On a good note, the pandemic has shed much light on our environment and how everyone has a part to play in creating a sustainable future. Whether traveling internationally or domestically for work or play, consider these easy and practical travel tips to reduce carbon footprint:

1. Bring Your Own (BYO) shopping bag

Plastic bags can take 500 years to biodegrade. Bring along a reusable woven shopping bag instead. It is lightweight and takes up very little room. These bags can also be very cheap and often come free too. So, take a reuseable shopping bag with you when you go to local markets.

2. Bring Your Own (BYO) bottle, utensils and straw

Single use plastics such as bottles, utensils and straws account for a lot of waste. These items are extremely destructive. Many end up in the ocean and causing harm to the wildlife and the environment. Always say no to disposable plastic and bring your own bottle, utensils and straw. Fill the bottle up in the hotel each day before setting out.

3. Commute with locals

Reduce carbon emissions from private car hires and take public transport. This is one of the best ways to experience local culture and sightsee. It provides many opportunities to interact with locals and thereby adds to travel and work experience, creating conversation topics for the future.

4. Eat, drink, shop local

Support local economy and reduce carbon footprint. Have meals in local restaurants or eateries. Opt for a locally brewed coffee or beer. Food and drink can be low-carbon too. Take your taste buds on an adventure – it’s carbon-friendly!

5. Be at home like a local

To be environment friendly is to live like you would at home. Avoid getting clean towels unnecessarily. Bed linens don’t have to be changed every day too. Remember to turn off TV, lights and aircon when leaving the room, and keep showers short.

6. Sightsee with locals

Respect their environment. When hiking, always stay on marked trails and maintain a safe distance from any animals encountered. Going off the beaten path could mean trampling on protected or endangered plants.

6. Pack lightly and wisely

Every single kilogram counts. The more a vehicle weighs, the more carbon emissions it produces. Pack only what is needed and use lightweight and eco-friendly backpacks like Targus Cypress EcoSmart Hero backpack. Made from recycled components, the new Cypress EcoSmart collection is certified by Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and aims to reduce the number of plastic bottles destined for landfills by utilising them in the bag production. The bottles are cleaned, flaked, re-polymerised and spun into fibre that is woven into the fabric that is used for the bags.

Our actions can shape tourism of tomorrow and the world we live in. Simply, consider the environment before using, doing or buying.

Brand Inc is the leading travel and hospitality PR agency.

The post 7 Easy Eco-Friendly Tips for More Sustainable Travel appeared first on BRAND INC..

The secret of Brand Inc. Malaysia’s success lies in strategic publicity expertise across digital, print and social media. We deliver results and content driven by SEO insights and google data analytics.

The start of Brand Inc. in Malaysia attributes to the foresight of Mr Jack Huang, PROLiNK, Managing Director. His experience and firm belief that both markets could benefit from our Group Director’s, Elaine Seah, strategic communication expertise, accelerated the opening of Brand Inc. Malaysia’s branch office. The group also started acquiring consumer tech clients like Wacom, Targus and ASUS.

Malaysia’s office very soon filled the market gap. Shortly, Brand Inc. evolved into one of the leading boutique consumer lifestyle public relations (PR) firms in Malaysia. The branch specialises in consumer lifestyle public relations such as medical, healthcare, travel and hospitality, tech, events and fashion.

“Spin has been interpreted historically to mean overt deceit meant to manipulate the public. But since the 1990s, the meaning has shifted to describing a “polishing of the truth.” Today spin refers to providing a certain interpretation of information meant to sway public opinion. Skilled practitioners of spin are hence sometimes called “spin doctors.”

We now celebrate more than a decade of providing customised public relations (PR) solution. Our long-standing clients include Oasia Suites Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Xepa Soul Pattinson, CareMark, Targus, Fossil, and many more.

Our firm belief in keeping all clients close to our hearts in order to develop the best possible PR solutions for them has continued to deliver top results. We also take pride in our close ties with members of the media, aiding them in finding unique, news-worthy stories that will engage and captivate their target audiences.

