In this episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, we explore what truly creates a sustainable competitive advantage in the age of AI. Joined by Dr. Chris Marshall, Vice President at IDC, the conversation breaks down why AI alone is not enough to differentiate businesses in an increasingly commoditized landscape.

Drawing on classic strategy principles from Michael Porter, this episode highlights why differentiation, not just cost or technology, remains the key to long-term success. AI models are becoming more accessible and standardized, which means the real advantage lies elsewhere. The discussion focuses on the importance of proprietary data, decision-making speed, and the ability to continuously learn and adapt through feedback loops.

We also unpack the idea of competitive moats and why AI by itself does not create one. Instead, durable advantages come from factors like deep integration into business operations, regulatory positioning, switching costs, and strong organizational culture. AI can strengthen these advantages, but it cannot replace them.

This episode also explores the growing divide between high-touch, trust-based services and fully automated experiences. In high-risk decisions, human expertise, accountability, and trust remain essential. AI works best as a tool that enhances human judgment rather than replacing it.

If you are trying to understand how to position your business or career in an AI-driven world, this episode offers a grounded perspective on what actually matters beyond the hype.

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, we explore what it really takes to build an AI and data team from scratch in non-tech industries. Joined by Thet Twe Aung, CTO of Care, we break down the practical decisions leaders must make when moving from AI curiosity to real implementation.

With nearly two decades of experience scaling technology organizations across fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, and regulated enterprises in Asia, Thet shares a grounded framework for AI adoption. The conversation covers organizational readiness, hiring versus upskilling, data foundations, and why stability should come before speed when building production-grade AI systems.

We also unpack common misconceptions about AI, including the myth of human-like intelligence and the risks of overusing AI for problems that simpler tools can solve. Thet explains why AI works best as an augmentation tool supported by human oversight, strong domain expertise, and clear success metrics. In healthcare and other domain-driven sectors, the combination of technical capability and contextual knowledge becomes especially critical.

If you are a leader wondering where to start with AI, who to hire first, or how to avoid costly hype-driven mistakes, this episode offers a clear and practical roadmap for building sustainable AI capabilities that create long-term value.

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, we sit down with Ajay Biyani, VP of Sales at Securonix, to unpack how AI, cyber security, and modern sales are converging in today’s threat landscape. With over two decades of experience spanning identity and access management, enterprise security, and global sales leadership, Ajay shares how cyber security has shifted from tool sprawl to risk-driven outcomes.

The conversation explores why identity has become the new perimeter, how AI is transforming security operations and sales enablement, and what it takes to sell credibly to highly sophisticated technical buyers. Ajay also shares practical leadership insights on building high-performing, distributed sales teams and scaling growth across regions while staying customer-focused.

This episode is a must-listen for cyber security leaders, sales professionals, and anyone navigating AI-driven transformation in complex enterprise environments.

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This episode of Let’s Talk Evolution features a deep dive into the future of consulting with Talal Ikhwan, a seasoned consultant and AI expert. Drawing on his journey from strategy consulting in Germany to leading AI innovation teams in Asia, Talal explains how consulting is shifting from analysis and recommendations toward hands-on execution and real AI delivery.

The discussion highlights why modern consultants must become AI-native, combining critical thinking, human judgment, and the ability to build, test, and deploy AI systems. AI projects now follow agile, iterative models, with success measured by operational systems delivering real value within six months. Trust, adoption, and low error rates matter more than polished presentations.

Talal also explores the growing importance of governance, risk, and compliance in scaling AI responsibly, especially in regulated industries. Looking ahead, he shares his excitement about multi-agent AI orchestration, where multiple AI agents collaborate to transform business processes and decision-making.

The episode concludes with practical career advice for consultants and professionals navigating disruption. The message is clear that those who actively build and work with AI will stay relevant, while those who only talk about it risk falling behind.

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, David Han, Vice President at Hydra X, breaks down the rapid rise of Web3 and what it means for regulation, compliance, and digital finance across Southeast Asia. He shares insights from his background in IT audit, cybersecurity, and operational risk, explaining how financial institutions can adapt as blockchain and digital assets continue to evolve.

David also discusses the challenges of transitioning from Web2 to Web3, the growing scrutiny around crypto assets, and why blending traditional finance and digital finance expertise is essential for effective risk management. He also highlights the increasing importance of AI governance as part of the future regulatory landscape in financial services.

This episode is a practical guide for anyone navigating digital finance, offering clarity on emerging regulations, industry trends, and the skills needed to stay ahead in a fast-changing environment.

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, we explore how AI is lowering the barrier to starting and scaling companies. Matthias Hendrichs, global chief commercial officer at MODIFI, joins the conversation to share insights from thirty years across startups, corporates, and consulting. With experience at companies such as LVMH and Apple, as well as building and investing in his own ventures, he offers a unique perspective on what real disruption looks like in the age of AI.

