persons with disabilities to be contributing members of the workforce. It is also our hope that this new world of digitalisation does not leave those who are more vulnerable behind, and we think there is more we can do with like-minded partners in the private and public sectors to ensure persons with disabilities are able to learn, work and live as independently as possible.

Geoff Soon Senior District Manager, Asean Snowflake As the world learnt to live with the pandemic, many companies and governments have harnessed the power of data to make smarter decisions in navigating the uncertainties and allowing people to live safer and more productive lives. Entering 2022, Snowflake is optimistic for the democratisation of data, which can benefit Singapore and the world, not only in Covid-related developments but also in the advancement of society as a whole. Snowflake's vision and hope is a world with unlimited access to governed data, so every organisation is better informed in tackling challenges and opportunities of today, and uncovering the possibilities of tomorrow.

Anton Ravindran Founder, SmartLaw and Founder and CEO, GICT Training Covid 19 has compelled businesses to radically reconfigure existing business models and resulted in the need for the rapid transformation of human resource into a digital workforce. This comes on the back of rapid advances in the areas of AI, Big Data, cloud and IoT, which have left the global workforce lagging in terms of skills. Unfortunately, this has exacerbated an already existing shortage of IT talent globally, resulting in artificially increasing wages while the broader economy grapples with growing shortage of manpower in the workforce across most industries in Singapore, because of the closure of borders and other developments. This is a triple whammy that is literally choking businesses in the middle of runaway costs driven by supply shortages. Unless we can exponentially ramp up skills in tandem with technological advances, many businesses will soon find themselves unable to compete against firms that continue to have access to talent in the region and are therefore able to move faster.

Sanjeev Kumar Senior Country Manager, Singapore and Head, South-east and South Asia Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking Asia-Pacific Aside from positive Covid-related developments, my greatest hope for 2022 is that countries, governments, leaders and business around the world, double down on their efforts and we see demonstrable progress in our collective climate action journey. Net-zero commitments are all well and good, but we need to set transparent pathways to achieving these goals and show proof of our transition. At Natixis, we are firm believers that everybody has a role to play in this transition, and so we accompany our clients - both brown and green - on their journeys. Of course, we, as individuals, also have a role to play in our daily lives too; from the way we use electricity, to the food we eat and the way we travel, we can all make a positive impact.

Kannan Chettiar Managing Director Avvanz Despite Covid, the last 2 years was still smooth-sailing for Avvanz as we have embraced technology since day one, in all aspects of our business. This includes serving clients through our online platforms, Avvanz employees working in a phygital work environment and utilisation of AI, robotic process automation and blockchain for our process workflows and our product offerings. My biggest hope for 2022 is that our entire ecosystem, including clients, vendors and partners, continues to leverage disruptive digital technologies for a constant and continuous digital transformation. We have observed several companies encountering revenue and profit declines because of a lack of digital mindset. Covid has been catalytic to jump-start companies on the digitalisation journey and I hope this will continue at a global level for sustainable economic growth.

Zaheer Merchant Director, Corporate Affairs QI Group of Companies My biggest hope in 2022 is for global growth and stability. Covid and "fault-based" assessments aside, if a semblance of rationale could prevail between the US and China over purported trade "competition", Taiwan or other regional- based challenges; then Russia and Europe/US over Ukraine; there may be significant de-escalation of tensions. This would allow focus on actually growing trade, easing supply chains, economic cooperation and thereby growth for economies and entities ravaged over 2 years. A more fulfilling sustainable business environment could be created (as opposed to just arms sales growing almost US$2 trillion in 2 years). The opposite is my biggest fear - a cold war (however a misnomer the term is) becoming a "hot" war anywhere means conflict with key countries from Australia, Japan, et al being drawn into dispute. Bad for the world. A mess for business.

David Leong Managing Director PeopleWorldwide Consulting The global macro-environment since 2020 has morphed. It is a vastly different world where global supply chains, business models, social interactions including work formats have changed. This new emergence gives rise to fresh opportunities. Working from home and distance/home-based learning are becoming entrenched formats for working and learning. This quickens the pace of digitalisation across the globe. Personally, I hope that this re-alignment of social/work/learning patterns give Singapore an advantage since we are a small country without a hinterland. This digitalisation effect enlarges our virtual space where Singapore can be positioned to become an education and talent hub, where businesses can be based here and talents can be connected digitally for work to be performed in Singapore. Singapore can be a great hub for digital natives.

Jolin Nguyen Managing Director AYP Group I am hopeful that 2022 will bring about greater opportunities and transformation for the human resources (HR) profession. 2021 was a year where the world of HR scrambled to adapt to the rapid developments of Covid-19. 2022, on the other hand, represents a year of transformation for many HR organisations, as the growing pains brought about by the pandemic become fully adapted, and organisations now become ready to begin the trajectory of rapid growth from firmly adapted foundations. For organisations that are ready to adopt this change, 2022 will be filled with great opportunities.

Dora Hoan Chief Executive Officer Best World International Besides hoping for safer and more effective treatments for Covid-19, and wishing that developed countries will generously donate vaccines to third world countries so that more can be protected against Covid-19 and it threats, my biggest hope is to see countries put aside differences and work together to improve global warming situations. Recent years have seen ravages of climate change in every corner of our planet. People and nature worldwide are feeling the impact. Extreme weather is increasing in frequency and intensity, calling for more efforts from governments around the world to come together to act. Hence I hope that the world will be united as one to build a safer future for everyone.

Donald Han Chief Executive Officer Sabana Real Estate Investment Management While Singapore remains in the shadow of the pandemic, there are bright spots amid this new year. We are fortunate that as an industrial property landlord with a base of expansionary tenants, the underlying resilience of the long-term consumption demand and the structural strengthening of supply chains among manufacturers and suppliers to minimise disruptions will anchor the growth trajectory of this sector. Equally important, the high level of investments that Singapore's Economic Development Board attracted amid the pandemic will drive the country's economic recovery while creating more jobs over the next few years. Taken together, my biggest hope for 2022 is for Singapore to stay strong on the growth path, with the thriving industrial market contributing to its gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

Ricky Kapur Head, Asia-Pacific Zoom As we move into 2022, it is my hope that organisations come to recognise the importance of establishing an inclusive, productive and collaborative environment for the hybrid workforce. As the war for talent ramps up, employees remain the make-or-break element for every organisation's future of work strategy. Culture and technology must converge to enable equal participation and deliver commensurate experiences for both remote and in-person workers as they shuttle between locations and time zones. Hopefully, this will also spur organisations to start investing in upskilling and reskilling initiatives. All employees - whether white-collar, frontline or the less tech-savvy - should be equipped with the right skills and tools to work from wherever they are for maximum productivity.

