Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

27. From GAP Munich to Steinway Zürich: Experiential Retail, Cross-Brand Leadership, and Bridging Global and Local with Piet Kolsch

Sat, 30 May 2026 03:23:39 +0000

"We needed to slow down to keep the identity of the brand." Piet Kolsch is a Swiss-based retail operator and brand transformation leader with 25 years of experience building, opening, and scaling flagship environments across Europe and beyond — from GAP and Esprit to Apple, Tally Weijl, Benetton, Patagonia, and Steinway.

Piet's journey begins in Munich with GAP's record-breaking flagship opening in 2000, through scaling Esprit's largest global store, opening Apple's Zurich flagship after six months embedded in the recruiting and opening team, directing Tally Weijl's rapid expansion across 450 stores and 5 countries (€360M revenues), leading Benetton's entire European network of 1,400 points of sale across 14 markets and 3,000 people, running Patagonia's Munich flagship operations as the brand donated itself to the planet, and most recently managing seven Musik Hug/Steinway locations in Switzerland — where a single product takes a year to build and the customer relationship spans generations.

In this episode:

𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 — why Piet always joins 6 months before opening, and what "the company investing in me" really means
𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 — how stores went from product density to brand experience, and what Apple and Steinway teach us about that shift
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟲𝟬/𝟰𝟬 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹-𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 — 60% non-negotiable brand process, 40% local adaptation maximum, and why the story never changes
𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 — a German-French visual merchandising case study that reveals how culture shapes execution, not just communication
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 — the silence vs. directness dynamic, and how to set a stage where both cultures can contribute without forcing either to change
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 — less product, more event, more after-sale service, and why customers now want to feel the brand before they buy it
𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 — why Piet reads CVs after interviews, and what he is actually watching for in the room

For cross-border operators, retail leaders, and anyone who has had to make a global brand feel genuinely local — this episode is a masterclass in the craft of brand stewardship at scale.

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about our Leadership Insights.

If the topics discussed resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners to set up a consultation.

Produced by Bonjour Podcast (Melanie Hong), Leaders in Motion blends storytelling, strategy, and data-driven insight, giving today’s leaders a roadmap to anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and lead with intention.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

26. From Queens to Paris: Storytelling, Branding, and Cultural Humility in a World of AI Translation with Lory Martinez

Fri, 22 May 2026 16:03:40 +0000

“One Spanish listen…is equal to at least 10 listens because people listen with their friends.” Lory Martinez, Colombian-American brand strategist and founder of Maraviya in Paris, has spent the last two decades building multilingual story ecosystems—then translating that operating system into brand strategy for cross-border founders.

Lory's journey runs from early radio journalism and engineering in upstate New York (at the moment audio first moved online) to a global communications pivot in France, to founding Studio Ochenta—an award-winning multilingual podcast company that scaled to 25+ languages and 100+ shows—before building Maravilla to help immigrant and first-generation founders tell the truth of their identity without losing themselves in the messaging.

In this episode:

𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲 — why cross-cultural teams require “I don’t know—teach me” as an operating stance
𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 — why “just giving the files” fails, and how to bridge HQ/local misalignment
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 — why “hyper-niche” groups can outperform mass targeting
𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 — how to decide who converts first, then tailor the same product to multiple audiences
𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗥𝗟 — why translation tech can help, but human-to-human experience is what people buy
𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 — leadership lessons from remote production, and what “giving time back” changes inside teams

If you lead across borders—or you’re building a brand that has to feel authentic in more than one culture—this conversation will sharpen how you think about language, audience, and the human side of strategy.

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletterto get access to exclusive insights and all the details about our Leadership Insights.

To Contact Lory:

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

25. From Naval Officer to AI Architect: CEO-Led Transformation, and Hiring for the Vibe-Code Era with Ian Hogg

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:32:00 +0000

"We could see the SaaS apocalypse coming five years before it came."

Ian Hogg is Chairman of SolvedBy.ai and ShopWorks. He partners with SaaS leadership teams to embed practical, vertical AI engines into their products — not generic copilots, but AI built for specific operational contexts like workforce scheduling, demand forecasting, and labour efficiency. For any executive navigating software vendor decisions in an AI-first world, Ian offers one of the sharpest ground-level frameworks available.

