126 - Harnessing AI in Business: An In-depth Discussion with Zoho's Gibu Mathew

Join me in this captivating episode as I dive deep into the remarkable journey of Sunny Saha, the GM of Blue Prism. From his early days in market research to leading Time Warner Asia Pacific and launching the world's first Cartoon Network theme park, Sunny's diverse experience across industries will leave you inspired.   

Discover how he thrived amidst industry transformations driven by technology and his unique approach to embracing diverse perspectives. Whether you're an entrepreneur or simply seeking motivation, this episode is a must-listen to unlock the secrets of success from an extraordinary leader.

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Are you curious about the factors that shape the employee experience and its impact on organizations?   

Join us on this episode where we dive into the fascinating world of employee engagement, management, and the repercussions of poor EX scores.   

Our special guest is Qualtric's Dr. Cecelia Herbert, a renowned organisational psychologist and principal behavioural scientist.

In this episode, Dr. Herbert explains the intricacies of employee experience, sharing valuable knowledge about its definition, key metrics, and its role in driving productivity and team effectiveness.   

Discover the significance of employee engagement as a hero metric, and understand the three crucial components that contribute to a positive employee experience.  

But what happens when employee experience scores stall?   

Dr. Herbert unveils the reasons behind this phenomenon, debunking common misconceptions and shedding light on the true nature of these metrics. 

Is it solely due to the ongoing struggle between remote work and office presence, or are there other underlying factors at play?   

Get ready to uncover the data-driven insights and trends that shape employee experiences, not only in Singapore but globally.  

Join us as we embark on an enlightening journey with Dr. Cecelia Herbert, unravelling the mysteries of employee experience and discovering the strategies for building a thriving and engaged workforce.   

Don't miss out on this thought-provoking conversation that will revolutionize your understanding of employee experience management. 

Learn more about Qualtrics EX Trends study here

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Join me as I chat with Cassandra Ong, a remarkable guest who shares her inspiring journey of starting a business after a layoff. In this captivating episode, we explore the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship.

Discover how Cassandra's experience in a B2B SaaS company fueled her desire to create a consultancy agency - Otterhalf. We delve into the unique world of marketing in the tech industry, where revenue and conversions take centre stage, and explore the innovative concept of fractional marketing.

Learn why fractional marketing brings a new level of expertise and accountability to the table, and how it differs from traditional consulting work. Gain valuable insights from our entrepreneurial mindset and discover the lessons we've learned along the way.

Don't miss this episode as we unveil the untold secrets of fractional marketing and share our personal stories of resilience, growth, and success. Tune in now to gain inspiration for your entrepreneurial journey and to stay ahead in the ever-evolving tech industry.

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In this episode of the Adrian Tan Show, we dive into the growing trend of geo arbitrage with guest, Gabrielle Loh. Gabrielle shares her personal journey with geo arbitrage, the practice of working remotely from countries with a lower cost of living. She provides insights into her experiences living and working in South Korea. Gabrielle is an award-winning International coach, who helps business leaders discover their purpose and build their brand reputation. This episode offers practical advice, covering safety tips, cost implications, and challenges of life overseas.

Time Stamp

00:00 Introduction

00:13 Exploring Geo Arbitrage

01:08 Introducing Guest: Gabriel Low

02:20 Gabriel's Journey to Geo Arbitrage

03:26 Living and Working in South Korea

03:39 Experiences and Challenges in South Korea

06:44 Cost of Living in South Korea

08:46 Benefits and Challenges of Geo Arbitrage

13:20 Advice for Potential Geo Arbitragers

14:30 Returning to Singapore and Future Plans

21:12 Conclusion and Contact Information

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In this episode of the Adrian Tan Show, I speak with Charles H. Ferguson, the APAC GM for Globalization Partners. Inspired by the 2023 Global Growth Report, we discuss the expectations and sentiments in the evolving business landscape. Key findings reveal that Singaporeans aspire to join global companies for better pay, travel, and diversity. Charles emphasises the importance of expanding globally but reminds us that it can mean something other than increasing in size. Listen on as we delve into small businesses' agility, the opportunities emerging markets bring, and the crucial role of talent in these discussions.

Time Stamp

00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Episode

00:16 Discussion on Globalization Partners and Their Report

01:26 Interview with Charles Ferguson from Globalization Partners

01:49 Exploring Reasons Why Singaporeans Aspire to Join Global Companies

02:15 Understanding Singapore's Global Connectivity and Work Culture

03:09 Insights on Multinational Corporations and Their Impact

04:45 Discussion on Benefits and Cultural Diversity in Global Companies

07:07 Exploring the Concept of Job Change Among Singaporeans

14:37 Understanding the Role of Global Presence for Companies

28:30 Challenges and Opportunities for Small Businesses in Global Expansion

46:00 Conclusion and Contact Information

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In this episode of the Adrian Tan Show, we welcome Gibu Matthew, Vice President and GM of Asia Pacific for Zoho Corp. With his 23 years of experience with Zoho, Gibu shares his insights about the growth and evolution of AI. The discussion revolves around 'Zia', an AI agent integrated into Zoho products, the impact of AI on customer care and work efficiency, and Zoho's long-term strategies. The conversation also touches upon the influence of AI on job markets and how Zoho is embracing AI without laying off employees. Towards the end, they delve into Gibu's incredible long-term tenure at Zoho and share valuable advice for job seekers.

