Quintessentially Singaporean

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: What do you think is distinctive about the Singapore identity? How might it evolve in the years ahead?

Wong Heng Chew Country President Fujitsu Singapore

FORGING a common identity among the people in Singapore had not come easy, or by chance. A once immigrant population came together with a goal to overcome the odds, adapt to the environment and etch a better life for themselves and their families.

This never-say-die spirit to recognise emerging opportunities, transform, and make an impact runs through us on the individual, corporate and national levels.

To stay relevant and ahead of the competition, I see common shared values of integrity, inclusiveness and meritocracy binding the people as we seek to stay agile, resilient and adaptive in the face of global change.

Chris Foster Regional President Y&R Asia

FOR some reason the universe keeps pulling me back to Singapore, I can't keep away. I love its dynamism, clear-sightedness, and its melding of East and West within a distinctive culture that to me is best expressed through its incredible fusion food experiences.

Because of its strategic location straddling both hemispheres, Singapore has always been globally oriented. Asian values of social harmony, innovation, hard work and collective well-being have served citizens and country abundantly.

Going forward, be wary of materialism, income inequality and over-protectiveness. Singapore is still young and a few deep breaths together can ease stress and envy and enable re-centring on dreams.

Edmund Lee Senior Country Officer JP Morgan Singapore

SINGAPORE'S unique identity is the ability to thrive as an economic powerhouse in Asia despite being a country of multiple races, languages and religions. This is a result of the government's steadfast focus on harmonious living as the nation developed over the last 50-plus years.

Diversity and inclusion, which are also the cornerstones of JP Morgan's corporate culture, are clearly ingrained in Singaporean values. This collective mindset has enabled the country to take great strides in a very short period of time, and will continue to ensure success in the years to come.

John Bittleston Founder & Chair Terrific Mentors International Pte Ltd

CLEVERLY independent, hard working, progressive, determined, safe, self-aware, law-abiding, reasonable mix of self-interest and social conscience, more commercial than political, single-minded about academic education, generous of their time to those in need - these are the descriptions of Singapore most frequently heard. They are justified. There are clashing priorities.

Singapore will evolve as voters and government decide which are the most important elements. Research suggests that Singaporeans want a more gracious society. Problem is, that means different things to different people. If they can define it, Singapore can certainly get it.

Dileep Nair Independent Director Thakral Corporation Limited

ASK people in other countries what they think of Singaporeans and most will enumerate attributes like smart, hard-working, honest and fluent in English, among others.

Having lived overseas for some 15 years, I'll vouch for this. The Singapore passport being ranked the world's second most powerful, is again a testament of how others regard what Singapore stands for.

We ourselves, though, feel some angst about our identity, whether it is developing or eroding. This is to be expected. We are, after all, a critical people, infused with some divine discontent, always striving to do better. Without being facetious, crises will help gel the Singapore identity further.

Ultimately, the test of having internalised the Singapore identity is, when singing the National Day song We Are Singapore, the lyrics

This is my country, this is my flag; This is my future, this is my life send a tingle down our spine.

Patricia Reed Founder Reed Estate

WHAT distinguishes Singapore more than any other country is its commitment to racial and religious harmony. When I describe this government priority to Americans in the US, they are speechless. HDB integration, respect for all religions, complete with holidays for each; this is something rare and special.

Solidarity among citizens and integration of "foreign" talent is generally strong. To evolve in the coming years, keeping an open-minded attitude of its citizens and nation are powerful assets. Imagination and growth in the mindset of who makes Singapore great will continue to keep it strong.

Victor Mills Chief Executive Singapore International Chamber of Commerce

AS a naturalised Singapore citizen, what impressed me most when I arrived 33 years ago was here was a country that preached good race relations and practised them. This remains our greatest attribute especially when you look around at the state of the world today. It is the foundation of the Singapore identity - respect and tolerance for all people.

Our identity will evolve over time. We will become more entrepreneurial and we will become even more inclusive. My expectation is that Singapore will continue to be an example to its citizens, residents and to the world of a happy, prosperous and progressive nation.