In this episode:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗦 𝗔𝗽𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘆𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 — Three buckets: simple SaaS already dead, complex SaaS racing to re-engineer, and AI-first SaaS coming for both
𝗥𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝘁 — What AI-first re-engineering actually looks like inside a running SaaS business, bolt by bolt
𝗖𝗘𝗢-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗜 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Why a CEO who rebuilt the company website over a weekend using Claude Code changed the culture of a 100-person business faster than any strategy deck
𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 — Why "cautious and conservative" is now an organizational liability — and how top-down AI leadership breaks through it
𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗘𝗿𝗮 — The application-build test every new hire at SolvedBy.ai must pass — including marketing
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗘𝗢𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗦 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀 — Red flags, QBR questions, and what a real AI roadmap from your supplier should look like right now
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲-𝗣𝗲𝗿-𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 — Running a 19-person global operation and why humans still need to get on a plane to Denmark
𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖-𝗦𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽? — The one board-level question that separates companies that will survive from those that won't

For CEOs, board members, and transformation leaders navigating software vendor decisions and internal AI adoption — this episode gives you the framework and the diagnostic questions to act before the apocalypse reaches your stack.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

24. Fixing Your Sales System: ICP Execution Gaps, Qualification Discipline, and Revenue Coaching with Romka Walkowiak

Fri, 08 May 2026 09:03:54 +0000

"The truth is that if the sales system that supports go-to-market is broken, the go-to-market strategy is not going to work."

Romka, Managing Director of GrowWise Solutions, she helps founders and CEOs architect their revenue engines for maximum year-over-year growth. Based in Singapore, Romka works across SME, mid-market, and enterprise organizations — and consistently sees the same blind spot at every level.

As head of GrowWise Solutions, Romka has built a practice around diagnosing and rebuilding sales execution systems — moving organizations from spray-and-pray selling to structured, evidence-based revenue growth. The work spans ICP operationalization, pipeline discipline, CRM visibility, and frontline coaching.

In this episode:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗧𝗠 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵 — Why most revenue problems are execution failures, not strategy failures
𝗜𝗖𝗣 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀 — The difference between having an ICP on paper and operationalizing it in the field
𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 — Why targeting one contact per account is a red flag (average buying decisions involve 9 people)
𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 — Qualifying deals out is as important as qualifying them in
𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 — How ICP clarity eliminates discount-driven conversations
𝗖𝗥𝗠 & 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 — Using hard data to find winning patterns instead of relying on gut
𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 — Why "what gets inspected gets respected" defines frontline behavior
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 — Why structure and creativity are not mutually exclusive in sales

Essential listening for founders, CEOs, CROs, and sales leaders who suspect their revenue engine needs more than a strategy refresh — and want a practical system to fix it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

23. From Dubai to Shanghai: Leading Through Volatility with Sonia Benjelloun Carpentier

Fri, 01 May 2026 07:51:53 +0000

“You cannot know China until you live in China.” Sonia Benjelloun-Carpentier, Managing Director of Piaget China, has spent two decades across hard luxury—from Tag Heuer to De Beers, Cartier, Bulgari, and now Piaget—leading brands through complex markets where culture, consumer psychology, and timing decide everything.

Sonia’s career arc is a study in mobility and reinvention: born and raised in Morocco, trained in Paris, early marketing foundation at L’Oréal, then a jump into watchmaking and jewelry in Dubai. From there she built retail and high-jewelry depth in London and Paris, returned to the Middle East to lead marketing and communications, then stepped into full P&L leadership—first as Managing Director for Middle East, India and Africa, and since 2022 as MD for mainland China, arriving at the height of uncertainty.

In this episode:

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 — why moving early builds cultural agility that compounds for life
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 — leading in markets where meaning sits between the lines
𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 vs 𝗨𝗞 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝗹𝘁 — how “close” markets can still work very differently
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗗 — the left-brain / right-brain shift, and the non‑negotiable link between brand and sales
𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 — why the deal often closes after the meeting, not in it
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 — COVID, reopening whiplash, real estate shock, and confidence cycles
𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 — Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and how one brand speaks to all
𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 — what surprised her about China, and what “having women at the table” looks like in practice

If you lead a business across borders—or you’re trying to translate a market’s real dynamics back to headquarters—this conversation is a practical guide to operating with humility, speed, and clarity.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

22. From Dot-Com Disruption to AI Utility: Cybersecurity Shifts, Rural TB Screening, and The Happiness Index with Karthik Tirupathi

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:21:11 +0000

“AI will become like internet. Everyone in every business will have to use AI just like the way we use electricity or we use water. It will become a utility.” Karthik Tirupathi, CEO and senior board executive in Healthcare IT, shares an operator’s view on how leaders can navigate disruption across markets and technology cycles.