The post Lifestyle Public Relations Firm in Malaysia appeared first on BRAND INC..

Brand Inc. faced the first global economic challenge shortly after the Group was founded. The collapse of Lehman Brothers devastated financial markets. And the subprime mortgage crisis was then termed as the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression. 

Come 2020, the world faces yet another global crisis – the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. This time, the impact is stronger and on a much larger scale. It is estimated that the loss in global business travel revenue alone is USD 810.7 billion. In Singapore, more than 100,000 are expected to lose their jobs, and in April alone, 3,800 business shuttered.

2. Adopt Technologies

Brand Inc. is a trailblazer in the PR and communications industry in Singapore and Malaysia. The group is one of the first to specialise in lifestyle public relations. The launch of digital pr services in 2010 also puts the Group among the leading agencies to adopt data-driven strategies and social media marketing.

In the face of COVID-19, many companies are forced to change or adopt new ways to conduct businesses. With social distancing in place, online meeting has become a norm. Online transaction is also favoured over traditional brick and mortar business models. Adoption and reinvention are necessary in such uncertain times.

One example is the facebook group, Dram Full Singapore. The group took to Zoom to conduct whisky tastings and soirees during COVID-19 lockdown. “Commonly perceived as a traditional social affair, technologies have provided an avenue for people and brands to connect despite lockdown across borders. It has also provided sanity to many who have been cooped up at home,” said Matthew Fergusson-Stewart, a facebook community leader and co-founder of Dram Full groups.

3. Adapt to Best Practices

The post How To Survive COVID-19 & Other Crises For SMEs appeared first on BRAND INC..

Reading the news about novel coronavirus 2019 COVID-19 and its increase in the number of cases and fatalities can be depressing and stressful. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause unease for that reason. Here’s how to stay inspired during COVID-19 with 5 ways to turn fear and anxiety into positivity.

1. Restrict time to news on COVID-19

Yes. It is important to keep abreast of the latest virus developments and social policies. However, staying at home and repeatedly hearing or reading about the pandemic can be unnerving. Therefore, the best practice is to limit exposure to such news. For instance, set a fixed time to the news. In addition, consider watching updates before lunch or dinner. That way, it does not affect your mood in the morning or your sleep at night.

2. Tune in to positive stories on the impacts of coronavirus have on humanity and social cohesion

Draw strength from positive stories on humanity around the world. There are many people out there trying to make a difference during this COVID-19 pandemic. Need some examples? Here are two videos to start:

People in locked-down Wuhan, the first epicentre of the coronavirus, chant to boost morale earlier on during the outbreak.

Quarantined Italians take to singing in their balconies. It’s a moving showcase of the triumphant human spirit and the power of music. In times like this, music, uplifts and can’t be quarantined.

Closer to home, campaigns and social messaging on coronavirus are springing up in Singapore. Singaporeans clapped and cheered to show support for the frontiers.

The Singapore government also spared no expense in sharing social messages. Here’s our favourite COVID-19 song/video:

3. Read a book

It’s an old and well-known fact, a CEO reads an average of four to five books each month, which makes it sixty a year. Bill Gates often shares his reads and picks online.

From 5 Books to Enjoy This Winter (2019) by Bill Gates:

• “An American Marriage,” by Tayari Jones
  From Gates’ review: “Jones is such a good writer that you can’t help but empathize with Roy and Celestial. Both have been put into a super-difficult position. I obviously haven’t experienced what they go through, but the characters — and their reactions to the situation — ring true to me.”
• “These Truths,” by Jill Lepore
  From Gates’ review: “While many good history books provide perspectives beyond those of the traditional “great men” of history, Lepore’s book makes diverse points of view central to the narrative. She shows you all the ironies and contradictions in American history.”
• “Growth: From Microorganisms to Megacities,” by Vaclav Smil
  From Gates’ review: “Even if you don’t like math, don’t let [the first chapter]scare you off, because it makes a really important point: It destroys the idea that you can take an early growth curve for a particular development — the uptake of the smartphone, for example—and use it as the basis for predicting the future.”
• “Prepared: What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life,” by Diane Tavenner
  From Gates’ review: “Diane shares the story of how she designed a new kind of charter school with a simple but very ambitious goal: ‘We wanted to teach kids not just what they needed to get into college, but what they needed to live a good life.’”
• “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dream,” by Matthew Walker
  From Gates’ review: “I read a couple of great books this year about human behavior, and this was one of the most interesting and profound. Everyone knows that a good night’s sleep is important — but what exactly counts as a good night’s sleep? And how do you make one happen? Walker has persuaded me to change my bedtime habits to up my chances.”