We discuss how AI is transforming complex and regulated industries, why disruption often comes from solving personal pain points, and how founders can move from ideas to action more confidently. Matthias also shares practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and anyone navigating career uncertainty in a rapidly changing tech landscape. His insights highlight why the risks of entrepreneurship are lower today and why trying, experimenting, and learning with AI is one of the most important steps people can take.

This is a powerful conversation for future founders, startup teams, and professionals who want to stay relevant, understand the new opportunities AI is creating, and learn what mindset matters most in this new era of innovation.

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, Maria Singson, Founder and CEO of SMEMojo, shares deep insights into how startups and SMEs can strengthen their resilience and investability in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. She explains how SMEMojo’s scoring platform evaluates nearly two hundred factors using experienced executives who work closely with founders for six weeks. This approach provides investors with a clear and structured form of due diligence, especially for companies developing or adopting AI.

Maria discusses the most common gaps she sees in early-stage companies, including weak decision stress testing, limited founder self-awareness, and minimal attention to carbon impact. She also highlights the unique advantage that smaller firms have in terms of agility, while emphasizing that AI must serve as the strategic connector that supports long-term value creation.

The conversation also covers key future-proofing strategies, including building stronger data foundations, forming AI transformation pods with clear ROI, and improving carbon efficiency. Maria shares how AI is reshaping the workforce by giving younger employees more meaningful work and helping older professionals move into advisory roles through AI literacy. She encourages companies to rethink HR, support intrapreneurship, and evolve workplace culture to keep pace with rapid technological change.

This episode is perfect for founders, SME leaders, and professionals wanting to understand how AI, resilience, and investability come together to shape the next generation of business growth.

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, Vincent Kurnia Limanto, Head of Commercial Sales at GitLab, breaks down how AI is transforming the world of B2B tech sales. He shares insights from his 15-year journey across technical and sales roles, explaining how AI tools are reshaping sales workflows by automating repetitive tasks, improving lead qualification, and enhancing personalized outreach. Vincent highlights that AI strengthens sales teams by giving them more time to focus on strategy, relationships, and delivering real business value.

He also explains how GitLab’s unified DevOps platform simplifies complex toolchains for customers, which shifts sales conversations toward measurable outcomes like productivity, security, and cost efficiency. Vincent outlines the key traits of successful modern sales professionals, including strong business acumen, technical literacy, emotional intelligence, operational rigor, and a mindset that embraces continuous learning.

This episode provides a clear, practical look at the balance between AI-powered productivity and human connection in sales. It is an insightful guide for anyone looking to understand how sales roles, hiring practices, and customer engagement strategies are evolving in today’s AI-driven landscape.

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In this episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, Naveen Agnihotri, founder and head of AI at Plainflow, shares how AI has shifted from a complex, data-heavy discipline to an accessible toolkit that anyone can use. He explains what organizations need in order to become truly AI-ready, including strong executive sponsorship, clear outcome-focused goals, and a willingness to rethink outdated processes instead of simply automating them.

Naveen also highlights the importance of collaboration between AI experts and domain specialists, and why hands-on experimentation is the fastest path to AI competence. He emphasizes that successful AI adoption depends as much on human behavior and change management as it does on technology. Throughout the conversation, he encourages leaders and employees to stay curious, engage directly with AI tools, and embrace continuous learning as the key to thriving in an AI-driven future.

This episode provides a practical and inspiring look at how organizations and individuals can unlock AI’s full potential by focusing on outcomes, collaboration, and curiosity.

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This episode explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping hedge funds and portfolio management through insights from three industry leaders: Jiri Pik (RocketEdge.com), Ernest Chan (PredictNow.ai), and Jared Broad (QuantConnect.com). They break down how AI, generative models, and large language models are transforming data analysis, risk management, and strategy development in quantitative finance.

The discussion highlights how investment teams can integrate AI by dividing complex workflows into smaller tasks that AI can enhance, from risk scenario modeling to strategy optimization. The speakers also address key challenges such as high computational costs, data quality concerns, and the difficulty of explaining model decisions to stakeholders.

They share how AI is redefining roles within trading teams by increasing efficiency and allowing professionals to focus on strategic thinking rather than repetitive coding and backtesting. The episode also introduces a practical book that provides ready to use AI trading strategies to help professionals learn and apply modern AI techniques.

If you are navigating the rapid rise of AI in finance, this conversation encourages you to build critical judgment, understand AI’s limitations, and experiment actively so you can stay relevant in the evolving landscape of quantitative investing.

Our three guest speakers have recently co-authored a book which teaches you how to master the art of AI-driven algorithmic trading strategies through hands-on examples, in-depth insights, and step-by-step guidance. You can check it out here: https://www.amazon.sg/dp/1394268432

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