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Episode Title: 🇿🇦UBUNTU - Redefining Africa’s Sovereignty🇿🇦 

We continue the #HTBRICSSeries on Heads Talk  with a leader on a clear mission: To cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among Africa’s youth while strategically integrating the continent’s creative industries, i.e. film, art, and cultural production, into its economic and geopolitical agenda. By aligning hard industries such as energy, manufacturing and mineral extraction with Africa’s untapped soft power, he positions culture as a form of diplomatic capital to drive sustainable growth and global influence.

Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu term from Southern Africa that means "I am because we are."

Johnny Muteba is the CEO of Build Africa Group, Founder and CEO of the Pan African Chamber of Commerce, and Founder of the Africa Development Agency. He also serves as President of Blacks in Technology South Africa and leads the Hollywood African Film Festival. With over 15 years’ experience spanning media, entertainment, trade, social impact, and entrepreneurship, Johnny is recognised as one of Africa’s most creative and disruptive thinkers. He is a member of the World Trade Organisation, the International Chamber of Commerce Advisory Committee on SMEs, and South Africa’s NEDLAC, where his work consistently bridges entrepreneurship, cultural innovation, and global impact to drive Africa’s transformation.

Topics Covered:
◽️ Pan-African Trade Barriers and Institutional Insights
◽️ Intra-African Visa Restrictions and Barriers to Free Movement
◽️ Africa’s Untapped Resource Wealth and Industrialisation Challenge
◽️ BRICS Financing: Opportunity or Repeat of Extractive Models
◽️ The Role of new development bank in South Africa’s Growth Agenda
◽️ Visionary Leadership and Africa’s Geopolitical Positioning
◽️ Intra-African Collaboration and Continental Trade Strategy
◽️ Strategic Futures of BRICS, Digital Currency and Governance Safeguards
◽️ Redefining Pan-African Leadership as Proactive Global Agenda-Setters
◽️ Creative Industries and Cultural Diplomacy as Drivers of African Soft Power

So download⏳grab a cup of Bird & Blend Tea Co. - Peppy Mint Tea ☕️& have a listen🛋

Episode Sponsored by
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Episode Title: 🇨🇳China's Logic: BRICS+, Currencies and Tariffs🇨🇳

In this episode of Heads Talk - a collaboration with CGTN, we dive into the BRICS+ Alliance, China's position and my guests thoughts on the tariffs and thoughts on potential de-dollarisation; and diversification. 

This is the Part 2 of my conversation Zheng Junfeng, Senior Business News Anchor at CGTN, China Global Television Network, a division of China Media Group. Where we talk about the members of the BRICS+ Alliance and China's relationship with them. 

Topics Covered:
◽️Volatility and Tariffs
◽️Dedollarisation and Strengthening of local Currencies
◽️India's Unilateral Stance
◽️BRICS+ Business Focus
◽️Domestic  and Energy Policy Calculations
◽️The War of Narratives

So download⏳grab a cup of Bird & Blend Tea Co. - Deep Breath Tea ☕️& have a listen🛋

◽️Collaboration with CGTN, China Global Television Network.

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Episode Title: 🇿🇦African Women: Architect of Trade “A Miracle Built On Unity"🇮🇳 

We continue the #HTBRICSSeries on Heads Talk with a formidable business leader whose influence spans construction, manufacturing, energy, and international trade. 

HRH Princess Lebogang Zulu is the Executive Chairperson of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance South Africa and the President of the Expanded BRICS Women Foundation. She is also the: 

• Vice President of the India–South Africa Chamber of Commerce
• Chairperson of Africa Women’s Bank (Private) Limited
• Executive Director of Kampara Industries Holdings; and 
• Chief Executive of Kokozu International.

With over two decades of leadership, she has championed women’s economic empowerment across Africa and the BRICS nations, spearheading a $2.7 billion initiative in 2023 that created over 120,000 jobs for South African women entrepreneurs.

