The Front Row Podcast

Thank you for checking out The Front Row Podcast and my interview with Gita Wirjawan. Here's what the podcast sponsor, Revolut is offering: 💰Get S$50 cashback when you sign up to Revolut Business at https://www.revolut.com/rb/tfr/ before 30 Nov 2025 and top up your account. T&Cs and end date apply.Gita Wirjawan is an Indonesian entrepreneur, investment banker, and philanthropist. He is the Founder and Chairman of Ancora Group, a business group with investments spanning private equity, natural resources, real estate, and sports.Before founding Ancora in 2008, Gita held senior roles in global finance — including Vice President at Citibank Indonesia, Vice President at Goldman Sachs Singapore, and President Director at JP Morgan Indonesia.He is also the host of Endgame with Gita Wirjawan, a podcast by the School of Government and Public Policy (SGPP) Indonesia, co-produced with Visinema Pictures. Through Endgame, Gita explores ideas and conversations with visionary leaders, uncovering the stories shaping Indonesia’s bright future.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Trailer & Intro01:02 Gita's Entry Into Governance07:16 Revolut Ad08:40 What It Took To 4X Indonesia's FDI18:00 Southeast Asia's Place in Global Consciousness23:45 The Importance of STEM Education for Southeast Asia34:38 The Intellectual Gap Between China And Southeast Asia 36:23 Why China Is More Democratic Than We Think40:13 Is Technology Undermining Democracy?44:00 Shifts in Global World Order49:30 How Polarization Happens in the Digital Age51:30 Southeast Asia's Economic Future56:38 Building ASEAN Consciousness01:01:51 Advice for Future Leaders and Young Southeast AsiansThis is the 58th episode Of The Front Row PodcastFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Thank you for checking out The Front Row Podcast and my interview with Kee Lock. Here's what the podcast sponsor, Revolut is offering: 💰Get S$50 cashback when you sign up to Revolut Business at https://www.revolut.com/rb/tfr/ before 30 Nov 2025 and top up your account. T&Cs and end date apply.This is the 57th episode Of The Front Row PodcastChua Kee Lock is the Group President and Chief Executive Officer of Vertex Holdings, a Singapore-headquartered global venture capital investment holding company. He also serves as Managing Partner of Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India and as Chairman of the Vertex Growth Fund.Under his leadership, Vertex has grown into a global network of venture capital funds investing in early-stage and growth-stage technology and healthcare companies.As of today - Vertex Holdings has USD 6.8B assets under management and 300+ active portfolio companies. Some of the notable startup successes under their belt include Grab, Patsnap, Nium and Instarem. TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro & Trailer01:11 Kee Lock's Exposure to US Tech Ecosystem05:55 Importance of Technical Expertise in VC07:56 Revolut Ad09:22 Revitalizing Vertex Ventures13:34 Why Was Kee Lock Chosen To Run Vertex?14:46 Avoiding the Traps of Silicon Valley17:57 The Importance of Discipline in Venture Capital21:10 The Decentralized Model of Vertex Ventures26:40 Advantage of Decentralization28:42 How It Was Like To Invest In Grab31:15 How To Evaluate Founders35:48 Grading Anthony of Grab39:58 How VCs Value-Add42:47 Future of Startups in SEA46:03 Where Can Singapore Innovate And Lead?49:10 Future of Technology52:33 Disruptive Technologies On The Horizon54:34 How Singapore Can Prepare 55:10 Preparing for a Globalized Future56:12 Advice To A Fresh GraduateFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Thank you for checking out The Front Row Podcast and my interview with Patrick Mcgee. Here's what the podcast sponsor, Revolut is offering: 💰Get S$50 cashback when you sign up to Revolut Business at https://www.revolut.com/rb/tfr/ before 30 Nov 2025 and top up your account. T&Cs and end date apply.(This is also the first sponsorship I have taken since the inception of the podcast. Your support will help me grow the podcast) Patrick McGee is a business journalist who has spent over a decade uncovering the stories behind the technology we use every day. Since 2013, he's written for the Financial Times from Hong Kong, Germany, and California, covering everything from Apple's inner workings to the rise of electric vehicles and the Volkswagen diesel scandal.From 2019 to 2023, Patrick led the FT's coverage of Apple, earning a San Francisco Press Club Award in 2023 for his investigation into the company's HR problems. