At NewInAsia, we’ve always believed the future isn’t shaped just by capital or code, it’s shaped by the stories we choose to tell, and the voices we choose to amplify. That’s why we’re so excited to introduce someone who plays a big role in how we do that every day: Aira Naya, our very own editor and storyteller-in-chief.
Aira isn’t just part of our team, she’s part of our heartbeat. With a uniquely Southeast Asian lens, she helps shape NewInAsia’s editorial voice and leads impactful content, such as the LinkedIn Top Voices in Asia. Through this feature, she brings underrepresented founders, researchers, and ecosystem builders into the spotlight they deserve.
Aira works closely with changemakers to turn raw insights into resonant stories. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: visibility builds credibility, and when more people are seen, more opportunities get unlocked.
In this special Story of the Day, we sat down with Aira to learn more about how she sees the region, what kind of stories give her goosebumps, and why the quietest voices often carry the boldest ideas.
Highlights
The Why Behind the Voice
Getting personal with the purpose behind Aira Naya’s storytelling.
Q: Aira, you’re now the editor and voice behind NewInAsia. What drew you to this role, and what does it mean to you personally?
A: I’ve always believed that some of the most world-changing ideas are hidden in plain sight, tucked away in second-tier cities, in research labs without PR teams, or in founders who don’t yet know how to tell their story.
NewInAsia felt like a place where I could connect those voices to the world. Personally, this role is a way to give shape to something I care deeply about: making visibility more accessible and more meaningful across Asia.
Q: You often say, ‘visibility drives credibility.’ When did that belief first crystallize for you? Was there a moment or a story that shaped it?
A: Curating the ‘Top Voices’ series was a turning point. I saw firsthand how putting a spotlight on someone’s work, especially those doing meaningful innovation outside the usual hotspots, shifted how they were perceived.
Investors reached out. Local media followed up. Communities rallied. It reminded me that visibility doesn’t just boost credibility; it unlocks momentum. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just content, it was catalytic work.
Q: NewInAsia puts a spotlight on emerging voices and ideas. Why is that kind of storytelling so important in Southeast Asia right now?
A: Southeast Asia is rich in ambition but uneven in access. Many builders and thinkers here aren’t lacking in innovation, they’re lacking in the spotlight. Storytelling levels the field. It helps ideas travel faster, gain trust, and get funded.
Right now, as Asia rises, we have a rare window to define ourselves not through borrowed narratives but by telling our own. That’s the power of the right story at the right time.
Q: You work across borders and ecosystems — Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and more. How has that shaped your editorial lens and the kinds of stories you champion?
A: Growing up across those borders taught me that brilliance isn’t bound to capital cities or mainstream media attention. It’s distributed and sometimes overlooked. That’s why I love curating our Top Voices features.
In the EdTech edition, for example, we spotlighted people like Dina Ruslan in Kyrgyzstan, who’s reshaping digital skills access for kids through Codify, or Tri Ahmad Irfan in Indonesia, who’s making AR and immersive learning tools accessible through Assemblr.
These aren’t the usual names on global stages, but they’re building real solutions for how Asia learns and grows.
My editorial lens is regional, but my heart is local. I look for people who are creating ripple effects in their own ecosystems; not just scale, but depth. That’s what excites me: voices who don’t wait for permission to lead.
The Stories We Choose to Tell
On curating impact, grit, and visibility across borders.
Q: You’ve recently led NewInAsia’s ‘Top Voices’ editorial series. What excites you most about spotlighting these kinds of leaders?
A: What I love most is watching credibility ripple outward when a founder, researcher, or ecosystem builder opens the door for others just by showing up with clarity and purpose. The ‘Top Voices’ features are my way of surfacing that energy.
These aren’t just lists. They’re momentum maps show not just where the region is going, but who’s leading the way.
They show us who’s rethinking how teams grow and thrive in Indonesia, like Andhika Sudarman, CEO and Founder of KantorKu, who’s building smarter HR systems to support the evolving needs of Southeast Asia’s workforce.
In mental wellness, innovators like Divya Shah, Founder of Vinyasa Health in India, are integrating breathwork and holistic healing into accessible, tech-enabled platforms for emotional well-being.
And in digital innovation, voices like Dr. Ayesha Khanna, Co-Founder of Addo AI in Singapore, are shaping the future of urban intelligence and responsible AI across the region.
When we surface voices like these, we don’t just track trends, we shape the direction the ecosystem moves in.
Q: A lot of people see NewInAsia as a media platform. But for you, what’s the deeper “why” behind what NIA is building?
A: To me, NewInAsia is a visibility engine. Yes, we publish content. But really, we’re designing bridges. From lab to market. Across the table from founders to funders. And bridging regional talent with global stages.
At its core, the deeper why is connection. Visibility isn’t just about showing up — it’s about showing up for the right people, at the right time, with the right story.
Q: And finally… if someone reading this is sitting on a story they’re afraid isn’t ‘big enough’ — what would you say to them?
A: I’d say: don’t underestimate the power of your beginnings. Every headline you admire started somewhere quiet. If your story brings truth, depth, or change, that’s already something worth telling. And if you’re unsure how to tell it, that’s where we come in. We see you. Let’s make it visible together.
Story First, Spotlight Always: Aira Naya on Humanizing Innovation Across Asia
In a region as vast and varied as Asia, the ability to connect dots across cultures, communities, and industries is a rare kind of leadership. Aira Naya listens with intention, and that’s what makes all the difference.
At NewInAsia, she believes meaningful stories often begin quietly — far from headlines, capital cities, or trending hashtags — and knows that amplifying them can shift conversations across industries and borders.
If you’re working on something that challenges the norm, creates local impact, or pushes ideas forward, Aira wants to hear from you. Because sometimes, the most important stories aren’t the loudest; they’re the quiet, powerful ones still waiting to be told.
📬 Not every story starts loud, but the right ones still echo. Share yours with Aira Naya, and let it resonate where it matters most.
Highlights
Read the Chinese article here, or listen to the podcast here.
