The Forward Podcast with SmartOSC SmartOSC

“I'm a true believer that you can't force an audience.”

How can brands navigate unpredictable times when connecting with their audience? By staying true to yourself, letting go of vanity, being authentic, and cutting out the BS (Bullshit)!



In this episode of The Forward Podcast from SmartOSC, we are thrilled to welcome Natalie Dau, a renowned Media Creator, Athlete, and Co-Author of 'Run Like A Woman'. With over 20 years in Asia and 25 years consulting with some of the world's biggest brands, Natalie shares her incredible journey from corporate consultant to ultra-marathon athlete and influential content creator.

Natalie has amassed over 700,000 followers as @RockstarArms, traveling the world to deliver powerful talks and inspiring countless individuals. In this candid conversation, we delve into:


How to bring a sporting spirit to your work


Connecting with audiences authentically and effectively


Overcoming outdated preconceptions women face in the workplace


The power of vulnerability and inspiration in leadership


Trusting your gut and being true to yourself


Challenging societal norms and gender stereotypes


Continuous self-evolution and rewriting your story


Embracing failure and learning from losses

“Banking business used to be low risk and low return. But we don't believe it's going to stay like that.”

What rewards await those brave enough to swim against the current? We explore this question further while speaking to Dennis Trawnitschek, the CTO of SCBX.

SCBX is described as the mothership of the financial technology business, comprising 12 subsidiary companies that operate across key business pillars: Banking Business, Consumer and Digital Finance Business, and Platform and Technology Business.

In our latest episode of The Forward Podcast, we delved into this transformation alongside the cultural shift required for it and how to navigate the changing landscape of banking. Renowned for his forward-thinking approach to technology adoption and AI integration, Dennis shares the captivating story of how SCBX is becoming the mothership of financial technology while still staying true to its 100-year heritage.

A significant part of this transformation involves integrating AI into the core of SCBX's operations. So, how can organizations make AI change a real change? In this episode, you’ll hear about that and…



✅The importance of embracing change

✅Navigating AI-driven disruptions

✅Innovation through risk & experimentation

✅Creating a culture of adaption and cross-learning

After 10 years of rocket growth within the eCommerce space, businesses are asking how they can become more profitable. Effective data is a start. But as more and more technologies and tools emerge that promise businesses the world, it is more important than ever to ensure that you are using quality rather than quantity. 

Today we’re exploring Using Data & Insights for Profit: What's Now and Next for Southeast Asia with the brilliant Simon Torring the Co-founder of Cube Asia, a market intelligence company focused on Southeast Asia’s digital economy.

Before founding Cube Asia, Simon spent the last 10 years in Southeast Asia’s retail and eCommerce space. His experience includes stints with beauty eCommerce startup Luxola.com and world-leading beauty retailer Sephora, where he led Omnichannel development for APAC ex-China.

Today, Cube Asia helps consumer brands, retailers, and investors understand the online selling environment better through more reliable, granular, and timely market data and insights.

In this episode, we cover:


What makes a great leader? Honest insights you need to hear
Lessons on market feedback and decision-making
Hallucinogenic data and the quest for validation
Emerging trends in Southeast Asian social commerce
Key drivers of eCommerce growth and profitability
The need for speed in business decision-making
Driving innovation in e-commerce strategies
Overcoming bottlenecks and building great teams

And so much more!

What does it take to truly transform yourself
and your organization from the inside out? Being completely honest with yourself is a start.


And who better to share their honest stories of progression than our next guest? Andy Chang has spent the last two decades working with global organizations to transform and construct their customer interactions and in turn, has worked to tirelessly transform himself and his mindset. 

As a technologist and computer science alumni,
Andy's journey has been marked by a relentless pursuit of innovation and a deep-seated belief in the power of technology to shape human experiences. Now as the Head of Marketing Technology, Engagement Solutions at

Electrolux Group, Andy joins us today to share the winding path of his career journey, and the evolving landscape of MarTech, and to discuss both the exciting opportunities and the realities that lie ahead.

 

In this episode, we cover:

Seizing Opportunities and Navigating Career Paths

The Expectations VS Reality of Computer Science & Software Engineering

Enhancing Consumer Experience with Personalization

The Cost of Transforming into a Data-driven Organization

The Untold Stories about Modern Marketing

Dynamics between marketing and technology teams

The Calling for Marketing Technologists and Industry Maturity in MarTech

Importance of Transparency in Consumer Experiences

Adapting to future trends and technological disruptions

Leadership of the Future

Advice to Future Self

 

Mint Kaewmanorom lives a life filled with curiosity, consistently looking at the bigger picture she moves forward by wondering how she can tackle problems with new solutions. So it comes as no surprise that she finds herself in one of the most interesting areas for the future, the Internet of Things.

 As Asia embraces digitalization, IoT stands poised to transform industries, offering a glimpse into a future marked by enhanced efficiency and connectivity.

 In this episode, we’ll hear about the work that True Digital is doing with leveraging IoT technology in Thailand and how they plan to solve some of the pain points that people and businesses face.

Moving beyond the idea that IoT is gadgets and gizmos – Mint, the Head of Marketing and IoT Solutions at True Digital shines a light on how they are working with entire industries, from manufacturing to healthcare, city management, and entertainment. Described as being “limited only by the human imagination”, the rise of IoT technology presents unprecedented opportunities for innovation and connectivity - at the center of bringing these to life in Thailand, is True Digital.

We're bidding farewell to our beloved Commerce Talk as we venture into

Over the past two years and 30 episodes, we've explored the depths of eCommerce with industry experts. But now, it's time to widen our horizons.

Join us on The Forward Podcast, where we delve into the ever-evolving intersection of technology and our world. From Generative AI to IoT devices and Quantum computing, we're embracing the changes shaping the future of how we will live, work, and lead.

As Peter Drucker said, "The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic." With that in mind, we're inspired by the Forward role in football, those who make bold moves and create pathways ahead.

We'll be speaking to those who are at the forefront of change and future-facing strategies.

With our guests we’ll look at tools, trends, behaviours and ideas that they are leaving behind, and the ones they are choosing to move forward with.

SmartOSC and The Forward Podcast is dedicated to delivering actionable insights, guiding you forward with purpose and precision.



Welcome to a new era!