Ivar Bjorklund Chief Commercial Officer and Co-Founder Collectius Group While economies progress with their recovery in this region, the pandemic continues to evolve on a day-to-day basis, highlighting the fragility of the consumer credit ecosystem even as we are hopeful. While lifelines of loans can help people tide by, as credit moratoriums come to an end, this could potentially prolong debt cycles. As a partner of major banks and financial institutions, together with our strategic shareholder IFC, we are dedicated to resolving unsecured debt in South-east Asia with a 3-pronged approach - financial technology at our core as an enabler to support more customers to become debt-free; financial literacy as we educate our customers on financial wisdom and empowerment; and social impact as we support the stability of the financial ecosystem for a stronger and more resilient regional economy.

Aravind Varadharajan Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific MetricStream With digitalisation growing exponentially in the region, cybercrime operatives will no doubt take advantage by launching attacks targeting both organisations as well as their vendors. Despite this, we strongly believe that organisations which are prepared can transform their risks into strategic advantage. To enable this, organisations must firstly have their data, analytics, risk appetite, quantification and frameworks in alignment with a well-defined risk strategy. Quantifying risks will help organisations to communicate risks in monetary terms, gain a better view of risk exposure, prioritise their investments, and instil a risk-aware culture, enabling them to thrive on risk.

Anthony Lim Founder and Executive Chairman Acclaim Insurance Brokers 2022 is still a year of great uncertainties, amid the ever-prevalent threat of Covid variants. However, my grave concern for this year is that the Dow Jones, S&P and Nasdaq indexes are at a all-time high. A single or multiple events such as geopolitical hostilities in the Russian/Ukraine borders or the China/Taiwan situation; a higher than anticipated inflation rate; Fed interest rate hikes or any bad news, can trigger a sharp correction in the US stock market. This may in turn have a domino effect, with sharp downturns in global stock markets, causing distortions and panic.

Lim Soon Hock Managing Director PLAN-B ICAG The world has undergone a traumatic period in the last 2 years, with Covid-19 disrupting our normal way of life. It brought pain, stress and suffering to all, irrespective of colour, creed, and social status. In many respects, the pandemic highlighted the vital need for humanity to be united against a common threat. "Be happy" will be my shout-out to all. Whatever our circumstances, my biggest hope is that despite all this angst, pain and suffering, and not just from Covid-19, we can all try to be happy, even if just briefly. Here, I am reminded of the lyrics from a popular song, which I hope will encourage all of us to make "be happy" our goal in 2022: Live believing. Dreams are for weaving. Wonders are waiting to start. Live your story. Faith, hope, and glory. Hold to the truth in your heart. If we hold on together I know our dreams will never die.

Ian Lee Regional President, Asia-Pacific The Adecco Group My hope is for the development of a more tolerant and resilient society, through heightened investment in people. The pandemic has shown us that social issues such as inequality can be exacerbated in volatile situations, and the reality is that our future will continue to be volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. Hence, societal tolerance is a critical pillar for a strong and sustainable future. I hope governments and organisations continue to invest in support systems for people, touching on critical areas such as mental well-being, inclusive cultures, employment,reskilling and upskilling. We need to help everyone thrive in change, with no one being left behind.

Josephine Ong Managing Director, Asia-Pacific South Dassault Systemes My biggest hope for 2022 is that businesses will continue to accelerate their digital transformation and invest in technologies to better plan for the future - not just for profitability but also sustainability. Strategic planning with virtual twin technology helps companies optimise resources and reduce their carbon footprint. Virtual twin technology bridges physical and digital worlds, allowing for enhanced decision-making that enables businesses to simulate various scenarios, identify and reduce risks, optimise productivity, and align demand-supply capacity. The technology can also be used to reskill and train the workforce.

Alan Tang Chief Executive Officer Far East Orchard Looking back over the past 2 years, I am heartened by how Far East Orchard (FEOR) has weathered through the major and unforeseen disruptions by the pandemic, and in the process, displayed tenacity and resiliency by staying focused and building an agile operating model. Being centred on our FEOR 25 strategy has enabled us to transform Far East Hospitality's brands and offerings with new openings, and add to our UK purpose-built student accommodation portfolio with new acquisitions. With that, the biggest hope I have for 2022 is to seize new opportunities and reinforce FEOR's lodging platform.

Jonathan Parker Managing Director, Asia-Pacific APR As sustainability becomes a strategic priority, organisations are rethinking business models to achieve meaningful outcomes beyond maximising profit. However, oftentimes the focus is on recycling or renewable energy. Should companies consider the carbon emissions that are "baked-in" to their content creation? Should they question if that last campaign shot on a beach halfway across the world was really necessary? Or if releasing thousands of balloons could have been accomplished in post-production? We are advocating alternative solutions centred on sustainability throughout the creative process to reduce the carbon footprint of content production, and supporting clients on their journey to net-zero carbon emissions.

Sandie Overtveld Vice-President and General Manager, Asia-Pacific WalkMe With digital adoption increasing, organisations will seek to marry the digital with the human. By using analytics and data, they can track how employees are utilising the technology platforms provided to them. Companies will be able to see where employees are being held up, if their tech investments are proving productive, and where improvements can be made. In 2022, the user experience will become paramount for true digital adoption, as while technology is indeed digital, users are human. We believe that organisations that can bridge the gap between the digital and the user will achieve greater return on investment.

Elisa Mallis Managing Director and Vice-President, Asia-Pacific Center for Creative Leadership The global pandemic and economic unrest have called into question the future of local and national communities around the world. To shape our rapidly evolving world for the better, engaging youth as future global leaders who can mobilise and enact positive change is imperative. According to our recent Y20 research, being a role model for their community is the top reason why youth in Asia choose to lead. Therefore, it is my hope that leadership teams will take on the shared responsibility towards a socially and financially sustainable future by building purpose-led organisations where aspiring, young leaders have meaningful and practical opportunities to drive real change.

Sandeep Bhargava Managing Director, Asia-Pacific and Japan Rackspace Technology Many enterprises have realised the value of the cloud in advancing their digital transformation agenda to develop into resilient and future-ready companies. As we continue to move towards recovery, we are optimistic that more organisations will embrace a culture of innovation and leverage technology to navigate the ever-changing business environment. While the health crisis looms upon us, our biggest hope for 2022 is for Singaporeans to remain physically and mentally strong as we face another year full of uncertainties. At Rackspace Technology, we will continue to take care of our employees and work alongside our partners and clients to help them realise their business goals for this year.