 

4. Declutter and Housekeep

Keeping things neat and tidy sparks joy.

In 2011, researchers at Princeton University found that clutter can actually make it more difficult to focus on a particular task. Specifically, they found that the visual cortex can be overwhelmed by task-irrelevant objects, making it harder to allocate attention and complete tasks efficiently.

In a study published in the scientific journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, researchers found that women have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in messy homes. These women were more likely to be depressed and fatigued than women who described their homes as a sanctuary to retreat and restore.

There is no better time than now to compartmentalise cloud drives, defrag laptop and relook into email rules. Instead of deleting junk email, try to go through and unsubscribe those that almost never get opened and read. Perhaps it’s also a good time to earn a tip or two from Marie Kondo: Tidy your space, transform your life. For us, our mantra is clean up, defrag and reboot. Such wisdom applies to life as well.

5. Learn a new skill

In Singapore, entertainment, religion and learning centres are suspended.  In fact, many places and organisations take to social media to conduct tastings, prayers and lessons. Now is the perfect time to upgrade or learn a new skill. Cooking would be a great valuable skill for a start!

For those looking into professional skills upgrade, there are e-learning schools Check out NTUC Learning Hub’s collaboration with Udemy. Or check out Skillsfuture. There are different courses for different career stages. If there is one that interests you, see if there are online classes. Best of all, it’s subsidised by the Singapore government for Singaporeans. It’s time to upgrade some skills!

The post Entrepreneur: How to Stay Inspired During COVID-19 appeared first on BRAND INC..

Also known as the Maritime Malt, Old Pulteney is a premium single malt Scotch whisky that is distilled and matured by the rugged coastline in Wick, one of the most northerly coastal towns in Scotland. Characterised by the delicate saline notes of the sea breeze and complexity from hand-selected fine oak casks, each expression of Old Pulteney comes with a story and its own unique charm, while retaining its traditional heritage.

Regarded by whisky lovers around the world as one of the finest whiskies produced, Old Pulteney 15 Years Old has recently been awarded a high score of 95.5 points in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2019.

PR for Old Pulteney‘s new core collection includes the newly packaged 12 Years Old and three new expressions: Non-aged smoky Huddart, 15 Years Old, and 18 Years Old. Media are invited for a pairing session with Mr Malcolm Waring, Distillery Manager. The food was specially curated by Chef Jeremy Gillon of Michelin Star restaurant Jag. It was attended friends from the Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao and key opinion industry leaders such as Daniel Goh and Matthew Fergusson-Stewart.

Old Pulteney 12 YO

Embodies the maritime malt characteristic that have become synonymous with Old Pulteney whiskies. Matured in ex-bourbon casks, marrying together the salty flavours of the sea with the influence of American oak to bring sweetness into play with the slight scent of citrus, vanilla, and caramel.

Old Pulteney Huddart

Celebrates the birthplace of Old Pulteney. Rich and warming. Combines the influence from the salt-infused sea air with peat smoke, maturing in American ex-bourbon casks and finished in American
ex-peated casks to deliver a mellow and smoky whisky with true character, depth and identity. Brimming initially with mellow wood smoke, honey and oily leather, blooming later into crisp green apple top notes. Creamy vanilla and a hint of burnt toffee in the background.

Old Pulteney 15 YO

Intense yet balanced. Bursting with rich dried fruits, ripe apples, and citrus, with honey sweetness and a generous chord of creamy vanilla, while slightly chocolatey and floral in the background.