Karthik’s journey runs from early enterprise tech (including SAP and HP) to a decade as an entrepreneur building an education business preparing IT talent for Japan, to leading a healthcare software platform company through cybersecurity shocks and the early AI wave. Today, he works in board and advisory roles tied to AI-driven public health initiatives, with a focus on last-mile access.

In this episode:

𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝘀 𝗔 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 — Why Karthik believes the hype and fear cycles eventually normalize into operational necessity.
𝗗𝗼𝘁-𝗖𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 — How the internet boom separated “PowerPoint + homepage” businesses from real value creation.
𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝗫 — How post-COVID threat surfaces reshaped product and enterprise security expectations.
𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗩𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 — Why leaders must keep “eyes on the horizon” and build ongoing evaluation capability.
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗮𝘀 — How data access disadvantages smaller countries and parts of the global south in AI adoption.
𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 — Portable X-ray + cloud + AI workflows that bring respiratory screening to rural communities.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅 — A talent-first system that reduced leadership attrition and strengthened internal promotion.
𝗨𝗽𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁-𝗚𝗲𝗻 — Why breadth and soft skills now differentiate early-career talent.

This episode is for cross-border leaders, APAC executives, and board-level operators who want an on-the-ground view of how tech disruption reshapes decision rights, talent strategy, and healthcare access.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

21. From France to China’s Industrial Engine Room: Manufacturing Turnarounds, HQ–Local Friction, and Competing on Speed with Laurent Scarato

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:10:21 +0000

“China is a fast train — and if you step off, you risk becoming obsolete.” Laurent Scarato, a French manufacturing executive who has spent nearly two decades building and transforming industrial operations across China, on why long-term relevance in industry increasingly depends on how quickly you can learn, adapt, and execute in the world’s most demanding operating environment.

Laurent’s path is unusually grounded in the factory reality: starting out far from the usual expat circuit in Shandong, taking roles he felt “undersized” for, leading equipment transfers from France to China, and then becoming the first employee on the ground for a greenfield factory build in Suzhou — which he scaled and led for 14 years. He later navigated a major acquisition to move a business from purely mechanical manufacturing into electromechanical capability, and led a factory relocation near Ningbo to access a stronger talent pool.

In this episode:

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 “𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴”: choosing to stay, learn the language, and operate inside the system
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲: what it takes to build a factory from scratch and grow it over a decade
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁: integrating a local business and upgrading capabilities without forcing a rigid “Western” model
𝗛𝗤–𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: why legacy assumptions, slow decision cycles, and “we’ve always done it this way” break down in China
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸: the operating principles Laurent believes are non-negotiable to compete — and why “cheap” is often a misunderstanding of value
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: reconnecting with roots in France, then choosing to return to China after realizing where the future-facing momentum is

If you lead manufacturing, run China operations, or sit between global HQ logic and local execution reality, this conversation is a candid look at what long-term industrial leadership in China actually demands.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

20. From Belgium to APAC’s Operations Frontline: Scaling Execution, PMO Transformation, and Payments & Fraud with Yvan Gilliard

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:54:35 +0000

“Execution is where most change programs die.” Yvan Gilliard, a transformation and operations leader who has spent 17 years building (and rebuilding) the systems that make large organizations run, on what separates strategy-on-paper from operational change that actually survives contact with reality.

Yvan’s career is a rare blend of consulting rigor and operator instincts: starting in supply chain and strategy at Deloitte, then running 24/7 service logistics in Europe, stepping into corporate PMO and integration work, and later moving to the US to help scale e-commerce logistics at speed. At Radial, Yvan led high-pressure growth and transformation efforts, including opening multiple distribution centers, onboarding dozens of new brands, and later rebuilding a payments and fraud business by leaning into expertise, asking “why” relentlessly, and sharpening the value proposition.