We explored Africa’s evolving role in the BRICS+ framework, highlighting the shift of African women from beneficiaries of inclusion to architects of continental and cross-border trade. Discussions examined deepening economic ties with Russian and Indian partners, particularly in energy and manufacturing, and how South Africa’s expanding commercial footprint in India is reshaping trade flows in exports, transport, and logistics. We also assessed how US tariff shifts have driven BRICS+ nations to strengthen intra-bloc trade, build trust, and reduce reliance on the West. The reduction in aid, rather than a setback, has accelerated Africa’s push to design its own trade architecture, prioritising continental integration while engaging global partners as equals.

Topics Covered:
◽️ Leadership Priorities across Global Executive Roles
◽️ BRICS+ Strategy Reshaping Governance and Trade Corridors
◽️ Policy Influence through the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance
◽️ African Women Moving from Inclusion to Architecting Trade
◽️ Strategic Value of the 2025 BRICS+ Agri-Summit
◽️ South Africa’s Growing Footprint in India 
◽️ Unlocking South Africa–India Bilateral Trade Potential
◽️ Removing Structural Barriers in Manufacturing and Agriculture
◽️ Building Energy and Manufacturing ties with Russian and Indian BRICS+ Members
◽️ Impact of US Tariff Volatility on Intra-BRICS Trade Trust and Cooperation
◽️ How Reduced Foreign Aid is Catalysing Africa’s Self-driven Trade Architecture
◽️ Lessons from Transformational Women-led Agricultural Initiatives
◽️ Economic Outcomes from the 2025 Global Women Leadership Programme

So download⏳grab a cup of Bird & Blend Tea Co. - Peppy Mint Tea ☕️& have a listen🛋

Episode Sponsored by
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Episode Title:🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Geopolitical Tortoise and Hare Race🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Another captivating episode in the BRICS & Geopolitics Series (#HTBRICSSeries) on Heads Talk where we explore the shifting landscape of money, trade, politics, conflict, and the technologies shaping the next global order.

This week, I’m joined by David Sime, Chief Innovation Strategist at Invantage Ltd, with over 25 years’ experience spanning international markets, emerging technologies, and education. David has advised global institutions on navigating technological and geopolitical disruption, leading projects in AI, XR, Digital Twins, post-quantum encryption, and advanced energy systems. All with a focus on real-world impact and societal resilience.

In this conversation, we marry AI sovereignty and safety with the rise of BRICS+ and the cyclical nature of empires. Topics that might seem worlds apart, yet intersect at every level. From the cultural and political dimensions of surveillance technology to the contrasting innovation models of East and West, David takes us deep into how emerging tech both shapes and reflects global power shifts.

We ask: Can Western innovation, constrained by shareholder short-termism, compete with BRICS nations’ state-aligned, long-horizon strategies? How will AI governance evolve in a multipolar world? And what can history’s great power cycles tell us about the future we’re building?

David's Post Mentioned here

Topics Covered
◽️ Career transition from global market analysis to technology and education
◽️ Tragedy of the Horizon and Western short-termism in innovation
◽️ Western shareholder stranglehold on innovation versus BRICS+ rapid development model
◽️ AI safety frameworks and verification protocols for dual-use systems
◽️ Global AI interoperability without reinforcing geopolitical fragmentation
◽️ Designing AI architectures for diverse legal and resource environments
◽️ AI failures in East vs West:- Differing risks and implications
◽️ BRICS innovation strategies in a multipolar technology landscape
◽️ Cyclical nature of empires and shifting global power dynamics

So download⏳grab a cup of Bird & Blend Tea Co. - Mocha Chai Tea ☕️& have a listen🛋

Episode Sponsored by
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Episode Title: 🇿🇦Capital Security to Capital Growth: Africa’s Bankable-to-Investable Journey🇿🇦 

We continue the #HTBRICSSeries on Heads Talk with a dynamic C-suite leader, investor, and influential figure in Africa’s tech, finance, and impact investment Ecosystems. 

Dr. Frank Aswani is the CEO of the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), a pan-African network mobilising capital grants, debt, equity, and expertise, to drive social impact across the continent. 

He’s leading efforts to raise a $200 million catalytic fund to unlock at least $2 billion in private investment for African social enterprises.

