Latest news with #iCoach


Associated Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
DBS Launches Gen AI-Powered Coaching Tool to Future Proof Its Workforce
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 24 July 2025 - DBS announced today that it is democratising coaching for its workforce with the launch of iCoach, a Generative AI-powered (Gen AI) platform developed in collaboration with Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world's top executive coaches. While most corporations reserve coaching[1] for their top executives or high potential talent, DBS believes that employees at all levels would benefit from coaching by receiving expert advice on career development as well as topical issues such as work-life balance, personal and small team leadership, or mental wellness. However, the main challenge has always been scaling coaching in an efficient and cost-effective manner – coaching is usually done on a one-to-one basis and can be costly. With the advent of Gen AI, DBS saw an opportunity to leverage the technology to overcome these challenges, enabling the bank to avail coaching to employees across its network. Lee Yan Hong, Head of Group Human Resources, DBS, said, 'As the world of work continues to evolve, building career resilience has become more important than ever. At DBS, we are committed to helping our people thrive by equipping them with future-ready capabilities through our comprehensive Triple E framework – Education, Exposure and Experience. iCoach is a powerful new addition that complements these efforts, leveraging Gen AI to offer personalised, on-demand career guidance to help every employee confidently navigate and grow in the future of work.' Betty Lam, Head of Human Resources, DBS Hong Kong, said, 'DBS continues to entrench our standing as a Responsible AI leader and bring our employees along this responsible AI journey where AI is used ethically and effectively. iCoach is a powerful tool that allows our employees to focus on personal and career growth. At the same time, we also encourage our employees to equip themselves with the necessary AI skills, which will be crucial for our collective success.' iCoach's knowledge base was developed in partnership with Marshall Goldsmith, a leading coaching expert with over four decades of experience working with top CEOs and executives, including those from Fortune 500 companies. Dr Goldsmith was inducted by Thinkers50[2] into its Hall of Fame in 2018 and is the only two-time Thinkers50 #1 Leadership Thinker in the World. He was also the inaugural winner of the Lifetime Award for Leadership by the Harvard Institute of Coaching. iCoach is always-on and available 24/7 to provide employees with just-in-time personalised career guidance. It is tailored to each employee, drawing on the context of the bank's roles, functions and internal mobility pathways to deliver relevant and actionable career advice. Data from International Coaching Federation and Better Up Career Coaching showed 70% of people in organisations who underwent coaching benefitted from improved work performance, relationships and more effective communication skills. 80% of people who received coaching reported increased self-confidence. iCoach further reinforces the bank's commitment to upskilling its employees and building career resilience, and complements other DBS initiatives including: The bank's commitment to supporting employees with career development has contributed to its recognition as an employer of choice. In 2025, DBS was ranked first in TIME's 500 Best Companies in Asia Pacific, while in 2024, the bank was named among Forbes World's Best Employers. In Hong Kong, DBS Hong Kong was also recognised at the 'Bloomberg Businessweek - Financial Institutions 2025 Awards', winning the 'Training Academy – Excellence Performance' and 'Training Program of the Year – Outstanding Performance' awards. Additionally, DBS Hong Kong was honoured with the 'Employer of the Year', 'HR Team of the Year', and the 'Grand Award of Recruitment' at the Jobsdb Hong Kong HR Awards 2024/25. [1] Coaching focuses on achieving specific, short-term goals through structured guidance, while mentoring emphasises long-term personal and professional growth through a supportive relationship. For more info here. [2] Thinkers50 is the world's pre-eminent global ranking of management thinkers and has been described by The Financial Times as 'the Oscars of management thinking'. Hashtag: #DBS The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About DBS DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's 'AA-" and 'Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world. Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named " World's Best Bank " by Global Finance, " World's Best Bank " by Euromoney and " Global Bank of the Year " by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named " World's Best Digital Bank " by Euromoney and the world's " Most Innovative in Digital Banking " by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the " Safest Bank in Asia " award by Global Finance for 16 consecutive years from 2009 to 2024. DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region's most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by supporting social enterprises: businesses with a double bottom-line of profit and social and/or environmental impact. DBS Foundation also gives back to society in various ways, including equipping communities with future-ready skills and building food resilience. With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit


The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
DBS Launches Gen AI-Powered Coaching Tool to Future Proof Its Workforce
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 24 July 2025 - DBS announced today that it is democratising coaching for its workforce with the launch of iCoach, a Generative AI-powered (Gen AI) platform developed in collaboration with Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world's top executive coaches. While most corporations reserve coaching[1] for their top executives or high potential talent, DBS believes that employees at all levels would benefit from coaching by receiving expert advice on career development as well as topical issues such as work-life balance, personal and small team leadership, or mental wellness. However, the main challenge has always been scaling coaching in an efficient and cost-effective manner – coaching is usually done on a one-to-one basis and can be costly. With the advent of Gen AI, DBS saw an opportunity to leverage the technology to overcome these challenges, enabling the bank to avail coaching to employees across its network. Lee Yan Hong, Head of Group Human Resources, DBS, said, 'As the world of work continues to evolve, building career resilience has become more important than ever. At DBS, we are committed to helping our people thrive by equipping them with future-ready capabilities through our comprehensive Triple E framework – Education, Exposure and Experience. iCoach is a powerful new addition that complements these efforts, leveraging Gen AI to offer personalised, on-demand career guidance to help every employee confidently navigate and grow in the future of work.' Betty Lam, Head of Human Resources, DBS Hong Kong, said, 'DBS continues to entrench our standing as a Responsible AI leader and bring our employees along this responsible AI journey where AI is used ethically and effectively. iCoach is a powerful tool that allows our employees to focus on personal and career growth. At the same time, we also encourage our employees to equip themselves with the necessary AI skills, which will be crucial for our collective success.' iCoach's knowledge base was developed in partnership with Marshall Goldsmith, a leading coaching expert with over four decades of experience working with top CEOs and executives, including those from Fortune 500 companies. Dr Goldsmith was inducted by Thinkers50[2] into its Hall of Fame in 2018 and is the only two-time Thinkers50 #1 Leadership Thinker in the World. He was also the inaugural winner of the Lifetime Award for Leadership by the Harvard Institute of Coaching. iCoach is always-on and available 24/7 to provide employees with just-in-time personalised career guidance. It is tailored to each employee, drawing on the context of the bank's roles, functions and internal mobility pathways to deliver relevant and actionable career advice. Data from International Coaching Federation and Better Up Career Coaching showed 70% of people in organisations who underwent coaching benefitted from improved work performance, relationships and more effective communication skills. 80% of people who received coaching reported increased self-confidence. iCoach further reinforces the bank's commitment to upskilling its employees and building career resilience, and complements other DBS initiatives including: --> iGrow, an AI / machine learning-powered platform that offers personalised career advice by matching employees to tailored learning and job opportunities based on their career and training history. --> DBS Mentoring Programme, which connects employees with leaders and peers, enabling them to gain practical guidance, career insights and support at critical points in their professional growth. --> DBS Learning Hub, which provides employees with more than 10,000 curated courses, to learn and pick up new skills. --> Be My Guest Programme, where employees have the opportunity to participate in job shadowing, workshops and projects across departments. Last year, over 4,000 such opportunities were taken up by employees. The bank's commitment to supporting employees with career development has contributed to its recognition as an employer of choice. In 2025, DBS was ranked first in TIME's 500 Best Companies in Asia Pacific, while in 2024, the bank was named among Forbes World's Best Employers. In Hong Kong, DBS Hong Kong was also recognised at the 'Bloomberg Businessweek - Financial Institutions 2025 Awards', winning the 'Training Academy – Excellence Performance' and 'Training Program of the Year – Outstanding Performance' awards. Additionally, DBS Hong Kong was honoured with the 'Employer of the Year', 'HR Team of the Year', and the 'Grand Award of Recruitment' at the Jobsdb Hong Kong HR Awards 2024/25. [1] Coaching focuses on achieving specific, short-term goals through structured guidance, while mentoring emphasises long-term personal and professional growth through a supportive relationship. For more info here. [2] Thinkers50 is the world's pre-eminent global ranking of management thinkers and has been described by The Financial Times as 'the Oscars of management thinking'. About DBS DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's 'AA-' and 'Aa1' credit ratings are among the highest in the world. Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named 'World's Best Bank' by Global Finance, 'World's Best Bank' by Euromoney and 'Global Bank of the Year' by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named 'World's Best Digital Bank' by Euromoney and the world's 'Most Innovative in Digital Banking' by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the 'Safest Bank in Asia' award by Global Finance for 16 consecutive years from 2009 to 2024. DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region's most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by supporting social enterprises: businesses with a double bottom-line of profit and social and/or environmental impact. DBS Foundation also gives back to society in various ways, including equipping communities with future-ready skills and building food resilience. With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit

Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
From aviation to healthcare, workers have taken small steps to be early adopters of AI in Singapore
As part of a concerted push to become an artificial intelligence-savvy nation, there are plans to nurture a large pool of AI users across various sectors. SINGAPORE - As part of a concerted push to become an artificial intelligence-savvy nation, there are plans to nurture a large pool of AI users across various sectors in Singapore's 3.5 million strong workforce. These AI early adopters – who could be lawyers, accountants, doctors – will show their peers how the technology can be useful for daily tasks, said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo at an AI conference on July 22. The size of this pool of users will have to far exceed the 15,000 AI practitioners that Singapore already aims to nurture and hire, Mrs Teo said, detailing how small states can compete on the global AI stage dominated by big boys such as the US and China. Singapore has already taken small steps in various sectors. Here are some early developments: 1. Banking – AI coach provides career development advice DBS' iCoach chatbot is available for use round the clock for employees in Singapore, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and India to start with. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO In July, South-east Asia's largest lender DBS Bank launched a virtual career coach developed with an external vendor to help its staff figure out future career moves within the bank and the necessary training to accompany the moves. Powered by generative AI, this chatbot can pick out potential career shifts and give advice on what needs to be done to qualify for the dream role. The answers are customised based on the chatbot's understanding of an employee's current role, skill sets and personal motivation. It is also able to provide tips on how to demonstrate sought-after traits for such roles, and highlight the available support for formal training they may need. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: Thailand, Cambodia clash with jets, rockets, artillery in deadly border row Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore First BTO flats in Greater Southern Waterfront, Mount Pleasant to go on sale in October Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years in S'pore Boys' Home Asia Vampire coach: Coercive blood sampling in school casts spotlight on Taiwan's 'obedient culture' Business MOM probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: Dinesh Singapore What's key to a good life? Most Singapore residents choose emotional and mental well-being Singapore Over 2 years' jail for man who worked with wife to cheat her then boyfriend of $220k iCoach was trained on the banks' career development-related resources and advice from top leadership coach Marshall Goldsmith. The chatbot is available for use round the clock for employees in Singapore, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and India to start with. The bank has around 41,000 employees across 19 markets currently. 2. Legal – AI service summarises case judgments for efficiency LawNet Technology Services chief executive and Singapore Academy of Law chief technology officer Kenta Kusano with LawNet, an AI service which can summarise case judgments that mostly exist as lengthy transcripts. PHOTO: ST FILE A new feature called LawNet AI , launched in 2024, has allowed around 6,000 lawyers in Singapore to say goodbye to sifting through endless walls of text contained within thousands of case judgments to prepare for their own cases. The Singapore Academy of Law and Infocomm Media Development Authority jointly developed the AI service, which can summarise case judgments that mostly exist as lengthy transcripts. It is accessible to users of the LawNet legal research portal, which nearly all lawyers subscribe to for looking up past cases and conducting research. Hundreds of AI-generated results were reviewed by justices' law clerks to reduce the risks of the AI service generating incorrect or nonsensical results. The reviewed copies were then fed back into the system, to increase its accuracy rate. Text in the generated summary is labelled with reference to the original sources, to help users fact-check the information with ease. 3. Healthcare – AI service helps nurses structure handover notes accurately CareScribe helps to summarise and structure handover notes for the incoming nursing shift, so nurses can use the time saved to tend to patients. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO It often takes up to one hour to hand over information about patients between shift changes. But an AI tool is being trialled at Alexandra Hospital to cut down the time taken to generate handover notes. CareScribe helps to summarise and structure handover notes for the incoming nursing shift, so nurses can use the time saved to tend to patients. 