Goh Swee Chen Chairman Shell Companies in Singapore

I AGREE with President Halimah Yacob that this is no moment to tinker at the margins. We need bold changes. By this, first I mean Singaporeans need to accept lifelong retooling to stay relevant longer, in the face of automation and digitalisation.

The future Singaporean needs to want to be retrained at every turn of his career, and not fear the future of work as one entirely replaced by machines.

The government can provide the infrastructure to grow the economy and help us reskill, but the responsibility to land good jobs must be ours. Second, companies like Shell need to pull our weight, by constantly innovating and developing human capital.

Our manufacturing and retail businesses have been adopting advanced technologies to produce more efficiently and safely, and we have many channels to develop the most capable. They help to grow our revenue and contribute to Singapore's agenda of becoming a living lab of ideas and innovations.

We practise the broadest form of diversity that enables the largest range of future Singaporeans - regardless of gender, age, physical abilities, ethnicity or sexual orientation - to enjoy their careers with us. I challenge employers to become more diverse, and for the government to encourage it, because Singaporeans ultimately benefit.

Dolly Goh CEO Singapore National Co-operative Federation

THERE are many aspects that make up our unique identity but as a Singaporean born and raised here, what speaks to me most is our common vision, our spirit of resilience, and our readiness to give back to the community. These traits, passed down by our forefathers, are the shared values that transcend Singapore's diversity and are what bind Singaporeans, across different races, languages and religions, together.

Co-operatives with values deeply rooted in self-help, mutual help, equality, care for community and co-operation are a longstanding example of how Singaporeans have come together in times of need to not only help themselves but one another.

As we move forward in an uncertain and insecure future, these shared values will be intrinsic to building and maintaining the sense of unity among Singapore communities, to forge a cohesive, caring and inclusive society.

Lee Fook Chiew Chief Executive Officer Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants

SINGAPOREANS are known to be pragmatic and highly adaptable. These traits will stand us in good stead in an environment that continues to be characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.

As disruptive technologies and changing business models transform the business landscape, Singaporeans will respond to the challenges and opportunities with optimism and positive action.

As the national accountancy body, ISCA has been preparing accountancy professionals for upcoming challenges and opportunities in the changing environment, and we will continue to empower the profession with the skills and competencies to be future-ready.

Albert Phuay Yong Hen Chairman and Group CEO Excelpoint Technology Ltd

GROWING up and working in Singapore in the past six decades, I have seen how Singapore has transformed into a cosmopolitan nation, in terms of infrastructure, innovation, education and standard of living. The two distinct constants, I feel, are our ability to embrace multi-culturalism and also strike a balance between Eastern and Western influences. We respect each other's culture, and have even blended facets of each other's culture into our own identity.

Whether locally or abroad, Singaporeans can identify Singaporeans from the way we talk and behave. Apart from those two unique aspects, I think the Singapore identity also embodies resilience, social sensitivity, open-mindedness, and adaptability.

As we progress towards being a world-class nation of opportunities and inclusiveness for all, I look forward to our next generation of leaders and the next wave of positive changes that can bring Singapore to greater heights.

Alfred Chia CEO SingCapital Pte Ltd

SINGAPORE has definitely achieved miracles. Not only had we survived as a tiny island nation with no natural resources, we have prospered. While we are fortunate to have visionary leaders, it is also the "shared destiny" and hard work of many Singaporeans.

There is a Chinese saying, 'chuang ye nan, shou ye geng nan', which literally means that while it is tough to strike out and start a business, it is even tougher to maintain the success. We should continue to build on the "shared destiny" among different races and religions which makes us uniquely Singapore. Proud to be Singaporean!

Henrik Dreier General Manager - Singapore Porsche Asia-Pacific

FROM Singapore's humble beginnings, the city-state has today become one of the world's most admired and respected countries. Singapore has established itself as a leader at the forefront of technological developments and global innovation.

This truly Singaporean identity shares many common values with Porsche including reverence for and adherence to tradition and innovation, as well as constant pursuit for performance and social responsibility.

As we celebrate 70 years of Porsche sport cars and 30 years of Porsche Club in Singapore, our identities are aligned - never settling for less and always pushing for more.

