Young Singaporeans Announced as New Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leaders3 min read

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SINGAPORE – Seventeen leaders from, or based in Singapore have been selected as part of the inaugural cohort of Obama Foundation Leaders: Asia-Pacific, a cross section of 200 emerging civic leaders from 33 nations and territories in the region, who will convene in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from December 10-14. The 200 Leaders represent public, private, and non-profit sectors, and they work on a variety of issues, ranging from education to environment to entrepreneurship. 

Among the leaders who have been selected for the program, some media-related industry leaders are: 

● Daryl Goh, 25, is the Marketing Specialist at Potato Productions, a group of companies collectively dedicated to using technology and creativity for change. With a portfolio of companies in industries ranging from digital content to healthcare, Potato creates and supports innovative and experimental enterprises seeking to make a social impact. Daryl is also the Assistant Director of The T Project, Singapore’s first and only social service for the transgender community.

● Vivian Lim, 29, is the co-founder of Women In Asia, a platform which uncovers hidden stories of women around Asia, aiming to bridge cultural and gender differences. Women In Asia brings together catalysts, thinkers and thought leaders to build an open and inclusive community. She is also the lead curator of TEDxSingapore.

● Roshni Mahtani, 36, is the Group CEO and founder of theAsianparent.com, which reaches 30 million mums monthly. She has over 15 years of mediatech experience across the US and Asia Pacific. Roshni is also an Executive Producer of Untouchable: Children of God, a documentary about young girls sold and trafficked in the brothels of South Asia.

● Cheryl Tan, 33, is the Festival Director of the Singapore Mental Health Film Festival, a ground-up initiative that seeks to challenge the social stigma that is attached to having a mental illness, and the discrimination faced by those affected by it. She is also the Founder of The Breathe Movement, a social enterprise that seeks to increase the emotional and mental resilience of individuals through the practice and philosophies of yoga.

The Leaders: Asia-Pacific gathering will serve as the kick-off event for a year-long leadership program and is designed to further inspire, empower, and connect the emerging leaders to change the world. While in Malaysia, the Leaders will be joined by prominent speakers and thought leaders who will discuss topics such as progress and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region, values-based leadership, and the intersection of purpose and entrepreneurship during a series of plenary sessions. 

In addition to President and Mrs. Obama, confirmed speakers include: 

● YB Hannah Yeoh, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development; 

● Tan Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes, Malaysian entrepreneur and co-founder of AirAsia; 

● Dr. Oyun Sanjaasuren, Director of External Affairs at the Green Climate Fund; 

● Tim Brown, co-founder of Allbirds; 

● Arthur Huang, Taiwanese entrepreneur and founder of Miniwiz; 

● Helianti Hilman, Indonesian entrepreneur and founder of JAVARA; 

● Aaron Maniam, member of the Singapore Administrative Service; and 

● Pat Dwyer, Director and founder of The Purpose Business. 

The five-day convening in December will also consist of skill-building workshops, leadership development training, and opportunities for Leaders to connect with one another. Leaders will have a chance to apply their skills and knowledge to various real-world scenarios while using creative, values-driven approaches to problem-solving. Additionally, to underscore the important relationship between service and leadership, Leaders will participate in a community service project. 

Although the gathering is closed to the general public, the plenary sessions will be made available via livestream at obama.org. 

Each Leader’s journey of growth will continue remotely for a year after the gathering, through webinars and a virtual speaker series, as well as support, amplification, and other opportunities from the Foundation.

The Asia-Pacific program follows the Obama Foundation’s inaugural international Leaders program launched in Africa in 2018 and represents the Foundation’s commitment to the region, along with the belief that these emerging leaders, through the extraordinary work they do in their own communities, have the potential to positively affect change across the globe.

Photo Credit: The Obama Foundation