A Bodhi tree in real life
Third Hemisphere’s Jeremy Liddle finds himself looking at a Bodhi tree and reflecting on what it means—both personally and in the context of professional services marketing.
On a recent business trip to Singapore, I had the chance to admire a beautiful Bodhi tree in person.
In Sanskrit, Bodhi means “awakening” or “enlightenment.” In Buddhism, it refers to the tree under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha.
It was particularly meaningful to see a Bodhi tree in real life. For those who know me, you’ll understand why—Bodhi is also the name of my son.
This trip to Singapore marked a new phase in our approach to professional services marketing. I was there to welcome Haikel Fahim, who’s now leading our business development across Southeast Asia. We’ve had an office in the region for some time, but localising a professional services marketing strategy takes more than logistics—it takes insight, relationships, and time.
In between meetings, we explored Singapore’s rich cultural landmarks through a series of heritage walks—a striking blend of nature, history, and business.
The first stop was the Bodhi tree.
It symbolises growth, wisdom, and a deeper connection to purpose. And it struck me how that mirrors the evolution of professional services marketing today: it’s no longer about generic messaging but about meaningful, relevant communications that build trust and drive long-term value.
As a b2b pr agency, we often speak about brand clarity, authenticity, and differentiation—but standing before that tree gave those words deeper weight. The Bodhi represents an awakening, and in many ways, that’s what today’s market demands from businesses—especially those in finance, law, consulting, and tech, where professional services marketing must go beyond the transactional.
A heritage tree in Singapore is typically over five metres in girth and is recognised for its historical or botanical value. This one stood in Duxton Plain Park, just off Neil Road. Sacred in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the Bodhi can grow up to 35 metres, with its wide crown of heart-shaped leaves offering shelter and calm.
Its resilience is impressive. Bodhi seedlings can sprout from cracks in buildings, grow in roadside kerbs, and even form secondary trunks from new shoots—some living for centuries. That kind of enduring growth is a reminder of what we aim for in our professional services marketing work: strategies built to last, adapt, and thrive.
That’s also what excites me about Haikel joining our team. He brings over 14 years of APAC media experience and a deep understanding of what it means to be a successful b2b pr agency in dynamic, high-growth environments.
For an Australian b2b pr agency, expanding into Southeast Asia isn’t a checkbox exercise. It demands on-the-ground relationships with media, clients, and influencers. It also demands that your professional services marketing message reflects the local energy and ambition.
And Singapore has plenty of that. Each time I visit, I’m struck by the pace, confidence, and optimism. There’s a can-do spirit here that’s infectious. It challenges you to think big and act fast—traits that great professional services marketing campaigns must also reflect.
Don’t get me wrong—Australia leads in innovation, but in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, it feels like you’re running on a fast treadmill. The acceleration is exhilarating, and it forces our b2b pr agency team to stay sharp, local, and innovative in every engagement.
This region is fast becoming a hub for emerging leadership in multiple sectors. If you’re in finance, law, or enterprise tech, you already know that Southeast Asia is not just an opportunity—it’s becoming the focal point for strategic expansion. And for professional services marketing, that means developing messages that travel across cultures while staying grounded in local relevance.
My home might be Sydney, but my spiritual home is increasingly feeling like Singapore.
And each time I return, I’ll make time to visit that Bodhi tree in Duxton Plain Park. It’s a small ritual—but it’s a reminder of why we do what we do. Of how professional services marketing can root itself in wisdom, resilience, and growth.
Third Hemisphere has roots in Singapore. Now, with Haikel’s leadership, it’s time for us to grow new branches—through considered professional services marketing and the values that define our approach as a purpose-led b2b pr agency.