'Most handovers are currently conducted through verbal communication with handwritten documentation, which can present challenges in maintaining consistency and completeness,' said Dr Ravi Shankar, principal investigator and research fellow at Alexandra Hospital's medical affairs research office. CareScribe , which currently can be accessed via a webpage, allows nurses to upload photos or voice notes, which are then transcribed and summarised in a structured format. The notes are organised in an ABCDEFG template, which stands for acuity assessment, background history and behaviour, conditions and care plans, drugs, equipment, family and goals. Critical clinical information – such as patient safety alerts, medication-related updates and scheduled procedures – is also highlighted by the system. 4. Aviation – AI eye in the sky to scan airport runways for safety NCS Engineering Engineering Enterprise Project and Service Leadership co-lead Samuel Tan Pheng Seong (left), with his team, introducing iFerret. PHOTO: ST FILE Through a series of high-definition cameras, an AI system used at Changi Airport helps to scan the runways for any debris or foreign objects that can damage aircraft or disrupt flights. Dubbed iFerret , the system can pick up on a variety of interference such as metal parts, wildlife, animal carcasses and other objects as small as 4cm round the clock. 'When it comes to flights, the most critical period is take-off and landing, and even something as small as a monitor lizard can be a disruption and impact the process,' said a spokesperson for technology services provider NCS, which collaborated with Changi to develop the system. iFerret acts as an extra set of eyes for air traffic controllers, instead of relying only on airport staff who scan the runways several times daily. It is also trained to avoid flagging images that are false alerts, such as reflections on a damp runway.


Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
DBS Launches Gen AI-Powered Coaching Tool to Future Proof Its Workforce
iGrow, an AI / machine learning-powered platform that offers personalised career advice by matching employees to tailored learning and job opportunities based on their career and training history. DBS Mentoring Programme, which connects employees with leaders and peers, enabling them to gain practical guidance, career insights and support at critical points in their professional growth. DBS Learning Hub, which provides employees with more than 10,000 curated courses, to learn and pick up new skills. Be My Guest Programme, where employees have the opportunity to participate in job shadowing, workshops and projects across departments. Last year, over 4,000 such opportunities were taken up by employees. Coaching focuses on achieving specific, short-term goals through structured guidance, while mentoring emphasises long-term personal and professional growth through a supportive relationship. For more info here. [1] [2] Thinkers50 is the world's pre-eminent global ranking of management thinkers and has been described by The Financial Times as "the Oscars of management thinking". HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 24 July 2025 - DBS announced today that it is democratising coaching for its workforce with the launch of iCoach, a Generative AI-powered (Gen AI) platform developed in collaboration with Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world's top executive most corporations reserve coaching[1] for their top executives or high potential talent, DBS believes that employees at all levels would benefit from coaching by receiving expert advice on career development as well as topical issues such as work-life balance, personal and small team leadership, or mental wellness. However, the main challenge has always been scaling coaching in an efficient and cost-effective manner – coaching is usually done on a one-to-one basis and can be the advent of Gen AI, DBS saw an opportunity to leverage the technology to overcome these challenges, enabling the bank to avail coaching to employees across its network., said, "As the world of work continues to evolve, building career resilience has become more important than ever. At DBS, we are committed to helping our people thrive by equipping them with future-ready capabilities through our comprehensive Triple E framework – Education, Exposure and Experience. iCoach is a powerful new addition that complements these efforts, leveraging Gen AI to offer personalised, on-demand career guidance to help every employee confidently navigate and grow in the future of work.", said, "DBS continues to entrench our standing as a Responsible AI leader and bring our employees along this responsible AI journey where AI is used ethically and effectively. iCoach is a powerful tool that allows our employees to focus on personal and career growth. At the same time, we also encourage our employees to equip themselves with the necessary AI skills, which will be crucial for our collective success."iCoach's knowledge base was developed in partnership with Marshall Goldsmith, a leading coaching expert with over four decades of experience working with top CEOs and executives, including those from Fortune 500 companies. Dr Goldsmith was inducted by Thinkers50[2] into its Hall of Fame in 2018 and is the only two-time Thinkers50 #1 Leadership Thinker in the World. He was also the inaugural winner of the Lifetime Award for Leadership by the Harvard Institute of is always-on and available 24/7 to provide employees with just-in-time personalised career guidance. It is tailored to each employee, drawing on the context of the bank's roles, functions and internal mobility pathways to deliver relevant and actionable career advice. Data from International Coaching Federation and Better Up Career Coaching showed 70% of people in organisations who underwent coaching benefitted from improved work performance, relationships and more effective communication skills. 