Darren Rogers Country Manager, Singapore IWG After long periods of forced remote working, businesses are now awake to the advantages of a hybrid approach for people, profits and the planet. In 2022, businesses will accelerate the shift to hybrid working as the way forward in the future of work. By having the workplace closer to homes, employees can enjoy improved work-life balance, which can translate into better work performance, in turn driving up profits. Businesses can also make a positive impact to the environment by cutting down on employee commuting and planning for a more efficient use of office space. The future of work is upon us, and IWG believes that hybrid work holds tremendous potential for businesses and employees alike.

Damien Wong Vice-President, Asia-Pacific Confluent Today's world is one of constant flux. If an organisation's data stays still, then their customer experiences, goals and businesses will too. Setting data in motion is increasingly business-critical for organisations operating in today's on-demand economy. To achieve this, organisations need not completely overhaul their existing technology stack, but instead invest in the right solutions and partners to harness the power of real-time data. This will enable businesses to achieve their digital transformation objectives without disruptive change. It is my hope that 2022 will see us better putting data to work as we all set out to thrive in this new normal.

Hari V Krishnan CEO and Managing Director PropertyGuru Group The last 2 years of the pandemic has taught us that continued disruptions in the world and workplace should not inhibit our way forward. We must build on all we have learnt from the pandemic and figure out how to make the new normal work for our businesses, our community and the environment. In 2022, we must build our communities and societies for better, and move forward. Particular focus should be given to the mental health of individuals, families and communities. Additionally, having navigated the changes in the work environment, employees now want different things and businesses need to recognise that and enhance the employee experience as a priority this year. Let us also take the opportunity to reinforce the positive role of business with regard to our environment, so our future generations have a better world to live in. PropertyGuru will continue to leverage our tech capabilities and consumer reach to promote sustainable urban living choices and influence positive changes for the environment.

Stephen Richardson Vice-President and Head, Asia-Pacific Fireblocks There has been extraordinary growth and innovation for the crypto industry in the past couple of years as financial institutions increasingly embrace and offer digital asset services. In 2022, we hope to see even more institutions across the region adopt cryptocurrency, backed by greater flexibility and support from their respective monetary authorities - accelerating our journey towards a truly digital economy. The ability to introduce a common regulatory framework across the Asia-Pacific region, similar to MiCA in Europe, will help to spur digital asset adoption, collaboration and innovation across a range of financial institutions. In a "virtually unlimited" environment, there will be greater acceptance of digital offerings. The security of these offerings will continue to be strengthened to ensure that transactions are conducted in a safe and secure manner, further alleviating scepticism and encouraging more mainstream adoption of digital assets.

Ana Dhoraisingam Head of Institutional and Wealth Management Sales, South-East Asia and Head of Singapore Office PineBridge Investments Over the last 2 years, the world has been consumed by the singular focus of battling Covid-19 and trying to develop and roll out vaccines as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this led to the unintended consequences of other priorities such as sustainability and climate change taking a back seat. It was, therefore, heartening to see that following the conclusion of COP26 in November 2021, the outcomes that were agreed in the Glasgow Climate Pact move the world closer towards definitive cuts in coal usage and carbons emissions, and more rigorous efforts to control global warming. My biggest hope for 2022 is that each and every country in the world makes a strong commitment towards achieving the COP26 goals. As global citizens, we all have a responsibility towards protecting our environment and planet for our future generations. PineBridge Investments is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and is committed to incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles in our investment process and investing for a sustainable future.

Derrick Chang Chief Executive Officer PSB Academy In the past couple of years, we have seen how the workforce needed to quickly adapt and upskill themselves to stay updated and relevant in tackling the rapid digitalisation and transformation of the economy. Education institutions, such as PSB Academy, have led the way in ensuring that the student population is able to attain and equip themselves with in-demand, useful and relevant skills, such as in blockchain technology, fintech and more. Our hope for 2022 is to keep providing opportunities and courses for students - regardless of age, experience, or background - to seek a qualification that helps them remain agile in this dynamic economic landscape. We hope this will further increase acceptance and improve perceptions of private education institutions as a viable option in the pursuit towards academic success.

Farhana Nakhooda Senior Vice-President, Asia-Pacific Health Catalyst My biggest hope for 2022 is to assuage healthcare provider burnout and increase patient-led health improvements. The pandemic has surfaced immense opportunities to drive positive healthcare developments with technology and data. For instance, the emergence of telehealth has enabled remote patient care, while helping to conserve healthcare resources. We must continue to embrace impactful technologies and data-driven processes as challenges such as provider burnout continue to prevail. Tools that deliver the right insight for the right patient at the right time will bring us closer to relieving provider burnout and optimise resource allocation - all while ensuring high-value patient care. This is especially crucial as chronic diseases continue to rise alongside Covid-19 infections.

Joanne Wong Vice-President, International Markets LogRhythm Beyond our health and physical safety, I am also hopeful that the digital way of life that we now live will be just as safe. As we further embrace advanced technologies to do things faster, improve convenience, and ultimately make our lives better, it has never been more important to ensure that we do our best to protect our digital ecosystem at all costs. We have already witnessed how the use of nascent technologies - from driverless buses to fully autonomous ports - can propel us forward in realising Singapore's Smart Nation ambitions. But to sustain this momentum in the long haul, we must double down on our efforts to build a strong, cyber-resilient digital foundation, in order to safeguard our digital future.

Kanv Pandit Group Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, Banking Solutions FIS These are tremendously exciting times for the financial sector, with many new disruptive ideas emerging, like banking-as-a-service, decentralised finance, and real-time money movement around the globe. As we enter 2022, we are energised by the new possibilities that emerging technologies bring. These are big concepts that will not only help financial institutions position themselves for the next decade, but importantly, we hope they will chart a path to a more financially inclusive world. At FIS, we look forward to continue working with leading institutions and industry players to innovate, push the boundaries and shape where financial services is going next.

Stuart Fisher Regional Vice-President, Asia-Pacific and Japan Couchbase Rapid digitalisation will see continued adoption of cloud-based services within enterprises. With more organisations joining the fray, the number of edge computing applications that generate large volumes of data and require low latency, offline and online capabilities, will grow. To advance the development of these applications in 2022, DevOps teams should be utilising modern platforms to test applications in real time, permitting them to evaluate their efficacy in real-world settings. The flexibility to tune, pivot and adjust as necessary, ultimately allows the applications to go to market faster. This, in turn, will help organisations meet their evolving business needs.

