Get Together

How the “Singaporean voice of youth” found cognitive clarity as a community builder 🧠 Kuik Shiao-Yin, The Thought Collective

Episode Summary

Kuik Shiao-Yin has devoted her life to building up the social and emotional capital of the young nation of Singapore. She was nominated and served two stints in Parliament along with co-founding The Thought Collective, a group of social businesses that spans a school, restaurants, and a civic center. In her work she creates space to equip more Singaporeans with the social and emotional skills they need to create the cultural change *they* want to see. In this episode, we discuss weaving the fabric of a diverse nation together at the grassroots and governmental level. Shiao-Yin shares her opinion that every successful community starts with leadership that has cognitive clarity and then remains vested in getting clearer and clearer. Shaio-Yin poses questions to other community leaders like, “What is it that you want?” “Who is this for?” “Who do you want to be?” “Who do you want others to be?”

Episode Notes

“Meet people where they are, not where you wish them to be.” - Kuik Shiao-Yin

Kuik Shiao-Yin has been called “the Singaporean voice of youth.” While serving two stints as a nominated Parliamentarian, Shiao-Yin delivered clear, passionate speeches that went viral. 

Beyond her work in government, she has committed herself to developing the "social and emotional capital" of the young nation. Shiao-Yin co-founded The Thought Collective, a group of social businesses including the School of Thought and Common Ground, a coworking and event space. These spaces are designed to equip more Singaporeans with the social and emotional skills they need to create the cultural change *they* want to see.  

In this episode we discuss weaving the fabric of the young nation-state together at the grassroots and governmental level. Shiao-Yin shares her opinion that every successful community starts with leadership that has cognitive clarity and then remains vested in getting clearer and clearer. Shaio-Yin poses questions to other community leaders like, “What is it that you want?” “Who is this for?” “Who do you want to be?” “Who do you want others to be?”

We believe nearly every challenge of building a community can be met by asking yourself, “How do I achieve this by working *with* my people, not doing it *for* them?” Shaio-Yin offers clarity of thought and kindness, and exemplifies what it means to “build with.” 

To hear more from other community leaders on “building with” at Stage 1 in getting your people together, 🔥Sparking the Flame: https://gettogetherbook.com/resources#spark-the-flame

👏Learn more about Shaio-Yin and say hello at https://www.facebook.com/shiaoyin

📙Grab your copy of GET TOGETHER—our handbook on community-building 🔥: bit.ly/gettogetherbook

👋Say hi and learn more about work we do with passionate, community-centered organizations, visit: http://people-and.com/