Anthea Ong: Saying No to Nominated Member of Parliament (At First), NMP Scheme Reforms & Majoritarian vs. Nonpartisanship - E564
04/20/25 • 55 min
Jeremy Au reconnects with Anthea Ong for a candid conversation on what it means to lead with integrity, empathy, and independence. They trace her journey from corporate leadership into the social sector and eventually into Parliament as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP). Anthea shares how she first declined the NMP role, then later accepted it after realizing that structural change especially around mental health and vulnerable communities required policy influence. She recounts her unconventional first speech in Parliament, starting with three collective breaths to bring mindfulness into the chamber. They discuss how debate still matters in a supermajority system, why recent mid-term resignations have damaged the credibility of the NMP scheme, and the need to rethink Singapore’s political structures in light of global democratic shifts. Anthea also talks about her current work leading WorkWell Leaders, a nonprofit that helps CEOs prioritize employee wellbeing and lead more sustainably.
1. Anthea declined the NMP role in 2011 but said yes in 2018 after realizing that structural change, not just grassroots work, was needed to support mental health and social equity.
2. Her nomination came through the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, and she was selected despite thinking she had performed poorly in the final interview.
3. She made history by starting her first Parliament speech with a short breathing exercise to center presence bringing mindfulness into a space built for debate.
4. She used her platform to speak against discriminatory hiring practices, particularly those that asked job applicants to disclose mental health history.
5. She argued that even in a supermajority Parliament, debate still matters because it influences implementation, sets public tone, and archives dissent for future accountability.
6. She criticized the recent mid-term resignations of two NMPs who joined political parties, warning that it erodes public trust and turns the scheme into a talent pipeline.
7. Today, she leads WorkWell Leaders, where she works with over 80 companies to show how a CEO’s personal wellbeing is directly linked to employee health and business performance.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/human-centered-governance
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Jeremy Au reconnects with Anthea Ong for a candid conversation on what it means to lead with integrity, empathy, and independence. They trace her journey from corporate leadership into the social sector and eventually into Parliament as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP). Anthea shares how she first declined the NMP role, then later accepted it after realizing that structural change especially around mental health and vulnerable communities required policy influence. She recounts her unconventional first speech in Parliament, starting with three collective breaths to bring mindfulness into the chamber. They discuss how debate still matters in a supermajority system, why recent mid-term resignations have damaged the credibility of the NMP scheme, and the need to rethink Singapore’s political structures in light of global democratic shifts. Anthea also talks about her current work leading WorkWell Leaders, a nonprofit that helps CEOs prioritize employee wellbeing and lead more sustainably.
1. Anthea declined the NMP role in 2011 but said yes in 2018 after realizing that structural change, not just grassroots work, was needed to support mental health and social equity.
2. Her nomination came through the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, and she was selected despite thinking she had performed poorly in the final interview.
3. She made history by starting her first Parliament speech with a short breathing exercise to center presence bringing mindfulness into a space built for debate.
4. She used her platform to speak against discriminatory hiring practices, particularly those that asked job applicants to disclose mental health history.
5. She argued that even in a supermajority Parliament, debate still matters because it influences implementation, sets public tone, and archives dissent for future accountability.
6. She criticized the recent mid-term resignations of two NMPs who joined political parties, warning that it erodes public trust and turns the scheme into a talent pipeline.
7. Today, she leads WorkWell Leaders, where she works with over 80 companies to show how a CEO’s personal wellbeing is directly linked to employee health and business performance.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/human-centered-governance
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Previous Episode
Valerie Vu: Vietnam’s 46% Tariff Shock, US Trade Fallout & Multipolar Diplomacy Moves – E563
Jeremy Au speaks with Valerie Vu about Vietnam’s sudden shock from the 46% US tariff under Trump. What started as optimism turned into panic factories collapsed, partners pulled out, and even personal tragedies occurred. The government acted fast, but trust with the US was damaged. Vietnam is now shifting toward multipolar trade, owning more of its value chain, and exploring new diplomatic lanes with countries like China, Singapore, and the UAE. They also explore how digital platforms like TikTok are emerging as tools of modern diplomacy.
- Vietnam was blindsided by the 46% tariff, causing financial losses, factory shutdowns, and even suicides from sudden business collapse.
- The government responded immediately with emergency meetings and a direct call from the General Secretary to Trump.
- The US refused to reverse tariffs without demanding currency reform, trade surplus reduction, and blocking Chinese transshipment.
- Vietnam expanded trade talks with China, UAE, Australia, and others, while strengthening regional ties with Singapore and Indonesia.
- Factory owners are now investing in branding, design, and IP to move up the value chain and reduce reliance on OEM contracts.
- Cambodia and Malaysia are also recalibrating as China freezes infrastructure investments and US tariffs shake regional trade flows.
- Singapore’s PM Lawrence Wong went viral in Vietnam through TikTok, showing how soft power now runs through short-form media.
Next Episode
Milan Reinartz: Founder to Platform Builder, Community-Led Angel Investing & Scaling Private Access – E565
Jeremy Au reconnects with Milan Reinartz to explore how angel investing evolved into a community-led platform, why Southeast Asia’s VC math doesn’t work, and how late-stage private markets offer new opportunities for retail millionaires. They talk through founder quality, opaque incentives, and the need for real diligence in a fragmented region. It’s a grounded take on what needs to change in early-stage investing and what’s already shifting.
1. From solo investing to a platform: Milan started out deploying his own capital but realized he needed to pool investors to access better rounds.
2. Backing experienced founders only: He avoided pre-revenue startups and focused on tier-one operators with track records and strong fund backing.
3. Bundling small checks to access big rounds: The club combined smaller investments into a single vehicle to meet the $100K+ minimums of top-tier deals.
4. Vetting with the right experts: The community cross-checks deals with vertical operators like SaaS leaders or commodities experts to assess traction and founder integrity.
5. Southeast Asia’s exit math problem: Milan explains how capital raised outpaces available exit value, making traditional VC returns nearly impossible at scale.
6. Filtering out bad faith actors: Milan and Jeremy discuss how investors can use networks and peer validation to spot red flags early.
7. Giving accredited investors better access: Milan’s platform opens up late-stage private tech companies like SpaceX and OpenAI to “retail millionaires” without large ticket sizes.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/rebuilding-venture-capital
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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