The upcoming Leading Business in Asia Forum will engage local businesses with the current and dominant themes that are reshaping the wider business environment.

This was highlighted by Tim Haynes, one of the speakers set to feature at the upcoming Leading Business in Asia Forum, which will be taking place on September 28-29 at the Radisson Hotel.

Tim is a pioneer in digital business transformation with over 20 years of experience. His previous roles include Client Partner, APAC for Bazaarvoice, where he led teams responsible for 60 clients and 101 brands across eight key APAC markets.

He has experience and expertise that span emerging and established markets including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand.

Formerly trained as a sociologist, Tim has a broad and substantial knowledge of digital ecosystems and how business and audiences gain value.

He is based in Auckland and travels regularly on assignment.

Asked for his thoughts on the Leading Business in Asia Forum, and in particular its relevance to Bruneian businesses, he said, "It is essential for Bruneian businesses, like any businesses, to be exposed to and engaged with the current and dominant themes that are reshaping the wider business environment.

"The themes raised by this forum address some of the critical areas that Bruneian businesses should address," he continued.

"Beyond the content, the format of the Leading Business in Asia Forum is a successful formula of insight and hands-on workshops where everyone gets to roll up their sleeves."

Tim's presentation on the first day of the forum will be touching on the topic of 'Winning at Business: Leading Customer Centricity & Digital Transformation'.

On what attendees can expect, he said, "My presentation has two parts, firstly examples of customer centricity to locate the discussion, then the journey to customer centricity as a business process.

"The second part is really crucial as it's important a business has a cadence on how to proceed, and a path to follow that makes sense for the business. Being customer centric is a major business objective, while digital
transformation is a process for achieving this objective."

He will also be facilitating a workshop on customer centricity and digital transformation.

Speaking on this, he said, "I want the workshop to be very hands on. I really want attendees to openly discuss the practical customer experience and digital challenges they may be facing, you'd be surprised how common these issues are. It's always helpful having new perspectives or fresh eyes on issues. The best workshops address everyday business issues, real nuts and bolts stuff. I'll also prepare a few items myself.

Touching on the current economic climate, both globally and more specifically in Southeast Asia, he said, "We are certainly living in interesting times, for some, they are very challenging and others very opportune times. We have experienced so much flux recently both in our stressed economic and political systems along with shifting global capital and shifting balances of power.

Asia Forum to engage local businesses with current themes "Digital has certainly been a huge enabler which has accelerated and amplified the rate of change.

This flux represents major opportunities regionally as global brands look for new markets, established market sectors reshape and new models form," he said.

"It is really a combination of these issues that create this perfect storm we are currently experiencing.

"We are seeing digitally nimble challengers and startups go head-to-head and win against established and well resourced blue-chip brands.

When we view this state of change from the lens of digital enablers, we start to see the enormous opportunity that exists within Southeast Asia and in particular, regional opportunities driven by digital.

This is supported by what many have observed as the Chinese Century and without a doubt, Southeast Asia is in an enviable position to take advantage of the momentum of change."

Asked on what he feels is the most important quality a business leader should have, he answered, "I guess if I am to identify just a single quality of great leadership it would be to facilitate and not dictate.

Command and Control is not productive or that tenable in today's workplace.

"Successful leadership today understands the importance of teams self-aligning their goals with business goals and ensuring teams have the tools, processes, and support to drive individual, team, and ultimately business success.

Then learn to celebrate those successes as the teams, not yours. Lastly, don't forget to elicit and process team feedback to improve your blindside, we all have them."

Adding on, Tim recounted how he spent five years in China working with some of the largest brands there.

"A common theme was advanced digital behaviour of the Chinese netizens - they simply embraced all things digital," he said. "The Chinese Government is now shifting gears and moving away from an economy based upon manufacturer towards one based upon innovation.

Digital is a key engine that the Chinese Government is embracing to drive innovation for them and we are now seeing a new era for Chinese digital businesses as they emerge onto the global platform.

"My point is that digital IQ and innovation are profoundly intertwined and as a business today your focus must include raising the digital IQ of your teams from the top down and
ensuring your business processes are capable of taking advantage of the digital opportunities in what will become a very long Chinese Century" he added.

He also underlined that the mobile phone has levelled the playing field and opened up Asia as a new beachhead. He added, however, that this is a two-way door and established global brands are already coming through this door to capitalise on opportunity.

"Southeast Asian businesses have many unique advantages against global competitors, like our shared languages, regional proximity, and cultural affinities. These local advantages are incredibly important and many foreign enterprises have failed in Asian markets by not understanding this. We need to build and leverage our local strengths within the format of the new global digital models, this is how we innovate and thrive."

Sharing some advice for Brunei's young entrepreneurs and SMEs, he highlighted, "Opportunity today
is at your door right now and in times of transition, such as these, that door is wide open. However this will certainly change as new models bake out new champions and establish new ecosystems, so now's the time to for you to be that champion."

He added, "Selective networking is one of the most powerful forces in business today so come along to Leading Business in Asia Forum and let's share some experience."

The Leading Business in Asia Forum is jointly organised by Asia Inc Forum and Human Capital Group Asia, in partnership with Baiduri Bank and Borneo Bulletin.

The forum is tailored for Brunei companies, and its two-day programme will provide practical answers and effective solutions to the challenges faced by Brunei business leaders in an increasingly complex environment.

The first day will be held in a forum discussion setting, while the second day will see interactive workshops held.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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