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, and several other major publications.His first book, Apple in China, draws on more than 200 interviews with former Apple executives and engineers to tell the story of how Apple's decision to build its supply chain in China has increasingly left the company exposed in an age of increased geopolitical tensions between the US and china. Spanning three decades and featuring new details and vivid characters, the book offers a sobering look at Apple's future and the broader state of play in tech and geopolitics. What I like about Apple in China is that it goes beyond the usual executive biographies and fleshes out the increasing convergence between economics, technology and geopolitics. It's both a detailed historical account and an exciting read. TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Intro & Trailer1:42 Why Apple's Manufacturing Legacy Is Misunderstood6:21 A Message From Revolut7:46 How Steve Jobs Lost Manufacturing Control11:35 The Dot-Com Crisis And Its Impact On Apple18:49 America's Post-WWII Economic Transition27:52 Foxconn: The Unsung Partner Behind Apple's Success33:52 Apple Was Ignorant About China38:02 Beijing's Strategy Towards Apple40:48 Apple's Economic Weight In China46:46 Addressing Critiques of Patrick's China Numbers49:42 US-China Interdependence53:37 Why China's Scale Created Unique Challenges57:51 Can Apple Ever Escape China Dependence1:01:40 Advice To A Fresh GraduateThis is the 56th episode Of The Front Row PodcastFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Thank you for checking out The Front Row Podcast and my interview with Kyle Chan.Here's what the podcast sponsor, Revolut is offering: 💰Get S$50 cashback when you sign up to Revolut Business at https://www.revolut.com/rb/tfr/ before 30 Nov 2025 and top up your account. T&Cs and end date apply.(This is also the first sponsorship I have taken since the inception of the podcast. Your support will help me grow the podcast) Kyle Chan is an American sociologist and postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University, as well as an adjunct researcher at the RAND Corporation. He is also a 2025 fellow with the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.–China Relations. His research centers on industrial policy, clean technology, and infrastructure in China and India, with work published in journals such as Current Sociology, Asian Survey, and the Chinese Journal of Sociology. Kyle has testified before the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission and contributes to public debates through his widely read newsletter High Capacity and a New York Times op-ed on U.S.–China competition and technology.You can find his newsletter here: https://www.high-capacity.com/about This Is Episode 55 of The Front Row PodcastTimestamps:00:00 Trailer & Intro01:00 The Utility Of Sociology05:34 Revolut Ad07:00 Insights From China's HSR Projects11:17 Understanding The China Shock17:16 Made in China 2025: A Shift in Policy22:24 Divergence From The East Asian Model26:08 Compounding Effects of Overlapping Industries29:25 The Rise of Swiss Army Knife Companies33:02 Why Apple Abandoned EVs37:11 The US Service Economy vs. Manufacturing42:57 Goals for US Industrial Policy43:29 How China Resolves Tech Inequality48:13 US Policy Attempts At Reducing Inequality53:34 Lessons from China's Industrial Policy58:17 Is There An AI Race Between US and China?01:03:58 How China and US Diverge In AI?01:10:16 What Should US-China Relations Be Like?01:17:00 Will America Become Irrelevant?01:24:35 What US' China Strategy Should Be01:26:55 Advice For Fresh Graduates📖 Full episode transcripts: ykeith.com/tag/podcast💬 Join the conversation:Instagram: frontrow.65LinkedIn: Keith YapWebsite: ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.co🎧 Listen and subscribe for free:Spotify: The Front Row PodcastApple Podcasts: The Front Row Podcast

