logo
Feeling stuck in your career? Join the conversation on how to level up with ST Podcasts on June 3

Feeling stuck in your career? Join the conversation on how to level up with ST Podcasts on June 3

Straits Times09-05-2025
ST Engineering telecommunications system engineer Noel Png (centre) and Workforce Singapore senior career coach Parameswari Seenivasan (right) will chat with Headstart on Record host Tay Hong Yi about how to build a meaningful career and stay relevant amid changes in the job landscape at Rasa at Republic Plaza on June 3. ST GRAPHIC: AMIRUL KARIM
Feeling stuck in your career? Join the conversation on how to level up with ST Podcasts on June 3
SINGAPORE – Is your career failing its health check? Wondering how to pivot, grow or stay ahead in a constantly changing world?
Join a discussion and learn practical strategies on how to build a meaningful and rewarding career during the upcoming ST Podcasts Live event on June 3, at Raffles Place's new hangout space Rasa.
Titled 'How to build a career for the ages', the dialogue is part of The Straits Times' Headstart On Record podcast, which aims to help young listeners level up their careers and personal finances.
ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi, who co-hosts the podcast, will be speaking with Mr Noel Png, a telecommunications system engineer at ST Engineering, and Ms Parameswari Seenivasan, a senior career coach with Workforce Singapore (WSG).
Having transitioned from engineering to sales before returning to engineering, Mr Png, who is in his early 30s, was able to tap his transferrable skills to manoeuvre through different industries in a strategic manner and eventually find his purpose. He also has experience working in Europe, spending four years there before returning to Singapore in 2024 .
Meanwhile, Ms Seenivasan brings with her more than 15 years of career coaching expertise, and she believes in helping individuals align their career choices with their personal values and long-term objectives.
The Headstart On Record podcast airs every first and third Monday of the month. The live recording on June 3 is organised in partnership with WSG in support of Career Health, a SkillsFuture initiative that aims to empower Singaporeans to develop resilient and fulfilling careers.
The ST Podcasts Live recording on June 3 will take place at Rasa at Republic Plaza.
PHOTO: MARTIN YEOH
Following that dialogue, a second podcast recording will take place.
The Music Lab podcast will be hosted by ST music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi, who will be interviewing award-winning music director and producer Evan Low on how he built a music career in Singapore, scoring big projects such as composing National Day Parade songs and touring with regional stars.
The audience will be able to pose their burning questions to the panellists during the question-and-answer session after each podcast.
Those who are interested in attending the podcast discussions can sign up at http://str.sg/podcastlive
The first ST Podcasts Live event took place on Feb 12 at social impact hub The Foundry, kicking off The Straits Times' 180th-year celebrations.
This was followed by the second podcast event on April 15 at The Projector, with about 100 people attending the recording.
ST Podcasts Live at Rasa
Where: Rasa, 9 Raffles Place, Republic Plaza Tower 1, #02-01/02, Singapore 048619
When: 6.30pm to 9pm on June 3, 2025
Topics: (Headstart On Record podcast) How to build a career for the ages;
(Music Lab podcast) How I make a living out of music – interview with Evan Low
How to sign up: http://str.sg/podcastlive
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

ST Engineering price targets raised by analysts after strong H1 net profit
ST Engineering price targets raised by analysts after strong H1 net profit

