The Front Row Podcast

Dr. Jostein Hauge, a political economist at the University of Cambridge, dives into the evolving landscape of industrial policies. He discusses how Alexander Hamilton’s ideas still resonate in today’s economic climate. Hauge critiques America's industrial strategy, emphasizing the risks of offshoring and the vital role of manufacturing in services. He contrasts the success of East Asian Tigers with China's unique approach to innovation and green technology, while also advocating for state-led strategies in developing nations. A rich conversation packed with insights!

In this enlightening discussion, Scott D. Anthony, a Clinical Professor of Strategy at Dartmouth and an expert in disruptive innovation, dives deep into the complexities of navigating change. He unveils the concept of 'epic disruptions' that transform industries and society, paralleling historical shifts like the printing press with today’s AI evolution. Scott stresses the importance of collaboration in teams and fostering a culture of curiosity. He also offers insights on how companies can avoid the innovator's dilemma and thrive amidst uncertainty.

Louis Vincent Gave, founder of Gavekal and a keen analyst on global macroeconomics, shares insight into China's remarkable tech advances. He discusses the pivotal 2018 tech embargo, reshaping US-China relations into a tech rivalry. Louis explores China's shift toward self-sufficiency amid economic pain, the implications of the Ukraine war for Europe, and how China's investment in R&D is fueling industrial innovation. He emphasizes China's advantages in open AI ecosystems compared to the US's closed models, urging Southeast Asia to embrace Chinese technology.

Mato Njavro, Dean of the Zagreb School of Economics and a noted expert in European integration and international economics, dives deep into Europe's challenges in today's multipolar world. He discusses Croatia's EU journey, the profound roots of European identity, and the impact of migration on political landscapes. Njavro also critiques Europe's strategic autonomy regarding US dependence, emphasizing the need for engagement and competitiveness with China. His insights on rebuilding European curiosity and preparing future leaders offer a refreshing and pragmatic viewpoint on global relations.

Arthur Kroeber, a senior China economist and co-founder of Dragonomics, delves into China's rapid industrial rise. He explores the implications of the new Five-Year Plan and evaluates the outcomes of 'Made in China 2025,' pointing out its successes and inefficiencies. Kroeber contrasts China's system-building approach with the US's efficiency focus. He discusses the pivotal role of the EV market and how companies like Tesla have reshaped consumer perceptions. Additionally, he examines the dynamics of Chinese tech upgrades and the ongoing challenges posed by overcapacity.

Join Parag Khanna, a global strategy advisor and bestselling author, as he explores Asia's rising significance in the world. He challenges the China-US narrative, emphasizing a multipolar Asia instead. Parag rewrites Asian history to highlight its current centrality in economics and governance. He advocates for technocracy, citing successful models like Singapore and Switzerland. Additionally, he discusses the accelerating pace of migration and its implications for future demographics, urging graduates to embrace mobility in their careers.

Thank you for checking out The Front Row Podcast and my interview with Gita Wirjawan. This podcast was recorded in front of a live audience at SCAPE Singapore. I would like to thank National Youth Council, the Singapore Global Network, *SCAPE and the Endgame team for helping us put this event together. Gita Wirjawan is an Indonesian entrepreneur, investment banker, and philanthropist. He is the Founder and Chairman of Ancora Group, a business group with investments spanning private equity, natural resources, real estate, and sports.Before founding Ancora in 2008, Gita held senior roles in global finance — including Vice President at Citibank Indonesia, Vice President at Goldman Sachs Singapore, and President Director at JP Morgan Indonesia.Mr Wirjawan also served as the Indonesian’s Minister of Trade from October 2011 to January 2014. During this time, he also led the ninth World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference held in Bali, December 2013. Where he chaired 159 WTO member countries in consenting to a set of policies to ease international trade barriers.Today, he is the host of Endgame with Gita Wirjawan, a podcast by the School of Government and Public Policy (SGPP) Indonesia, co-produced with Visinema Pictures. Through Endgame, Gita explores ideas and conversations with visionary leaders, uncovering the stories shaping Indonesia and Southeast Asia's bright future.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Trailer & Intro01:35 Why Indonesia Championed RCEP Over TPP08:18 - RCEP's Progress and Current Assessment10:53 - The Chicken-and-Egg Problem: Education and Development14:35 - Teachers as the Key to Regional Transformation15:25 - Southeast Asia's Value Proposition to American Investors19:09 - Why US Re-industrialisation Won't Work20:36 - China's Role: Technological Capital for Southeast Asia26:06 - The Nuclear Reactor Thought Experiment31:50 - Singapore-Indonesia Complementarity37:43 - ASEAN Research Council Proposal40:39 - Q&A: Translating Education to Impact41:24 - Q&A: De-dollarisation and G-142:07 - Q&A: Danantara Fund and Prabowo Administration42:18- Pak Gita's Answers 55:34 - Q&A: Language as Growth Impediment56:00 - Q&A: Learning from US-China Dynamics58:00 - Q&A: Addressing Corruption Through Education1:03:29 - Brain Drain as Brain Circulation1:06:52 - ASEAN's Historical Multipolarity1:10:56 - Final Advice1:13:15 - Closing RemarksThis is the 62nd episode Of The Front Row Podcast

