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The Forward Podcast with SmartOSC

Latest episodes

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Dec 18, 2023 • 23min

S2 Episode 14: The Forward Forecast: What Key Trends Will Shape 2024?

From life-changing devices to advancements in leadership, global logistics, secure payments, responsible AI in marketing, and more. In this episode of Commerce Talk, we get front-row seats to the forward-focused minds of some of the biggest global leaders so that we can keep you one step ahead! You'll hear from... 🚚Herbert Vongpusanachai - Managing Director for DHL Thailand and Indochina 🖨️Siew Ting Foo - Global Head of Brand and Insights at HP 💳 Tee Chayakul - Country Director, Stripe Thailand 🧠Mei Lee- Partner at Boston Consulting Group 🔒 Jay Hira - Director, National Cyber Security Practice at MinterEllison 00:00  The Future of Marketing: AI, Subscription Models, and Cross-Border Payments04:05  The Intersection of Generative AI, Global Trends, and Leadership: Insights from Global Leaders07:52  The Future of Leadership, Marketing, and Cross-Border Activities14:33  The Future of Trading and Product Deliveries: Insights from Herbert Vongpusanachai18:29  Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity: Wearable Devices, AI, and Quantum Computing
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Nov 30, 2023 • 33min

S2 Episode 13: Is Retail Media the Next Wave of Marketing? Alin Dobrea on Customer Experience, Innovation, and More

Alin leads marketing solutions and partnerships across Southeast Asia for ZALORA - Asia’s leading online fashion destination. He is also responsible for the ZALORA advertising platform (ZAP), where his team helps leading brands orchestrate multi-channel campaigns to drive performance and connect with relevant audiences. In this episode, we're taking a deep dive into Alin's journey from his time with M&S in London to the rapidly growing retail and technology sectors within the Southeast Asian landscape. We'll explore insights from both markets, predictions on emerging trends, and... ✅ Retail Media as the next wave of marketing and what brands can learn from this opportunity ✅ Customer experiences of the future and the emergence of Generative AI ✅ The power of ‘trusting the process’ And that's just the beginning!
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Nov 19, 2023 • 40min

S2 Episode 12: The Secrets to Succeeding in Implementation in a Digital World with Robin Speculand

Have you ever wondered why so many great strategies never get implemented? Or why a staggering 67% of implementations fail? In this episode of Commerce Talk, we sit down with Robin Speculand, one of the world's most sought-after and respected experts in the realm of strategy implementation. Robin, the former VP of Citibank Singapore,  has worked with some of the globe's top-performing organizations to help reshape how they think, act, and approach, implementing their strategies, using his ground-breaking frameworks, tools, and techniques.  As a prolific writer in this field, we'll be delving into his Amazon number-one and international bestseller, 'World's Best Bank, a Strategic Guide to Digital Transformation,' now available in Vietnamese. The book showcases the remarkable journey of DBS Bank Singapore, named by Harvard as one of the top 10 digital transformations of all time.  So what was the secret behind their success?  Beyond uncovering why DBS Bank Singapore succeeded where many stumbled, we'll also explore:  ✅ How leaders are taught to craft strategies but not necessarily implement them ✅ The Implementation Compass, a framework for success ✅ The importance of discipline and action ✅ Robin's insights on why having a 'digital strategy' might be a warning sign for businesses And so much more!
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Oct 26, 2023 • 38min

S2 Episode 11: The Secret to Success: Connecting People & Improving Live with DHL’s Herbert Vongpusanachai

What’s the driving force that gets you out of bed every morning? For the 600,000+ people working at DHL, it is all about Connecting People and Improving Lives. This powerful purpose has helped to shape their success in serving over 220 countries and territories allowing for them to deliver over 1.6 billion parcels each year! In this episode of Commerce Talk, we speak to Herbert Vongpusanachai,  the Managing Director of DHL Express International Thailand and Head of Indochina, to hear more about how this purpose comes to life to drive the success of DHL Express.  Prior to joining DHL in 2003, Herbert's journey began at Microsoft Thailand where he was Head of Sales, Partners, and Marketing. He helped launch many products such as Microsoft Windows and Office. Describing himself as a “computer guy” it is the diverse experience that has shaped his remarkable journey. Today, you’ll find him managing the overall operations and strategic growth of DHL Express in the region! Drawing from over two decades of leadership and logistics expertise, Herbert will guide us through the profound impact of DHL's commitment to improving lives and how it resonates across their global operations.  We also delve into;  The importance of technology and innovation for productivity  Future trends and their impact on global trading  The opportunities for small businesses going global with cross-border selling Sustainable logistics and the plans for DHL Express to be net zero by 2050 How to get closer to customers by getting away from your desk How to build a team for success What makes a good leader in today's world And so much more!
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Oct 10, 2023 • 40min

S2 Episode 10: How to Stand Out from the Clutter: Human-Centered Growth and Purpose with Siew Ting Foo

How do you define brand purpose and what does it mean for your customers? It has been proven that brands with purpose are closer to their customers. Today, while the eCommerce space continues to grow and become more cluttered that sentiment may be lost. So, how can brands stand out from the crowd? In this episode, we speak to Siew Ting Foo, the Global Head of Brand and Insights at HP, to understand the importance of purpose and how to define it for your brand. Siew Ting has been 5 times recognized as Asia’s Top 50 Most Influential and Purposeful CMOs and is globally recognized for her incredible work and contributions spanning over 25 years. With extensive experience in multinational marketing and business transformation, she has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world such as Unilever, Mars, and Diageo just to name a few. She is a leader who is anchored in purpose and helps businesses to make a meaningful impact on people's lives and communities. She is a natural innovator, change-maker, and value creator. In addition to sharing the story behind her famous world-first activation with the Johnnie Walker brand and her work to date, we will also delve into: ✅How to strategically navigate being a global brand with a local soul ✅The importance of consistency, courage, and creativity ✅How to get closer to customers with limited tools and resources ✅How to build purpose within your team and brand ✅AI and the marketing function alongside her thoughts on future emerging trends
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Sep 28, 2023 • 19min