Time Stamp

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

01:13 Introduction to Zia and AI in Zoho Products

03:21 Understanding the Breadth of Zoho's Coverage

05:03 Impact of AI on Businesses and Work Efficiency

09:12 Personal Experiences and Use Cases of AI

11:44 Addressing Skepticism and Resistance Towards AI

12:04 The Role of AI in Data Processing and Security

16:56 Advice for Smaller Companies Exploring AI

19:55 Long-Term Career at Zoho: A Personal Journey

21:39 Growth and Diversity of ZOA

21:57 Journey as a Software Developer

22:52 The Culture of Ownership at ZOA

23:20 Learning from Mistakes and Growth

23:54 Competing with the Largest Companies

24:27 The Evolution of the Company and Opportunities

25:14 ZOA as an Employer

25:43 Long-term Perspective and Decision Making at ZOA

27:40 Advice for Job Seekers

29:04 Choosing the Right Industry

33:05 The Impact of AI on Customer Service

37:19 The Future of AI and Work

38:24 Adopting AI in Organizations

41:43 The Overestimation of AI's Impact

43:00 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

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Gavin Barfield is the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Solutions Salesforce, ASEAN. With over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, Gavin has a deep background in emerging technologies. He is a regular speaker at international conferences and forums on the future of disruptive technology and its impact on people and work.

Summary:

Generative AI is a rapidly evolving technology that has the potential to transform the workplace. In a recent survey by Salesforce, it was found that Singaporean workers believe generative AI is key to career advancement, but many have anxieties about keeping up. Gavin Barfield, the Vice President and CTO for Solutions Salesforce, ASEAN, discusses the findings of the survey and the potential for generative AI to transform the workplace. He explains how businesses can enable and empower their workforce with AI training and how organizations can support employees in embracing and adapting to generative AI. Gavin also highlights the importance of trust and ethics in implementing generative AI and the need for companies to have defined policies and training programs in place.

Key Takeaways:

• Generative AI is not just about making predictions based on historic data; it is about generating new content such as images, text, videos, and sounds.
• Generative AI can be applied across various areas of work, including sales, service, marketing, and HR.
• Companies that embrace generative AI and provide training are more attractive to employees and can potentially lead to salary increments and promotions.
• Lack of training and defined policies are barriers to using AI more effectively in the workplace.
• Trust and ethics are crucial in implementing generative AI, and companies need to ensure data security and integrity.
• Salesforce's Einstein Copilot is a tool that helps automate tasks and provides suggestions and guidance to users, increasing productivity and efficiency.

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Learn how General Assembly  is providing proven pathways into high-demand tech careers through project-based, practitioner-led training programs. 

Ryan Meyer shares insights on why their 3-month immersive bootcamps have 92%+ job placement rates, how they rapidly evolve curriculum, and key trends in adult learning and workforce development. Discover their "magic formula" of aligning individual, employer and government needs through skills training.  

🕛 Time stamps 

00:00 Introduction
01:27 Overview of General Assembly's training programs
03:37 Getting people job-ready quickly
05:28 Using practitioner instructors
07:35 Contrast with lengthy university degrees
10:40 Adapting training for speed of tech change
13:23 AI changing education formats
15:18 Motivation and doing key to learning
17:37 Applying AI internally
19:20 Ryan's career journey
24:10 Evolving curriculum based on job placements
26:28 Role of talented instructors
29:10 Ideal mix of remote vs in-person
32:25 Choosing training programs in Singapore
35:15 Designing government sponsored programs
38:10 Engaging shorter attention spans
40:20 Using AI tools responsibly
43:30 Predictions on future of education
48:20 Training linked to competitive advantage
51:20 Finding hidden talent in organizations
53:10 Conclusion and where to learn more

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Grayling has announced that it will pilot a reduced work week in its Singapore office from August till the end of the year. In doing so, it becomes the first globally networked PR firm in Singapore to attempt to raise productivity by improving employee well-being and satisfaction.

The trial will see employees who have served for more than a year take Friday afternoons off, allowing them to enjoy a longer weekend while maintaining the same level of productivity and efficiency. A core team will be on standby to manage urgent client requests.

Danny Tan and Shirley Kettler from Grayling came onto the show to share their experience on this pilot.

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Renee Ismail is a videographer turned producer who has been in the video industry for over 10 years. She started her YouTube channel to share her knowledge about videos and help business owners create better video content.

In this episode, I speak with Renee Ismail about her journey as a videographer, her pivot to becoming a producer, and her experience of starting a YouTube channel to share her expertise. 

We also discuss the challenges of being a YouTuber in Singapore, the importance of authenticity and consistency in creating content, and Renee's hiatus from YouTube due to burnout. 

Renee shares her new strategy for creating YouTube content, including batch creating and dividing processes into days, which can be useful for those struggling with burnout and overwhelm. 

Shownotes:

• Renee YouTube Channel
• Renee Website
• Feetri Rahim YouTube Channel
• Jamie Lim YouTube Channel 

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• 💌 Weekly newsletter
• 🌍 Website/blog
• 🤝 LinkedIn
• 📺 YouTube