For over 35 years, Maximus Sia, founder of Maximus X Academy and a certified Performance Coach in Resilience, has been equipping leaders across Singapore with the tools to build resilience, to lead from the inside out.
A pioneer in mental strength training and psychological resilience, Maximus has influenced more than 50,000 professionals through his government-accredited learning programs and signature coaching experiences.
His mission: To integrate psychological practices into leadership development to build resilience and mental immunity across Singapore’s workforce. To embed psychological development at the heart of leadership in a volatile world.
In this SG60 Showcase, Maximus shares how Singapore’s future depends not just on smart strategies—but on emotionally agile, mentally tough leaders ready for any challenge. From building the MDX Resilience Program™ to pursuing a PhD in Professional Coaching and Human Development, his story is a timely reminder of why resilience and mental strength are Singapore’s new competitive edge.
Read on as he unpacks his vision, values, and why he’s all-in on transforming leaders to thrive in an uncertain and complex business environment.
Highlights
Bridging Mental Resilience with National Priorities
Q: How does your work align with Singapore’s national priorities for the future?
A: Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently highlighted how mental health and well-being are now a national priority. This aligns deeply with my work. For over 16 years, I’ve been a WSQ DACE & ACTA-certified facilitator, delivering more than 100 SSG-accredited modules to empower over 50,000 professionals in leadership, strategy, and service excellence.
My role enables me to bridge corporate and national workforce goals by fostering lifelong learning and developing resilient talent. Today, I’m also pursuing a PhD in Professional Coaching and Human Development with IUPS (USA). It’s part of my effort to integrate psychological practices into leadership, aligning with Singapore’s drive to nurture mentally strong and emotionally agile leaders.
Developing Singapore’s Only Multi-Domain Resilience Framework
Q: Describe a specific initiative or program you’ve led that has contributed to Singapore’s development in the past 5 years.
A: I founded Maximus X Academy in 2019 with a clear purpose: to study and strengthen human development through resilience and mental strength. Our flagship, the MDX Resilience Program™, is the only multi-domain psychological leadership framework in Asia. A breakthrough program that blends psychology, coaching, and behavioural science into an immersive, coach-led journey—transforming how leaders respond to stress and pressure.
“MDX Resilience Program™ – IN-Resilience. OUT-Perform.”
This “Inside-Out” approach helps executives reframe adversity and build what I call mental immunity. It’s been a game-changer for clients like Singapore Airlines, OCBC and the Ministry of Home Affairs. I’ve also continued facilitating WSQ courses, maintaining national standards in adult learning. Through these efforts, I’m directly contributing to Singapore’s vision of a resilient, future-ready workforce.
Resilience as the New Edge in Leadership
Q: What unique perspective or expertise do you bring that is particularly relevant to Singapore’s next chapter of growth?
A: Singapore is stepping into a future that demands not just intelligence, but psychological strength. In a VUCA world, leaders need more than technical skills—they need the capacity to sustain inner clarity, composure, and performance under pressure.
What I bring is the integration of applied psychology into leadership. I combine NLP, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Positive Psychology, and coaching into one unified model. This equips leaders with tools to self-regulate, adapt, and thrive amid complexity. My PhD research further expands this frontier.
Leadership programs today often miss this human element. My mission is to change that. Resilience and mental strength are the new currencies of leadership. We must embed resilience into every executive journey to future-proof our national talent.
From Classroom to C-Suite: A Legacy of Impact
Q: How many Singaporean professionals have you trained or influenced through your work?
A: More than 50,000, spanning three decades of training across all industries and sectors.
Q: Which Singapore-based organisations have you worked with recently?
A: Singapore Airlines, AIA, Ministry of Home Affairs, Deloitte, SingTel, Great Eastern Life, Yamaha, Roche Diagnostics, and more.
Q: What sets you apart from other speakers/trainers in your field?
A: My work fuses neuroscience, adult learning, and coaching into one transformative experience. I’m not just a trainer—I’m a “Resilient Architect”. Every session is grounded in research, relevance, and real-life applicability. I stay future-ready so my clients can be too.
Q: How do you stay current and continuously evolve your craft?
A: I learn as I teach. I stay ahead by integrating academic research, industry practice, and global thought leadership. My PhD research keeps me connected to emerging trends in resilience and leadership psychology. I also refine my practice through client feedback, conference engagement, and academic publishing. For me, lifelong learning is non-negotiable.
Future-Ready Leadership Starts From Within
Maximus Sia is doing more than coaching leaders—he’s reshaping what leadership means in Singapore. In a country pushing toward Smart Nation goals and mental wellness at a national level, his work couldn’t be more relevant.
By fusing psychological science with leadership development, he is ensuring Singapore’s next generation of leaders are not just skilled—but psychologically resilient, strong, adaptive, and future-proof. Forging Mental Immunity and Future-Proof Leadership from the Inside-Out!.
This article is part of the SG60 Showcase series—highlighting voices and visionaries building Singapore’s future. Stay tuned for more.
Highlights
Read the Chinese article here, or listen to the podcast here.
