The Peak Singapore’s Top 10 Interviews with Business Leaders in 2024

As we prepare to bid farewell to 2024, it is time to reflect on a year that proved to be as transformative as it was tumultuous. The news cycles rapidly changed, from regional conflicts and rising inflationary pressures to continual advances in generative artificial intelligence and record-breaking heat waves. 

Throughout the year, The Peak Singapore team has interviewed many prolific Singapore-based business leaders in various industries, including healthcare, fintech, telecommunications, technology, real estate, and media, arts, and culture. 

They discussed their determination to leave a mark on their industries and society at large, as well as the strategies they are using to prepare their businesses for success through bold ideas, introspection, and innovation.

In August, we launched The Peak’s annual Power List, which celebrates and acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, influence, and impact within their respective fields and the broader community. Our theme for this year was “Of Joy”, honouring business leaders who have contributed to spreading happiness, enhancing well-being, and uplifting the spirits of those around them.

The theme also responds to recent global challenges, highlighting the need for resilience, compassion, and, most importantly, joy to navigate uncertainties with grace and efficiency.

In addition to revamping our website, we capped the year with our Strictly Zillennial edition. This special feature celebrates business leaders who occupy a unique position on the generational spectrum — neither Gen Z nor fully millennials but entirely courageous, audacious, and visionary.

Stay tuned for more meaningful and thought-provoking stories in the coming year. 

10. The visionary behind Parklab seeks to reimagine playgrounds as dynamic catalysts that enrich urban spaces with joy

By blending green principles, artistic vision, and technological prowess, Jensen Goh crafts play spaces that serve as nexuses of community engagement. This story is one of nine on The Peak Singapore’s Power List. The annual recognition of the list celebrates and acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, influence, and impact within their respective fields and the broader community.

Our theme for this year is “Of Joy,” which honours business leaders who have contributed to spreading happiness, enhancing well-being, and uplifting the spirits of those around them.

9. The Business of Multipliers — The CEO of StarHub on embracing expectations, adversity, and a fast-tracked ascendency

In this long read, StarHub’s Nikhil Eapen opens up about leadership, embracing challenges, and why resilience is key to transforming an industry.

8. The Business of Adapting — How Google plans to stay relevant amidst an AI revolution

Ben King lays out how Google is navigating the next phase of its growth and what career upskilling looks like in the age of AI.

7. Paper artist and co-founder of PeiPer Arts School reimagines paper as a canvas for artistic exploration and connection

Pei Li cultivates a learning environment where imperfections are opportunities, small achievements are treasured, and joy permeates the artistic process. This story is one of nine on The Peak Singapore’s Power List. The annual recognition of the list celebrates and acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, influence, and impact within their respective fields and the broader community.

Our theme for this year is “Of Joy,” which honours business leaders who have contributed to spreading happiness, enhancing well-being, and uplifting the spirits of those around them.

6. The Business of Necessity — What the co-founder of Mothership imagines its future to look like

Martino Tan, also its managing editor, reflects on family, childhood, education, ambition, and lessons learned from the publication’s editorial missteps.

5. The CEO of Choco Up on why he views revenue-based financing as a new but potential marker of a business’s robustness

Percy Hung sees revenue-based financing as a way for companies to balance their financial obligations without compromising their vision and goals.

“Revenue-based financing has been transformative, as evidenced by Choco Up’s clients like Cheak and BuzzAR thriving even during the pandemic, leading to Cheak’s acquisition by Love Bonito. This highlights its role as a crucial support for businesses in navigating challenges and enhancing acquisition appeal.

On the other hand, BuzzAR, under Bell Beh, overcame fundraising hurdles, especially as a female entrepreneur, through Choco Up’s revenue-based financing,” he says.

4. The CEO of PropertyGuru on the slippery link between affirmative action and diversity checkboxes

“It’s a culture; you’ve got to make it part of how you operate,” stresses PropertyGuru chief executive officer Hari Krishnan, emphasising the imperative of seamlessly integrating DEI into the organisation. He maintains that DEI is not static but a dynamic ethos requiring perpetual growth and learning. He contends this is essential to staying attuned to society’s transformative shifts.

When he joined the prop-tech company eight years ago as CEO, he tasked himself with steering it toward continued success and fostering an inclusive environment. His belief in the significance of DEI extends beyond its perceived correlation with economic output.

3. The Business of Act Two — Fresh off the brink of bankruptcy, the CEO of Secretlab reflects on an unexpected crucible of leadership

For Ian Ang, the philosophy of Stoicism helped navigate his path through near financial ruin and across the waves of high-risk business decisions that could shut it all down.

2. The Jon Lee scandal is why CEOs should not be exempt from background checks

Jon Lee, the former CEO of Vizzio Technologies, was embroiled in controversy after it emerged that he had misrepresented his academic qualifications, specifically his PhD credentials.

This revelation led to Lee apologising and leadership changes at Vizzio, with David See taking over as interim CEO. The company also introduced stronger governance practices to ensure its integrity. Despite the board’s initial support, the incident led some partners to reevaluate their ties with Vizzio.

Professional background checks expert Fiona Cher exposes the systemic issue of accountability arising from the Jon Lee-Vizzio scandal.

1. This is how Roche Diagnostics is paving the way to eradicate diseases in the Asia-Pacific region

Although diagnostics determine over 70 per cent of clinical decisions, it’s rarely on people’s minds when they try to bridge healthcare gaps. Roche Diagnostics is doing the most to change this. We ask Lance Little about his work as the head of the Asia Pacific Region for Roche Diagnostics, a leading Swiss multinational healthcare company.

He shares the importance of diagnostics, especially in attaining health equity in the diverse Asia-Pacific region and focusing on people and communities when improving healthcare.

For more interviews with business leaders, visit here.