💰 Get S$50 cashback when you sign up to Revolut Business at https://www.revolut.com/rb/tfr/ before 30 Nov 2025 and top up your account. T&Cs and end date apply.This is a recording of a conversation I had with Prof Kishore Mahbubani at an event I co-organized with Bloomberg Singapore and Thinksuite. I hope you will enjoy the conversation as much as we did. Thank you Bloomberg and Thinksuite for your support of the podcast.Kishore Mahbubani is a Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore (NUS). Mr Mahbubani has been privileged to enjoy two distinct careers, in diplomacy (1971 to 2004) and in academia (2004 to 2019). He is a prolific writer who has spoken in many corners of the world. In diplomacy, he was with the Singapore Foreign Service for 33 years (1971 to 2004). He had postings in Cambodia, Malaysia, Washington DC and New York, where he twice was Singapore's Ambassador to the UN and served as President of the UN Security Council in January 2001 and May 2002. He was Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Ministry from 1993 to 1998.Mr Mahbubani joined academia in 2004, when he was appointed the Founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY School), NUS. He was Dean from 2004 to 2017, and a Professor in the Practice of Public Policy from 2006 to 2019.This is the 54th episode of The Front Row Podcast.CHAPTERS: 00:00 Trailer & Intro00:50 The Trauma of War in Cambodia05:47 Revolut Business Ad07:12 Learning From S Rajaratnam In Cuba13:52 Experiences at the United Nations21:32 Winners and Losers Of Trump's Trade Wars36:37 Are We In The Asian Century?43:49 Will The US Decline?44:50 Role Of Gulf Countries45:34 Pragmatism vs. Idealism46:06 Kishore's Answers51:09 What Keeps Kishore Up At Night?51:32 Will China Force Everyone To Be Protectionist52:44 Advice For Young Singaporeans53:19 Economic Fallout for US on Tariffs53:42 Kishore's Answers 2Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coNote: Prof Kishore misspoke early on refering to S Rajaratnam as Prime Minister but in fact, he meant to say Foreign Minister.

Marc Levinson is an American economist, historian, and author celebrated for his accessible writing on economic forces and globalization.He’s authored seven acclaimed books, notably:The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger, a groundbreaking history of containerization that reshaped global trade. It was shortlisted for the Financial Times/Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year and earned top honors in industry publication awardsOutside the Box: How Globalization Changed from Moving Stuff to Spreading Ideas, which argues that globalization is evolving—from physical goods toward the global exchange of ideas and services Other notable works include An Extraordinary Time (on the economic disappointments of the 1970s) and The Great A&P and the Struggle for Small Business in America.He is considered to be a leading expert in the economic history of globalization. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Trailer 00:23 The Early Waves of Globalization07:15 Innovations That Shaped Trade14:16 The Role of Containerization22:21 Malcolm McLean: The Entrepreneur Behind the Box30:07 Impact of Containerization on Port Cities33:07 Lessons from Past Disruptions39:26 The Evolution of Ports and Automation46:05 Globalization and the Rise of Value Chains52:20 Deindustrialization and Its Impacts58:07 The Future of Globalization and Policy Responses01:05:19 Advice for Fresh GraduatesThis is the 53rd episode of The Front Row Podcast.

Professor Tansen Sen is a renowned historian of India–China relations and Asian interconnections. He is Professor of History at NYU Shanghai and Director of the Center for Global Asia. His research spans Sino-Indian interactions, Buddhism across Asia, and maritime networks that shaped the region’s history.He is the author of Buddhism, Diplomacy, and Trade: The Realignment of Sino-Indian Relations, 600–1400 and India, China, and the World: A Connected History, both foundational works in the study of Asia’s past and its global links. He is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading historians in Sino-Indian relations.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Trailer00:53 – The Importance of India-China Relations02:46 – Understanding Pre-Modern Interactions08:26 – How Xuan Zang Brought Buddhism To China12:21 – The Sinicisation of Buddhism19:34 – How Sinicisation Works Today22:49 – How Was Nalanda University Like?26:23 – Why Does It Look Like India Influenced China More?30:07 – Impact of India and China on The World32:22 – Colonial Impact on India-China Relations39:32 – The Birth of Nation States and Historical Narratives41:37 – Border Issues and Trust Deficits45:24 – Flashpoints of Distrust Since Independence52:42 – Pathways to Improved Relations59:19 – Advice For A Fresh GraduateThis is the 52nd episode of The Front Row Podcast.Full transcripts can be found here:https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Connect with us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coSubscribe for free:Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Cheong Yip Seng is the former Editor-in-Chief of The Straits Times, Singapore’s flagship English daily, where he led the newsroom for over two decades. Joining the paper as a young journalist, he rose through the ranks to shape its editorial direction during some of Singapore’s most pivotal years. Under his leadership, The Straits Times navigated the complexities of reporting in a young nation, balancing journalistic integrity with national sensitivities.He later chronicled his experiences in his memoir OB Markers: My Straits Times Story, offering a rare insider’s perspective on Singapore’s media–government relationship. Beyond his work in Singapore, he has also been closely involved with media developments across Asia, including advisory roles on the transformation of the South China Morning Post.He recently published his follow-up book, Ink and Influence- arguing that Singapore media can take a more international and geopolitical outlook. 📄 Full Transcript :⁠https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/⁠📲 Let’s Connect:Instagram: ⁠@frontrow.65⁠LinkedIn: ⁠Keith Yap⁠Website: ⁠www.ykeith.com⁠Email: ⁠keith@frontrow65.co⁠🎧 Subscribe for Free:Spotify: ⁠Front Row⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠Front Row⁠

Stephen Witt is a Los Angeles–based investigative journalist and author whose work appears regularly in The New Yorker.His latest book, The Thinking Machine (April 2025), chronicles the extraordinary rise of Nvidia and its CEO Jensen Huang—from immigrant dishwasher to leader of the world’s most valuable company. Stanford’s former computer science chair Bill Dally remarked: “Without Jensen we’d be ten years behind.”Witt’s previous book, How Music Got Free, explored the digital revolution that transformed the music industry and was later adapted into a TV documentary.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Trailer 01:00 How Stephen Got To Jensen Huang06:35 Reading In An Age of Social Media08:15 How NVIDIA Became So Valuable12:25 Jensen Huang's Early Career and Its Impact13:48 Jensen Huang's Early Career17:15 The Secret of NVIDIA's Success18:06 Jensen Huang's Unique Management Style20:41 How LSI Made Him21:51 Why NVIDIA Didn't Make Financial Sense24:52 How NVIDIA Made The AI Transition30:58 How Jensen Leads34:35 How Jensen Evolved Into A Business Leader37:38 How Jensen Knew To Double Down on AI43:53 NVIDIA's Competitive Edge47:36 Current AI Bottleneck48:23 AMD vs NVIDIA50:52 NVIDIA in China52:25 Intel's Downfall56:05 Should We Be Worried About AI60:43 Advice for the Next GenerationFull transcripts: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Connect:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website – www.ykeith.comEmail – keith@frontrow65.coSubscribe:Spotify – https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

🎙️ Guest: Ooi Kee Beng | Political Historian & Executive Director, Penang InstituteOoi Kee Beng is a political historian, writer, and the executive director of Penang Institute. He has spent years studying the process of nation-building in Asia and is the author of In Lieu of Ideology: Dr Goh Keng Swee's Intellectual Biography.In this episode, we explore the ideas of Singapore’s founding economic architect—Dr Goh Keng Swee—and how his core beliefs shaped Singapore’s development.⏱ Timestamps01:21 – Why Read History03:52 – Goh Keng Swee vs. Lee Kuan Yew09:10 – The Leaders As Nation Builders11:10 – Avoiding Corruption16:42 – Why Singapore Was A Social Revolution21:45 – Where Goh Keng Swee Diverged In Economics23:38 – Why Western Hippie Culture Didn't Take Root Here26:42 – Geopolitical Dynamics and Historical Awareness29:45 – Export-Oriented Industrialization vs. Import Substitution35:25 – The Role of Institutions in Nation Building36:42 – Could Merger Have Worked38:54 – The Political Economy of Singapore42:28 – The Importance of a Common Market43:54 – Ideology vs. Pragmatism in Leadership46:15 – Defining 'Socialism That Works'50:24 – Singapore's State Building Efforts52:37 – Ensuring A Rule Of Law55:45 – Creating A National Identity59:07 – Building a National Economy01:01:17 – Harsh Reality of Raw Power01:02:09 – Lessons from Dr. Goh's Leadership01:05:06 – Book Recommendations01:07:54 – Advice For A Fresh Graduate Entering The Working World📄 Full Transcript:https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/📲 Let’s Connect:Instagram: @frontrow.65LinkedIn: Keith YapWebsite: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.co🎧 Subscribe for Free:Spotify: Front RowApple Podcasts: Front Row