David Sajto Vice-President of Asia-Pacific and Japan ExtraHop A fear for 2022 is the exponential evolution of cybercrime due to the development of sophisticated technology such as Web 3.0, crypto-malware, as well as the availability of malware-as-a-service to cyberattackers. However, with it comes the hope of an increase in awareness of local businesses to adopt more stringent protective measures, in order to detect and respond to these advanced threats. As Singapore's economy steadily recovers, we believe that companies will be incentivised to seek out new growth areas and invest in cybersecurity technology to future-proof their businesses against disruptions, to capitalise on the growing economy.

Nicholas Lee Chief Executive Officer EZ-Link The pandemic has spurred rapid digitalisation of payment services as consumers turned to online transactions in daily living. We expect no less in 2022 as the economy rebounds. Amid this growth, I hope to see more being done in the payments industry to serve low-income and underbanked consumer groups. Given its accelerating adoption rates in South-east Asia, we are keeping our eye on mobile wallets as an opportunity to drive financial inclusion in a safe manner. To this end, we will continue to innovate and explore new ways to support the daily lifestyle needs of the everyday consumer through our EZ-Link Wallet and other payment services.

Thomas Knudsen Managing Director Toll Group It is difficult to overstate the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on societies around the world. The initial healthcare crisis was compounded by 2 years of ongoing supply chain disruptions. A positive by-product of this disruption has been a widespread recognition of the logistics and supply chain industry, and the essential nature of the millions of workers who keep societies moving and economies growing. To address the ongoing disruption, increasingly, those in the C-Suite are focusing on supply chain resilience, adopting multi-model transport models that ease capacity and cost constraints, and engaging with logistics partners to build supply chains that are no longer centred around cost alone.

Tony Frey Vice-President and General Manager Informatica Asia-Pacific and Japan Asia has emerged as the epicentre of the global data matrix; however, making sense of it all has been challenging. Increasing data fragmentation and time spent on manual tasks are key challenges faced by organisations. As we shift to more permanent "new" ways of living, and working - data will be key to creating future business value. We hope organisations will harness the full potential of data, and progress beyond mastering data integration to achieve data intelligence. In fact, our study found that data leader organisations obtain 2.5 times the business value from data. This makes standardisation and automation of data management crucial as they continue their data-led digital transformation journeys.

Kavita Gandhi Executive Director Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (Seas) As we turn into the year, the climate impacts are being felt around us in the region, with floods, typhoons and the climate emergency evident for all to see. This should be the year where we shift gear from talk to action, from rhetoric to planning, from strategy to implementation. Green innovations from renewables, electric vehicles to storage are commercially viable and need to be scaled up. Green finance and ESG capital need to be deployed, green jobs need to be created with upskilling and reskilling, and commitments made by governments and corporations need to be backed by actual implementation. 2022 should be remembered as the year of green action. The opportunities are immense and the successful energy transition will drive up GDP, reduce poverty and stabilise the climate and environment.

Kelvin Phua Vice-President, Global Market Development PPRO While many different payment methods have been around for years, the technology and user experience continue to evolve, with new mobile apps and payment methods taking off continuously. Asia-Pacific's diverse and unique markets create a constant need to cater to different audiences and consumer demographics in the region. This presents an opportunity - not just for the payment industry and those in its ecosystem, but for society at large. Through innovation, the payments industry is well positioned to make this ecosystem more inclusive, and to be an enabler for those who in the past would not have had access or the means to procure the goods and services they need online. In 2022, the hope is that the evolution of payment methods will continue to enhance inclusivity and seamlessness throughout the Asia-Pacific region and further financial democracy for end users.

Lars Voedisch Managing Director PRecious Communications I am optimistic that 2022 will bring an increased interest in social impact initiatives in line with the UN's Agenda 2030, with more businesses realising the criticality of ESG practices in long-term business success. From a communications standpoint, I am seeing a massive opportunity in laying the groundwork for spurring purpose-driven programmes. Communications can serve as a catalyst for community action through generating awareness, setting clear expectations, and addressing misconceptions. Now, more than ever, the success of sustainability initiatives hinges on brands' ability in maintaining consistency in business decisions and marketing messages - and this is where communications can be an effective medium for cultivating trust and authenticity.

Yoon Young Kim Cluster President for Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Schneider Electric I hope businesses will sharpen their focus in driving digital transformation for greater sustainability and efficiency as we combat climate change. Sustainability is a major impetus for organisational and technological innovation that drives business resilience and long-term success. Investments in smart technology must be a core strategy for businesses to measure and achieve sustainability targets. Large corporations must play a bigger role in supporting SMEs and all stakeholders in their supply chains to reduce their emissions. By forging stronger partnerships with government and stakeholders, I am confident that the business community can build a greener Singapore for a better world together.

Lim Hsin Yin Managing Director SAS Singapore 2021 was a year of serious challenges, at both the global and business sector levels. From the pandemic to the climate crisis to financial crime and fraud, governments and enterprises alike had to quickly find innovative solutions to unprecedented problems. The issue of mental health has also surfaced in this pandemic era. In many cases, the use of data analytics has helped in overcoming the challenges by providing new insights. Our hope for 2022 is that authorities and businesses will recognise that analytics can play a role in solving new problems, from mental health to improving healthcare outcomes, as well as addressing local food security and supporting targets for industrial decarbonisation. Analytics can empower decision-making with the needed insights for change.

Adam Lyle Executive Chairman Padang & Co Despite Covid-19 dominating the global agenda, net-zero objectives and decarbonisation strategies have come to the fore. COP26 focused attention on climate change. Too little, too late? For sure, but many commitments have been made. However, in the last 2 years, we lost significant ground in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The countdown is on; we have just 8 years. A laser focus on net zero supports Goal 13 - climate action, but can have unintended consequences for other SDGs, particularly when we think of Goal 1 - no poverty. In 2022, the world needs to reboot its focus on the SDGs and adopt a systemic approach to net zero, to ensure we achieve prosperity for people and planet. The "what" is clear; 2022 is about the "how".

Eddie Stefanescu General Manager, Asia-Pacificand Japan Claroty The turn of events in early 2022 once again highlights why securing vaccine/booster supply chains is paramount, from securing production through storage, and distribution. Remote work created demand for secure access to critical cyber-physical systems and we have crossed the tipping point, forcing us to mitigate risks of connected devices and the IoT, both industrial and medical. Never has this been more true for critical infrastructures delivering essential services impacting daily life and the extended Internet of Things (XIoT). The onus is on enterprises to build visibility into remote access networks to mitigate risks, to provide ongoing security and to keep facilities functioning 100 per cent of the time.