Lim Soon Hock Managing Director PLAN-B ICAG Pte Ltd

FOREIGNERS see Singapore as not just a clean and safe country to live, work and play in but find it unique that Singaporeans of all races, cultures, religions and social classes can live harmoniously together. I agree with this common perception as I see it reflected in daily life in our housing estates, hawker centres, workplaces, in national service and at major events such as National Day.

Going forward, we cannot take this racial and religious harmony for granted. We have to continue to work hard to preserve and promote it. During their national service, both my sons bunked with room-mates of different races, yet for all of them, it was normal, much like our different races eating next to one another in our hawker centres.

This normalcy not only underpins society but is our Singapore identity.

Helen Ng Chief Executive Officer General Storage Company Pte Ltd

AT the core of the Singapore identity are two distinctive traits: honesty and diligence. These characteristics work in our favour when we market local brands overseas. People instinctively trust established Singapore brands with a good track record.

What we often lack is business savvy that helps us identify good opportunities and pitfalls in overseas markets. But I believe that experience - and eventually success - come after bad judgment and failures. I hope we can create a more conducive environment for people to pick themselves up and reinvent themselves after failure.

Sandie Overtveld VP APAC Zendesk

SINGAPORE'S booming entrepreneurial and startup scene is something the Zendesk team can identify with. Since we acquired Zopim and set up our APAC headquarters here, I've grown to understand and applaud the inherent drive of Singaporeans and their willingness to embrace challenges and change. As a global business, we are constantly looking to take innovation and best practices created locally and scale them to our global operations - particularly from Singapore.

Looking ahead, I see parallels between how the Singaporean identity is evolving, the rapid adoption of new technologies, and the key role customer experience will play in the nation's future. From up-and-coming startups looking to disrupt traditional services and industries, to large-scale Smart City initiatives that accelerate Singapore's economic development, the importance of creating a seamless customer experience is at the heart of this, and Singapore clearly has the opportunity to be seen as global leaders.

Vipin Kalra Chief Executive Officer BankBazaar International

SINGAPORE has built a multi-cultural and multi-racial society with a strong foundation of meritocracy. As a result of the diverse backgrounds and capabilities, the country is a fertile ground for nurturing new ideas and fostering innovation.

It's no surprise that Singapore is forging the way forward for the region and the world in a number of spheres including fintech. This is one of the reasons we have chosen to set up BankBazaar's international headquarters in Singapore.

With Singapore making waves on the world stage, local talent will need to step up and command more leadership roles to herald the next chapter of Singapore's identity.

Edwin Khew Teck Fook President The Institution of Engineers, Singapore

OUR identity is our diversity. The unique representation of many races, cultures, religions and languages on one small island has made us a crucial bridge within Asean and between Asean and the world.

Furthermore, Singaporeans are seen as honest, law-abiding, well-educated and technically competent - qualities with universal appeal. Our future identity will hinge on our younger generation's ability to remain sensitive to race, language and culture; and beat with one Singapore heart despite differing opinions.

Then we can be a good facilitator between East and West; a natural mediation and arbitration, banking, financial and wealth management centre; and a high-tech hub for R&D, manufacturing and innovation.

Lawrence Koh Founder and CEO iFly Singapore

AT the core of the Singapore identity is our boldness and unyielding resolve. This ethos has allowed us to break new ground over the past decades, to bring us to where we are today. In a world where disruption is (and will continue to be) second nature, our ability to be bold enough to innovate and adapt is what allows us to shine.

The same could be said for homegrown businesses, which possess these same qualities of resilience, creativity, and sometimes an element of pleasant surprise. My hope is that we never lose these qualities, and push Singapore forward with determination and grit.

Ray Ferguson Founder and Managing Partner Caber Partners

WHILE pioneer generations of Singaporeans may be known for their resilience in fighting to build Singapore up from the third-world country that it once was, perhaps the current generation's identity would have more to do with being innovative and adaptable to the ever-changing world today.

At the same time, to inoculate itself from complacency and homogeneity of ideas, Singaporeans as a whole could also benefit from moving towards increased open and mature dialogues on issues that have long been considered too polarising to see the light of day.

