You have built a solid business and you work hard. You are doing everything right.
However, costs are rising and business sentiment is at its lowest point in a year amidst global energy and supply shocks. Deals are slipping through, opportunities are passing by, and competitors always seem to move faster. At the same time, you are busy juggling operations, marketing your services, planning your finances, and optimising business strategies to think about scaling consistently and sustainably.
Often, many local enterprises don’t lack the time and budget to scale their business. They lack access to senior expertise and supportive financial schemes to convert opportunities into revenue amidst an uncertain economy.
To explore the topic of building sustainable business growth and productivity, join SME Centre@SICCI and ARK Connect in this workshop to see how smarter human capital alternatives can overcome traditional hiring challenges and what SME leaders can do differently in these trying times.
Key Learning Points:
- Leave With a Practical Framework of One Problem You Can Solve In The Next 90 Days.
- Understand How Fractional Expertise Is Vetted, Incentivised, and Held Accountable – And Why It May Be Lower-risk Than Traditional Hiring.
- Understand What Staying “Stuck” In Your Business Is Really Costing You.
Programme:
| Time | Agenda |
|---|---|
| 1.30pm – 2pm | Registration |
| 2pm – 2.30pm | SME Centre@SICCI Sharing Mr Syed Ali Senior Manager, Business Advisory SME Centre@SICCI |
| 2.30pm – 3.30pm | Rising Costs, Falling Business Sentiment, Frozen Hiring: What SME Leaders Can Do Differently Ms Joanne Chua Founder ARK Connect Pte Ltd |
| 3.30pm – 4pm | Sharing Session Ms Cassandra Cheng Senior Manager NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) |
| 4pm – 5pm | Light Refreshments & Networking |
Speakers’ Profiles:
Ms Joanne Chua
Founder
ARK Connect Pte Ltd
Joanne Chua is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, executive search consultant, and certified coach with over 20 years of experience in recruitment and talent advisory across Asia. She is the Founder of ARK Connect and is currently co-founding a next-generation fractional talent marketplace designed to connect seasoned leaders with high-growth organisations globally.
Joanne began her career in her family business before spending 17 years at Robert Walters, where she held regional leadership roles across Asia. She is known for her consultative, solutions-oriented approach, partnering closely with founders and C-suite leaders on executive search, leadership transformation, and fractional talent strategies.
Inspired by an 800km hike across Spain during her sabbatical year, Joanne founded ARK Connect with a strong commitment to purpose and mental health advocacy. Today, she champions a more human, flexible future of work, helping organisations access senior talent while enabling leaders to contribute beyond traditional career paths.
Ms Cassandra Cheng
Senior Manager
NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i)
Cassandra oversees accounts in the banking, finance, insurance, investment, and legal sectors, with a focus on supporting companies in workforce planning. She brings expertise in helping businesses leverage NTUC’s initiatives and maximise government support for manpower and staffing needs. In addition, Cassandra facilitates the creation of strategic platforms that foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and growth opportunities for companies across these industries.
Mr Syed Ali
Senior Manager, Business Advisory
SME Centre@SICCI
Throughout his career, Syed Ali has engaged businesses and created connections through marketing and events around the world. He has worked with SMEs, MNCs, Associations and Governments identifying their needs, creating opportunities and helping to build their networks.
He joined SME Centre with the aspiration to enable as many small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs as possible to grow and achieve their dreams.