Justin Gabbani Chief Executive Officer, Asia Lendlease Even as we adjust to living in an endemic world, my biggest hope is that we are able to make significant strides in our collective efforts as a society to limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celcius. As an organisation in the real estate and construction sector, transitioning to renewable energy sources, seeking out more sustainable materials with reduced embodied carbon and designing climate resilient places for the future, are our immediate focus. Taking urgent climate action can be a catalyst for closer collaboration with our clients, partners, tenants and supply chain to create the pathways and support industry transformation as part of our decarbonisation road map. It is this very ambition across the globe that I find personally inspiring.

George Lee Vice-President, Asia-Pacific and Japan Imperva Covid-19 will stay with us for some time, but recent developments have given Singapore businesses hope of recovery in 2022. Business leaders must hence continue to build resilient organisations, and be poised to take advantage of the growth opportunities when they come. Technology continues to anchor many business-impacting initiatives, and data will increasingly play a central role in firms' efforts to become more competitive. This means businesses need to get better at harnessing their data to understand customers, and provide differentiated goods and services. Valuable data comes with the onus to protect it, otherwise customer trust could easily be lost. In the new year, I would urge business leaders to more proactively safeguard the data that customers have entrusted them with, as well as improve the resilience of online assets like websites and apps for greater business continuity.

Madhusudan Pandya Senior Advisor, International Market Development Ciena In 2022, I am excited to see how the 5G revolution will accelerate the future of networks and unlock new business opportunities. Especially with governments providing the impetus for the widespread use of 5G, we can expect to see a proliferation of enterprise digital products and use cases. The capabilities of the high-speed network can be further harnessed, opening up a world of possibilities and bringing visions of truly smart manufacturing, intelligent energy and more to life. While no one exactly knows what lies ahead, there is no doubt that our dependence on digital services - and the connectivity that fuels it all - will remain a crucial engine of our economy. As the demand for always-on connectivity surges, along with the rise in edge computing, the right technological foundations and capabilities must be in place to ensure that businesses can seize the growth and development opportunities available.

Lee Siang Chief Executive Officer Dyslexia Association of Singapore (Das) While virtual work has become possible for many industries, it is important to not underestimate the impact of in-person meetings and activities. Rapport and relationship building must not be taken for granted - whether it is with family and friends, or with colleagues, partners and clients. In the past 20 months, many have settled into a routine of virtual work and communication, but it is often difficult for virtual settings to nurture interpersonal interaction that is key to promoting collaboration. Many new employees have yet to experience a full in-person atmosphere at their workplaces, which can be discouraging and alienating. While embracing the advantages of virtual work, organisations must also deliberately plan and organise activities to facilitate in-person interaction at the workplace and instil a strong sense of belonging within the organisation.

Jimmy Yam Vice-President, East Asia Eaton The past 2 years have been challenging for people, governments and businesses. But one of the silver linings that emerged was greater political and corporate will in addressing climate change. In 2022, I am hopeful that organisations will double down on their sustainability efforts and take more concrete actions through increased adoption of renewable energy, as well as other modern technologies that will help to reduce overall carbon emissions. There will undoubtedly be challenges along the way, but charting a greener path towards digitalisation is the best way forward in ensuring not just sustainable growth, but also business resilience in today's volatile business environment.

Lex Lee Chief Strategy Officer TOP International Holding Many major world events - from military coup to the pandemic to natural disasters - have brought humanity to the forefront of the global consciousness in recent years. Through these events, we have seen a world that is fragile, vulnerable and interconnected. As we move forward, picking up the pieces caused by the destruction, it is my hope that we will develop greater tolerance, understanding, and acceptance towards one another. We must also broaden our lens beyond personal, domestic and national needs, working with other countries to usher in political and technological breakthroughs. Only then will this advance us holistically and sustainably.

Rachel Ler Vice-President and General Manager, Asia-Pacific and Japan Commvault My biggest hope for 2022 is that we will have renewed opportunities to connect and collaborate with one another beyond the limits of videoconferencing tools. Returning to the office and being on the road again will surely build a stronger camaraderie through in-person engagement with colleagues, customers and partners. These meetings present opportunities for us to share knowledge, celebrate small wins, or just to offer a listening ear; little things that we have missed so much. For many of us, the need to actively juggle roles as worker, leader, parent, spouse and even a friend throughout the day has also taken a toll on our physical and mental well-being. This year, I look forward to taking some time for self-care, while forging better connections with my community.

Ronak Shah Chief Executive Officer QBE Insurance (Singapore) As we begin 2022, I hope businesses will continue building on the resilience developed over the course of Covid-19, and that lessons learnt over the pandemic will continue to bear fruit as the economy recovers. Now, as companies attempt to move from survival to growth once again, I hope there is a greater understanding of the importance of sound risk mitigation strategies in ensuring sustainable business continuity and growth. Remaining vigilant against the shifting risk landscape that evolves in tandem with developments of the pandemic will be key in preparing companies for solid business operations and investments as the economy opens up.

Guna Chellappan General Manager, Singapore Red Hat There is no doubt that the pandemic has altered the way we work, live, and in turn, the way we consume services. The last 2 years have taught us we need to be agile to face the unexpected. For businesses, that means focusing more on agility, scalability, and security for deciding on IT solutions. In today's world, the origin story for most software applications starts at least partially in an open-source community. With more and more businesses adopting remote work and extensive digital services tools, there has been an increasing demand for hybrid cloud systems for business continuity. Emerging technologies will thrive in a future rooted in open standards, open code, and open knowledge.

Amos Poh Co-Founder and Board Chairman BRDGE Technology As Singapore's economic recovery gains momentum, my hope is for society to embrace business relationships that are mutually beneficial. A key learning from the pandemic is that businesses cannot survive if they remain siloed. In 2022, businesses need to work towards inclusive collaborations that benefit the masses. At BRDGE, we have observed the hardships that businesses - especially SMEs - face, and more support can be extended to these local businesses. Peer-to-peer lending is an ideal platform for community collaboration; one that bridges investors to SMEs who require support in business expansions and cash flow, while providing investors with alternative investment classes.

