At Temus, we believe that our people are at the heart of our success. As a young and ambitious company navigating the complexities of the knowledge economy, investing in talent is no longer a choice—it is a necessity. Talent development within the organisation has also become pivotal to ensuring that we are equipped to handle rapid changes in technology and market demands.This is where TalentForge comes in. A proprietary cutting-edge talent acquisition and development platform powered by Graph Technology and Generative AI, TalentForge represents Temus’ commitment to developing talent with precision, speed, and innovation. It is more than just a tool; it’s an enabler of transformation that reshapes how we manage and nurture talent. Through TalentForge, we support our people’s growth and development, driving both personal success and sustainable organisational growth.The Need for Innovation in Talent ManagementAs Temus expanded rapidly in 2023, doubling its headcount from 200 to 400 employees, our existing talent management systems began to strain under the pressure. Manual processes were cumbersome, time-consuming, and inefficient. Hiring for new roles attracted hundreds of applications, each with varied qualifications and requirements. While growth was a positive indicator of our business health, it also presented a challenge. We needed a solution that would help us manage talent acquisition more efficiently while offering a more personalised approach to employee development.TalentForge was thus designed to address the complexities of hiring, skills mapping, and employee development. The platform leverages AI to automate candidate selection, enhance skills matching, and provide personalised development insights that not only save time but also improve precision in hiring decisions.Hiring with AIOne of the most immediate impacts of TalentForge has been in our talent acquisition process. Recruitment is often a resource-heavy function that involves sifting through hundreds of applications and conducting numerous interviews. Human evaluators, while skilled, are often constrained by time and subjective biases.TalentForge’s AI-powered skills matching engine has changed the game by enabling us to evaluate candidate profiles at a much faster rate—cutting down evaluation time by up to 90%. Roles that once took months to fill can now be staffed in a matter of weeks or even days. Additionally, the conversational agent within TalentForge interacts with recruiters and hiring managers, allowing for further customisation of evaluations. The platform assists with drafting interview invitations and generating follow-up questions, saving our team hundreds of hours annually—hours that can now be reinvested into value-generating activities.During the initial roll-out of TalentForge, we observed savings that exceeded S$1 million annually through improved efficiency. More importantly, the platform ensures that we are hiring the right talent—people whose skills and aspirations align with the demands of the roles we need to fill and the strategic goals of Temus.Enhancing Employee Development with Personalised InsightsBeyond recruitment, TalentForge has proven invaluable in supporting our ongoing employee development initiatives. In today’s dynamic workplace, employee skills are constantly evolving. The challenge lies in identifying the skills gaps and growth opportunities that will make the biggest impact on the individual and the organisation.Using data aggregated from resumes, performance reviews, and external benchmarks, TalentForge provides a comprehensive visual assessment of each employee's capabilities. Managers can now deliver precise, actionable feedback that is tailored to an employee’s current skill set and career aspirations. The platform also recommends personalised training and development programmes that align with both the employee’s goals and the future needs of the business.This ability to offer timely, precision-based skill development has not only enhanced productivity but also improved employee engagement. Individuals can see a clear path for their career growth within Temus, creating a culture of continuous learning and professional development. The results have been striking, with many managers reporting up to a 50% reduction in the time it takes to assess development needs like training recommendations.By integrating AI-driven precision into our talent management practices, TalentForge directly contributes to this vision by developing leaders who are not only skilled but also equipped with the right insights to lead responsibly. It fosters a culture of continuous improvement and learning, empowering individuals to become stewards of their own professional development while aligning their growth with Temus' mission to unlock societal and economic value.Inspiring Steward Leadership Excellence, Starting from Our HomegroundAt its core, TalentForge is about more than just improving internal processes. By enabling smarter, faster, and more personalised talent management, we help businesses—including our own—become more resilient, inclusive and future-proof. TalentForge’s impact has already been recognised beyond our organisation. The platform won an Innovation Award at Google’s AI Trailblazers event in 2024, and has been selected for review by the Alliance for Action on Widening Access to Talent by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower. This partnership highlights our commitment to driving workforce agility and skills-based development, not only within Temus but also across industries. Through this collaboration, we aim to promote skills-focused hiring and workforce development strategies that benefit both businesses and employees. Starting from Singapore, we can potentially expand our efforts across the Asia-Pacific region, as we believe in talent solutions that uplifts our larger technology community and promotes sustainable development. Looking Ahead: Building the Future of TalentWhile we are proud of what TalentForge has accomplished so far, we know this is just the beginning. As we move forward, Temus remains committed to developing talent that not only drives business success but also embodies the values of responsible, forward-thinking leadership. With the upcoming release of TalentForge 2.0, we are further enhancing the platform to offer even deeper insights into career progression and personalised development paths. This evolution of TalentForge will help us continue to inspire steward leadership by equipping our people with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of the digital economy.