Old Pulteney 18 YO

The character and colour come entirely from the American oak casks and Spanish sherry butts in which it has been matured, delivering a deep amber colour, with an indulgent and deeply warming expression featuring notes of chocolate and spice. A whisper of flowery fruitiness yield to crisp burst of citrus and apple.

The refreshing new look draws on the character and heritage of Old Pulteney. It also gives a contemporary feel that connects with a new generation of consumers who appreciates a good dram.

Each bottle is signed by distillery manager Mr. Malcolm Waring to certify Old Pulteney’s quality in every aspect. Waring oversees all aspects of Old Pulteney’s production including the selection of oak casks for maturation which also lends the brand its distinct notes.

A true hometown boy from Wick, Waring has worked in every part of Old Pulteney distillery for the past three decades.  He is the man behind the crafting of the three new Old Pulteney variants: The non-aged smoky Huddart, 15 Years Old and 18 Years Old. All these new expressions will join Old Pulteney’s repackaged signature 12 Year Old malt in the range continuing the theme of the Maritime Malt.

#OLDPULTENEY #MaritimeMalt

Brand Inc. is the appointed public relations agency to handle the PR for Old Pulteney’s New Core Collection. For more information on whisky PR or F&B PR, contact us today.

The post PR for Old Pulteney’s New Core Collection appeared first on BRAND INC..

Sometimes, less is more and hence less can indeed be better. Such is the case of micro-influencers. While their reach pales in comparison to the stars, they have recently become the go-to option for marketers when it comes to influencer marketing. Who are they? Why work with them?  Find out more about this cost-effective PR channel.

Who are micro-influencers?

Firstly, let’s address the paramount question of who are actually considered micro-influencers. The birth of social media has gifted many individuals platforms to showcase their talents and voice their opinions. While many may be familiar with top social influencers such as PewDiePie and Michelle Phan, a new wave is rising in the influencer industry. They are not A-listers. They do not have millions of followers. But their voices carry very significant weight among their followers. The word ‘micro’, like any other adjectives, is highly subjective. Although different businesses and agencies have their own interpretation of what qualifies one as a micro-influencer, the general consensus is someone with 10,000 followers – 100,000 followers on a single platform.

Influencer categories by Blogs Release

Why work with micro-influencers?

Parallel to the situation of publishing houses’ advertising rate, the smaller the reach of the influencer, the less costly they are to engage. This is a great news for small and medium-sized enterprises with tighter marketing and public relations budget. This cost-effective PR channel is not the only reason marketers are flooding these micro-influencers’ inbox with invites and proposals. According to a research by Markerly, the engagement rate and number of followers of social media influencers are inversely related beyond the 1000 followers threshold on Instagram and Facebook, an effect similar to the law of diminishing returns.

Markerly Engagement and Followership Statistics
Source: DIGIDAY

As the follower base grows beyond 1000 followers, the engagement figures relative to the size of the follower base falls. The findings by Markerly is also further supported by statistics from Hello Society on the engagement level of micro-influencers.

Hello Society February 2017 Data
Image Source: Adweek

The driving forces behind these impressive figures: niche and authenticity. Despite the smaller number of followings, what sets a micro-influencer apart is a relatively more defined audience. Aside from being ‘experts’ in their field of interests, successful micro-influencers also tend to take independent stances instead of acting purely as corporate mouthpieces, making them generally, or 92 per cent according to MuseFind, more trusted sources compared to traditional marketing channels in the age of Adblockers.

PRotip: If you need to have absolute control over every single detail of a micro-influencer’s post, you probably should not be engaging one in the first place.

How to work with micro-influencers?

To engage micro-influencers, first identify them. The most obvious ways to do so is through the brand’s list of existing followers or through relevant hashtags. After identification, the next step is to assess if the influencer’s image and follower base match with the brand’s positioning and target market. As they usually strive on a strong sense of individuality and a defined scope of influence, pushing a product that is not of interest to the influencers and irrelevant or inaccessible to their followers would only be a waste of resources. If the process seems too tedious, a PR agency with an established network of contacts should be able to get the work done.

