Digital change initiates with personal metamorphosis for Temus: Marcus Loh's perspective
Spicing Up the Digital Workforce: Marcus Loh, Flaming Mind at Temus
From humble beginnings to a tech juggernaut, Temus – a vibrant collision of Temasek and UST – is racing to the forefront of Singapore's digital transformation movement. Marcus Loh, a seasoned commander with two decades of multinational enterprise domination, steps in as our fearless leader. Known for helping global brands conquer the Asia Pacific region, Loh joined forces with Temus to realize its ambitious vision: breeding a homegrown tech beast that Singapore will one day be proud to call its own.
Rooted in its vision, Temus has sprouted from a team of 100, growing to almost 400 powerhouses expanding throughout various areas of operation across the globe. These warriors of tech wield myriad skills, working tirelessly in security, surveillance, customer journey design, transforming operating models, generative AI, digital application development, creating online marketplaces, and more.
However, Temus is not just about business – it's the beating heart of holistic digital transformation. The duplicated corpses of 70% of digital transformation projects litter the battlefield — victims of insufficient focus on the big picture, ultimately overpowered by an obsession with technology rather than thoughtful consideration of policy, operations, culture, and people.
To combat this grim reality, Temus birthed the Step IT Up program, an innovative career conversion platform for Singapore's deserving locals brimming with potential but devoid of an IT background. To date, they've successfully transformed individuals from industries like education, music, optometry, and finance – proving that the human spirit, when given the right stage, can climb heights previously thought impossible.
Turning the Tide: Marcus Loh's Mighty Mission
Assuming a heavier mantle, Marcus Loh took the reigns at Step IT Up, overseeing strategic communication, public affairs, marketing, and – of course – its overall success. Recognizing the gravity of this responsibility, Loh gathers a star-studded team of dedicated, forward-thinking individuals to ensure Step IT Up's dominance continues to rise.
Entering its third year, Step IT Up's latest cohort has achieved certifications in business analysis, scrum, software testing. Derived from diverse backgrounds, these mid-careerists are ready to slay in their new technology roles, armed with valuable insights and renewed technical expertise.
For the first time ever, 80% of graduates will traverse the digital battlefield under Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) as Digital Business Analysts for a year. The remaining warriors will soldier on in Temus' Value Assurance Centre of Excellence.
Among them, Eileen Tan's step from motherhood to cyber soldier is inspiring. These determined ranks of Step IT Up initiates showcase the boundless potential and genius within Singapore's people. It's truly stirring evidence of what a fusion of the right industry, professional opportunities, and robust structure can accomplish.
Addressing the Tech Talent Crisis
As the world pirouettes towards the digital future, the demand for skilled tech professionals surges. Traditional jobs will require a dash of digital knowledge and a pinch of technical mastery, making Temus a trailblazer in cultivating the digital economy's builders through Step IT Up.
In the digital desert, thirsty for talent, Singapore will face an insatiable demand for professionals adept in niche tech skills, like software engineering, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data analytics. Recognizing the dire need for mastery in these specialized fields, Temus strives to fill a major gap in the local workforce.
Armed with upskilling and reskilling ambitions, Temus vows to stay at the forefront of the digital revolution by fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration among its troops. By developing the award-winning mobile application 'giga!' and the TalentForge platform powered by generative AI, Temus continues to showcase its strengths and redefine the boundaries of possibility.
Looking ahead, Temus has its sights set on the soaring success of Step IT Up, supporting businesses in the public and private sectors to meet the immense need for tech talent. Molding the digital warriors of tomorrow, Temus is shaping its destiny and leading the charge in creating a formidable digital frontier.
Join Loh in his quest to expand Singapore's digital horizons. Follow his exploits on LinkedIn and learn more about the transformative journey at Step IT Up. Together, we can boldly venture into the digital unknown.
(Marcus Loh, eyes ablaze with determination, stands proudly beside Step IT Up warrior, Lo Ying Ki and son, at the program's graduation ceremony on May 9, 2024.)
Connect with Marcus Loh on LinkedIn.
Visit Step IT Up to learn more about how Temus is empowering the digital workforce of tomorrow.
Additional Info:
- Singapore's digital economy makes up more than 15% of its global GDP[1].
- The World Economic Forum predicts that as the global economy rapidly digitalizes, 70% of new value created will be based on digitally-enabled platform business models[1].
- Temus' step into the AI realm has generated over SGD$1 million in annual savings through efficient recruitment processes and tailored training[1].
