MONEY FM 89.3 - Workday Afternoon with Claressa Monteiro

What if the decision to launch a nuclear weapon was left to AI? That’s the extreme thought experiment Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan posed as he called for stronger global safeguards on artificial intelligence at the UN General Assembly. On AI & Me, Lynlee Foo and Nazirul Asrar dives into the AI news that made the headlines, and to ask listeners if they would completely trust an AI system to make an important decision for them, if they knew there was a human who could intervene.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More aircraft and more flights across Asia-Pacific mean more demand for maintenance but can the industry keep up? With pressure building on spare parts, repair capacity and turnaround times, how is the aircraft maintenance business changing and what does this mean for aircraft availability and airline costs? On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to Thomas Mouveaux, General Manager, APAC, Thales Aviation Global Services, about how the aircraft maintenance industry is evolving as aviation demand grows across Asia-Pacific.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The management consulting industry is changing, from what clients expect from consultants to how firms build their teams and deliver their services. As AI takes on more of the research, analysis and groundwork traditionally handled by consultants, how will this change the value consultants bring to clients and the way the industry does business? On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to Lyon Poh, Partner, Head of Corporate Transformation and AI CoE Lead, KPMG, about how AI is changing the business of management consulting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI can summarise a major news story, combine several reports and produce a confident answer in seconds. But do we know which sources it relied on, what context disappeared or whether the answer is correct? To mark World News Day, Lynlee Foo speaks with Jeremy Au Yong, Associate Editor at The Straits Times and co-writer of its World News Day editorial. They discuss how AI is changing the way we find and consume news, how it is being used inside newsrooms, and why human judgment, transparency and accountability still matter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MOM’s latest figures show retrenchments rising, with PMETs, degree holders and workers in their 50s under particular pressure. On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks with Dr Karuna Ramanathan, Principal Consultant at workforce transformation firm ChangeLeader, about why a long career can sometimes work against a jobseeker and how restructuring and AI are reshaping roles. What can workers do to stay relevant, and what should employers do before retrenchment becomes the only option? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many parents, choosing a primary school can feel like a decision that starts years before their child even enters Primary 1. From alumni connections and parent volunteering to school affiliations and distance, there are different pathways that can give some families an advantage during registration. But how level is the playing field? On Viewpoint, Ryan Huang speaks to Melvin Tay, Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies Social Lab to find out whether some schools really offer a significantly better education, or did reputation and competitiveness have helped create that perception.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US dollar’s global dominance has long been tied to the oil trade, with countries relying on the greenback to purchase energy and oil-exporting nations recycling their earnings into US financial assets. But as AI becomes increasingly central to the global economy, could AI become the new oil for the US dollar? On Viewpoint, Ryan Huang speaks to Vikram Khanna, Economics Commentator and former Associate Editor, The Straits Times, about whether AI could become the next driver of global US dollar demand, how the AI economy could reshape the flow of international capital, and what it would take for an “AI dollar” to emerge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From working behind the camera to building a business in Myanmar, Jeshua Soh has taken an unconventional path to entrepreneurship. Today, he leads Crossworks Myanmar with more than 120 remote employees while also running Shelter for Hope, which rebuilds homes for vulnerable families. And as his responsibilities have grown, so too has his definition of success from building a business to creating something that can make a difference in the lives of others. On Suite Talk, Lynlee Foo speaks to Jeshua Soh, Founder, Crossworks Myanmar, about his unconventional journey, the challenges that have shaped his leadership, and why success has become inseparable from serving others.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is taking on a growing role in how businesses manage their finances, moving from analysing information to carrying out parts of the work itself. As more finance processes become automated, businesses are rethinking how their finance functions operate, where human judgement is still needed, and how much responsibility they are prepared to give AI. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to Lionel Tan, Head of SME & Growth, Singapore, Airwallex, about how businesses are adapting to more AI-driven finance operations, what is holding them back from handing over more, and what greater autonomy could mean for the future of finance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has produced musicians and composers who have found success across Asia and beyond, but many have looked overseas to build their careers. What does it take to make a sustainable living from music here, and what can Singapore learn from larger regional markets? With The Violinist winning Best Original Soundtrack at the Annecy animation festival, Ricky Ho’s experience offers a window into what Singapore’s music industry can learn from bigger markets and what it takes to build a bigger industry here. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to Ricky Ho, The Violinist’s Musical Composer, about building a career across Singapore and Asia, and whether Singapore can create more opportunities for local talent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for AI development to slow down are growing, with an ex-Anthropic researcher warning that people in the field are “genuinely frightened” about what rapid advances could mean for humanity. Lynlee Foo examines the risks of losing control, whether development can be slowed, and how scared we should really be of smarter AI.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s political salary debate has raised a broader question about leadership renewal. If success in business or the public service can offer valuable experience, does it necessarily translate into effective political leadership? On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks to Dr Gillian Koh, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies at NUS, about what Singapore should look for in its future leaders and whether the current approach to political recruitment is casting the net wide enough.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore has raised the maximum fine for online platforms that fail to comply with anti-scam directions from S$1 million to S$10 million. But will a larger penalty stop scams from reaching users or will criminals simply change tactics? On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks to Benjamin Ang, Senior Fellow and Head of Digital Impact Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU, about where platforms can intervene, whether too much responsibility has been placed on individuals, and how much convenience and privacy users may have to trade for greater security. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many of us, scrolling isn't something we consciously decide to do, rather we just pick up our phones, open an app and somehow find ourselves still scrolling 20 minutes later. So why is it so difficult to stop when we're not even looking for anything On Is It Just Me?, Lynlee Foo and producer Alexandra Parada unpack why we start scrolling without a clear purpose, what keeps us going once we've started, and what can actually help us break the cycle. Featuring insights from Dr. Luca-Maxim Meinhardt, Researcher at Ulm University, Germany.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keeping the lights on is becoming a more complicated job. Rising electricity demand, the growth of AI, geopolitical uncertainty and the push towards lower-carbon energy are forcing countries to rethink how their energy systems are built. In this SIEWCast, Lynlee Foo speaks with Puah Kok Keong, Chief Executive of Singapore’s Energy Market Authority, about balancing energy security, economic competitiveness and sustainability, why greater regional connectivity matters for Southeast Asia, and how Singapore is preparing for its energy future - from solar and electricity imports to emerging technologies such as geothermal and nuclear energy. The conversation reflects the theme of Singapore International Energy Week 2026 — Connecting Energy Systems, Powering Tomorrow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drew Otoo, President, Asia Pacific at MSD, has gone from pharmacy training to leading one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies across the region, with a career spanning four continents. Along the way, his ideas about leadership, and what it means to lead when the decisions you make can affect people’s health have evolved too. On Suite Talk, Lynlee Foo sits down with Drew to talk about the experiences that shaped him, why listening matters more as a leader, what he wishes his younger self had done differently, and the full-circle moment that took him back to Ghana, where part of his story began.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s housing market is cooling as higher borrowing costs, tax changes and weaker investor confidence weigh on demand. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Adrian Lim, Senior Director and Head of International Residential Sales at Savills Singapore, about whether Singapore buyers are pulling back, how developers and property agencies are responding, and whether Australia can retain its appeal as buyers consider other overseas markets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the Marina Square redevelopment reveal about the future of Singapore’s ageing malls? As shopping habits and lifestyles change, older retail developments are being pushed to evolve. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Tina Qiu, Partner at PLP Architecture, the precinct masterplanner and lead designer for Marina Square alongside DP Architects, about transforming its inward-facing design, improving connections and wayfinding, combining retail with a wider mix of uses, and weaving new architecture into existing structures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following calls for more reliable age checks on social media in Singapore, platforms could increasingly rely on government-issued ID or AI to estimate a user’s age. Lynlee Foo examines the privacy risks, what happens when AI gets your age wrong, and whether protecting children online justifies making everyone prove how old they are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From next year, travellers flying out of Singapore will have to pay a green jet fuel levy of between $1 and $41.60, depending on their destination and cabin class. The money will go towards sustainable aviation fuel, as Singapore looks to make air travel greener. But as the aviation industry works towards becoming more sustainable, should travellers have to foot the bill for greener flying? On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks to Associate Professor Zhang Weina, Deputy Director of the Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN) NUS, about who should bear the cost of greener aviation and what this transition could mean for the future of air travel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in the insurance industry, it is changing not just how insurers process claims, but how consumers buy, use and experience insurance. From AI assessing claims and detecting fraud to recommending coverage and streamlining the customer journey, how much of our interaction with insurers could eventually be handled by AI? On AI & Me: Eye on