George Yeo, a former Singaporean cabinet minister and distinguished public servant, shares insights on Asia's rising influence. He discusses America's adaptation to a multipolar world and India's strategic positioning between major powers. Yeo highlights China's symbolic displays of power and critiques simplistic Cold War analogies in Asia. He advocates for grassroots peacebuilding over top-down approaches and emphasizes respecting community autonomy. He even imagines governance on Mars, urging innovative thinking about future systems and relations.

Hian is a founding partner of Openspace Capital, a leading multi-strategy asset management firm focused on Southeast Asia. Most notably, he was an early investor in some of Southeast Asia's most notable tech startups such as Gojek, Love Bonito and Lucence. Hian himself has extensive entrepreneurial experience. He founded and built Asian Food Channel, a 24-hour pay TV channel that was sold to US media giant Scripps Interactive (now Warner Brothers Discovery Inc.). Prior to this, he was a technology investment banker at SG Warburg (now UBS) and Salomon Smith Barney (now Citi).He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Law Degree from Trinity College, Oxford.In our conversation today, we cover the following as seen below- TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction to Hien Goh and OpenSpace Capital1:06 The Early Days of OpenSpace Capital in 20143:02 The Southeast Asian E-Commerce Boom 5:15 Selecting the Right Founders 9:10 The TRUST Framework for Evaluating Founders14:29 What Makes A Great Founder for VCs 16:13 Investing in Gojek: Finding Indonesia's Unicorn20:05 Is AI a Bubble? 25:47 What The Dot-Com Era Can Teach US 27:30 AI Economics and New Business Models33:13 Why Focus on Cost of Distribution 35:04 Who Will Win the AI Race?40:03 The Agentic Revolution and Hian's "Hey Gorgeous" Idea 44:05 Beyond NVIDIA: The Future of AI Chips50:10 Jim Keller, The Famous Chip Ronin 54:18 Singapore's Talent Strategy in the AI Era58:59 Made in Singapore: Changing Mindsets1:03:16 Singapore Inc and Strategic Decision-Making1:05:41 Avoiding Over-Optimisation for Success1:08:21 Advice for Fresh GraduatesThis is the 60th episode Of The Front Row PodcastFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400

Professor Jochen Wirtz serves as Vice Dean of MBA Programmes and Professor of Marketing at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School. He holds several prestigious international appointments, including as an international fellow of the Service Research Center at Karlstad University in Sweden, an Academic Scholar at the Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures at Cornell University, and a Global Faculty member of the Center for Services Leadership at Arizona State University.In our conversation today, we TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Trailer & Intro00:49 What The Re-Industrialization Hype Misses03:01 Growth Sectors in Services03:21 The Importance Of The Service Economy09:06 How Singapore Emerged As A Services Hub14:50 What Makes An Excellent Service Company20:21 How Singapore Airlines Became Best In The World37:35 The Coming Technological Disruptions In Service Industries38:29 Consolidation Of Services47:28 Artificial Intelligence & Robotics53:00 Economic Implications of AI01:00:40 How does Singapore Stay Ahead 01:06:24 Advice for the Next Generation: Embracing Lifelong LearningThis is the 59th episode Of The Front Row PodcastFull transcripts of episodes can be found here: https://www.ykeith.com/tag/podcast/Feel free to mingle in the comments below or head to...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontrow.65/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-yap/Website: www.ykeith.comEmail: keith@frontrow65.coGet access to every episode by subscribing for free on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/keith-yap8 or Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/front-row/id1771599400