PRotip: Focus on building a long-term working relationship that would benefit both the brand and the influencer. Strong brand affinity is a better currency than a fat pay cheque! 

The post Cost-effective PR: How to Achieve More with Micro-influencers appeared first on BRAND INC..

Back in 2010, the inaugural Whisky Live Singapore welcomed 450 attendees when only 250 was expected, conservatively. The number rose exponentially especially from 2013 to approximately 3000 in 2016 and 2017.

Here’s what happened: In 2013, the Collector’s Room was launched. Fast forward to 2015, we conceptualised the Ladies Room which was a hit especially among the female whisky lovers on heels.

Whisky Live Singapore 2017 was named one of the top ten beverage events in Singapore. The event remains the largest and most premium spirit and whisky show in the region.

Our partnership saw Whisky Live Singapore 2017 rank top four under The Bar Awards Singapore 2018 – Best Beverage Event category. Alongside the event were three other successful events: Asia’s 50 Best Bars, Gin Jubilee and Singapore Cocktail Week. As noted by Daniel Goh, Spirited Singapore, Whisky Live is possibly the event best known for almost single-handedly growing the single malt whisky community Singapore.

Through the event, we have had the pleasure of working with global whisky luminaries such as Dave Broom, Emmanuel Dron, Michael Urquhart and Thierry Benitah, and met rum legend, Luca Gargano. And of course working with industry leaders such as Kamil Foltan and Matthew Fergusson-Stewart.

We are proud to be the official Event PR agency for Whisky Live Singapore through the years. Let’s relive some of Whisky Live Singapore moments as we look forward to more Whisky Live events around the world:

Think you may need a PR agency in Singapore or Malaysia? Find out more about our services or get in touch now!

The post PR Agency for Whisky Live Singapore: Through the Years. appeared first on BRAND INC..

This speculation was not at all surprising especially after offers to acquire the latter were turned down. This additional feature to Instagram has since become a staple feature on the application. It has face-tracking filters and a 24-hour ‘shelf-life’. In 2017, Instagram Stories were seen more than 300 million daily active users.

With one in three Instagram users on Instagram Stories every day, brands and businesses should consider how best to connect with their audiences through and beyond these valuable yet “perishable” content. To begin with, here are some general pointers as to what you can do with Instagram and Facebook Stories when you have only 24 hours.

#1 Tell your stories from different angles

While this feature provides opportunities for brands to connect with their target audiences, replicating content is rarely advised. A good storyteller plans the narratives and uses varied ways to communicate different messages. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to these ‘angles’. Brands and influencers commonly share behind-the-scene footages, latest campaigns, sales announcements or occasional rants. The key is to ensure your content resonates with your audience, is exciting and entertaining.

#2 Know your tools

Knowing what to tell is just the first step but the art of telling or the ‘How’ is equally important. When it comes to churning out content that arrests attention, one should ideally be quick but never limit oneself to the tools within the application. Fun as GIF, stickers, rewind, zoom and Boomerang may be, they may not necessarily help your content stand out. This is especially important if one is planning to advertise one’s stories. Our advice is to experiment with different third-party apps to take your Instagram or Facebook Stories to the next level.

#3 Continuation in Stories

What happens after the 15-second video? Frequent Facebook and Instagram Stories user would have noticed that verified accounts have the “Swipe Up” option for including links in their Stories, a luxury that many SMEs, micro-influencers and the masses have no access to for the time being. While this does present some added challenges to the smaller players, there are always ways to work around this problem.

Firstly, while Instagram is notorious for not allowing clickable links in post captions, every account gets to insert one clickable URL in the profile bio. In addition, if you’re a business or thinking of one day monetising your account, consider switching to a business profile to make it easier for your audience to reach you.

Nonetheless, forging meaningful and sustainable relationships with the audience is more than making it convenient but taking the initiative to engage in dialogues. This involves answering queries and replying to messages from individual users. On top of managing relationships, frequent interactions also help with pushing one’s Stories to the firsts in the fan’s Storyfeed.

