In a nutshell, NavDeck is a B2B human resources technology platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

So far, the start-up has around 9,000 users, 80% companies and 20% individuals. It is currently focused on the IT and healthcare sectors, with plans to expand to other sectors in the future.

Once individuals upload their resumes onto NavDeck’s platform, the start-up’s AI tool identifies their top technical skills. It also provides insights on how their core competencies compare to others as well as their skills gap to reach the next level of their career.

All NavDeck needs is to feed their AI as much information as possible about the individual employees’ performance appraisals, their projects, key performance indicators, and courses attended to deliver a comprehensive analysis.
 

NavDeck’s AI tool provides a comprehensive overview of skills and competencies within teams.

 
“Each time someone finishes a course or a project, it is updated in the system, so you have a real-time overview of the skills health of your organisation rather than doing it once a year,” Sean added.

This level of analysis is crucial as it allows leaders to make quicker decisions on how to upskill their employees, especially with the constant introduction of new technologies such as ChatGPT. The demand for agility extends to employees too — Sean has observed that clients increasingly want staff that know how to adapt to novel situations.

Besides that, Sean also emphasises the importance of learning coding.

“You want to know what kind of software is going to overtake or replace you so you need to understand it and anticipate the change,” he explained.

While NavDeck is a relatively new start-up incorporated in 2021, Sean has seen firsthand how upskilling can help individuals land their dream job.

One example he cited was a single mother working as a food delivery rider. “She was living paycheck to paycheck and did not know how to get a job with a higher salary so she could spend more time with her child,” Sean said.

Using NavDeck, Sean generated a skills report for the mother and found that she fitted the profile of a good data analyst because she was strong in Maths. Subsequently, she attended a data analytics bootcamp and eventually became a data analyst.

A firm believer in upskilling, Sean walks the talk by learning constantly so that he can be a more effective Chief Executive Officer.

Sean was previously a bank employee and did not have prior experience working in the technology sector or starting a company. To cope with the demands of running a start-up, he learnt how to code and how AI works, in addition to juggling other roles such as sales and finance.

He also joined the Singapore University of Technology and Design’s venture-building programme to learn how to talk to customers, how to build products and more. Subsequently, Sean attained ScrumMaster and project management professional (PMP) certifications to perform his duties more effectively.

He highlights the accessibility of information in today’s market, and the onus on jobseekers to keep updated.

As Sean grows into his role as an entrepreneur, he credits Republic Polytechnic’s Problem-based Learning (PBL) pedagogy for preparing him to run a business.

“My time in RP helped shape me into an entrepreneur because RP focuses on PBL. Running a start-up requires PBL,” said Sean, an RP Diploma in Hotel & Hospitality alumnus who also has a degree in economics and finance from RMIT University.

He is particularly grateful to RP’s Entrepreneurial Partnership & Innovation Community (EPIC) programme for incubating their start-up and providing them with guidance and network linkages.

For instance, Sean and his team interviewed RP’s Learning and Development staff and Human Resources team to understand the pain points of learning development and the technologies that they used. That experience gave Sean’s team a better sensing on how to position their product.

Through RP’s entrepreneurship bootcamp, Sean also received networking opportunities with Google’s Head of Product, who eventually became his mentor.

Access to valuable resources, along with a willingness to embrace new technology, plays a pivotal role in shaping one's career and acquiring skills, especially within emerging industries.