I foresee a greater sense of worldliness and openness in Singaporeans in the future.

Lieu Yew Fatt Managing Director Omron Electronics Singapore

SINGAPORE is renowned for its sustainable economy, as well as its stable business and political environment. A tiny island state with no natural resources, yet technologically-advanced, possessing robust infrastructure and a talented workforce, it was ranked at the top of last year's IMD World Digital Competitiveness ranking.

But the Lion City still has more to give. Its RIE2020 plan shows its commitment to driving an innovative and competitive economy, with advanced manufacturing a key pillar. The world will look to Singapore to see how advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation and robotics will shape not only its evolving identity as a smart economy, but also its prosperous future.

Magnus Grimeland Founder and CEO Antler

SINGAPORE has in an amazing way combined diversity with excellence and made it a strength. This is one of the core reasons why we at Antler.co see it as a great place to build the next generation of great companies.

Maintaining this strength through diversity and excellence will be even more important going forward as the economy is increasingly globalising, so we at Antler see this just evolving to be stronger.

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

AS a Singaporean PR who employs 30 Singaporean female millennials and has dated many more, I believe that the Singaporean identity has evolved into a more rounded personality.

Work-life balance is now as important as career, family is still a key attribute and quality of work, rather than company status, has also shifted in the minds of Singaporeans which in turn shapes what they care about and who they are.

The Singaporean identity also now includes key attributes such as positivity, a can-do viewpoint (rather than cannot!), happiness, a desire to be empowered and freed up to express themselves in every way. Give any female Singaporean responsibility and trust and they will repay you in spades. They are also direct, honest, open with their feelings and that in turn shapes their identity.

The future is very bright for the Singaporean identity. It's a pleasure to be here to share its wonders.

Tony Lombardo CEO Asia Lendlease

AS an expatriate working in Singapore for the past two years, I count myself lucky to be in a country that is synonymous with a deep-rooted culture of progressive infrastructure, wide range of delicious cuisines and a safe place to build a family. Singapore is a place where people from all walks of life feel a deep sense of pride at how far the nation has come, and how much that underpins the nation's continuous reinvention.

Especially pertinent is the government's long-term view towards urban planning and regeneration, which has always placed social cohesion and the cultivation of an enduring kampong spirit as top priorities.

To me, the evergreen Singapore identity is one where people of all races, age groups and backgrounds can socialise, work, live and play harmoniously together - and we must continue to build ample and conducive public spaces for them to do so. I expect this will continue to shape Singapore as one people and one nation in future.

Benedict Soh Chairman Kingsmen Creatives Ltd

I APPLAUD the key points outlined by President Halimah Yacob. Singapore, to many, is a miracle city state that has achieved beyond imagination. We managed to conquer seemingly impossible challenges in the first 50 years as an independent nation, mainly driven by an efficient and determined system of government and public sector managed financial investments.

For nation building, we should aim to achieve a robust business environment in the private sector, which employs over three quarters of the population. A developed society should not only focus on financial achievements, but also where arts and culture flourish. It is imperative to satisfy society's aspirations to a good life, which is not overly skewed to hard-nosed, practical financial gains.

Olive Tai Co-founder and Managing Director beautiful.me and Synagie.com

WHAT is distinctive about the Singapore identity is that we are a multi-cultural, racial and religious society! And we must never forget that nor should we ever take it for granted. The very basis of living and working together in harmony means that our country remains safe and peaceful without having to worry about riots and clashes between communities or racial groups.

As a frequent traveller round the globe, every time I introduce myself, I get responses from my clients and business partners that they know of Singapore to be a peaceful nation - this is the very core of our identity.

Moving forward, I see our different cultures melding even more, so much so that there will come a time we are no longer identified by our ethnicity, but rather we are just "Singaporean".

Yvonne Butler Managing Director The Information Source

MY personal perspective is that Singapore is a proud and resilient nation - a rich and valuable international melting pot which effectively balances tradition and progress.

In the face of further globalisation, Singapore's strength will be to harness innovation and leverage business and cultural diversity to be a major competitor and thought leader on the world stage.