Think you may need a PR agency in Singapore or Malaysia? Find out more about our services or get in touch now!

The post What To Do With Instagram and Facebook Stories When You Only Have 24 Hours appeared first on BRAND INC..

Among the countries in Asia, Thailand holds the largest share of the Asia medical tourism market. India and Singapore come second and third.

Source: Allied Market Research

South Korea is also a strong contender in the medical tourism space. The country holds the fourth spot in the year 2016. And, it is also likely to almost double its market share by the year 2022.

Malaysia’s medical tourism receipts are also growing strong due to its weakened currency. In 2016, Malaysia saw 940,000 medical tourists.

Globally, medical tourism market was valued at USD 19.7 billion in 2016. It is estimated to reach USD 46.6 billion by 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.8%.

Doom and Gloom in Singapore Medical Tourism?

Singapore sees softening of medical tourism receipts and her reign as the region’s top medical tourism destination shaky, given the strength of the Singapore dollar and hence the high cost of medical treatment.

Local government support for medical tourism in Singapore has also waned in recent years. More patients now eye better value for money treatments in neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and India.

In what seems like lustre loss to the city state’s leadership position as a medical tourism destination, Singapore’s healthcare players and government are actually hatching new strategies as the nation combats rising costs and growing competition.

Singapore Medical Tourism Working the Oomph?

Ranked fourth in Global 2016 Medical Tourism Index, Singapore remains the top medical tourism destinations in the world.

Source: FTN News

Singapore is also one of the most developed countries in the world, maintaining the top spot in the World Health Organization’s ranking of healthcare in Asian countries.

International patients are attracted to Singapore mainly due to the country’s famed efficient healthcare system, advanced medical technology and patient outcome. Specialties in cardiology, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, organ transplants, orthopaedics, and paediatrics are examples of high-end complex surgical procedures that are popular among patients.

Source: Allied Market Research

The top international patient sources for Singapore medical tourism receipts are Indonesia, Malaysia and China. Singapore is also a popular medical tourism destination for patients from Australia, UK, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Singapore VS The World

Even as neighbouring countries vie for a slice of the medical tourism pie, Singapore still has the edge. The country is working its premium in specialist cases which require highly complex surgeries and treatments.

Singapore is recognised its pool of experienced doctors and high standard of equipment. Expertise in advanced cancer treatments, major abdominal, blood vessel, bypass and minimally invasive surgeries and robotic operations also surpasses that of neighbouring countries.

While improvements in general and cosmetic procedures are attracting patients to neighbouring countries, there is a new pool of patients emerging from other Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam. Singapore is also attractive as a medical tourism destination to patients from Europe and Australia where medical technology adoption rate is slower, and treatments are more expensive.

The Singapore Brand

Some hospital groups have leveraged on Singapore’s reputable healthcare brand and brought it overseas. The aim is to attract patients in populous countries such as China and India. And of course, to counter the migration of medical tourist.

SGX-listed Health Management International (HMI), for example, runs Regency Specialist Hospital in Johor. Raffles Medical, one of Singapore’s largest private healthcare institution, is also building two hospitals in China. Parkway Pantai, the company behind Mount Elizabeth and Gleneagles brand of hospitals, owns 28 hospitals in Malaysia, Singapore, India, Greater China, Brunei and the UAE.

While medical tourists may be declining, medical tourism receipts in Singapore remain strong as the city-state redefines its competitive medical edge.

Click here to find out more about our Medical PR perspective and services!

