People Matters APAC

“I am tired, boss… the light in me has gone out.”

A Singapore employee’s candid post about burnout is gaining attention online after he described the impact of layoffs, rising workload, and the looming threat of performance improvement plans. Shared on Reddit, the post highlights how his responsibilities nearly doubled after layoffs, while expectations continued to rise.

The story has since sparked wider conversations about job insecurity, workplace pressure, and how layoffs can affect not just those who leave, but also those who stay.

Read The Full Story:👉🏼



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Two closed-door leadership experiences. Two global authorities. One transformative opportunity at TechHR Singapore 2026.

This year, we invite senior leaders into exclusive, workshop-only spaces designed for depth, dialogue, and decisive thinking. These are immersive experiences built to move beyond theory and into practical leadership application.

• Holger Mueller, VP & Principal Analyst, Constellation Research: Reclaim visibility, belief, and belonging in a world of constant noise. Explore how leaders can cut through digital overwhelm and rebuild authentic human connection in AI-accelerated workplaces.

• David Fish, Founder, Chief Strategy Officer & Managing Director, No Two Fish: Rethink how organisations architect adaptive, intelligent environments that respond dynamically to human needs. Discover bold frameworks for experience design in an era of autonomy and intelligence.

Expect high-level discourse, practical models, and provocative ideas that challenge conventional thinking. These curated sessions are crafted for leaders who are ready to redesign culture, capability, and connection for 2026 and beyond.

Seats are limited. Impact will not be.
Join us at TechHR Singapore 2026.

📅 26 March 2026 – Conference & Exhibition
📍 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
🔗 Register now - https://lnkd.in/gGktZa-t

: Save 25% and step into these leadership rooms ahead of the curve.

We’re proud to present Deel as the Powered By Partner for People Matters TechHR Singapore 2026.

As organisations scale beyond borders, the nature of leadership is changing. Growth today is not only about entering new markets, but about building distributed teams that feel connected, compliant, and cared for, regardless of geography.

Deel’s work in global hiring and workforce management reflects this shift. Helping organisations navigate complexity with clarity, while enabling leaders to focus on building trust, consistency, and long-term capability across global teams.

At People Matters TechHR Singapore 2026, these conversations will shape how leaders approach global work with confidence and intent.

📅 26 March 2026 – Conference & Exhibition
📍 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
🔗 Register now https://lnkd.in/gc4GWq_W

Empathy is no longer a soft skill, it is a leadership imperative for 2026.
This reflection from Tina M., Group VP, People, 99 Group, speaks to the kind of leadership required to build workplaces that are resilient, united, and purpose-driven.

As organisations look ahead, the focus shifts to creating environments where people feel proud to own outcomes, stand together as one team, and meet challenges with confidence and resourcefulness. Leadership moves with relentlessness but stays real, grounded in empathy, trust, and continuous improvement.

In 2026, progress is not measured by speed alone. It’s measured by the ability to turn momentum into meaning, and effort into impact that truly lasts.

This is where HR plays a defining role in shaping:

• Teams that take ownership and move forward together
• Cultures rooted in empathy, realism, and shared accountability
• Leaders who practise continuous improvement while keeping people at the centre

This is what it means to Lead the Legacy.
By keeping empathy at the heart of decisions.
By building purpose through progress, every single day.

Tina Mahtani-Hanspal will be sharing her insights on empathetic leadership and building people-centred workplaces at TechHR Singapore 2026.

📅 26 March 2026 – Conference & Exhibition
📍 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
🔗 Register now - https://singapore.techhrconference.com/?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=Manifesting+Cards&utm_campaign=5+Feb&utm_id=TechHR+SG

Worklife in GCC is at a turning point. From AI to digital acceleration and national agendas, the change is real and we want your voice in the story.

Take 3 minutes to participate in GCC’s largest HR & Tech study with PeopleStrong.

Be featured. Be heard.

Contribute Your Perspective before 12th January 2026: https://form.typeform.com/to/y2WgLVAq?utm_source=PeopleMatters&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SM

A new year calls for leadership that is anchored in purpose, leadership that knows why it builds, hires, and transforms. This manifesto from Kenneth KOO 顾家豪, Director of Talent Acquisition at Micron Technology, reflects the kind of intentional leadership 2026 is calling for.

In the Year of the Horse, Kenneth’s reflection centres on creating workplaces where skills-first thinking expands opportunity, AI amplifies human potential, and inclusion fuels innovation. It is a vision of leadership that embraces agility, transparency, and continuous learning, not as ideals, but as everyday practices that drive shared impact.

This is what it means to Lead the Legacy.

Not by optimising for the short term, but by building organisations where people, technology, and purpose move forward together.

We invite you to reflect alongside us.
What are you choosing to lead with in 2026?

How will purpose shape the way you design work, talent, and growth?
Interested in creating your own leadership card?

Share your reflection via the Google Form and be part of this collective expression of leadership. Here - https://lnkd.in/gQjG_E78

Register your interest for TechHR Singapore 2026 and join the conversations shaping the future of work across Asia - https://lnkd.in/gAPtm8b8

📅 26 March – Conference & Exhibition
📍 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

As we step into the , this manifesto from Clarissa Wang, Head of People at Endowus, captures the kind of leadership, 2026 is calling for.

