Jessica Tan Webinar

Jessica Tan Webinar

Jessica Tan Webinar

The time is fast approaching when NTUC-PME invites a special guest onto its couch for a virtual webinar session to be broadcast across the globe online. First up to christen the ‘hot seat' is Jessica Tan, a successful female leader from the tech industry who has kindly agreed to impart some of her vast knowledge to followers of the web chat. So get involved and transmit all of your questions directly to Jessica on the 27th of June, and she will answer them for you, live from NTUC in Singapore.

Throughout her career Jessica has displayed the special characteristics and skills you need to succeed in the international market place. She has risen through a variety of tech related roles and now serves as General Manager for Microsoft Singapore in the Regional Enterprise Business sector. With over 20 years of professional industry experience, Ms Tan has delivered across a variety of roles in sales, services and strategic business development in the Singapore and the Asia Pacific Region. This included 14 years on the books of IBM, so she is a lady who knows the ins and outs of this highly competitive sector.

This virtual chat is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to get an inside perspective of the tech workplace. You can ask THE fundamental questions, get all the info you need for your own career ambitions and help improve yourself. It is a fine line between success and failure in this life, and it is not often you have a chance to pick the brains of someone with Jessica's background, so don't miss out.

One particular route of questioning could be the role of women in the tech industry today. Figures show that the ratio of women entering into IT and tech related courses at University in Singapore is outnumbered 3:1 by men (as of 2011). A study by the MSF (Ministry of Social and Family Development) shows that women shared only 33.2% of enrolment in this area while males make up 66.8%. The reasons behind this gender gap could be a fruitful topic of debate, so get your thinking caps on, and question why women are not choosing this industry unlike men.

Do you think there could be a greater focus on getting girls into the boardroom? Is there a glass ceiling? If so, how did Jessica break through it? And what about balancing a career and home-life? Please feel free to kick off a debate in the comments below.

These are important questions which frame gender issues today, and there will be an eclectic mix of expert guests to guide you through these and more divisive issues. But it would be a travesty to focus only on this one aspect of the debate, so explore all avenues important to you, individually, and take advantage of her unique insight.

The live online broadcast will be held on:

Date: 27 June 2013

Time: 8pm – 9pm

URL: http://www.ntuc.org.sg/expertseries

Event registration page: https://www.facebook.com/events/473367086073694

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UPforPMEs

Linkedin group to join and discuss: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/UP-PMEs-4573957

Twitter to follow: https://twitter.com/UPforPMEs

Fascinating facts about Singapore

Fascinating facts about Singapore

Fascinating facts about Singapore

If you are planning a trip to the glorious beaches, shops and restaurants of Singapore, then why not learn a bit about it before you jet off? Here are some fascinating facts about this historically and politically fascinating island.

Singapore is made up of 64 islands but the main one is the focus of most of the commerce, culture, hustle and bustle. The majority of the other 63 islands are uninhabited.

Of the 249 states in the world recognised as sovereign territories, Singapore is the 190th in size. Just to put it in perspective, the world's largest country, Russia is 510,071,300 km² larger.

Singapore is, however, the second most densely populated country in the world, next only to Monaco, boasting 6,430 people per square kilometre.

Bukit Timah Hill is the highest, non-manmade, point in Singapore, though if you're a mountain climber you should probably leave your grappling hook at home. It's only 164 metres tall, testament to the remarkably flat nature of the island.

That low landscape is something the government clearly prize highly, as laws are in place to keep buildings from dominating the skyline, limited as they are to 280 metres. The OUB Centre, UOB Plaza and Republic Plaza are the only three buildings on the island currently reaching that size.

Travellers by air can expect their visit to get off to a great start from the moment they arrive in Singapore, as their first port of call will be Changi Airport, commonly considered to be one of the best airports in the world. Since opening its doors in 1981 it has won nearly 400 awards, including 23 ‘Best' awards in the 2011.

Singapore boasts the world's largest fountain, which can be found in Suntec City. It was built in 1997 and cost upwards of US$6 million.

Singaporeans are some of the keenest telephone buyers in the world. 8 in 10 people own a mobile phone, while new numbers are bought at a rate of about 40,000 per month.

A night visit to the park

A night visit to the park

A night visit to the park

In order to balance out Singapore's rapid urbanisation, the government initiated several plans in the last few decades to ensure there was plenty of green space left on the main island. The net result of this is that Singapore boasts a host of lush parks, their flowerbeds overflowing with exotic flowers. As you would expect they are kept spotlessly clean and beautifully tended, so it's an absolute joy to take a stroll around them.

The only problem is, of course, the weather. Those year round temperatures of 25 – 30 degrees might be great for your suntan but they are not so much fun if you want to spend a long time outside. The solution? Hit the park at night.

As the sun sinks in the horizon and the city cool down, the green spaces become lushly romantic places for a quiet stroll. While your western mind-set might already be worrying about the possibility of crime in a city park after sundown, don't forget you're in Singapore now. The near non-existent crime rate means you are perfectly safe, no matter what time of day it is.

Fort Canning Park is a great place to go for a view of Clarke Quay and downtown Singapore. Also, it's colonial architecture and ancient gothic gates will be of plenty of interest to history buffs. Bishan park is another lovely park for a late afternoon stroll. The scenery and architecture is much more modern than in Fort Canning and the atmosphere is a bit livelier too. It's particularly popular with dog walkers so, if you have a four legged friend, this is a nice place to go and play.

Best Singapore beaches

Best Singapore beaches

4 of the best Singapore beaches

East Coast Park Beach

East Coast Park Beach offers something for everybody. A very long, very popular Singaporean sun spot, this shows off the best of the south eastern coast. You can cycle, rollerblade or engage in any number of water sports in the crystal water. If you're feeling peckish, a trip to one of the many world class food stalls is highly recommended too.

Punggol Beach

Not so long ago, Punggol was a rather rural neck of the woods, populated by farmhouses and fish farms. Recently, however, it has transformed into a thriving though peaceful residential area. It also boasts a terrific, quiet little beach. A great place to collect your thoughts and take in the scenery.

Sentosa Palawan Beach

A trendy sandy sun spot, Sentosa is where the work hard, play hard Singaporean's who slave away in downtown's corporate bear pit Monday to Friday, come to chill out and catch some serious rays on the weekends. Once you take a dip in the legendary hot springs you'll see why it's so popular. Locals claim a soak in the springs will cure bad luck. We're not sure about that but we are sure it will make you feel a whole lot better if you've been working all week.

Sentosa Siloso Beach

The trendiest of trendy Singapore beaches is, without doubt, Sentosa Siloso. This is a constant buzz of activity, by day and night, with beach volleyball often the main attraction. All the fun water sports are, of course, on offer too – wakeboarding, skim boarding, canoeing – plus the cycling and blading you would expect to find on any self-respecting beach where the beautiful people hang out. It' a great place to eat too. Sunset Bay is our big tip for hungry beach bums – an unpretentious little spot with superb cocktails. Another good spot for a drink is The Cool Deck, on Siloso Beach Walk.