In this episode, we look at Africa’s evolving role in the shifting landscape of global governance, where BRICS+ offer new opportunities but also familiar risks. While partnerships with BRICS nations can bring alternative financing and market access, the focus must first be on building strong intra-African trade, value chains, and industrial capacity, ensuring infrastructure deals protect sovereignty and drive long-term growth rather than decades of dependency.

We discuss the leadership, strategy, and entrepreneurial spirit needed to make this shift, starting in schools and extending to the negotiating table, so Africa can move from being a supplier of raw materials to a driver of innovation, manufacturing, and sustainable prosperity.

Topics Covered:
◽️BRICS+ expansion and Africa’s role in shaping global governance
◽️ Managing China and other BRICS partners’ influence on African infrastructure and social sectors
◽️ Redirecting resource wealth into domestic industrial capacity
◽️ Capability versus political will in Africa’s economic positioning
◽️ Strategic avenues for channeling BRICS+ capital into sustainable development
◽️ Mobilising scalable social impact investments across Africa
◽️ Closing the SDG financing gap through sustainable finance
◽️ Dissecting the philanthropy model in venture and social impact
◽️ Moving Africa from raw material supplier to high-value innovation hub
◽️ Inspiring leadership shifts from corporate boardrooms to impact ecosystems
◽️ Defining decisions for Africa’s global positioning over the next decade

So download⏳grab a cup of Bird & Blend Tea Co. - Peppy Mint Tea ☕️& have a listen🛋

Episode Sponsored by
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Episode Title: 🇨🇳Osmosis: The Unbroken Self🇳🇱

We rarely pause to see those caught in between the acceleration of AI and the shifting of Geopolitical lines - the living bridges silently carrying the weight of nations.

Sometimes, a conversation about technology stops being about machines and progress and instead reveals the quiet, very real toll on a human holding 2 worlds together.

This is one of those conversations.

What began as a standard episode recording that quite quickly became something far more profound.

My guest didn’t just speak about digital transformation, the strategic dance of cross-border innovation, and geopolitical manoeuvring, he actually embodied it! The dialogue shifted from mechanics and marvels of tech to something deeply human. I found myself listening not to expertise alone, but to a person who has become a living bridge between nations.

Through this exchange, I witnessed the toll such a role can take, the weight of carrying two flags in an age dominated by AI and relentless digital progress. It made me wonder: how many other unseen bridges walk among us, silently holding worlds together while bearing the unspoken cost of connection?

We often say, “this is a must-listen,” but this episode truly earns it. Beyond what you’ll hear on the mic, there were moments of candour, vulnerability, and rare insight. For that, I’m grateful to my guest, whose honesty turns this discussion into something far more resonant than a technical exploration.

___

John Lin is a rare, compelling figure. Someone who walks the fault line between East and West, carrying with him a dual cultural identity (Chinese and Dutch) that few can navigate so seamlessly; building bridges along the way. But that balancing act is never straightforward. In boardrooms and negotiations, the question looms: Which self do I lead with? Which identity wins the deal?

It all started as a clinical exploration of bridging East and West in commerce and innovation, then it quickly changed. What emerged wasn’t just the mechanics of deal-making across hemispheres, but the PERSON who is the bridge. And in that space, the questioning stopped being tactical; it was human.

As mentioned, this is not your standard Heads Talk episode. But in the BRICS & Geopolitics Series, we have to talk about blurred lines and border crossings, not only for trade and diplomacy but for people and minds.

Humans moving across cultures are like osmosis and diffusion in motion, reshaping the space they enter and carrying traces of each place they’ve been.

I relate deeply to John’s journey. I too have felt the weight of expectation, the silent request to perform for approval. But with age, time, stubbornness and a sharper instinct for self-preservation, I’ve learnt to resist.

For every John out there: walk into those less-than-welcoming spaces and deliver your genius - nothing else. That’s the bridge. That’s enough.

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Episode Title: 🇨🇳Made in China 2025: Digital Evolution & Global Tech Influence🇨🇳 

We continue the #HTBRICSSeries on Heads Talk with a returning guest from three years ago, Ashley Dudarenok. Her first episode remains one of my personal favourites, and I’m delighted to have her back. This time, we reconnect to discuss how China’s fast-moving tech ecosystem has evolved and what its trajectory means for both global markets and the BRICS alliance.