🎙️ Guest: David Fishman | Principal, The Lantau GroupDavid Fishman is a Principal at The Lantau Group, a boutique strategy and economic consultancy focused on the Asia Pacific energy sector.He specializes in regulatory and economic intelligence for the Chinese power sector—including solar, wind, coal, nuclear, hydro, grid transmission, and power markets. His project portfolio spans renewable tariff policy, power market forecasting, green energy procurement for multinationals, and due diligence for clean energy assets.Outside of work, David runs a delightful blog exploring lesser-known corners of China’s economic transformation—covering topics like rural poverty alleviation, small-city trends, countryside solar, rural rejuvenation, and ethnic tourism.⏱️ Timestamps01:13 – China's Energy Landscape06:09 – The Global Implications of China's Energy Transition09:00 – How China Scales Green Tech14:09 – How China Innovates20:40 – Is Overcapacity A Challenge?24:57 – China's Energy Policy28:21 – Chinese Government As VC29:40 – Why Are SOEs Not As Prominent?33:03 – Downstream Impact of Chinese Policies34:15 – What Happens After China Peaks?34:34 – China's Clean Tech Transition: The Road Ahead37:19 – Can China Turn The Corner?38:20 – Understanding the Average Chinese Citizen44:34 – The Median City In China48:11 – The Practical Implementation of Common Prosperity50:39 – How China Does Infrastructure Development57:20 – The Myth of Chinese Ghost Cities01:00:24 – Lessons From China's Development Model01:05:51 – Advice For A Fresh Graduate📄 Full Transcript:https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/📲 Let’s Connect:Instagram: @frontrow.65LinkedIn: Keith YapWebsite: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.co🎧 Subscribe for Free:Spotify: Front RowApple Podcasts: Front Row

🎙️ Ambassador Chan Heng Chee is a prominent Singaporean academic, diplomat, and political scientist, known for her distinguished career in both academia and public service.She served as Singapore's Ambassador to the United States (1996–2012) and earlier as Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1989–1991), concurrently holding the roles of High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to Mexico.She currently serves as Ambassador-at-Large with the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs.🧭 This conversation is brought to you by the National Youth Council of Singapore, a government agency dedicated to partnering with young people — hearing their views, empowering them to act on their passions, and giving them a stake in Singapore’s future.🔗 Learn more: https://www.nyc.gov.sg/about-us🎧 This is Episode 47 of The Front Row Podcast.🕒 Timestamps:00:00 Intro & Trailer01:25 Singapore In 196506:43 Lessons From 1G Leaders09:40 Would The Merger Have Actually Worked13:54 Representing Singapore At The UN21:34 Singapore's National Interests25:54 Securing Singapore's Interests29:25 Singapore As Global City33:13 America's Unipolar Moment35:57 Remaking Singapore's Image in America40:38 Luck & Diplomacy43:10 How America Has Changed44:44 Will America Swing Back?47:20 China's Rise and Its Global Implications50:01 How Does Singapore Play Both Sides52:15 US-China Decoupling?55:03 The Role of the UN in Global Conflicts57:08 Singapore's Relevance to the United States59:05 The Taiwan Question01:04:00 Middle East Dynamics: Change and Continuity01:04:28 What Counts As Political Realism01:05:39 Making Sense Of The Middle East01:09:41 New Forms of Diplomacy01:12:15 Amb Chan's Message To The US01:19:00 Core Values for Singaporeans in a Complex World01:19:35 Multiracialism As A Singaporean Ideal01:20:32 Advice For The Audience01:22:51 Goh Keng Swee's Final Speech📝 Full transcript:https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/💬 Join the conversation:📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/🌐 Website: https://www.ykeith.com📧 Email: keith@frontrow65.co🔔 Subscribe for free on:Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Jamus Lim is an Associate Professor of Economics at ESSEC Business School and a Member of Parliament in Singapore. With a PhD from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and experience at the World Bank and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority , his work spans international economics, political economy, and development. In this episode, we discuss how Singapore and other NIEs succeeded and what the possible ways forward are. 00:00 Intro & Trailer 01:43 Why NIEs02:22 