Ian Lee Regional Head, Asia-Pacific The Adecco Group

THE Singapore identity is definitely distinctive and one that Singaporeans take a deep pride in. In the short span of 50 years since independence, the identity has evolved with many tangible, and some intangible, facets such as our unique communication style, our propensity for charity and our embracing of multiple races in a society that live in harmony respecting and, to some extent even imbibing, each other's idiosyncrasies.

In the years ahead, as technological and demographic changes occur, the society and identity will continue to evolve and it will be important to remember and celebrate this heritage by developing a vibrant and sustainable arts and culture ecosystem.

Chris Burton Managing Director for Singapore and Malaysia Vistra Group

SINGAPORE'S distinctive identity is maturity, stability and predictability in an otherwise unstable region. It blends diverse cultures and traditions, compassion, political ideologies, entrepreneurialism, innovation, competition and belief in a rules-based system, together to produce a unique business and social environment. Apart from the benefits this brings to the people of Singapore, it also attracts investment from outside of the region.

Singapore is already planning for the future and its long-term programmes and visionary ideals are a stark contrast with the short-term approach of Western governments. Its ability to execute consistently on long-term goals is enviable.

Going forward, the challenge for Singapore will be how to reconcile its unique position in the region with the competing interests of the West and the emergence of China. Singapore has thrived on the rules-based system in the past, but China has a more direct approach to getting its way. The historic and cultural links between Singapore and China should encourage investment and business, but Singapore may be forced to evolve some of its principles to accommodate China's increasing influence in the region.

Toby Koh Group Managing Director Ademco Security Group

THE debate continues about what the Singapore identify truly is. Here is my take as a true-blue Singaporean, born and bred on our island and who enjoys the comments from locals and foreigners on their perception of the Singapore identify.

Our identity stems primarily from our common experiences, languages, traits, music, etc. National service, Singlish, kiasuism, National Day songs, all help in the building of our unique identity.

The Singaporean braves the crowds and the heat for the latest shopping sales to save a buck but drops hundreds of dollars into the hat to support the less fortunate. We gripe and grumble but many acts of kindness pepper our every day. A kind Singapore.

There is a growing sense of adventure and entrepreneurship in our younger Singaporeans, I feel. I am sure that with our government's continual help for our SMEs, we will soon have more Singaporean business heroes to feed our national identity, and foster confidence in the future of Singapore.

Maren Schweizer Director Schweizer World Pte Ltd

SINGAPORE has decades of experience to develop an identity while many European countries struggle, as "who we are" was a given before. Shakespeare's romantic conception doesn't work anymore in today's world driven by interconnected people and technology.

If online dating sites were an analogy - we define our "actual self" by factual details like hair colour, occupation and lifestyle, the "outward ideal self" are life ambitions, what we believe in. Thirdly our "ought-to-be self", a picture of how we want to be seen to attract others.

President Halimah Yacob's speech has been nicely focused on the second.

I feel that multiculturalism describes the collective identity, "actual self" of Singapore well. Furthermore, Singaporeans have a well-developed ability to change towards the "ideal self". Singapore should keep its "actual self" while further developing the collective identity.

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

IDENTITY is usually synonymous with culture, and if language is an intrinsic part of culture, it then follows that what's most distinctive about the Singapore identity is arguably speech. Singlish, as we call it, is unique in the sense that while it features the use of truncated phrases, it does not compromise on the definition of the words used. Moreover, placing varying degrees of emphasis on the intonation of certain words can have the effect of wholly changing the meaning of sentences.

Initially thought as a subversion of the English language, certain Singlish words and phrases have gradually crept into accepted usage of the English language, and is a testament to the efficiency by which certain expressions and meanings can be conveyed - by just one or a few words - without the need for long, full sentences.

Laletha Nithiyanandan Managing Director Behavioural Consulting Group

A TRUE Singaporean is part Chinese, part Indian, part Malay and part Eurasian, despite his/her actual heritage. Growing up side by side, we ate in each other's homes and appreciated the diversity, especially the food.