Ling Fang President, Asia-Pacific Alstom The pandemic impacted the transport sector badly as international travel almost stopped, and the switch to working from home meant rail commuter passenger numbers dropped dramatically. However, the climate crisis re-emphasised the fact that rail transport is the most environmentally friendly of all travel options. Some short-haul flights are being replaced by high-speed rail, advanced digital technologies are helping reduce emissions through improving efficiency, and the use of hydrogen power as a means to decarbonise rail has a promising future. Our hope for 2022 is that these moves towards sustainable mobility will become standard practice, with railways serving as the backbone of tomorrow's green mobility.

Aarti Ramaswami Deputy Dean Essec Business School Asia-Pacific As we begin the year, I am being drawn to nature, specifically Singapore's large tropical trees that remind us to grow tall, wide, and deep in all directions. While we may have adjusted to living in a pandemic, these are unprecedented times and we are transitioning and learning to cope with the changes around us. As we adapt and work on ourselves, I hope that people also continue to support those around them on their growth and development journeys too. This includes having conversations around mental health, as we need to enhance our leadership and coping skills in this area. It also remains an important topic at Essec Business School, in our efforts towards creating responsible leaders and an inclusive environment for all.

Chong Yang Chan Managing Director, Asean Qlik Data continues to be a core enabler for digital transformation and business continuity through Covid. It offers a baseline for decision-making and actionable insights to fuel innovation and growth. However, a significant gap remains between organisations' aspirations to be data-driven, and their employees' ability to create business value with data. My biggest hope for this year is for leaders to focus on bridging this gap. Leaders must understand that the foundation of success requires more than just ramping up training courses. It involves people and culture, which requires their full commitment and support towards the data literacy plans laid out for the year ahead. This includes setting the agenda for cultural change and providing employees with the right tools, creating an environment that encourages teams to trust and effectively harness the power of data.

Edmund Lee Managing Director, Singapore TMF Group My biggest hope and fear simultaneously lie with the impending 2022 Singapore Budget announcement. While we can expect an easing of Covid support schemes due to the improving economy, the expected GST hike could have an detrimental impact when we are just starting to see the green shoots of recovery. GST is a regressive tax and while it is an important tool in our government's arsenal for ensuring an equitable and sustainable tax base, it should not be raised in isolation, but rather in the larger context of other complementary tax reforms. The Economic Intelligence Unit's recent Worldwide Cost of Living 2021 report ranked Singapore the second-most expensive place in the world. Unless we are deliberately aiming to take the (unenviable) No 1 position, a GST rate hike should be avoided at this time given ongoing economic uncertainties.

John Butler Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and North Africa Linesight Sustainability is something to be actioned on - especially in the construction industry - which makes up 38 per cent of the global energy-related CO2 emissions. The size of this sector also means that any sustainability actions implemented will have significant contributions in the fight against climate change. My hope for 2022 is for businesses to drive solutions for decarbonising the built environment. Partnerships, collaboration, and communication are therefore essential to transitioning towards a healthier, equitable, net-zero and resilient built environment. The key enabler of collaboration includes asset management and investment, design built, engineering, building materials, and real data that benefits the many actors in the built environment value chain.

Peta Latimer Chief Executive Officer Mercer Singapore The pandemic has helped leaders build new skills, challenged traditional ways of working and spotlighted the importance of workplace well-being. The rapid adoption of new technology has transformed people's lives for the better. However, we are at risk of becoming obsessed with tracking and analysing data, too focused on the minutiae and not the bigger picture. As we search for insights in the sea of data, analysis paralysis and confirmatory bias often sets in, deflecting us from what truly matters - bringing value to society. I hope 2022 brings a better balance between ethics, morality and technology - where leaders continue to embed compassion, empathy and collaborative actions into our strategies and the way we interact with each other.

Chia Ngiang Hong President Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore (Redas) Among the known knowns, 2022 will see the continued battle with variants of the coronavirus and extreme weather phenomena caused by global warming amid cautious optimism of more effective vaccines and heightened awareness to collectively address the climate emergency. We can ill afford another deadly viral outbreak like the Covid-19 pandemic or geopolitical conflicts to upend the state of global economy which is just picking up. I hope that as governments continue to roll out programmes to support economic recovery, there is peaceful coexistence and collaboration among those within international economic powers. Peace and security are essential enablers of economic recovery and growth for long-term sustainability.

Paul Hadjy CEO and Co-Founder Horangi South-east Asia's emergence as one of the world's largest Internet economies has accelerated growth of cloud technologies across the region, as businesses maximise digital potential and support for remote work, integrating workflows across disparate platforms. However, we have observed many organisations adopting cloud technologies without adequately understanding the relevant security risks. This increases their exposure to cyberattacks that could result in significant reputational and monetary repercussions. The most successful businesses in today's digital-first reality are those that prioritise cybersecurity, investing in technology such as cloud security posture management and cloud infrastructure entitlement management to proactively mitigate their security risks.

Ronnie Lee General Manager Lenovo Singapore As the global call for environmental stewardship intensifies, we hope to see businesses rethink how long-term value is created and achieved in 2022. It has become imperative that business leaders heed the call to organically incorporate tangible ESG commitments as part of their corporate strategy. At Lenovo, we believe that as a leading technology and services company, we strive to be at the forefront of the sustainability solution by developing and investing in smart technologies. These intelligent suites of tools and services go beyond improving efficiency, convenience and inter-connectivity for end users - they have the potential to fundamentally transform the way we work and live into a more sustainable future for all, powered by smarter technology.

Eryk Lee Chief Executive Officer AAM Advisory During the pandemic, digitalisation initiatives have accelerated and changed the ways we do banking and other financial transactions; this evolution needs to continue for all financial institutions and be supported by a legal and regulatory framework. There is also a stronger focus on employees' well-being and that should continue to be led and supported by top management. Last but not least, I hope that the economy will recover and grow to create jobs for our young graduates.

Maren Schweizer Chief Executive Officer Schweizer World Group We are in the era of talent. Our No 1 challenge for 2022 is talent acquisition, retention, and reskilling and upskilling, to embrace the economic opportunities that climate change, energy transition, and digital transformation present. There seems to be no immediate end in sight for supply chain issues. Operating with lower inventories worked well in the century's opening decades and freed up capital. We are building up our inventories to ensure delivery flexibility for our customers. As supply-side inflation is expected to be replaced by more persistent demand-led pressures, we are preparing for inflation. Covid-19 has exposed the fragility of the existing world order. It has not brought about anything new. With a lack of clarity comes significant risk. My hope for 2022 is that the global powers jointly pave the way to a new framework and avoid military and other conflicts being carried out openly.