Understanding Heterogeneity Among Asian Economies06:36 The Contrast Between Singapore and Other NIEs08:16 Hong Kong vs. Singapore: Economic Divergence16:17 Was The Asian Miracle A Myth?20:49 India's Unique Economic Experiment24:41 How Singapore Can Stay Ahead28:04 Balancing Growth and Equality33:23 Are Wealth Taxes (Actually) Viable?47:31 The Tension of Being A Global Hub56:58 Urgent Problems Singapore Needs To Solve01:05:48 Advice For Graduating StudentsThis is Episode 46 of The Front Row Podcast. Full transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Professor Elizabeth Ingleson is a historian of capitalism, US foreign relations, and US–China relations — a timely and critical intersection she explores in her acclaimed first book, Made in China: When US-China Interests Converged to Transform Global Trade, published by Harvard University Press in 2024.In the book, she unpacks a pivotal shift in the 1970s: when the old dream of American companies selling to China’s vast population gave way to a new vision — one of tapping into China’s massive labour force. Drawing on rare corporate archives and extensive Chinese publications, Made in China reveals how business leaders, diplomats, traders, and policymakers on both sides helped reshape China’s role in global capitalism — and, in the process, redefined the American economy itself through deindustrialization and offshoring.TIMESTAMPS:01:52 - Deng's Legacy 02:29 - Why 1978 Isn't the Real Beginning07:46 - The Two Nixon Shocks of 197114:26 - From 400 Million Customers to 800 Million Workers17:43 - Mao's Three Worlds Theory23:43 - Trade vs Diplomacy in US & China 27:27 - The Marco Polos of America 33:41 - Why MNCs Burned Cash In The Early Days38:10 - The Textile Industry As The Canaries in the Coal Mine47:07 - The 1974 Trade Act That Changed Everything55:39 - Rethinking the Good Life57:13 - Manufacturing Jobs: Political Theatre vs Reality1:00:30 - Decoupling: Rhetoric vs Reality1:03:51 - Advice for Graduating Students Full transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Professor Joseph Chinyong Liow is one of Singapore’s leading scholars on international affairs, known for his incisive analysis of Southeast Asian politics. He is serving as the Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where he now holds the prestigious Tan Kah Kee Chair in Comparative and International Politics. He was the former Dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at NTU.Beyond Singapore, Professor Liow has made a significant impact globally. He was the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asia Studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., where he also served as a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Program. TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Trailer & Intro01:21 Defining Great Powers05:33 Cold War Dynamics in Southeast Asia08:41 Formation of ASEAN and US Engagement15:05 ASEAN's Response to Changing Landscapes19:44 Vietnam As A Case-Study26:58 American Unipolar Moment31:55 Is The US Values-Driven?38:49 Do Southeast Asian States Even Want America Here?44:56 Singapore's Role in U.S.-China Relations53:12 ASEAN's Future: Collective Action in a Changing Landscape54:49 Advice For Graduating StudentsFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Cedric Chin is the CEO & Founder of Commoncog. Commoncog is a publication dedicated to accelerating business expertise.Commoncog asks two questions: a) what is business expertise? b) what do we know about accelerating it?In this conversation, Cedric and I dive into how Asian tycoons are made and the essential skills business operators must master in Southeast Asia. TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Trailer & Intro01:10 Understanding Business Expertise  05:33 The Triad of Business Expertise  10:49 What Business School Misses Out  14:52 Why Are There So Many Conglomerates in SoutheastAsia?  20:11 Not Everything Is About Corruption  23:48 What Makes A Good Tycoon?  29:03 Why Tycoons Are Politically Shrewd  31:37 Unique Features About Southeast Asian Markets  35:22 Kwek Leng Beng's Business Acumen  39:08 The Allure of Startups 41:41 How Robert Kuok Succeeded  46:07 Will There Be More Asian Tycoons?  49:09 What We Can Learn from Constellation Software  54:59 Cultivating Intellectual Dexterity  01:02:14 Advice For Fresh GraduateFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.co

