The Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Episode 19: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - How AI is Reshaping the Future of Leadership.

In this episode, Yu-Wen Hsiao, Marketing and Communications Manager, APAC at Criticaleye speaks with AI expert Dr Feiyu Xu, former Senior Vice President and Global Head of AI at SAP, who now has various Board roles including Board Member at Zuhlke Group, Senior Advisor at A.T. Kearney and Non-executive Director at Airbus Group, about how leaders can harness AI and how it is reshaping leadership itself. Feiyu is also a Criticaleye Board Mentor.

During the podcast, Feiyu draws upon her experience as a data scientist, and experience in executive roles at companies including Lenovo and SAP.

Discussion points include: 

• How leaders should be thinking about their AI strategy and harnessing it across their organisations
• The AI value chain - how companies need to position themselves in the wider AI environment
• AI across the organisation and how it touches every part of the business, from processes and product to promotion
• Which regions are ahead when it comes to AI integration and innovation
• How AI is changing the way executives lead and the role mentoring can play to prepare leaders and ensure AI can work successfully for them.

Episode 11 of Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In our latest episode of the Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we break down some of the findings from Criticaleye’s 2024 CEO Research. Hosted by Criticaleye Senior Editor Jacob Ambrose Willson, this episode features Karen Fawcett, Non-executive Director, Aegon, LGT and Temus, and Criticaleye Board Mentor, and Criticaleye CEO, Matthew Blagg.

Karen and Matthew discuss the shifting priorities of CEOs in the last 12 months, agility versus strategy, the influence of major geopolitical swings, executive burnout, stakeholder management and the ongoing importance of personal development.

Discussion points include: 

• Focus on improved business performance
• Sustainability slipping down the agenda
• Balancing agility with strategy
• Macroeconomics and the impact of geopolitics
• The rise in executive burnout
• Managing internal and external stakeholders
• External reference points for leaders 

Episode 15: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Becoming a World Class Strategic CPO: Insights from the Board

In this episode of the Criticaleye podcast, hosted by Managing Director Charlie Wagstaff, we are honored to hear from Till Vestring. With over 25 years of consulting experience at Bain & Company in Asia, Till offers profound insights from his distinguished career. His expertise extends beyond consulting into significant leadership roles across various Boards. In his NEDs, he chairs an Audit Committee, a remuneration Committee, and a CSR Committee, and he also sits on remuneration and nomination Committees.

Discussion points include: 

• What makes a CPO high-performing and how should they partner with CEOs?
• What are CPOs' crisis challenges and how to stay realistic in a crisis?
• What traits are crucial for CPOs?
• How can CPOs influence business strategy?
• How should CPOs communicate with Board Members?

Episode 12: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Cultivating Top Talent in Asia for Organisational Growth

Explore the dynamic landscape of talent management and leadership development in rapidly evolving Asia. Discover effective strategies for cultivating top talent, including guiding transitions and mentoring high performers.​ Featuring Criticaleye's General Managing Director, Michael Crompton, plus our guest President, APAC at Flywheel Digital, Dan Cotton. 

Discussion points include: 

• Challenges in acquiring and mentoring Talent
• Transitioning from Fast-Paced Startups to Large Corporations
• How has the nature of business disciplines changed over time?
• The Role of Mentorship in Management​
• Identifying and Leveraging Opportunities for Growth

Episode 11: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Mentorship - Navigating the Journey to Leadership Success

Exploring the significance of mentoring in career development, particularly in transitioning from management to leadership roles.​ Featuring Criticaleye's Managing Director Charlie Wagstaff, plus our guest Board Mentor Bala Swaminathan.

Discussion points include: 

• What is the role of a mentor?  
• Is mentoring the bridge between management and leadership?​  
• Challenges when transitioning from an operational to the leadership role.
• Real-life experiences and insights mentors share to guide mentees through leadership challenges. 
• How mentors can empower their mentees.​
• Ways that mentees can effectively prepare for mentoring sessions to maximise their impact and benefit. 

Episode 10: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Managing Cross-Regional and Cultural Differences as a Leader

Featuring Criticaleye's Managing Director Charlie Wagstaff, plus guests Hai Meng Tan, President, Animal Nutrition & Health, APAC, Kemin Industries and Sian Abel, Global Head, HR Business Partnering, Kyowa Kirin. Talking points include:

• The skill set needed to be a successful and effective regional leader
• Adapting to leadership in a region and culture which is different that your own - how to flex to various cultural and operating environments
• Building resilience as a leader in APAC - and developing a growth mindset
• The importance of communication and understanding how this helps win over hearts and minds
• The challenges of getting staff back into offices and what trends executives are seeing in Asia
• Using data as a leader to understand the challenges and nuances of regional leadership

Episode 5 of our "Leadership in Uncertain Times" Podcast Series

Following our recent Asia Leadership Retreat (held on 26 November 2020), Criticaleye’s CEO Matthew Blagg and Director of Content Marc Barber reflect on some of the key discussion points in this 26-minute podcast, including:

• What leaders will be focusing on in 2021, and how challenges of customer centricity and employee behaviour are universal
• The opportunities we are likely to see in the next 12-18 months - what areas companies are likely to focus on when it comes to leadership, purpose and the people agenda?
• The key question of purpose - why do organisations exist and how do leaders align teams behind purpose?
• What change we will see across executive teams (are we are likely to see many executives making the move to a plural career after the changes in 2020?)
• How has the pandemic changed consumer behaviour long-term?