Across our cities, empty shop lots and vacant office buildings are a common sight, a sign of wasted potential. But for enterprising individuals and businesses, could these underutilised assets be the next big opportunity?

Cha-Ly Koh, Founder and CEO of the data analytics firm UrbanMetry, joins us to provide a data-driven look at this issue. She discusses her framework for assessing these properties, the key financial and execution risks involved, and why repurposing old buildings is often harder and more expensive than building new ones.

We discuss:

• How to identify and define an "underutilised asset."

• The key financial, legal, and execution risks to consider before repurposing.

• Why it's often more expensive to revitalise old buildings than to build new.

• Why community and social capital are a city's most underutilised assets.

• Policy ideas like a "vacancy tax" and "patient capital" to encourage urban renewal.

For real estate investors, developers, and urban planners, this is an essential, data-driven guide to the challenges and opportunities of urban renewal.

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Artificial intelligence is powering a new wave of innovation, but it's also fueling a darker reality: the rise of 'Dark AI.' From hyper-realistic deepfakes to perfectly crafted phishing scams, how are cybercriminals weaponising this technology, and how can businesses and individuals protect themselves?

Sergey Lozhkin, Head of Kaspersky's Global Research & Analysis Team for APAC, joins us to break down this emerging threat landscape. He explains how Dark AI enhances existing threats, the dangers of unapproved AI tools in the workplace, and why employee education is now more critical than ever.

We discuss:

• What "Dark AI" is and how cybercriminals are using it to create malware and scams.

• Why AI is both a "shield" for defenders and a "sword" for attackers.

• The growing threat of sophisticated, AI-powered phishing and deepfakes.

• The risks of unapproved AI tools and malicious browser extensions in the workplace.

• Why strong cybersecurity basics and employee education are the best defense.

For business leaders and IT managers, this is an essential deep dive into the new frontier of cyber threats.

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In a global debt market of over $100 trillion, the Shariah-compliant Sukuk market has just crossed its own major milestone: $1 trillion. But what exactly are these Islamic financial instruments, how do they differ from conventional debt, and what's driving their rapid growth?

Bashar Al Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings, joins us to get into all this and more.

We discuss:

• What Sukuk are and how they differ from conventional bonds.

• The key drivers behind the market's growth to over $1 trillion.

• The important difference between asset-based and asset-backed Sukuk.

• Malaysia's role as an evolved domestic ecosystem vs. the GCC's US dollar market.

• The powerful and growing synergy between Islamic finance and ESG investing.

For investors, financial professionals, and policymakers, this is a deep dive into one of the fastest-growing segments of the global debt capital market.

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Amidst geopolitical uncertainty and relentless pressure on supply chains, Asia's manufacturing sector is turning to technology to stay competitive, with 94% of leaders planning to invest in AI. But what are the real-world use cases, and what are the biggest hurdles to successful adoption?

Marcelo Tarkieltaub, Regional Director for Southeast Asia at Rockwell Automation, joins us to dissect the findings from their 2025 "State of Smart Manufacturing" report. He discusses the skills gap, the challenge of legacy infrastructure, and Asia Pacific's unique "pragmatic" and efficiency-driven approach to AI.

We discuss:

• The key use cases for AI in manufacturing (quality, efficiency, and cybersecurity).

• The biggest challenges to adoption: the skills gap and legacy systems.

• Why APAC's adoption strategy is more "pragmatic" than other regions.

• The mindset shift: viewing sustainability as a key driver of efficiency.

• Practical first steps for SMEs to begin their smart manufacturing journey.

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Beyond the gleaming skyscrapers and historical landmarks, what is the true heritage of a city like Kuala Lumpur? As we celebrate Merdeka, we explore how our urban heritage can be a living asset, preserving our unique identity while powering industries like tourism.

Shin Tseng of REXKL and Nigel Wong of MATTA join us to discuss this critical topic. They explore the move beyond tangible architecture to embrace intangible culture, the challenge of maintaining authenticity while improving sites for tourism, and the debate over Kuala Lumpur's unique "tapestry" or "Rojak" identity.

We discuss:

• Why heritage is more than just buildings, it's about living, intangible culture.