Business Times

time2 days ago

  • Business Times

ST Engineering price targets raised by analysts after strong H1 net profit

[SINGAPORE] The price target for ST Engineering was raised by multiple analysts on Friday (Aug 15) after it reported a strong financial performance in the first half of 2025. CGS International's Lim Siew Khee raised her price target to S$8.70 from S$8.40; RHB analyst Shekhar Jaiswal upped his to S$9.10 from S$8.70. Morningstar's Lorraine Tan, director of equity research for Asia, raised the engineering group's fair-value estimate by 21 per cent to S$8.10. On Thursday (Aug 14), the company reported a 19.7 per cent rise in net profit to S$402.8 million for the first half of 2025, up from S$336.5 million in the corresponding period of the year before. This was driven largely by revenue growth from its commercial aerospace as well as its defence and public security business segments, despite drag from the US tariffs and foreign currency exchange. The counter dropped 6.3 per cent to S$8.40 at the close on Thursday, with 13.3 million shares having changed hands. It had closed at an all-time high the previous day at S$8.96. Tan had said that the drop could be due to 'overheated sentiment in the defence sector'. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up RHB's Jaiswal said that ST Engineering's defence and public security (DPS) margins exceeded expectations. He added that a record-high order book and solid revenue visibility, underpinned by growth in the commercial aerospace and DPS units, expanding international defence orders and minimal exposure to the US trade tariffs, reinforced the investment case in its stock. The limited impact of US tariffs on ST Engineering was also flagged as a positive by Lim, who pointed out that the group had maintained plans to not absorb its suppliers' tariff costs unless it was able to pass through such costs. The group also lowered its guidance for the impact of the US tariffs on engine maintenance and repair operations (MRO) in China to S$34 million for the second quarter, from its previous less-precise estimate of under S$40 million a month. ST Engineering opened a new MRO facility in Ezhou, in China's Hubei province, on Aug 11, under its joint venture with SF Airlines, a Chinese cargo airline owned by SF Express, a logistics company. CGS International's Lim and Morningstar's Tan lauded the group's efforts at cost-cutting: it had slashed S$100 million in costs in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Tan said Morningstar had 'underestimated STE's ability to lower costs this quickly'. 'We believe the market will reward STE for hiving off low-margin/loss-making businesses,' said Lim. Tan echoed the sentiment, adding that the company is on track to meet its S$1 billion cost-saving target through 2029. However, CGS International downgraded ST Engineering to a 'hold' on the back of it trading at three standard deviations above its historical average. Lim said the market appears to have priced in the 2026 growth forecast of a 13 per cent growth in earnings per share. She also noted that the company faces some downside risk from slower order wins. Tan suggested that the easing of growth in defence sales in the second half could have come from a strong base effect. 'We think the key risk remains STE's ability to keep on the profitability path,' she said. RHB kept its rating at 'buy', and raised its 2026-2027 earnings forecast by 3 to 4 per cent on sustained commercial aerospace and DPS margins, with the price target including a 4 per cent environmental, social and governance premium. CGS International estimates a 2 to 5 per cent lift in earnings per share, based on lower financing costs and higher commercial aerospace segment margins.

Overseas placement scheme for locals ahead of pace at six-month mark
Overseas placement scheme for locals ahead of pace at six-month mark

Business Times

time2 days ago

  • Business Times

Overseas placement scheme for locals ahead of pace at six-month mark

[SINGAPORE] A Workforce Singapore (WSG) initiative has placed 70 locals in overseas roles within six months of its November launch – surpassing a quarter of its two-year target. The S$16 million Overseas Markets Immersion Programme (OMIP) aims to place 250 locals within two years. The current participants come from 60 companies. 'It's been quite well-received,' said WSG director for trade and lifestyle Kenneth Wong. 'Trajectory-wise, we are making good progress.' The programme supports firms to send employees with little or no overseas experience for placements of at least six months, with funding for up to nine months. Companies must submit a structured overseas on-the-job training plan and a 24 to 36-month career development road map, to ensure that the stints contribute meaningfully to career progression. The profile of participating companies has been 'quite a mix', spanning sectors such as wholesale trade, information and communication technology, manufacturing, and finance, said Wong. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up In most cases, workers remain with their Singapore-based company, which may operate an overseas office or branch. Joint ventures can also tap the scheme, but firms without an overseas presence or partner cannot. Currently, about half of the placements are in Asean countries. Other markets include China and Switzerland. The participating employees are a 'well-balanced' mix of professionals, said Wong. They range from their late 20s to mid-career staff in their 30s and 40s, with some in their 50s as well. On why companies are keen to participate, Wong said: 'This is a good way for them to give global exposure to their talent that they want to groom. 'The programme is designed as a win-win: Companies pursue expansion or transformation plans, while individuals gain skills and career growth. It also helps with talent retention.' OMIP in action Both multinationals and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have tapped the scheme. In March, Sony Electronics Singapore used OMIP to post manager Thomas Sim, 45, to its Sri Lanka branch, to serve as country head for two years. His remit includes research, market intelligence, and understanding consumer and competitor behaviour – tasks that require a physical presence, said Shirley Chia, a senior manager in Sony's human resource department. The assignment, she said, is part of a broader career plan to give Sim leadership experience and higher visibility for future opportunities in Singapore or abroad. Sim said being on the ground has enabled him to strengthen ties with local partners, sharpen his understanding of the market and respond more quickly to developments. After this posting, he hopes to take on more regional or global leadership roles, and to inspire others to consider international assignments. Greydient, an SME in creative branding, also plans to tap OMIP. It will send its head of project management to Thailand for at least six months to better understand the local business environment, client and consumer behaviour, and cultural nuances. Founder Keynes Yeo noted the importance of OMIP funding for SMEs, for which it is 'a luxury to have someone offshore'. The move will support Greydient's efforts to build a foothold and grow its brand in Thailand, he said. Such proximity allows for richer interactions than remote calls and creates opportunities for knowledge transfer that are harder to achieve from afar, he added.