Karthik Nachiappan is a Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore. His work focuses on India’s foreign and economic policy, particularly in trade, technology, and global governance. He is the author of Does India Negotiate? (Oxford University Press)In this episode, we talk about the policy interests of India, the role it seeks to play on a global stage and how it manages its own interest as a strategically autonomous power. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction01:03 How To Understand India05:42 India's Core Interests09:16 India's Strengths in a Multipolar World13:02 Is India Obstructionist?20:10 The India-Pakistan Conflict: A Historical Perspective28:12 The Role of China in South Asia33:31 India's Strategic Ambiguity35:22 India's Economic Growth Challenges43:35 India's Future Relationship with Singapore & Southeast Asia49:25 Advice for Young GraduatesFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/

Professor Euston Quah is a prominent Singaporean economist and the Albert Winsemius Chair Professor of Economics at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where he also serves as Head of the Economics Division. Known for his work in cost-benefit analysis, environmental economics, and policy economics, he has advised various government agencies and chaired national committees in Singapore. His research often bridges economic theory with practical policymaking, particularly in sustainability, public infrastructure, and regulatory impact.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction 01:30 Who Is Albert Winsemius? 05:55 How Albert Winsemius Made Singapore Better 20:35 The Art of Economic Advising 27:56 Market Failures and State Intervention 30:12 Intellectual Tradition of Economics in Singapore 31:06 Singapore's Entrance Into An Uncertain World 34:27 Why Cost-Benefit Analysis 42:22 How To Appraise Costs & Benefits 45:37 Limitations of Cost-Benefit Analysis 51:54 How Valuation Works 54:08 Why Sensitivity Analysis 60:09 Advice for Graduates Entering the Workforce

Grace Shao is a Financial/tech journalist turned analyst based in Hong Kong. On her Substack, she writes about AI and its relationship with energy, big tech, and society. She can be found at: https://substack.com/@gshaoTIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Trailer & Intro01:30 Understanding the Chinese Internet Ecosystem 06:06 The Evolution of Chinese Entrepreneurs 08:21 China's Smartphone Revolution 10:45 The Rise of Super Apps in China 15:32 AI Adoption in China's Industrial Economy 19:16 US and China – Difference in AI 24:07 Comparative Advantages: US vs. China in AI 26:16 Chinese Cultural Attitude Towards AI 28:11 AI in Manufacturing 32:17 America's AI Advantage 36:08 Navigating the Chip Ban and China's Self-Sufficiency 37:43 Funding Challenges for Chinese Tech Companies 43:23 The Evolution of Tech Entrepreneurs in China 49:20 The Role of Education in Shaping Tech Talent 55:21 China's Tech Role in Southeast Asia 58:25 Advice for Fresh GraduatesFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/

Inderjit Singh is a former Member of Parliament in Singapore who served under the People's Action Party (PAP) from 1996 to 2015, representing the Ang Mo Kio GRC. A seasoned entrepreneur and technologist, he is known for his candid views on innovation, entrepreneurship, and policymaking. Inderjit played a key role in shaping Singapore’s start-up ecosystem and has remained an influential voice on economic competitiveness, SME growth, and education reform issues. He is also the founder of multiple tech ventures and continues to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs in Singapore and beyond.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction & Trailer to Inderjit Singh01:13 Inderjit's Journey As An Entrepreneur07:15 The Difficulty In Gaining Funding in 1990s14:09 Can Singapore Produce Our Own TSMC14:28 Singapore's Semiconductor Landscape17:27 Did Singapore Give Up?19:04 Revitalising Manufacturing in Singapore22:01 Becoming the World's Prototyping Hub25:39 What It Takes To Build A Startup31:09 Addressing the Financing Gap for Entrepreneurs33:43 Identifying Opportunities for Singaporean Entrepreneurs38:44 Fostering Linkages Between Research and Industry40:08 Balancing Foreign and Local Talent41:49 Inderjit Singh's Book42:18 Can Singapore Be More Risk Tolerant?44:45 How Government Can Support Industry47:09 Managing A Tech Company & Politics53:14 How Inderjit Navigated Politics54:36 What Makes A Good Political Leader57:17 Singapore's Future Challenges01:04:06 Advice for Fresh GraduateFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400