In this episode:

Trust as a career accelerator: why senior sponsorship and “character” often matter more than a perfect resume
Scaling under pressure: opening 3 distribution centers and onboarding ~30 brands in 6 months, with minimal resources
Turning tribal knowledge into playbooks: how to document expertise without triggering “you’re replacing me” defensiveness
What it takes to build an enterprise PMO: unifying tools, standards, and leadership alignment across silos
Payments and fraud as a strategic asset: why history, pattern recognition, and clear positioning still win in an AI era
APAC reality checks: why scaling in Asia is different, and how to choose the right first market “one bite at a time”
Leadership shifts in the next generation: rewards, expectations, work-life balance, and what “trust the process” means now

If you lead transformation, run operations, or sit between strategy and execution, this conversation will sharpen how you think about scaling teams, systems, and trust across markets.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

19. From Europe to Asia: Luxury Turnarounds, Cross-Cultural Leadership, and Making Clarity from Complexity with Francesco Pesci

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:30:21 +0000

“Leadership is making clarity out of complexity.” Francesco Pesci, a luxury executive with 30+ years of experience across Italy, France, Denmark, and Japan, joins Kevin Hong to unpack what it takes to lead across cultures, turn around heritage brands, and build organizations that can win internationally without forcing one leadership style everywhere.

Francesco’s career spans Brioni (including its acquisition by Kering), Damiani Japan, CEO roles driving transformation and profitability, and leading Danish heritage house Georg Jensen through a digital acceleration during the pandemic. Most recently, he served as Managing Director at Lancel in Paris. Across these roles, one message stays consistent: global leadership is not about having the “right” playbook. It is about adaptation, trust, and execution.

In this episode:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟯 pivotal career transitions that shaped Francesco’s leadership: early immersion in Japan, the leap from sales into a CEO role, and the cultural reset of leading in Scandinavia
𝗪𝗵𝘆 sales experience can create stronger CEOs: learning the customer, but also learning how the full organization works end-to-end
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 across cultures: how hierarchy, transparency, and feedback norms vary widely by country
𝗛𝗼𝘄 to get real feedback from teams: and why the “right” forum for pushback differs by culture
𝗧𝗵𝗲 HQ vs local challenge: why global teams resist complexity, and what leaders can do to build alignment without forcing uniformity
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 in luxury today: credibility, pricing discipline, internal culture, and why brands must be consistent inside and out
𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 advice for future leaders: adaptability, in-person networks, and patience in an industry that looks glamorous but demands serious craft

If you lead across borders, manage teams across cultures, or want a clearer view of what global leadership looks like in real life, this conversation is a practical masterclass in how experienced executives think, decide, and adapt.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

18. Building Trust and Performance in China’s Factories, Dr. Guido Maune, Managing Director Maersk

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:57:05 +0000

“China is not difficult to understand — it is difficult to lead in if you try to run it on titles and slide decks instead of trust, relationships, and speed.” — Dr. Guido Maune, Managing Director of Maersk Container Industry in Qingdao, on why Western companies keep misreading China: not because the market is “hard,” but because relationships, speed, and customer-first execution matter more than titles, playbooks, or product perfection.

In this episode:

• 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: trust in China is built through relationships, not just competence, credentials, or org charts

• 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: from copying to improving to leading in areas like battery tech, AI, and manufacturing execution — and what Europe gets wrong about “how that happened”

• 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘃𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀: why “best engineering” can still lose if you miss the features customers actually value (and how this shows up in automotive)

• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: why “de-risking” to Vietnam or elsewhere often fails without supplier density, and why China’s infrastructure still changes the cost-quality equation

• 𝗛𝗤–𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: the paradox of directness, why bad news gets suppressed, and practical tactics to communicate hard truths with facts, humor, and solutions

• 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: lowering power distance, getting “hands dirty,” building psychological safety, and creating a culture where people speak up

• 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝘀: why many Chinese companies will accept 2–4 years of losses to win a market, and why European firms struggle with that patience model

• 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: why the best local leaders leave slow-moving Western orgs, and what HQ must change (cadence, visits, response time, decision rights) to keep them

If you lead across borders, manage China operations, or sit between HQ intent and local execution, this conversation will sharpen how you think about trust, speed, and leadership culture in China.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

17. From Italy to China’s Auto Frontline: EV Acceleration, Consumer Experience Shifts, and Bridging HQ vs Local with Pierluigi Visotti

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:30:00 +0000

“China is not just the biggest auto market. It is where the industry’s pace, consumer expectations, and innovation frontier are being reset.”

