Interview Highlights

Ryan Meyer, Managing Director, APAC at General Assembly, joined the panel discussion on overcoming talent-pool challenges in the data-driven economy at Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG 2025). Speaking alongside industry peers, he explored how organisations can future-proof their workforce amid rapid AI workforce transformation in Singapore and across the wider Asia-Pacific region.

“When it comes to talent, shortages aren’t always the real problem,” Ryan explained. “AI-driven productivity means companies can do more with less. The real challenge is holding onto the people you have — and creating the right frameworks for upskilling and reskilling.”

Don’t miss out: Pre-register for ATxEnterprise 2026

AI-Driven Solutions in Asia: From Talent Shortages to Strategic Upskilling

For Meyer, this shift defines modern workforce planning. “The question isn’t how to find more talent,” he noted, “but how to help the talent you already have succeed in a changing world.”

By embedding data-driven workforce frameworks and addressing the digital skills gap in Asia Pacific, organisations can align AI-enabled productivity with human growth — turning short-term disruption into long-term capability.

Related read: Real-World Examples of Sustainable Innovation: How Tech Enterprises Are Driving Change

Singapore's Digital Transformation: Navigating AI Disruption with Strategic Purpose

General Assembly’s enterprise AI training programmes embody this approach, helping businesses implement scalable, practical education models that prepare their teams for the digital future.

This focus on AI-ready talent ecosystems reflects General Assembly’s mission to empower professionals and organisations to thrive in the digital economy through hands-on, industry-relevant education.

For insights on technology transformation at scale, explore: The Industrial Metaverse: Revolutionising Industries with Digital Transformation.

Asia’s Role in the Next Wave of Global Innovation

He explained: “In Southeast Asia, barriers to innovation are falling fast. Economies are growing, technology is accessible, and that combination makes the next few decades incredibly exciting for this region.”

This trend marks a new era for Southeast Asia tech talent development and regional collaboration in tech innovation, as enterprises build on shared capabilities to drive cross-market growth and AI leadership.

Building the Workforce of Tomorrow

General Assembly’s ongoing presence at ATxEnterprise — now in its third year — reflects its commitment to defining best practices for AI workforce transformation in Asia through training, strategy, and community partnerships.

As Meyer observed, “There are companies here today that won’t be around in a few years if they don’t adapt. The goal is to meet the challenges of the future in a meaningful, systematic, and thoughtful way.”

That approach mirrors sustainable development technology scaling — not just reacting to disruption, but designing frameworks that help people and organisations thrive through it.

Join the conversation on the future of AI-ready talent — Pre-register for ATxEnterprise 2026

About Ryan Meyer
Ryan Meyer is the Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, at General Assembly, where he leads the company’s mission to close the global skills gap through data, technology, and design education. With extensive experience in workforce transformation across the region, Ryan helps organisations build adaptable teams ready for the demands of an AI-powered economy.

About Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG)
Asia Tech x Singapore 2025 is the region’s flagship technology event, uniting policymakers, business leaders, and innovators to explore the future of digital transformation.

Through its anchor platforms — ATxSummit and ATxEnterprise — the event examines how AI, Big Data, and human-centred innovation drive growth across industries. ATxSummit convenes government and enterprise leaders to address global digital priorities, while ATxEnterprise brings together tech ecosystems to exchange insights on talent, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Full Interview Transcript

Q: You’ve just come off a panel discussion on overcoming talent-pool challenges in the data-driven economy. What were the main highlights?

Ryan Meyer: “We all agreed there aren’t necessarily talent shortages. With AI driving so much productivity, companies can do more with less — so the real question is retention and how to create frameworks for upskilling and reskilling.”

Q: How has your experience at ATxEnterprise been so far?

Ryan Meyer: “So far, so good. We’re happy to be here with our booth — this is probably our second or third year participating, and we’re having a great time engaging with the ecosystem.”

Q: What unique perspectives or insights are you most excited to share?

Ryan Meyer: “Being able to interface with so many companies going through these existential challenges — especially around AI — has been fascinating. Some of these companies may not be around in a few years if they don’t adapt, so there’s a real urgency to figure out how to meet future challenges meaningfully and systematically.”

Q: How do you see Asia’s role evolving in the global technology landscape?

Ryan Meyer: “Innovation used to be gatekept by Silicon Valley. Now, with AI and LLMs accessible to everyone, the barriers to entry are gone. Southeast Asia has seen huge GDP growth over the last two decades — pair that with accessible technology, and you’ve got a recipe for an incredible few decades of innovation ahead.”