80% of people who received coaching reported increased further reinforces the bank's commitment to upskilling its employees and building career resilience, and complements other DBS initiatives including:The bank's commitment to supporting employees with career development has contributed to its recognition as an employer of choice. In 2025, DBS was ranked first in TIME's 500 Best Companies in Asia Pacific, while in 2024, the bank was named among Forbes World's Best Employers. In Hong Kong, DBS Hong Kong was also recognised at the "Bloomberg Businessweek - Financial Institutions 2025 Awards", winning the "Training Academy – Excellence Performance" and "Training Program of the Year – Outstanding Performance" awards. Additionally, DBS Hong Kong was honoured with the "Employer of the Year", "HR Team of the Year", and the "Grand Award of Recruitment" at the Jobsdb Hong Kong HR Awards 2024/ #DBS The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About DBS DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world. Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named " World's Best Bank" by Global Finance, " World's Best Bank" by Euromoney and " Global Bank of the Year" by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named " World's Best Digital Bank" by Euromoney and the world's " Most Innovative in Digital Banking" by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the " Safest Bank in Asia" award by Global Finance for 16 consecutive years from 2009 to 2024. DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region's most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by supporting social enterprises: businesses with a double bottom-line of profit and social and/or environmental impact. DBS Foundation also gives back to society in various ways, including equipping communities with future-ready skills and building food resilience. With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit
Business Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
No one to be left behind in Singapore's AI push, says Tan Kiat How
[SINGAPORE] The government is doing all it can to help companies, workers and citizens harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How at an event on Tuesday (Jul 22). 'We are putting in place the infrastructure, the investment ecosystem to help companies and workers make full use of this technology', he said in a speech at the DBS 'Live Fulfilled' employee carnival. To help small businesses adopt AI, the government is running programmes such as SMEs Go Digital, which provides financial support for the adoption of advanced digital tools such as Gen AI, he said. There are also efforts to ensure that companies stay safe from potential cyberattacks – whether they are large enterprises often facing online threats, or smaller businesses that are still vulnerable. By supporting the integration of AI in companies' work processes, the government is also giving workers the opportunity to learn the right way to use AI tools, Tan noted. In addition, ambassadors from the SG Digital Office are teaching the elderly digital skills such as Gen AI. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up Tan gave the example of a grandmother using Gen AI to find a simplified recipe for fish and chips, which she wanted to cook for her grandson. 'We are not leaving anyone behind (in the adoption of AI)', he said. He believes that AI will not steal the jobs of human workers because there are many tasks it cannot perform. In the tech sector, AI can generate code efficiently – but someone needs to define what the code should do and whether it is reliable. Although the nature of jobs may change, 'in Singapore, especially when we don't have enough people, there will always be jobs', he said. Companies may be anxious about using AI, so large institutions such as DBS can 'lead by example' through active adoption of the technology, he noted. DBS introduces AI career coach At the carnival, DBS launched iCoach – a Gen AI-powered virtual coach for its employees. The program can be accessed by the bank's offices in Singapore, Indonesia, India, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, a spokesperson from the bank said during a product demonstration. iCoach's knowledge base was developed jointly with Marshall Goldsmith, a career coach with more than four decades of experience working with managers and executives. The virtual coach provides employees with personalised, on-demand career guidance to help them navigate the workplace. Available around the clock, it draws on DBS' roles, functions and internal mobility pathways to deliver relevant career advice. Seventy per cent of coached employees made improvements in work performance, relationships and communication, and 80 per cent reported higher self-confidence, data from International Coaching Federation and Better Up Career Coaching indicated. In response to The Business Times' query on whether iCoach will be used widely by DBS employees, the bank's spokesperson said the launch event was a key attempt at raising awareness of the tool. Employees also have access to human resource software that may guide them to iCoach, she added.