AI, Lynlee Foo speaks with Raunak Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO, Igloo, about how AI is changing the way we buy and use insurance and where humans still need to be involved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising oil prices and changing expectations for global interest rates have raised fresh doubts about whether borrowing will continue getting cheaper. Even if the immediate geopolitical shock passes, could heavier government borrowing, AI investment and a more volatile global economy keep borrowing costs higher for longer? On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks with Vishnu Varathan, head of macro strategy for APAC (ex Japan) at Mizuho Bank, about what this means for home loans and businesses in Singapore, how much protection a stronger Singapore dollar provides, and what borrowers should consider when making long-term financial decisions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For most of us, catching someone else’s yawn is almost automatic. But why does it happen, and why can we sometimes yawn just from hearing one, reading about it or even thinking about it? On Is It Just Me?, Lynlee Foo and producer Alexandra Parada unpacks why yawns are contagious, how the behaviour may help us synchronise with those around us, and what it can tell us about the way humans and other social animals interact. Featuring insights from Elisabetta Palagi, Associate Professor of Ethology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eunice Chua has built a career around other people’s disagreements from working in the courts to teaching law, practising mediation and eventually leading Singapore’s financial dispute-resolution centre. On Suite Talk, Lynlee Foo sits down with the CEO of the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (FIDReC) and Research Fellow at SMU School of Law to talk about the unexpected turns that shaped her career, what years of working with people in conflict have taught her about human nature, the career decisions that tested her most, and how those experiences changed her understanding of leadership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s co-living market is growing up. Residents are becoming more discerning, Singaporeans are emerging as a meaningful part of demand, and operators are having to think harder about how they grow, differentiate themselves and make the economics work. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Josh Hu, Managing Director of Aw & Sons Capital, the property company behind purpose-built co-living and serviced-apartment development Mber, about how the sector is evolving, the different business and property models taking shape, what rising competition means for operators, and what could determine the industry’s next stage of growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s construction industry has a strong pipeline of projects and a longstanding productivity challenge. Technology is already helping firms cut some processes from a week to just days, reduce man-hours and avoid costly mistakes. But how much further can those gains go? Kunal Dubey, Founder of construction technology and digital delivery consultancy EDC Tech, joins Lynlee Foo on Industry Insight to discuss where technology is delivering measurable productivity gains, why adoption remains uneven across the industry, and what still stands in the way of getting more out of the people and resources construction already has.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Children of unmarried parents will now receive cash benefits under the new SG Child Support Package. But differences remain in tax reliefs and access to housing. Where should Singapore draw the line between supporting every child equally and encouraging parenthood within marriage? On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks with Dr Kalpana Vignehsa, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI can already take notes, draft emails and summarise meetings. Now, it is beginning to follow through and complete tasks on our behalf. On AI & Me: Eye on AI, Lynlee Foo speaks to Carlos Quaderi, Head of Asia-Pacific at workplace communications platform Zoom, about what we may increasingly delegate to AI, how that could change our working day, and where human judgement is still needed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many of us, reading the comments is almost automatic. But why do we care so much about what complete strangers think, and can their opinions influence the way we see something? From seeking validation to being drawn to the loudest or most controversial voices, what makes certain comments stand out and how much weight should we really give them? On Is It Just Me?, producer Alexandra Parada unpacks why we’re drawn to online comments, how they can shape our perceptions and decisions, and how to avoid getting caught up in the noise. Featuring insights from Subhayan Mukerjee, Assistant Professor at the Department of Communications and New Media and Deputy Director at the Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities, National University of Singapore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rajeev Peshawaria built a successful career in finance before making a move others called “career suicide”. What followed took him through some of the world’s biggest companies, and eventually towards a very different idea of what it means to lead. On Suite Talk, Lynlee Foo sits down with the CEO of the Steward Leadership Institute and author of several books, including the new Maximum Purpose, Maximum Profit, to talk about the loss that changed the course of his life, walking away from the trappings of corporate success, what he learnt working with leaders at Goldman Sachs and other global organisations, and why he believes leadership cannot be taught, but can be learnt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if data stolen today could be unlocked years from now? Quantum computers powerful enough to break some of the encryption protecting our digital lives may still be years away. But governments and businesses are already preparing, and the transition to quantum-safe security could itself take years. Jag Foo, Chief Security and Policy Officer at Safeheron, a digital asset security firm, explains the threat of “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later”, which industries have the most at stake, why upgrading today’s security is far more complicated than simply installing new technology, and how prepared Singapore is for the post-quantum era.