ST Engineering H1 earnings up 19.7% at S$402.8 million on back of defence demand in Europe, Middle East
ST Engineering H1 earnings up 19.7% at S$402.8 million on back of defence demand in Europe, Middle East

Business Times

time2 days ago

  • Business Times

ST Engineering H1 earnings up 19.7% at S$402.8 million on back of defence demand in Europe, Middle East

[SINGAPORE] Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering) on Thursday (Aug 14) posted a 19.7 per cent increase in net profit to S$402.8 million for the first half-year ended June, up from S$336.5 million in the year-ago period. This was driven by revenue growth, primarily from its commercial aerospace, and also its defence and public-security business segments, despite negative impact from foreign currency exchange and the US tariffs. Earnings per share rose in tandem to S$0.1293 for H1, up from S$0.108 previously. H1 revenue grew 7.2 per cent to S$5.9 billion, up from S$5.5 billion in the first half of the year before. BTVISUAL ST Engineering said H1 revenue would have grown 8 per cent if not for the impact of a weaker US dollar against the Singapore dollar on forex translation; the impact of forex translation on net profit was, however, negligible. Revenue from the commercial aerospace segment rose 5 per cent to S$2.4 billion from S$2.2 billion. The group said the overall impact of the tariffs on its first-half results was immaterial after mitigation measures were implemented. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Revenue from the defence and public security segment grew 12 per cent to S$2.7 billion from S$2.4 billion; that for the urban solutions and satellite communications segment was flat at S$921 million. The group secured S$9.1 billion in new contracts for H1, which brought its total order book to S$31.2 billion as at end-June. It expects to deliver about S$5 billion from the order book in the remainder of 2025. ST Engineering group president and chief executive Vincent Chong said: 'Our strong order book continues to provide revenue visibility for the group. 'Our recent divestments are in line with our portfolio rationalisation strategy to exit non-core businesses and recycle capital. We remain steadfast in strengthening our core businesses.' ST Engineering declared an interim dividend of S$0.04 per share for Q2 – unchanged from the previous year's payout – to be paid on Sep 5. Growing defence revenue Mervyn Tan, group chief operating officer for technology and innovation and president of defence and public security, noted the contribution by international defence business to the strong results. Crediting the performance to the local and international partnerships the group has built, he added that because of Singapore's small size, there is a need to scale the products beyond the Republic, so that non-recurring engineering and fixed costs can be shared. 'The local customers will ... enjoy a reduction in terms of cost per unit,' he said. Tan said that potential business opportunities for the 8x8 Terrex and Bronco All-Terrain Tracked Carrier – which are armoured vehicles – have arisen in Europe and the Middle East. He also expressed confidence that the sale of ammunition, namely the 40 mm and 155 mm, would continue into the second half as well. 'There's simply a demand for such products in the market, especially in the Middle East and Europe,' he said. Beyond ammunition and defence hardware, ST Engineering is also seeking to expand on its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. Tan singled out the Middle Eastern and North African market as an area to watch, but added that doing MRO in those regions is not new to the company. Beyond undertaking MRO for aircraft, ST Engineering is looking for MRO opportunities for land vehicles in the Middle East. 'I think we have built a strong foundation in terms of our technical competencies,' he said. Shares of ST Engineering closed 6.25 per cent or S$0.56 lower at S$8.40 on Thursday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store