In this episode of Leaders in Motion, Kevin Hong sits down with Pierluigi Visotti, Managing Director and Founder of Ulysses, to unpack what China’s automotive acceleration means for Western OEMs, and what cross-border leadership really requires when the market moves faster than headquarters can process.

Pierluigi shares his journey from Italy to nearly a decade in China, the early misconceptions he had to unlearn, and the on-the-ground signals many global teams missed, even while being present in-market.

In this episode:

• Why China’s EV rise became a true turning point, and what it did (and did not) solve for profitability

• The real reason Western OEMs missed the shift: culture, attention, and disconnected HQ–China operating models

• What “new generation” consumers actually want: experience, digital continuity, and a car that behaves more like a device than a machine

• Why copying China will not work, and why the only sustainable response is innovation rooted in local consumer truth

• The leadership model that scales across borders: mixing teams, rotating talent, and building real decision flow between HQ and region

• Luxury auto’s durable edge, and the new pressure coming from “premium at an affordable price” players

If you lead across regions, build in China, or compete with China-driven innovation at home, this conversation will sharpen how you think about speed, strategy, and operating reality.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

16. From McKinsey to Luxury CEO: Scaling Brands in China, Hiring for Agility, and Bridging HQ vs Local with Jenny Lai

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:15:00 +0000

“𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁.” Jenny Lai, President & CEO for Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau at Bluebell Group, a platform that helps luxury and lifestyle brands enter, scale, and perform across Asia, on the most persistent misunderstanding global HQ teams bring into the China luxury conversation — and why “China” is never one consumer, one city, or one playbook.

Jenny’s career arc is unusually “full-stack”: from strategy (McKinsey) to building Michael Kors Greater China from the earliest days, to senior leadership at Louis Vuitton and Versace, and now managing a multi-brand portfolio across categories. The throughline is not glamour. It’s operating speed, decision rights, and the hard work of translating global brand intent into local execution.

In this episode:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗤–𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: not “tension,” but alignment on brand direction plus autonomy, resources, and trust to execute locally
𝗪𝗵𝘆 “𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮” 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: sub-economies, cultural variance, and execution realities that don’t travel well from a slide deck
𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱: easy to understand in theory, difficult to act on if your “last visit” was 12–24 months ago
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: experience-driven luxury, niche fragrance, “daily luxuries,” and why big brands may return differently than the 10–15 year growth era
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄: not technical skills — character: resilience, agility, and the appetite to build in a market that no longer guarantees easy growth
𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀: why the path differs by category, and why “digital-native” strength still has to meet offline execution and brand building in-market

If you lead a brand across borders, manage APAC growth, or sit between global intent and local realities, this conversation will sharpen how you think about market nuance, talent, and operating speed.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

15. Chinese New Year in China Teams: Operations, Relationships, and Trust

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:49:59 +0000

In this solo episode, Kevin Hong shares key insights on why Chinese New Year creates so much friction inside international companies — and what strong China leaders do differently.

CNY is not just “seven days off.” Operational work slows down. But relationship work accelerates. That gap is where most HQ misunderstandings start: HQ either keeps pushing (and mistakes responses for consent), or goes completely dark (and signals absence in a relationship-driven moment).

Kevin breaks down three practical insights that most global teams miss: availability is not the same as safety, operations can pause while relationships must stay active, and the right approach is planned, personal outreach — warm, specific, and non-transactional — followed by a prepared re-entry plan when work resumes.

If you lead across China and HQ, manage partners in China, or want to build trust without burning out your team, this episode will give you a clear way to handle CNY without damaging the relationships that actually make the business run.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

14. From Coder to CEO: AI Startups, Cross-Generational Leadership, and Building in Asia with Sega Cheng

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

"I just want to build a company like Google. That was very naive. But that was my passion."

Google engineer turned founder Sega Cheng on what happens when you leave the Valley to build an AI startup in Asia — and why the hardest part of the journey was not learning new skills but unlearning the DNA of deterministic code to lead with probabilistic uncertainty.

Based in Taiwan, Sega spent six years at Google (Mountain View and Taiwan) working on Android before co-founding iKala in 2012. Fourteen years later, iKala serves over 1,000 enterprises across Asia-Pacific with AI adoption platforms and operates Kolr, the world's largest influencer marketing platform with data on 300 million creators. From cloud infrastructure to AI-powered marketing, Sega has navigated multiple pivots, five funding rounds, and the reality that building a team in Asia with Silicon Valley speed requires finding traits most education systems do not cultivate: adaptability, bottom-up initiative, and tolerance for shipping imperfect products.