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shopping online is shifting from search to discovery, with short videos, livestreams, creators and AI recommendations increasingly shaping what consumers buy. As content becomes a bigger part of how businesses attract customers and drive sales, discovery commerce is changing how brands and SMEs sell online and the capabilities they need to compete. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to Leon Koh, Fashion and Seller Management Lead, TikTok Shop Singapore, about how discovery commerce is reshaping online selling, the growing role of content and creators, and where e-commerce is headed next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI glasses can take photographs, translate speech and interpret what their wearer sees—all while looking much like an ordinary pair of spectacles. Lynlee Foo asks whether wearers should tell you when AI is analysing something about you during a conversation, even if no video is being saved, and where the line should be drawn between useful assistance and personal privacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We already share subscriptions for streaming, music and cloud storage. Could AI be next? On AI & Me: Eye on AI, Lynlee Foo speaks with Peter Chiang, Chief Customer Experience Officer at TrendLife, the consumer arm of cybersecurity company Trend Micro, about why AI is being designed for the family rather than just the individual, what shared family AI can do that separate accounts can't, and whether we may eventually pay for one service that chooses between different AI models for us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore is strengthening support for forming and raising a family. But as more Singaporeans delay marriage and have fewer children, is the cost of parenthood really just financial? On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks to Paulin Straughan, Professor of Sociology (Practice), Singapore Management University, about the changing cost of parenthood and what it takes to make family life more achievable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You pay thousands upfront. The business can use the money. And if it fails before delivering, you may get little or nothing back. Following the closure of bridal and wedding photography studio Korea Artiz, which left customers reporting more than $270,000 in prepayment losses, Ivan Tay, Managing Director of Robertson Chambers LLC, joins Lynlee Foo on Viewpoint to discuss why consumers can end up carrying the risk, whether prepayments should be better protected, and what stronger safeguards could mean for businesses and consumers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One familiar smell takes Lynlee straight back to her childhood to a place and people she can still picture decades later. Why can scent do that so powerfully? Neuroscientist and neuromarketing pioneer Professor Gemma Calvert of Nanyang Business School, NTU explains why smells can unlock vivid memories and emotions, why some associations last while others fade, and whether they can be deliberately created, or even changed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Suite Talk, Lynlee Foo sits down with Justin Quek, CEO of OrangeTee and Deputy Group CEO of Realion Group, for a conversation that goes beyond the titles. From ambition and failure to reluctantly taking the top job, Justin reflects on the experiences that shaped him, and why, after three years at the helm, he’s thinking more about what work has crowded out, slowing down, and making room for the person he is beyond the job.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore’s digital banks are moving beyond their early challenge of winning customers. Now comes the harder part: giving people a reason to stay, building trust and turning growth into a sustainable business. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Natalia Goh, CEO of MariBank Group, the digital banking arm of Sea Limited with banks in Singapore and the Philippines, about what still sets digital banks apart when traditional banks have become highly digital too, whether being part of a wider ecosystem provides a lasting advantage, and what the next phase of digital banking could look like in Singapore and the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is changing what businesses expect from their finance teams, and the skills finance professionals will need to keep up. As routine work becomes easier to automate, finance teams are being pushed towards analysing data, generating insights and helping businesses make decisions. But poor data, skills gaps and the risk of unreliable AI-generated answers remain major hurdles. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Dean Hezekiah, Policy and Insights Manager – Asia Pacific at ACCA, about how the finance function is changing and what the finance professional of the future could look like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthropic plans to embed invisible, machine-readable watermarks in text generated by Claude. But a watermark can only show that AI was involved, it cannot tell us whether Claude wrote the entire piece, heavily edited it or simply corrected the grammar. On AI & Me, Lynlee Foo asks where AI assistance ends and authorship begins, and whether disclosure should depend on what the AI actually did.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As banks explore the potential of permissionless blockchains, questions around risk, compliance and accountability remain. Project Pigeon, a new APAC industry working group, aims to develop a common framework to help financial institutions navigate these challenges. On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks to June Lau, APAC Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Elliptic, about what’s holding banks back, whether these risks can be managed, and what wider adoption of permissionless blockchains could mean for the future of financial services.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.