However over the years, perhaps in an attempt to upkeep harmony, the government has tinkered too much in the area of race. Every form you fill up asks for your race; what does it matter when we are Singaporean? How do children of mixed marriages classify their race? If we want to evolve as Singaporeans in the future, let's first drop the race card.

Jayaprakash Jagateesan Chief Executive Officer RHT Holdings Pte Ltd

WE are uniquely placed as a culturally diverse society. Singapore's modernisation began with immigrants and we continue to attract talent from diverse cultures who contribute towards our growth and status as a global hub. Nation building and sound policymaking that was sensitive to this diversity has culminated in an inclusive and vibrant society.

As a Singaporean born and bred, I believe that the deep-rooted kampong spirit forges cohesiveness and defines what is truly Singapore. We must continue to uphold this spirit as the new leadership takes a bold review of policies and initiatives to narrow inequalities, cater to broader societal needs and tackle falsehoods that may potentially fracture our social harmony.

David Leong Managing Director PeopleWorldwide Consulting Pte Ltd

THE sense of a shared identity regardless of race and religion was aspirational for Singapore in the 1960s as we were a loose coalition of races and stripes with communal and communist ambitions. Today, we have fused better with a national consciousness but this is not a natural evolution.

The fourth generation leadership has to envision a future for Singaporeans with a view that this delicate balance of people is a constant "balancing-and-rebalancing" act. Not only have we to constantly balance the mix of people but we have to distribute income and wealth so the deltas for the top and bottom are in a comfortable and socially acceptable range.

While Singapore is charging ahead furiously to be a vibrant world-class city, the government must build the inclusive society that serves the rich, the poorer (not poor), the young and the old pioneers, and of course all from the different races, languages and religions.

Henry Tan Managing Director Nexia TS

THE Singapore identity reflects our multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-cultural society, where people of all walks of life, different social and income levels come together in a community. Knowing that many of us started as immigrants once to Singapore, the Singapore identity should have an embracing culture and a ethos of helping one another.

Meritocracy continues to define the spirit of excellence that has made Singapore move successfully from a fishing village to today's vibrant economy. Compassion defines the spirit of helping one another that is ingrained in many community and clan groups. With characteristics such as meritocracy and compassion the Singapore identity built on a multi-racial and multi-cultural environment can thrive.

Adam Low Co-founder and Executive Chairman Y Ventures Group Pte Ltd

SINGAPORE is built on new perspectives on different races, the people's dreams, their knowledge, creativity and motivation. Intellectual and social capital - people and knowledge are what we need to form the new perspectives of Singapore.

Lynette Seah Founder & CEO Alpha7

AS a born and bred Singaporean who pursued a career with strong "Western" influences, I can see how Singapore has adapted to the developed countries' way of business and becoming a developed country.

I have confidence in Singapore as a smart nation but more importantly, Singaporeans need to step up to the digital challenges ahead of us to keep us as a gateway into and out of the APAC region.

Jay Shah CEO OpenDNA

BEING strategically stationed at the confluence of East and West, Singapore has established a critical hub for global trade. Geographically speaking, the city state is accessible to markets in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar.

Often referred to as the "little red dot" because of its modest size of 697 square kilometres housing a population of under 6 million people, as remarkable as it may sound, this very red dot has a sphere of influence across the region.

Some of the world's largest companies have utilised Singapore for their businesses because of its ideal location (as a business epicentre in the heart of Asia), its sophisticated socio-economic framework complemented by its commendable infrastructure (Singapore has secured a second spot globally as reported by World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index 2017/2018) and talents.

With a strong track record of growth of Singapore's economy and commercial industry, the country perpetuates as a lucrative nation for business investment. Startups and multinational companies can be seen capitalising on Singapore's ecosystem to set up regional headquarters in Asia, with Singapore's shift towards nurturing and protecting innovation. Singapore is now being viewed as the new Silicon Valley. In fact, in recent reports Singapore has overtaken Silicon Valley to be the world's number 1 for startup talent.

In the years ahead, by enhancing its digital and technology capabilities as well as introducing more government schemes/funding in place to encourage innovations, could potentially make Singapore a global innovation and entrepreneurship hub.