In this episode:

Why the Valley-Asia gap is not about technology, but about digital transformation readiness — and how that gap created iKala's first business model
The hidden cost of technical founder → CEO transition: from writing code to allocating resources, from deterministic logic to probabilistic leadership
How to hire for adaptability in top-down cultures: why CVs are now useless, what open questions reveal, and why Sega listens more than he talks in interviews

If you are a technical founder navigating the shift to CEO, building teams across Asia-Pacific markets, or trying to balance Silicon Valley speed with local talent realities, this conversation will reshape how you think about leadership, hiring, and what it takes to scale a startup when systems break at borders.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

13. Sales Hiring in Startups: Environment, Mindset, and Trust

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:10:12 +0000

In this solo episode, Kevin hong share key insights from our executive webinar on sales hiring in founder-led businesses, featuring Yining Wang (serial entrepreneur who took a company public in two years) and Christian Schneider (CEO of File AI, a Series B enterprise SaaS company).

Their experiences reveal three critical insights that most founders miss: the environment mismatch between established companies and startups, the mindset that actually predicts success over credentials, and the trust problem that prevents founders from scaling through delegation.

I focus on the hiring decisions that separate founder-led businesses that scale from those that stall—and what it takes to identify sales entrepreneurs, not just sales operators, in uncertain environments.

If you're a founder struggling to make your first sales hire work, or if you're building a team in a high-growth environment, this episode will give you the clarity and framework you need to hire differently.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

12. From India to Global Markets: AI, Cultural Context, and Marketing's Human Bridge with Kaveri Roy

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 14:59:00 +0000

"AI can mimic our voice, but it cannot capture our vision."

Burson WPP senior director Kaveri Roy on what happens when marketing agencies navigate the collision of artificial intelligence, cultural nuance, and global storytelling — and why "localization" is no longer about translation, but about co-creating with context to build campaigns that resonate across India, APAC, and beyond.

Based in Mumbai, Kaveri has spent 15 years at the intersection of marketing, communications, and cross-cultural strategy. From early content roles to planning and digital leadership at Fleishman Hillard and Economist Impact, she has helped both global brands and regional players navigate the realities of Asia's diverse markets: the cultural elasticity required to contextualize campaigns, the friction between Western frameworks and local meaning, and the hard truth that what works in Brooklyn rarely works as-is in Bangalore.

In this episode:

Why cultural context is not a data set: how AI's Western bias shows up in tone, metaphor, and what "success" looks like
The hidden cost of copy-paste campaigns: why Nike's "Just Do It" works in the West but P&G's "Thank You Mom" resonates deeper in collective cultures
What ESG means across regions: in Europe it's regulation, in India it's inclusive growth, in Southeast Asia it's resilience and adaptation
How to bridge HQ and regional teams: contextualize, don't just translate — and why co-creation with local teams is non-negotiable
India's shift from creative back office to pilot market: the role of agility, cultural intelligence, and language fluency in shaping global campaigns
Leadership in the age of AI: why intuition is not magic — it's curiosity, mental stillness, diverse feedback, and pattern recognition that machines cannot replicate

If you work across global and regional markets, lead brand strategy in culturally diverse ecosystems, or want a clearer lens on why AI cannot replace the human bridge of culture, this conversation will reshape how you think about marketing in a world that moves faster than planning cycles.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

11. From China to the World: Brand Excellence, Agility, and Going Global with Ye Han

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:35:20 +0000

“In China, three-month-old insight can already be outdated.”

Kantar advisory partner Ye Han on what brand strategy really looks like when the market moves faster than your planning cycles — and why “brand excellence” is no longer a marketing function, but a company-wide operating system that links strategy, product, experience, and people.

Based in Beijing, Ye Han has spent two decades helping both international and Chinese companies navigate the realities of China’s consumer ecosystem: the speed of innovation, the friction between China and HQ decision cycles, and the hard trade-offs between agility and long-term brand equity. She also shares what she’s seeing as Chinese champions move outward — from product-first expansion to building global brand management systems.