S2 Episode 9: The Advice & Lessons That Define Us

What’s the best piece of #advice you’ve ever received? 🤔  To celebrate #InternationalPodcastDay 🎧 we’re delving into invaluable advice that some of our incredible guests have shared on Commerce Talk.  👉From the most impactful advice they’ve received in their careers, to the words of wisdom they would give to their younger selves right through to the advice they would share with today’s leaders. This episode will inspire, motivate, and move you. If you’d like to delve into the full interviews that were mentioned in this episode, here are the advice-givers in order of appearance on this special episode… Best advice ever received: Akanksha Rastogi: S2 - Episode 1  Dr. John Sheehan: S2 - World Health Day Part 3 AI Advice Dr. John Sheehan: S2 - World Health Day Part 3 What I wish I had known earlier in my career:  Dr. Avneesh Khare: S2- World Health Day Part 2 Advice that I would give to my younger self:  Mei Lee: S2 - Episode 6 Jay Hira: S2 - Episode 9 Advice for entering the eCommerce landscape Maruay Tangmitrphracha: S2 - Episode 7 The final piece of advice: Dr. Kanpassorn (Eix): World Health Day Part 1
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Sep 11, 2023 • 46min

S2 Episode 8: How to Win Customers and Influence Boards - Making Cyber Security Simple with Jay Hira

“Breach prevention is no longer enough. Today, cyber-attacks have become a matter of when and not if”. Our latest guest, Jay Hira, has spent the last 17 years working with global giants such as IBM, KPMG, Salesforce, EY, and many more and has helped them get close to customers and grow by protecting their data and enhancing their cyber resilience. He is now the Founder and Executive Director of MakeCyberSimple. A non-profit that aims to support small and medium businesses in their efforts to get the basics right when it comes to cyber hygiene. Both online shopping and navigating the world of cyber demand finding the right balance between risks and rewards. Together, we weave tales of hilarious online shopping mishaps with discussions on Zero Trust adoption and its impact on today’s businesses. Describing cyber security as “an ever-evolving puzzle”, Jay will help: ✅Take the complexity out of the conversation around cybersecurity ✅Give practical strategies to help safeguard your digital presence ✅Share emerging trends that every business needs to keep an eye out for ✅ Explain the Zero Trust Framework and show you how to incorporate it in your business
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Aug 8, 2023 • 13min

S2 Episode 7: From Brick to Click - DoHome's 40 Year Journey to Success

What does it take for a family business to continue to thrive, especially in today’s landscape?  At the heart of everything for DoHome, it is customers and their needs. In short, they go wherever their customers want them to be. As DoHome, Thailand’s industry-leading retail and wholesale business celebrates an incredible 40 years of serving their segmented customers with continued store openings and more, we tap into the mind of Mr. Maruay Tangmitrphracha, Deputy Managing Director – Information Technology and eCommerce to find out what their keys to success are and how they keep customer-centricity at their core.
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Jul 13, 2023 • 30min

S2 Episode 6: The Power of Seamless Payments with Stripe's Tee Chayakul

We have all experienced a dreaded checkout payment horror story. You go through all of the hassle, put in your card details, your card gets rejected and you have to do it all over again! As businesses of all sizes and backgrounds navigate through increasingly complex payment demands, there's a danger of neglecting the very foundations that allow for sustainable growth. In this episode, Commerce Talk host Aziza O’Beirne sits down with Tee Chayakul, a visionary leader who led the team responsible for launching Stripe in Thailand just last November. During this conversation, Tee emphasizes the importance of providing customers with seamless payment journeys. Highlighting the significance of businesses prioritizing their basic payment processing to address the unmet needs of customers while giving an insight into emerging trends that are coming down the tracks that businesses should pay close attention to, such as cross-border payments and shifts towards subscription payment models.  We learn how Stripe supports startups and gain insights into effective frameworks for running a family business. In addition to all of this, for book lovers; Tee shares his two most recommended books for those seeking inspiration as leaders.
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May 31, 2023 • 45min

S2 Episode 5: The Power of Reflection: How to Harness The Past to Move Forward with Mei Lee

What valuable lessons can we learn by taking a moment to look back and reflect on our personal and professional journey? And how can that help you as a leader or a business? A whole lot, according to Mei Lee, a respected partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and a mastermind of forward-thinking within the industry. With over 20 years of experience working with and growing some of the world's biggest brands such as Disney, Dyson, L'Oréal, Lazada, Adidas, Alibaba, Conde Nast, and many more, Mei Lee brings a wealth of insights to the table. In this episode, Mei Lee takes us beyond the surface and invites us to take a walk in her world, where she shares incredibly valuable insights and knowledge about the power of reflection and the importance of stepping out of our comfort zones to grow both personally and professionally. Mei Lee's remarkable story, from her journey as an immigrant in America, where she had to learn English and fight for her aspirations, to where she is today as a mother, daughter, and leader, serves as an inspirational backdrop. Join us as we delve into a thought-provoking discussion about the significance of reflection, the need to pivot in life, and the future trends and consumer behaviors that ecommerce businesses need to keep a vigilant eye on and the tools that need to be added to leaders toolkits to move forward.  Get ready to leave this episode feeling motivated and enlightened thanks to Mei's her invaluable insights and practical strategies. 

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