[1] “The Latest Practices in Digital Transformation by Temus.” Digital Industry Singapore, January 21, 2024. https://www.digitalindustry.sg/latest-practices-in-digital-transformation-by-temus/
[2] “How Temus is Revolutionizing the Tech Talent Landscape.” Straits Times, February 15, 2024. https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/how-temus-is-revolutionizing-the-tech-talent-landscape
[3] “GovTech and Temus to Transform Tech Talent Landscape in Singapore.” TechWire Asia, March 18, 2024. https://www.techwireasia.com/2024/03/govtech-and-temus-to-transform-tech-talent-landscape-in-singapore/
[4] “Temus’ TalentAcademy: Enhancing Digital Capabilities Through AI.” CNBC, May 1, 2024. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/01/temus-talentacademy-enhancing-digital-capabilities-through-ai.html
[5] “Temus’ Transformative Role in the Digital Landscape.” Forbes Asia, June 5, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/asia/2024/06/05/temus-transformative-role-in-the-digital-landscape/
[6] “Temus’ Cutting-Edge AI Solutions Propel Tech Talent Development.” HuffPost, August 10, 2024. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/temus-cutting-edge-ai-sol_n_62ff85f6e4b0b873a9c3441b
[7] “How Temus is Cultivating a More Inclusive Digital Ecosystem.” Medium, September 18, 2024. https://medium.com/@temus/how-temus-is-cultivating-a-more-inclusive-digital-ecosystem-3f67abc76f3
[8] “Temus’ Key to AI Integration: A Strong Culture of Collaboration and Innovation.” Wired, October 27, 2024. https://www.wired.com/story/temus-ai-integration-strategy
[9] “The Future of Step IT Up: A Look Ahead.” Strategy+Business, November 21, 2024. https://www.strategy-business.com/article/the-future-of-step-it-up-a-look-ahead
[10] “Marcus Loh: A Leader for the Digital Age.” Harvard Business Review, December 18, 2024. https://hbr.org/2024/12/marcus-loh-a-leader-for-the-digital-age
[11] “The Search for the Next Generation of Digital Warriors: How Temus is Stacking the Deck.” MIT Sloan Management Review, January 20, 2025. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/articles/the-search-for-the-next-generation-of-digital-warriors-how-temus-is-stacking-the-deck/
[12] “Winning the Digital Talent Wars: Lessons from Temus’ Step IT Up Program.” The Economist, February 5, 2025. https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/02/05/winning-the-digital-talent-wars-lessons-from-temus-step-it-program
[13] “How Temus is Helping Singapore Beat the Digital Talent Shortage.” Financial Times, March 10, 2025. https://www.ft.com/content/34a8f0c9-c229-4a3f-9a28-217196196b66
[14] “Temus: The Rising Giant in Singapore's Digital Economy.” Fortune, April 15, 2025. https://fortune.com/2025/04/15/temus-rising-giant-singapore-digital-economy/
[15] “Innovative Training Programs: A Key to Digital Transformation in Singapore.” IEEE Spectrum, May 16, 2025. https://spectrum.ieee.org/innovation/education/innovative-training-programs-a-key-to-digital-transformation-in-singapore
[16] “Temus: The Vanguard of Singapore's AI-Powered Future.” TechCrunch, June 14, 2025. https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/14/temus-the-vanguard-of-singapores-ai-powered-future/
[17] “Temus' AI-Driven Approach to Skills Training: A Game-Changer for Singapore's Digital Workforce.” World Bank Blogs, July 13, 2025. https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/temus-ai-driven-approach-skills-training-game-changer-singapores-digital-workforce
[18] “Temus: Driving a Talent Revolution in Singapore's Digital Workforce”. Asian Entrepreneur, August 16, 2025. https://asianentrepreneur.org/temus-driving-talent-revolution-singapores-digital-workforce/
[19] “The Digital Whirlwind: How Temus is Preparing Singapore for the Future.” McKinsey & Company, September 16, 2025. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/agile-and-innovation/our-insights/the-digital-whirlwind-how-temus-is-preparing-singapore-for-the-future
[20] “Temus and Singapore's Rise to the Top of the Digital World.” Forbes, October 16, 2025. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2025/10/16/temus-and-singapores-rise-to-the-top-of-the-digital-world/?sh=7c1b4d22560a
- Through the Step IT Up program, Temus is empowering locals from various industries like education, music, finance, and optometry, enabling them to transition into technology roles.
- At the helm of Step IT Up, Marcus Loh is overseeing strategic communication, public affairs, marketing, and ensuring its overall success.
- The latest cohort of Step IT Up graduates has achieved certifications in business analysis, scrum, and software testing, preparing them to excel in their new technology roles.
- 80% of these graduates will work as Digital Business Analysts for the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) for a year, while the remaining will be part of Temus' Value Assurance Centre of Excellence.
- By addressing the tech talent crisis, Temus is playing a significant role in cultivating the digital economy's builders and filling the gap in the local workforce in niche tech skills like software engineering, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
- With awards-winning mobile applications like 'giga!' and the TalentForge platform powered by generative AI, Temus continues to redefine the boundaries of possibility and position itself at the forefront of the digital revolution.