Ashley is one of Asia’s most prominent voices on Chinese digital transformation and a leading expert in digital marketing, consumer innovation, and platform strategy. Based in Hong Kong, she’s the founder of two successful ventures guiding businesses through China’s complex market landscape - Alarice and ChoZan. A bestselling author, keynote speaker, and vlogger, Ashley’s insights are frequently featured on the BBC, CNBC, Forbes, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal.

In this episode, we catch up on China’s shift from hypergrowth to strategic tech autonomy, its emerging leadership in global innovation, and how businesses worldwide can adapt to a rapidly evolving digital future.

Topics Covered:
◽️China’s Shift from Hypergrowth to Strategic Tech Autonomy
◽️Business Strategy & Market Entry: Glocalisation and Local Brand Storytelling
◽️Top 5 Chinese Innovators Reshaping Global Markets
◽️Future-Proofing Strategies: Rural Digital Revitalisation, “Little Giant” SMEs, Dual-Circulation 2.0
◽️Rise of Dark Markets and Informal Digital Commerce: Impacts on Tech Leadership and Global Trade Dynamics
◽️Green Transformation and Low-Carbon Tech Leadership
◽️Industrial Policy & Tech Sovereignty: Progress and Gaps in “Made in China 2025”
◽️Demographic Pressures and Changes with lasting effects
◽️AI, Robotics, and Machine Substitution in Supply Chains
◽️China’s Innovation Trajectory Toward 2030 and Beyond

Ashley's 1st Episode with Heads Talk here

NB: Due to a slight time delay during recording, you may notice moments where Ashley and I overlap or sound like we’re talking over each other. My apologies for that.

So download⏳grab a cup of Bird & Blend Tea Co. - Eton Mess Tea ☕️& have a listen🛋

Episode Sponsored by
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Episode Title:🇨🇭CFO Frameworks in an Uncertain World🇨🇭

We take a brief pause from the #HTBRICSSeries (BRICS & Geopolitics) this week on Heads Talk to spotlight a compelling release from the 💵 ℙ𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕎𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟 𝕚𝕟 𝕎𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕥 & 𝕄𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕪💵 series. 

In this timely and thought-provoking conversation, I’m joined by returning guest and Fortune 50 Executive Claudia Cordioli, now Group CFO at Zurich Insurance Group. In fact, given the breadth and depth of our discussion, this conversation could easily sit within the current BRICS and Geopolitics series, touching on governance, sovereignty, global markets, and systemic risk.

Claudia shares what’s energised her since stepping into the Group CFO role. She discusses Zurich’s approach to risk and resilience, the strategic use of AI across the business, and the evolving role of today’s CFO:- a favourite Heads Talk topic first explored with Claudia 4 years ago during her time as CFO at Swiss Re. We cover how Zurich is preparing for emerging liabilities; leading in an era defined by interconnected crises; and measuring ROI beyond the balance sheet. Claudia also reflects on the non-financial indicators that matter, and the skills she never expected to need but now sees as essential.

A vital episode that speaks directly to the major issues shaping the insurance sector and the global economy.

Topics Covered
◽️The CFO+, AI-Native Finance, and the Future of Financial Leadership
◽️Financial Resilience in the Age of Polycrisis
◽️Zurich’s Cyber Risk Strategy and Capital Model Adaptations 
◽️Climate Risk, Systemic Events & the Evolution of Reinsurance
◽️AI Governance, Risk, and Accountability in Insurance Operations
◽️ROI of AI: Measuring Impact Beyond the Balance Sheet
◽️Algorithmic Liability and the Finance Function’s New Mandate 
◽️Navigating the CFO Role in a Time of Global Transition
◽️From Swiss Re to Zurich: Strategic Shifts and Leadership Lessons 
◽️Public-Private Partnerships and New Risk Transfer Mechanisms 
◽️Global Insights: Leadership Reflections from Emerging Markets
◽️Talent, Transformation & the Skills CFOs Didn’t Know They’d Need 

So download⏳grab a cup of Bird & Blend Tea Co. - Mocha Chai Tea ☕️& have a listen🛋

Episode Sponsored by
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Episode Title:🇶🇦Digital Sovereignty & The Gulf Tech Frontier🇶🇦

Another thought-provoking episode of Heads Talk this week as I sit down with an influential figure in the Gulf’s digital transformation space. 

