Local to global: The power of small business

GZERO Media
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  • BUSINESS NEWS

Small businesses play a role in our everyday lives, but their influence and importance extend far beyond the communities they're in. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the hidden engine powering the global economy, making up 90% of all businesses globally, and they're responsible for nearly 50% of the global GDP. In this podcast series, we look behind the curtain to understand their impact across industries, how new technologies can support their growth and why they're positioned to play an even bigger role in the future of the global economy. "Local to global: The power of small business" is a podcast series from GZERO's Blue Circle Studios produced in partnership with Mastercard.

Episodes

  1. Cyber resilience for small enterprises

    FEB 12

    Cyber resilience for small enterprises

    As more small businesses move sales, payments, and customer relationships online, they unlock new opportunities, but they also become easier targets for cyber-criminals and other threat actors. In this episode of Local to global: The power of small business, host JJ Ramberg sits down with Shamina Singh, Founder & President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, and Brian Cute, Interim CEO and Director of Capacity & Resilience at the Global Cyber Alliance, to explore what Southeast Asia’s fast-growing digital economy reveals about the cybersecurity challenges facing micro, small and medium-sized businesses everywhere. Together, they unpack what cyber-risk looks like on the ground, from phishing, ransomware, and malware to low-tech scams like QR-code sticker switching. They also examine why the damage rarely stays local; when a small supplier gets hit, disruptions can cascade through regional networks and even global supply chains. The good news is that their collaboration in Southeast Asia is also surfacing solutions that the rest of the world can borrow. Singh and Cute share what works, including public-private partnerships that deliver practical toolkits, localized training, and basic cyber hygiene that businesses can adopt, especially as AI-driven fraud and deepfakes make scams harder to spot. Local to global: The power of small business is a podcast series from GZERO Media’s Blue Circle Studios and Mastercard, exploring why small businesses are poised to play an even bigger role in the future of the global economy.   Host: JJ Ramberg Guests: Shamina Singh, Brian Cute Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    24 min
  2. Tap and go: The future of urban mobility

    11/20/2025

    Tap and go: The future of urban mobility

    As populations grow and communities evolve, transportation authorities and urban infrastructure are seeking ways to modernize. In this episode of “Local to global: The power of small business,” host JJ Ramberg sits down with Chapin Flynn, Senior Vice President of Transit and Urban Mobility at Mastercard, and Mark Langmead, Director of Revenue & Compass Operations at TransLink in Vancouver, to explore how cities are making transit easier, faster, and more seamless for riders–an approach known as frictionless urban mobility. They discuss how innovations like contactless tap-and-go technologies are reducing dwell time, speeding up boarding, and producing real-time data that helps transit agencies better plan and manage their systems. Next gen urban mobility also has the potential to benefit small businesses: when transit becomes simpler, riders shift spending from automotive fuel to Main Street, foot traffic grows near transit arteries, and neighborhoods become more connected. “Local to global: The power of small business” is a podcast series from GZERO Media’s Blue Circle Studios and Mastercard, where we look behind the curtain to explore the world of small businesses and why they’re positioned to play an even bigger role in the future of the global economy.   Host: JJ Ramberg Guests: Chapin Flynn, Mark Langmead Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    28 min
  3. How the circular economy empowers small businesses

    10/02/2025

    How the circular economy empowers small businesses

    Imagine an economy where products are designed to be reused, repaired, and regenerated instead of ending up as waste. That’s the circular economy, a model that redefines recycling and transforms how small businesses operate. In this episode of Local to Global: The power of small business, host JJ Ramberg sits down with Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mastercard, and Rachel McShane, Chief Financial Officer at Depop, to discuss the scale of the circular economy, why circular practices boost both sustainability and profitability, and where the industry is headed next. From Depop’s sustainable fashion marketplace that empowers small sellers and extends the life of clothing to Mastercard’s digital solutions that enhance the consumer experience and measure impact, the discussion highlights ways entrepreneurs can launch reuse, resale, and take-back programs. The conversation also addresses the pitfalls of greenwashing and the importance of credible, consistent standards. “Local to global: The power of small business” is a new podcast series from GZERO Media's Blue Circle Studios and Mastercard, where we look behind the curtain to explore the world of small businesses and why they’re positioned to play an even bigger role in the future of the global economy.   Host: JJ Ramberg Guests: Ellen Jackowski, Rachel McShane   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    30 min
  4. Where middle class growth and small business meet

    06/27/2025

    Where middle class growth and small business meet

    Small businesses are more than just corner shops and local services. They’re a driving force of economic growth, making up 90% of all businesses globally. As the global middle class rapidly expands, new opportunities are emerging for entrepreneurs to launch and grow small businesses.  In the first episode of “Local to global: The power of small business”, host JJ Ramberg sits down with Shamina Singh, Founder and President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, and Homi Kharas, Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution and Co-Founder of the World Data Lab. Together, they explore how the spending power of the global middle class is fueling small business growth from Taipei to Toronto and beyond.  The discussion also highlights how digital inclusion, access to finance, and cybersecurity are essential for small business success. “Local to global: The power of small business” is a new podcast series from GZERO Media's Blue Circle Studios and Mastercard, where we'll look behind the curtain to explore the world of small businesses and why they’re positioned to play an even bigger role in the future of the global economy.   Host: JJ Ramberg Guests: Homi Kharas, Shamina Singh

    28 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

Small businesses play a role in our everyday lives, but their influence and importance extend far beyond the communities they're in. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the hidden engine powering the global economy, making up 90% of all businesses globally, and they're responsible for nearly 50% of the global GDP. In this podcast series, we look behind the curtain to understand their impact across industries, how new technologies can support their growth and why they're positioned to play an even bigger role in the future of the global economy. "Local to global: The power of small business" is a podcast series from GZERO's Blue Circle Studios produced in partnership with Mastercard.

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