Rajiv Menon Associate Director Sling & Stone Singapore In 2022, I am expecting businesses will hone the ability to focus on what is important to them, rather than get distracted by uncertainties that one cannot influence or control - I hope to see the "cocktail party effect" taking shape. Businesses need to challenge comfort and orthodoxy to think bolder, continue to balance people and growth priorities, and accelerate the pace of innovation. This will help them build transformational businesses and impactful brands. From a brand-building perspective, businesses are getting better at storytelling, being authentic and in sync with their target audiences, evoking the right emotions and connecting, and I hope to see that continue well into the future.

Takatoshi Sasaki Managing Director Hitachi Asia

My biggest hope for 2022 is for companies, governments and citizens to collectively work together towards a better quality of life while being mindful of the environment by applying technology for good. Even as we grapple with the pandemic, we have to stay focused on "powering good" through our collective efforts. Hitachi is a firm believer of this, and we remain committed to working with our partners and customers globally to achieve sustainable outcomes. It is known that our actions today impact generations to come. We cannot rest on our laurels or be complacent. It is important for us to come together to create a stronger society, economy and environment through collaboration and innovation for our today and tomorrow.

Alex Teo Managing Director and Vice-President Siemens Digital Industries Software, South-east Asia The sustained demand for electronics and precision engineering will drive Singapore's manufacturing sector expansion. This journey towards economic recovery and industry growth will see the transition of more employees returning to the workplace as businesses resume on-site operations. Naturally, to protect worker's health and safety, this calls for smarter workplace safety using technology. Workplace distancing solutions such as digital contact tracing applications can help manufacturers simulate and better manage employee exposure risks while optimising workflows and ensuring productivity. Manufacturers can also look into deploying remote service capabilities to track production performance, assess areas for improvements, and help customers understand their asset performance - all without the need for service technicians to always be on-site.

John Ng Chief Executive Officer YTL PowerSeraya Uncertainties brought about by new Covid-19 variants will continue to disrupt businesses, while supply chain and inflationary risks are expected to persist for some time. In the long term, climate change remains an existential risk that requires multilateral efforts in meeting the 1.5 deg C temperature target. Amid these risks, we hope to continue seizing opportunities in pursuing green growth. Carbon taxes in Singapore are expected to rise in the medium term to nudge businesses towards a lower carbon trajectory. My hope is for supportive government policies and budget provisions to help carbon-intensive businesses move to a lower carbon business model. This can come either in the form of strong financial support to pilot low-carbon technologies or supportive carbon trading frameworks to enable carbon tax offsetting.

Leslie Choo Managing Director, Asia-Pacific ACI Worldwide For ACI, our greatest aspiration is for real-time payments to accelerate their meteoric rise and continue to drive the growth of Asia's digital economies and prosperity. As the region's digital economies have evolved and expanded, our payments landscape has transformed into a key enabler of the region's growing power and influence. As we enter 2022, ACI will continue to drive and lead the growing expansion of real-time payments from national systems to a more integrated regional infrastructure that improves cross-border connectivity, and enables smoother payments, trade, and frictionless supply chains.

Chris Connell Vice-President, Global Sales Network and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific and Japan Kaspersky With the accelerated digital transformation, cyberattacks have also become highly sophisticated. These include phishing attempts from threat actors that are hard to discern from legitimate sources. In the last quarter of 2021 alone, our systems blocked 117,854 attempted redirects via phishing links in various Android messengers globally. Of these, 90 per cent were detected and blocked in WhatsApp messages, and nearly 4 per cent in Telegram. With work and study still highly virtual in nature, no longer is the issue of cybersecurity confined to enterprises and governments - every person should be responsible for their own cybersecurity by practising vigilance. My hope for the year ahead is for sustained efforts to strengthen our individual digital resilience and literacy, in tandem with more secure infrastructure development institutionally - as digitalisation continues to intensify in 2022.

Amerson Lin Co-Founder and CEO Gigacover Gig workers are today the backbone of the economy, powering essential services such as transport, food delivery, and providing freelance services in a trend that we expect will continue into 2022. It has been encouraging to see calls to enhance financial security for gig workers accelerating recently, reaffirming the vital role these workers play in economic recovery and expansion. In 2022, we look forward to more collaboration among key public-private stakeholders aimed at increasing protection and stability for gig workers through right-sized insurance products and enhanced access to credit, making independent work a more viable choice in the new reality.

Joshua Yim Chief Executive Officer Achieve Group The amicable resolution of the US-China tension is my biggest hope for 2022. Just as when elephants fight, the grass suffers, the tense relations between these 2 powers have escalated into a widening geopolitical divide. Economies worldwide have been impacted; jobs and livelihoods everywhere are deteriorating through the trickle-down mistrust. Furthermore, the climate crisis is now at a critical stage and the world has less than a decade to get emissions under control. My hope is that world leaders will live up to the pledges made at the COP26 climate conference. In addition to that, I hope the US and China will put aside their differences and collaborate to effect a larger change in the climate crisis, so that a greater good may be achieved in the near future.

Mark Weaser Vice-President, Asia-Pacific OutSystems To stay ahead in tomorrow's digital landscape, it is important that organisations prioritise resolving technical debt for greater agility and ease of innovation. With the new year bringing about an ever-growing gamut of business demands, innovation remains key to responding quickly to market changes and driving superior experiences for customers and employees alike. However, as organisations sought to accelerate digital transformation in the past 2 years, the focus on short-term benefits over long-term consequences has resulted in technical debt as a significant setback to innovation. Heading into 2022, there is no better time to assess existing IT systems, and start taking symptoms like increasing developer workloads or outdated IT frameworks seriously - all warning signs of growing technical debt.

Yeo Kong Nee Managing Director Engie Services Singapore COP26 put climate change firmly at the top of the international agenda. Our hope for 2022 is that global leaders will adhere to their commitments and implement policies that will help to achieve carbon neutrality. In addition to national governments, local authorities need to put regulations in place that will encourage cost-effective and environmentally friendly heating and cooling for buildings and business zones. Manufacturing enterprises need to play their part too, in improving the use of energy at their facilities. The biggest fear is that we are not acting fast enough to achieve the climate goals laid out at the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Mark Billington Managing Director International ICAEW The UN COP26 conference saw a number of bold top-line measures announced to tackle the global climate emergency. A key outcome was finalising the Paris rule book, which provides nations with a standardised format to account and report for carbon targets and emissions in a transparent and accountable manner. As the dust settles on COP26, what matters most now is what we do next. We need to close the gap between ambition and action - this starts with efforts such as encouraging governments worldwide to adjust their climate policy and renew targets on limiting global warming to 1.5 deg C, and leveraging innovative solutions including electric vehicles and green grids to support a holistic transition to net zero.

