My EPIC APAC Trip!
Off to Singapore!
Originally planned for 2020, I finally embarked on my business trip to Asia and Australia for some speaking engagements and meetings with clients and partners. However, the start of this trip was a bit different. As an avid Houston Astro’s (Baseball) fan, I found myself watching Game 6 of the World Series on the back of the seat in front of me on my flight to San Francisco. I definitely pushed the boundaries of acceptable behavior on a plane as I watched my team clinch their second World Series title in flight. Talk about an EPIC Start!
Landing a day later in Singapore I was absolutely amazed at the Changi Airport. It’s one thing to hear about it and watch some YouTube videos, it is another to see it in person – amazing! Combatting jet lag, I spent most of my first day in Asia walking through “The Jewel.” Think Tropical Rainforest meets the Mall of America – in an airport!
Later in the day I met up with my new travel companions Ethan and Tushar, both local to the region. One of their first tasks for me was to get me outfitted with some local wear. As you may have seen in any pictures on LinkedIn, my wardrobe was not my typical wear. I acquired the first of two “Batik” shirts in Singapore. Batik is a traditional shirt worn in Singapore and Malaysia in lieu of a shirt and tie; often very decorative in nature. I was up for fitting in as best I could.
That evening I checked off a bucket list item, the harbor in Singapore. The beautiful and iconic Maria Bay Sands hotel was the view from my Welcome Dinner. Singapore is just such a beautiful city with so many iconic landmarks and sights. Unfortunately, this was the shortest stop on my trip. It was off to Kuala Lumpur the next day for some presentations and meetings.
Next up Kuala Lumpur!
Situated just an hour plane ride north of Singapore, we landed in Kuala Lumpur for the rest of my first week in Asia. This was my first visit to Kuala Lumpur, or “KL” as it is often referred. The region and city itself are just massive. I am still amazed at the volume of high-rise apartment buildings both in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. They dot the landscape everywhere which leads to traffic congestion and crowded sidewalks at times. In many ways my time in KL reminded me of New York City.
My first event was a networking breakfast and presentation on the state of Skills and the Hybrid Workforce. It was well attended and promoted some great discussion with the attendees on the challenges they are experiencing in Malaysia. Skills and Skill Development are very much top of mind here. Most employees in Malaysia are back in the office. Very few are truly “remote.” The cultural aspects of the region lean toward being present. This was also why this trip was so important, to establish and maintain personal relationships with our clients and partners.
After the formal part of the program was complete, I sat with several tables to get to know the participants. What I learned from those conversations quite surprised me. Without falling into any political discussion, many of the participants were curious as to my thoughts on the mid-term election happening that week. I will say this, I was impressed at how much people outside of the U.S. know about what is happening in our country. Dare I say that many of the people I met potentially know more about what is happening than most U.S. citizens. This is why it is so important to get out and meet with people around the world to ensure I have a well-rounded perspective. It is so important to understand the regional backgrounds to see how they align with many macro trends.
The second event scheduled in KL was for Public Sector attendees. While my first event was directed toward private businesses, the Public Sector has a unique challenge in front of them – Blueprint 2030. The government in Malaysia has set an aggressive goal to advance their technological capacity for all sectors of government and private enterprise by 2030. Among many of these initiatives is high-speed internet access for all and full-scale technology adoption to increase speed and efficiency of education, business, and government. There is an added emphasis on reviewing skills in the Malaysian market. In lieu of “Degrees,” Skills are seen as more tangible and impactful in a shorter timespan to support the 2030 agenda. After some partner and client meetings in KL it was a wrap and time to head on to Australia.
Down Under!
After an overnight flight via Singapore, I landed early morning in Brisbane, Australia. Visit Australia, Bucket List – CHECK! This was my first trip to the land down under. Given my trip lasted close to two weeks I had the weekend to rest, recharge and venture out to see some sights. Brisbane is wonderful. They have an amazing river segment running through the heart of the city. In desperate need of recharge from home, I discovered a Texas BBQ restaurant in Brisbane, “Frankies.” I have to say the BBQ was spot on for something way outside of Texas.
I met up with the traveling members of my team again on Sunday night to prepare for our week’s events. First up was a wine tasting client and prospect event. We had a great turnout that evening as I shared some brief comments in between wine tastings and conversations. The event was quite a hit with all that attended. The following day included some customer visits with a workshop facilitation. I have to say aside from the splendor of Singapore, the metropolis of KL, Brisbane was a pleasant change of pace. Equally impressive but casual and relaxed.
One thing confirmed during my time in Brisbane was it is Summer down there. I have always heard their seasons are opposite North America, but it is a whole other thing to facetime my wife with a fire in the background while I am enjoying the weather in shorts! The time went by quickly in Brisbane as it was time for the final stop on my trip, Sydney. In similar fashion to Singapore/KL, Sydney is just a short plane ride south of Brisbane.
My last full day in Sydney was filled with a customer lunch and on-site meeting. Both yielded wonderful new connections and insight into their industries and experiences with our products. After completing the last of my official duties, it was time to drop me off at the last hotel on my trip. This one was conveniently located right next to the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge and with the World-Famous Sydney Opera House just in the distance. I had to pinch myself to believe I was there. It was time for some awkward selfies with the famous landmarks before turning in and preparing for the trip home.
I have really enjoyed telling this next part. My alarm went off at 6:00 a.m. Sydney time to start my trip home. After breakfast and a ride to the airport my flight departed Sydney for Los Angeles at noon. A quick thirteen hours later I was landing in Los Angeles at 6:00 a.m. the same day! By the time I finally landed in Houston it was 2:00 p.m. Talk about time travel!
Final Thoughts
As I mentioned in the beginning, this trip was three years in the making. Originally intended before the pandemic, there were still some echoes of it along the way. Other than Singapore, my destinations were free from COVID Travel Restrictions. Getting back out to see our clients was the biggest benefit of all. The culture in Southeast Asia and Australia values the interpersonal connections when conducting business. There was a sense of gratitude from everyone in our meetings. It was familiar yet had been missing for quite some time. This was the longest and perhaps most demanding business trip in my career to date. Yet, in many ways it was EPIC with so many personal firsts. I want to close with my most sincere thanks to my hosts and travel companions during the two weeks: Rhys Hughes, Ceci Ho, Ethan Dengate, Tushar Gupta, Faraz Farshori, Arthur Chia and Aaron McGrath.
Trip Pictures Posted Here: https://www.brentcolescott.com/travels/