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Rahul Daswani

Deputy Director, Digital Industry Singapore. Scaling tech-focused hyper-growth startups in Singapore.

Rahul Daswani is currently the Account Director at Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), where he focuses on supporting tech startups in the telecommunications, Software as a Service (SaaS), and emerging technology sectors to scale their operations. His role involves providing various types of support tailored to the needs of these startups.24

Background and Experience

Before joining DISG, Daswani held positions within the Singapore government for over a decade. He transitioned to DISG as part of a move that integrated the office into the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Singapore, where he leads multiple teams aimed at enhancing the digital landscape in Singapore.34

Daswani is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, which underscores his strong foundation in public policy and governance. His experience spans various roles, including his previous position as Head of People and Culture at Open Government Products, where he implemented innovative performance management strategies.15

Professional Focus

At DISG, Daswani's primary mission is to foster growth among tech startups by leveraging his extensive knowledge and experience in both technology and government sectors. His approach emphasizes collaboration and strategic support to help these companies navigate challenges and seize opportunities in a competitive market.24

Highlights

Aug 29 · linkedin

What happens when you put a lot of troublemakers together?

I felt like I had returned home 🏠 - the feeling of being at ease, among like-minded folks who appreciated the value of pushing boundaries and challenging established norms.

The Centre for Strategic Futures had their 15th anniversary dinner last night, and I’m grateful that’s where I started my journey in Singapore’s 🇸🇬 public service.

Eclectic conversations, bosses who pushed me out of my comfort zone while having my back, and riffing off and refining ideas made this the easiest transition I could have asked for from McKinsey & Company to government (it was still a huge adjustment).

So wonderful to see everyone chart 📈 their own path, and be the grains of sand 🏖️ in the oyster that will eventually become recognised as pearls 🦪

Plus the bonus of being among gov and foresight 🔭 luminaries!

Aaron Maniam Dave Snowden Joan Moh Tiana Desker Chin Lum Kwa Audrey Ho Wei Jian Leong Jared Poon Adrian W. J. Kuah Shawn Loh, CFA Shaun Oon Sharmini Melissa Johnson Vernie Oliveiro Liana Tang Terence Poon Sheila Pakir Cheryl Chung Wendy Wong Luke Tay Kai Fong Chng Corrie Tan Jeanette Kwek Chor Pharn Lee Gurubaran Subramaniam Wong Kang Jet Kenneth Poon Angel Chew Lewis Liu

Aug 27 · linkedin

🌟 Is work-life balance possible for parents? Last Friday, I had the honor of joining an incredible panel at the LinkedIn x Mums@Work (Singapore) ™, discussing "Empowerment in Balance: Navigating Careers and Caregiving" alongside the inspiring Sher-li Torrey and Monica Bhatia (Kapur). 🙌

Our discussion was a powerful exploration of how we can better support caregivers in the workforce. Some key takeaways included: 🔹 Leading by Example: As a leader, it’s crucial to model flexible work practices. Sharing my own experience of working from home while sleep-training my daughter, I emphasized how important it is to walk the talk when it comes to work-life balance. 💪👶 🔹 Challenging Societal Expectations: Monica highlighted the disproportionate impact of caregiving responsibilities on women and the need to question traditional gender roles. It’s time we move beyond outdated norms and support diverse caregiving models. 👩‍👧‍👦✊ 🔹 Career Breaks are Valuable: We need to reframe the narrative around career breaks, recognizing them as periods of personal growth rather than setbacks. Skills-based hiring and managerial flexibility are key to helping individuals transition back into the workforce with confidence. 💼🌟 🔹 Inclusive Policies: Creating inclusive policies is not just about implementing changes but also about fostering a culture of empathy and support. Flexibility, understanding, and genuine care are essential for both men and women in the workforce. 🌿🤝

Huge thanks to Monica, Sher-li, Sandhya Dovedy, Tuan Pham and all involved in organizing this impactful event! Your dedication to advancing workplace inclusion and supporting caregivers is truly inspiring. 🌟

Let’s continue to drive ⚙ change and make our workplaces more supportive for everyone. If you attended the event or are passionate about these issues, I’d love to connect! 👋😊

🙏 Thanks also to Bhavani Sahadevan, Shirani Alfreds, Dhawina Jarcqueaz, Arveen Kaur and Sher-Li for speedily writing their takeaways (from which I drew inspiration and constructive peer pressure) to produce this post (with ChatGPT's support)!

#HeForShe #LeanIn Lean In Network, Singapore #EmpowermentInBalance #WorkLifeBalance #Caregiving #CareerBreaks #FemaleEmpowerment #InclusiveWorkplace #Leadership #SupportCaregivers #GenderEquality #SingaporeEvents

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Rahul Daswani
Rahul Daswani, photo 1
Rahul Daswani, photo 2
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Experience

Account Director at Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) (April 2024 - Present)
Deputy Director at Digital Industry Singapore (July 2023 - April 2024), Head Of Partnerships at Open Government Products, GovTech Singapore (April 2021 - July 2023), Founding Head, People and Culture at Centre for Strategic Futures (October 2014 - November 2016)

Education

Master in Public Policy, Political and Economic Development from Harvard Kennedy School of Government (2011 - 2013), B.S.E., Mechanical Engineering, Cum Laude from University of Michigan (2004 - 2007)

Location

Singapore