 Sources:

1. http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/singapore-medical-tourism-market-and-forecast-to-2022-1002223715

2. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/medical-tourism-market

3. http://icrowdnewswire.com/2017/12/03/the-singapore-medical-tourism-market-research-analysis-by-major-segments-and-forecasts-till-2022/

4. https://www.giiresearch.com/report/iga511197-asia-medical-tourism-market-forecast.html

5. https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/medical-tourism-market

6. http://health.oliverwyman.com/transform-care/2015/03/market_primer_leapf.html

7. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/AC/As-Singapore-loses-medical-tourism-edge-healthcare-firms-expand-overseas?page=1

8. https://www.reuters.com/brandfeatures/venture-capital/article?id=11869

9. http://www.orbisresearch.com/reports/index/medical-tourism-market-by-treatment-type-and-by-region-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecasts-2016-2021

10. https://ftnnews.com/health-a-spa/30526-2017-medical-tourism-trends.html

The post Medical PR Perspective: Redefining Medical Tourism Edge appeared first on BRAND INC..

As the founder of Brand Inc., there is no better way to support woman than being a part of IWD and celebrate the achievements of my comrades. And believe me – from a female entrepreneur perspective, there is much to celebrate. Let’s take a look at the strides women in Singapore have achieved and what I think is the real meaning of progress.

Strides Women in Singapore Achieved

Do you know:

• 31.6% of females hold professional, managerial and senior official roles in 2017, as compared to 11.3% in 1990. (Ministry of Manpower, Singapore)
• 78% of businesses in Singapore have at least one woman on the senior management team. (Women in Business by Grant Thornton)
• Women in Singapore are 55% more likely to advance to manager roles or above, whereas men only have a 31% chance. (Getting to Equal 2018 by Accenture)
• Females holding managerial positions have narrowed gender wage differential from 16.4% in 2012 to 10.1% in 2016. (Ministry of Manpower, Singapore)

 

Almost 90% of Brand Inc.’s clients are female. They hold managerial, senior managerial or directorial positions. Although not all are mothers, they have all shown admirable tenacity, leadership and vision to take ideas off the ground. How does the role of a mother come into play in this context?

According to Ms Jiaming Ju,  Associate Director for Centre for Research on the Economics of Ageing at Singapore Management University, motherhood skills are not so different from what is required in senior management.

Ju wrote in The Straits Times that women gain important skills such as crisis management, time management and leadership skills throughout childbirth and raising children (running the household included, if I may add). Empathy, multitasking under sleep deprivation, enduring and pulling through hardship under intense pressure are valuable skills and qualities. 

Although women in Singapore have achieved much through the years, there is always room for progress.

Room for Progress in Gender Parity

In an astounding report Women in the Workplace by JobStreet.com, 66% of the 480 female respondents in Singapore experienced unfair treatment at work. Family and gender-salary gap were quoted, with no surprise, as key challenges. 70% of these women surveyed also expressed interest to give up working if they had the financial means to do so.

Achieving Gender Parity in a Boutique PR Agency.

70% of ladies surveyed want to give up working? That is high! I do not have insights into the survey but I do question how the survey was structured, collected and analysed.

Movements to bridge income differential have been gaining momentum globally. Locally, the government is building a support system to enable women to balance family commitments with career aspirations. So, should women choose to give up work just because they can? Let’s not open that can of worms.

Progress is Balancing Work and Family 

Those who know me can attest to my passion for public relations and communications. It is a luxury to be able to run a PR firm which serves as my creative outlet. I derive joy and a deep sense of fulfilment from mentoring and seeing team members take off at Brand Inc., or even somewhere else pursuing their dreams like I did when I was their age.

Mothers, Please Have Fun.

All of us press for progress in different ways. I chose my role as an entrepreneur some 15 years ago. I continue to develop new skills and techniques, and inject meaning into my work. Instead of moving to a directorial position in a multinational company and bridging the gender-wage differential, I see my choice as progress simply because I derive a great sense of satisfaction seeing the growth and progress of my child, my team and my clients.

My personal achievements and business milestones testify to the notion that women can be just as great if not greater in many aspects of life even in the face of adversity.

Progress stems from self. It’s a desire, a mindset. Ladies, we are changing the world, one woman at a time, and it starts with you. I have pressed for progress. Have you?

Written by Elaine Seah. She wants to play Game of Thrones theme song on her pipa.

The post Female Entrepreneur Story: Progress is Choice appeared first on BRAND INC..