Cheng Tai-Heng Global Co-Head, Arbitration and Trade and Co-Managing Partner, Singapore Sidley Austin LLP My greatest hope for 2022 is that the massive volume of deal activity worldwide over the last year, which continues into 2022, results in the sort of innovation that makes the pie bigger for everyone while giving each person a fair slice of the pie. The sustained low interest rate environment has clearly benefitted businesses with access to capital, and their legal and financial professionals who have helped them deploy that capital in transactions. However, low-wage workers and smaller businesses have suffered in the pandemic. Trying to ensure that the economic activity generated by cheap capital benefits everyone is not only the right thing to do, it is also in the enlightened self-interest of business elites, to avoid acute backlash from the far-left and far-right. Innovation that makes cleaner energy, a faster Internet, and healthier food at scale, will not only reap profits for the companies behind such transformation. Advances, when distributed across society, stand to improve everyone's wellbeing. Importantly, I hope people will come together more when they see that the pie is growing and big enough for everyone.

Dennis Tan Chief Executive Officer Prudential Singapore My hope for 2022 is that we continue to support one another as a community and focus on strengthening our resilience so we can thrive, despite the uncertain environment that we are in today. I am optimistic that we are progressing into a better post-Covid world - one where people are more focused on well-being, communities are more inclusive, and businesses are more agile and innovative. At Prudential, we remain focused on getting our people future-ready through continuous learning, digitising our products and services, and delivering growth in a socially responsible way. Let us embrace 2022 with courage and strive to get the most out of life, in spite of the uncertainties.

Chuin Ting Weber CEO and Chief Investment Officer MoneyOwl The forces of technology and individualisation have grown exponentially and have accelerated digital entrepreneurship, digital finance, virtual assets and digital services of all kinds. My hope is these discoveries will be used positively to uplift the middle and lower echelons of society and achieve greater connection between people, rather than being used to enrich a few or widen the gap between the haves and have-nots. To do this, we must all recognise that technology, business and growth all have ethical and social dimensions, and join the dots to the impact of our actions on others.

Morgan Terigi CEO and Co-Founder Incomlend My biggest hope is that more companies focus on diversification. The outlook for global trade and economy remains uncertain in 2022, and companies are entering a very different business environment. Business risks can come from other dimensions, especially supply-and-demand disruption, trade restrictions, and inflation. By diversifying their operations, supply chain and geographic focus, companies can better hedge their risks and develop more resilient and balanced business models. It allows them to better adapt to changing market dynamics. Companies need to diversify their funding too. Today, many companies focus on building inventory reserves to prevent supply chain shocks from disrupting production. While this approach improves supply chain resilience, it also ties up capital. By diversifying their financing to access greater cash flow, companies can ensure their inventory is well-stocked, and their operations can continue in any situation.

Choe Peng Sum Chief Executive Officer Pan Pacific Hotels Group 2022 holds hope for many. Apart from the optimism for economic revival this year, personally, I hope for a greater commitment towards responsible and sustainable tourism. When the skies reopened, we expected a pent-up demand for travel. It is important for everyone to adopt responsible behaviours and take proactive steps to reduce net carbon emissions through use of renewable energy, adopt practices to decrease greenhouse net emissions, as well as conserve heritage and biodiversity. As a hotelier, we have taken the first steps to adopt biophilic design in buildings, install solar panels, remove use of single-use plastics, work on responsible waste management and leverage the supply chain with sustainable sources. We must act today to slow down the degradation of the environment. This will hold hope for our generations beyond 2022.

Aimone Ripa di Meana Founder Crea The past 2 years have seen an acceleration of consumers shifting to digital channels, forcing brands to focus on building digital capabilities. While this growth has delivered digital commerce penetration in the high double-digits for many consumer brands, the big question remains - will brands be willing to keep up their investment? In 2022, it will be critical that brands in the digital space sphere are not complacent about the customers they have acquired through circumstance, and instead do everything they can to continue engaging consumers online - be it developing new product lines, addressing supply chain issues with robust logistics, adopting greener and more sustainable ways to run their business, or investing to create an immersive and purposeful customer experience at every touch point. This is how brands can keep their customers' loyalty for the long term.

Tay Bee Kheng President, Asean Cisco As businesses continue to embrace hybrid work in 2022, I hope that leaders will embody greater empathy and cultivate an environment where employees feel safe, both physically and mentally, whether they are working from home or returning to the workplace. Amid the global "great resignation" phenomenon, companies need to promote a sense of value, well-being and belonging among employees to combat fatigue, and foster inclusivity for employees working from different locations and under various circumstances. Beyond work, the hybrid model will also dominate everything from life to play, to all our relations, and I hope we will learn to better use technology to enable these hybrid connections, to ensure ease and safety.

Ben King Managing Director Google Singapore Spending 2 years in crisis mode has humbled the global community in some ways, but has also offered many opportunities to dislodge some deep-seated habits and rethink priorities. My biggest hope is that we take the lessons that have been amplified in recent years to make material improvements that benefit everyone around the world. To name a few examples, I hope we get back to anchoring our discourse on evidence and science, that we take the warning signs on climate change seriously and progress towards firmer action, and we continue on a path towards taking people's mental health as seriously as their physical well-being.

Cindy Leong Founder Relationship Studio I would love to hear more inspiring stories of how people thrive in this environment - stories of adaptations, stories of breakthroughs in relationships, stories of self-realisation and self reflections - stories of growth. It is an amazing time and we do see many not just surviving, but growing and thriving in this climate. Let positivity shine like never before! Let people treasure and celebrate relationships like never before!

Jess Ng Country Head, Singapore and Brunei Fortinet Going into 2022, we are expecting the pace of business to pick up. Now that people are familiar with the work-from-anywhere model, enterprises should focus on achieving optimal productivity. This starts with creating a safe digital workspace with secure remote access to business-critical applications that could be deployed in the cloud or private networks. However, with hybrid work environments as the new reality, the volume and ferocity of cyberattacks show no signs of abating. Cybersecurity resiliency will be tested through 2022 as threat actors come up with innovative ways to infiltrate networks, compromise critical systems and data. A fragmented and distributed network is an attractive target for attack, so it is vital for organisations to embrace and adopt an integrated approach to security as part of their digital acceleration initiatives.

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