
A senior banker in Singapore gets what looks like a routine video call. It’s from the CEO of a corporate client he’s known for years — salt-and-pepper hair, easy half-smile, even that little habit of tapping a pen when he’s making a point. The CEO sounds rushed. “I need you to move a large sum…

For years, the hiring process followed a predictable sequence. A role opened, résumés were collected, candidates were shortlisted, interviews were held, and the best person on paper got the offer. Reputation? That was assumed to grow organically — forged over time through workplace achievements, interactions, and long-term performance. That sequence feels almost quaint now. Modern…