• How to balance "polishing" a site for tourism while keeping it authentic.

• The debate over Kuala Lumpur's unique and complex heritage identity.

• Why local residents are the true "soul" of any heritage site.

• A vision for curating micro-heritage districts to celebrate our diversity.

  For urbanists, tourism professionals, and anyone passionate about the future of our cities, this is an exploration into the art of celebrating and preserving our national identity.

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Months after new reciprocal tariffs were announced, initial data shows that Asian exporters have been front-loading shipments to the US to get ahead of the hikes. But what does this early reaction tell us about the real impact on trade, and what comes next after the frenzy?

Darren Tay, Head of APAC Country Risk at BMI, joins us to break down the findings from their new report. He analyses the varied responses across the region, from Taiwanese firms absorbing costs to Japanese exporters buffered by a weak yen, and explains why we should brace for a "payback" period and a global slowdown in 2026.

We discuss:

• The "front-loading" effect and what the initial trade data reveals.

• How Taiwan is absorbing the tariffs and how currency changes have buffered Japan

• Why Asian financial markets have been surprisingly resilient so far.

• The long-term impact: a global slowdown and reduced reliance on the US.

• Why 2026 is the year to watch for the full "payback" from the tariffs.

  For business leaders, exporters, and investors, this is a data-driven analysis of the new tariff landscape.

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TikTok Shop's global business is booming, doubling its GMV to over $26 billion in the first half of 2025. But beneath this explosive growth, the ecosystem is in constant flux, with Indonesia overtaking the US as the largest market and a rapid turnover of top influencers and products.

WeiHan Chen, Insights Lead at Momentum Works, joins us to dissect the findings from their latest report on this dynamic platform. She discusses the different growth drivers in Malaysia versus other key markets, the real challenges sellers face in a content-driven environment, and the maturity gap in live commerce between Southeast Asia and the West.

We discuss:

• The key drivers behind TikTok Shop's $26B global growth.

• Why Indonesia has re-emerged as the platform's largest market.

• The challenges for sellers (and why over half of US stores had zero sales).

• The maturity gap in live commerce between Southeast Asia and the US.

• Why brands need a clear, diversified channel strategy to succeed.

  For brands, sellers, and marketers navigating the future of social commerce, this is an essential deep dive into the strategies and volatility of the TikTok Shop ecosystem.

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CrowdStrike’s 2025 Threat Hunting Report suggests cloud attacks have increased by over 130% in just six months, and adversaries are even targeting AI tools companies are using today. In light of this, we explore how adversaries are weaponizing AI—from deep fake interviews and fake résumés to GenAI-built malware—and targeting the very AI systems businesses rely on. We also break down the report to explore how enterprises can adapt with agentic AI, real-time behaviour analysis, and cross-domain detection strategies. To help us break all this down, we speak with Fabio Fratucello, Field CTO, Worldwide at CrowdStrike.

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For years, the mobile commerce race was all about one thing: app installs. But the game is changing. While global shopping app installs have declined, user engagement is on the rise, signaling a major strategic shift from chasing quantity to cultivating quality.

Manish Wali, Head of Inside Sales & Business Strategy for APAC at Adjust, joins us to unpack the findings from their latest "Shopping App Insights Report." He explains why APAC is defying global trends to become the new growth engine and breaks down the playbook for winning in today's mature mobile commerce economy.

We discuss:

• The strategic shift from user quantity (installs) to quality (engagement).

• Why APAC is the new growth engine for mobile commerce.

• The growing importance of re-engagement strategies like reattribution.

• How to leverage AI for smarter targeting and personalisation.

• Key strategies for app retention and preparing for the crucial Q4 peak season.

  For marketers and e-commerce leaders, this is a look into the new rules of the app economy and the strategies needed to build a loyal, high-value user base.

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Almost nine in 10 Malaysians are already using AI in some form, one of the highest adoption rates in the region. But while excitement is high, trust is still catching up. We speak with Dr Ieva Martinkenaite, Senior Vice President and Head of AI at Telenor Group, about what makes Malaysia’s AI moment unique, why issues like fairness, data, and accountability matter more than ever, and what’s really at stake if we fail to get responsible AI right.

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