Leadership rooted in relational courage, anchored in trust, and intentional about how AI creates capacity without diluting what makes work human.

This is what it means to Lead the Legacy.

Not by moving faster alone, but by making choices that shape how work, culture, and leadership endure.

We invite you to reflect alongside us.

What are you choosing to lead with in 2026?
What values will guide your decisions as work continues to evolve?

Share your own manifesto using and hashtags and add your voice to the conversation: https://lnkd.in/gQjG_E78

These manifestations come alive at People Matters TechHR Singapore, where we bring together leaders, ideas, and intent to shape what work becomes next.

Register your interest now - https://lnkd.in/gUaCecgP

📅 26th March – Conference & Exhibiti
📍 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

The future of work belongs to organizations that put experience first!

Cheryll Ruth L. Agsaoay, Senior Vice President and HR Group Head at SM Supermalls, exemplifies a true futurist spirit in her approach to organizational transformation. She didn’t just adapt to change, she anticipated it by establishing that “Employee Experience is really the new currency.” 💡

Her forward-thinking mindset didn’t stop at HR. Cheryll also took on responsibility for Customer Care, recognizing that the same principles apply, starting with the basics, building strong foundations, and now evolving into AI-empowered solutions that elevate both employee and customer experiences.

Curious how this transformation is unfolding?
Read the full story here:
🔗 https://www.peoplematters.in/article/strategic-hr/experience-as-the-new-currency-how-sm-supermalls-is-linking-ex-and-cx-with-darwinbox-46729

The Middle East’s talent playbook is being rewritten. Make sure you're there!

AI acceleration, localisation priorities, foreign talent dependencies, and productivity pressures are forcing HR leaders to rethink workforce strategy—fast.

Join us for the launch of the SHRPA State of HR Industry Report 2025: Middle East Insights Report. To help us forge the new talent strategy for the Middle East, we have our expert panel ready. Join us and listen to:

- Suhrid Chaudhuri, Co‑Chief People & Culture Officer, Al Ghurair
- Insherah Bawazir, Country Head of HR, Oman, Standard Chartered Bank
Ali Reza Mukhtar, Transformation Strategist
- Cheshta Dora (She/Her), Head Research, Content, and Community, People Matters (Moderator)

This exclusive session decodes what’s changing, what’s breaking, and what HR must build next to stay ahead in 2026.

Get:

📊 Data-backed insights and actionable strategies on solving critical talent challenges
🤖 A clear look at AI readiness & adoption gaps in the region
🧠 HR's future strategies that will enhance workforce planning & meet capability imperatives

If you’re shaping talent strategy for the next phase of growth in the Middle East, this is a conversation you can’t miss.

👉 Register now: https://www.peoplematters.digital/webcast/watch-middle-east-new-talent-strategy-shrpa-me-report-dicsussion

2026 is poised to redefine talent and workforce strategy in the Middle East. As businesses raise the bar on talent excellence, HR leaders must accelerate AI readiness, drive innovation, and lead tech-enabled transformation.

Join us for the exclusive launch of the SHRPA State of HR Industry 2025: Middle East Insights, a power-packed webinar offering trends, realities, and actionable strategies for 2026.

📅 Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2025
⏰ Time: 11:30–12:30 PM Dubai time | 1:00–2:00 PM IST

💻 Platform: Virtual
💬 Expert Speakers:

• Suhrid Chaudhuri, Co-Chief People & Culture Officer, Al Ghurair [UAE]
• Insherah Bawazir, Country Head of HR, Oman, Standard Chartered [Oman]
• Ali Reza Mukhtar (Chartered FCIPD, SHRM-SCP, CPTD, PMP), Transformation Strategist [KSA]
• Cheshta Dora (She/Her), – Head Research, Content & Community, People Matters (Moderator)

We’re gearing up for one of the most important conversations shaping HR’s next phase in the Middle East. In this session, we will:

- Decode the market realities shaping GCC talent strategy
- Assess AI readiness & Share actionable insights to address the region’s skills challenge
- Discuss the HR imperatives that will define competitive advantage in 2026

🔗 Register now and secure your seat! https://www.peoplematters.digital/webcast/watch-middle-east-new-talent-strategy-shrpa-me-report-dicsussion

✨ When Futurists Come Together, They Redefine What’s Possible

As organisations race toward AI-powered transformation, one truth is becoming clear: ambition alone isn’t enough. Many enterprises remain stuck in fragmented pilots, unclear ROI, and low utilisation, unable to convert AI potential into real impact.

The data speaks for itself:
🔍 EY’s Work Reimagined 2025 Survey shows organisations lose up to 40% of AI productivity gains when technology isn’t paired with the right talent, systems, and operating models.
🔍 The People Matters SHRPA 2025 report reveals a striking readiness gap — while 86% of leaders feel change-ready, only 29% feel AI-ready.

In our latest gathering, The Futurists came together to decode what this transition truly demands.

What emerged was a shared belief: the future will be shaped by leaders who design for intelligence, not just implement it.
Together, the futurists are charting the blueprint for enterprises that can operate, scale, and thrive in an AI-first world.