Programme Synopsis

Singaporeans are known for their pragmatic, kiasu mindset. While our competitive spirit pushes us to excel, it could also lead us to safer choices and anxious conformity. Yet, across various fields, Singaporeans have proven their creative potential and innovative pursuits. So, can creativity really thrive in our uniquely Singaporean kiasu culture? Or will kiasu culture continue to stifle our creative excellence? Join us at the debate to share perspectives on Singapore's creative identity and pragmatic culture. 

About the Speakers

Professor Cheng Chi Ying is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Singapore Management University. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from the University of Michigan and previously taught at Columbia University's Graduate Business School. Her research focuses on dual identity integration, exploring the roles of culture, gender, and multicutural exposure in shaping creativity and organizational outcomes. She also investigates Singapore's kiasu mindset and its effects on college students' well-being and creative performance. Her work has been published in journals such as Psychological Science and PNAS, and featured in The New York Times and The UNESCO Courier.

Joshua Ip has written some books, won some prizes, and co-founded one literary organization - Sing Lit Station. His latest collection is ownself say ownself: new & selected poems (Landmark Books, 2024). He still wants to be a writer when he grows up.

 Kae Hana is a fashion designer and educator whose research examines the intersections of material innovation, digital culture, and design pedagogy. Trained in fashion design, their current practice explores bio-material development through SCOBY-based experimentation, foregrounding sustainability as both process and philosophy. As a curriculum designer in higher education, Kae Hana investigates how automation, digital tools, and media ecologies transform creative learning. Their academic interests center on re-imagining design education to cultivate critical, adaptive, and ethically engaged practitioners within an evolving technological landscape.