What does it mean to build a nation today? In the Singapore of 2025, which is wealthier, more connected, yet grappling with deeper questions of equity, identity, and sustainability, it no longer rests solely in institutions or infrastructure. Increasingly, it’s in the hands of individuals: Founders, reformers, creators, and quiet disruptors who are laying the groundwork for a future shaped by progress and purpose. In this month's special, we spotlight a new generation of leaders reimagining what success looks like – from the boardroom to the art world, from hospitality to home services. Some are preserving legacy through reinvention; others are rewriting rules with fresh conviction. But all share a deep belief in Singapore’s promise and a determination to make their mark not just for today, but for generations to come.
GABRIEL TAN
Founder, Bamboo Builders
Gabriel Tan didn’t follow the conventional path after university. While many of his peers chased high-paying jobs in finance or consulting, Tan committed himself fully to Bamboo Builders, a social enterprise he launched as an undergraduate. The decision felt risky, even reckless, but it was guided by something deeper: A desire to redefine how we teach, empower, and build.
“Fear and faith are often flip sides of the same coin,” he says. “Stepping out doesn’t mean being fearless. It means moving forward despite the fear.” That courage has since shaped an enterprise that has worked with over 20,000 youths and catalysed hundreds of projects across ASEAN, turning everyday students into changemakers for their communities.
Tan’s approach to education is radically human. He believes Singapore’s future lies not just in academic excellence, but in cultivating adaptability, empathy, and real-world skills. At Bamboo Builders, this translates into experiential learning journeys, workshops, and training that equip both urban and rural youth to identify and solve community challenges – from digital scams to social isolation.
One of his most ambitious efforts to date is SG ScamWISE, supported by Google.org, Singapore’s first scams awareness certification campaign, which aims to reach 100,000 people by 2026. “We’ve registered over 13,000 Singaporeans so far,” Tan shares. “Youth, parents, seniors, persons with disabilities, domestic workers – it’s a whole-of-society effort to build not just knowledge, but confidence and care in navigating the digital world.”
(Related: Shaping the Singapore of tomorrow with Nimbus Homes' Daniel Thong)
Singapore’s evolution over the past 60 years, from resource scarcity to global innovation hub, also deeply influences how Tan leads. He draws inspiration from the nation’s grit and reinvention, yet pushes for a broader definition of progress: One that includes heart, human connection, and community empowerment. “We’ve moved into a skills economy,” he says. “In the age of AI and automation, knowledge alone isn’t enough. We need to refine what makes us human.”
Through it all, his motivation remains grounded in the quiet stories – of rural students in Myanmar selling honey to fund their education or Vietnamese youth replicating Bamboo Builders’ programmes on their own. “Success isn’t defined by KPIs or headlines,” he reflects. “It’s the small, persistent progress rooted in love and service. That’s what keeps me going.”
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