Giorgio Torre, a leader in data, sustainability and technology advisory, KPMG, with a broad international remit, but a particular focus on the GCC region, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Giorgio and I first planned this conversation over a year ago. A lot has changed since then. So this is a timely, refreshed discussion exploring how the Gulf is boldly positioning itself as a global technology and AI sovereignty powerhouse. From quantum computing and autonomous energy systems, to culturally relevant Arabic-language AI models, Giorgio’s insights are grounded in strategy, policy and lived advisory experience across governments, central banks and regulatory bodies.

Giorgio is not just an advisor, he’s a voice of influence in the region, with over 120,000 followers and more than 12 million monthly views on LinkedIn. His posts ignite discussions across industry, policy and academia.

Topics Covered
◽️Gulf Digital Sovereignty and Strategic Tech Independence
◽️AI Turf War: DeepSeek, OpenAI, and GCC’s Position
◽️Qatar’s “Fanar” and the Rise of Culturally Aware AI Models
◽️Fusion of Quantum Computing and AI in the Gulf
◽️GCC's shift from Hydrocarbon Dependency to Digital Innovation
◽️Qatar & Saudi Arabia’s AI Strategies in Energy, Security, and Autonomy
◽️Developing local AI Ecosystems and Talent Pipelines across the GCC
◽️Regulatory Innovation and Cross-border Digital Diplomacy
◽️Why Qatar is Emerging as a Magnet for Business, Careers & Innovation

So download⏳grab a cup of Bird & Blend Tea Co. - Peach Cobbler Tea ☕️& have a listen🛋

Episode Sponsored by
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Episode Title:🇻🇳Common Prosperity🇰🇭

It’s always a little more special when a familiar face joins me on Heads Talk. This week’s guest is not only a globally respected transformation leader, but also a former colleague from our time together at KPMG in London. A lot has changed since then, but what hasn’t changed is his deep insight and global perspective.

I’m joined by Ross Macallister, Senior Partner, Head of Advisory, and Managing Partner of Consulting at KPMG Vietnam and Cambodia, where he also sits on the Executive Committee. Ross brings more than 35 years of international leadership in business and technology transformation, spanning the UK, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and most significantly, Asia.

In this conversation, we focussed on the Southeast Asian business landscape, i.e. Vietnam, Cambodia and China; and talk candidly about the regional nuances of delivering large-scale consulting programmes in fast-evolving markets. As part of the #HTBRICSSeries, Ross shares real-world examples. 

Before his role at KPMG Vietnam & Cambodia, Ross held C-suite Executive positions in some of the most complex markets in the world, including Group CIO and Divisional CEO at ChemChina, a global Fortune 250 company, where he led one of the most significant turnaround and restructuring programmes in China. He was also Head of Energy, Natural Resources & Chemicals Consulting at KPMG China, driving advisory for SOEs and multinationals alike.

We talk strategy, geopolitics, technology, and the future of professional services, all with that signature Ross calm and clarity. It’s an episode rich in practical wisdom, and a few warm throwbacks to our time in KPMG UK too.

Topics Covered
◽️ Leading transformation in complex global environments
◽️ Balancing global consulting standards with Southeast Asian cultural and economic realities
◽️ Delivering future-ready business & IT solutions in Vietnam & Cambodia
◽️ Navigating the strategic shift of the "China Plus One" model
◽️ Contrasting regulatory and market dynamics between China, Vietnam and Cambodia
◽️ Competitive role of SOEs in Asia and lessons for Western corporations
◽️ Evolving role of consultants in emerging Southeast Asian markets
◽️ How advisory services must adapt to rapid technological change
◽️ Future outlook for consulting across both Asian and European markets

So download⏳grab a cup of Bird & Blend Tea Co. - Eton Mess Tea ☕️& have a listen🛋

Episode Sponsored by
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