In this episode:

Why China forces a different definition of agility (and what “18 months vs 4 months” means in practice)
The hidden cost of moving fast without strategy: how companies become copyable when brand equity is missing
What “brand excellence” means now: consistent experience across touchpoints, employees, and corporate strategy
How to reduce HQ–China friction: principles stay global, relevance goes local
Chinese companies going global: the mistake of buying awareness without building meaning + linkage to category

If you work across China and global HQ, lead brand or strategy in fast-changing markets, or want a clearer lens on why transformation fails when systems cannot keep up with reality, this conversation will recalibrate how you think.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

10. From Japan to Greater China to Australia: Cultural Agility and Omnichannel with Loïc Réthore

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 02:52:39 +0000

“Online? Offline? They cannot be separate — consumers don’t care where they buy.”

Omnichannel operator Loïc Réthore on why most transformations fail when they start with tech instead of vision, people, and governance—and how strong operating discipline stops channels from competing with each other and starts protecting margin and customer experience.

From building brands across APAC (Japan, Greater China, Australia) in senior roles spanning Jurlique, Dyson, DFS, L’Oréal, LVMH, and Unilever, Loïc shares what actually travels across markets: cultural agility (“read the air”), active listening, and leaders who combine high skill with low ego.

In this episode:

Why omnichannel is a vision + governance problem before it is a platform problem
The pricing and promo calendar discipline that prevents channels from undercutting each other
Travel retail vs domestic: keeping the story consistent while changing store design and execution
Centralized vs localized models: how category and product reality determine the operating design
Mobility and cultural agility: why international careers still require curiosity, EQ, and real-market immersion

If you lead across markets, manage channel conflict, or want a cleaner playbook for building resilient growth in volatile regions, this one will sharpen your instincts.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

9. Global-to-Local Leadership: Building Icons, Earning Autonomy, and Career Compounding with Guilhem Souche

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 13:21:40 +0000

Autonomy isn’t independence — you earn freedom by serving the brand.” Luxury beauty leader Guilhem Souche on why the best global-to-local leaders win trust by delivering results and protecting the Maison—and why product-first localization beats “one-size-fits-all” every time.

From launching Lancôme Absolue and Génifique, to leading across Asia in roles spanning L’Oréal, LVMH (Dior), and Coty, Guilhem shares what actually travels across markets: a simple filter for every plan—good for sales, good for image, brings something new.

In this episode:

The global⇄local filter that simplifies decision-making: sales, image, novelty
Why product-first localization (textures, tones, routines) moves the needle before media or pricing
The bridge leader’s job: educate HQ early, align on a common language, and build two-way ownershi

If you lead across HQ and markets, build brands in fast-moving regions, or want a clearer playbook for turning local wins into global adoption, this one will sharpen your instincts.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

8. From Hype to Practice: How Leaders Actually Implement AI

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

In this short solo episode, I unpack practical lessons from real AI implementation work drawn from our September 2025 executive webinar, “AI Implementation: Governance, Strategy, and Practical Applications.”

Building on cases from executive search, manufacturing, retail, and regulated markets, I focus on three pillars of effective AI adoption today: human‑centered AI applications, disciplined implementation frameworks, and governance as a genuine competitive advantage rather than a box‑ticking exercise.

I share what actually works inside organizations: how to segment workflows, start with narrow use cases that deliver visible ROI, redesign KPIs, and put people at the center of AI transformation so that technology augments rather than replaces human work.

If you are leading AI projects, responsible for digital transformation, or positioning yourself as an executive in the AI era, this episode will give you clear lenses, concrete examples, and sharper questions to guide how you build and lead AI initiatives in your own organization.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

7. Beyond China: Unlocking Asia Pacific’s True Beauty Potential.

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 15:00:08 +0000

In this short solo episode, I unpack practical lessons from a July 2025 executive webinar I co‑hosted with Cosmoprof Asia on “Beyond China: Unlocking Asia Pacific’s True Beauty Potential.”

Drawing on insights from leaders across analytics, retail, and brand strategy, I break down three critical dimensions of APAC growth today: treating China as a deliberate strategic choice (not an assumption), building real localization capabilities across Southeast Asia, India, and other key markets, and designing resilient, multi‑year investment strategies that align headquarters expectations with on‑the‑ground reality.

I focus on what this means for brand leaders and APAC executives making hard calls about where to double down, how to localise, and what kind of leadership and teams it actually takes to win in the region’s most competitive markets.

If you are shaping APAC strategy, leading a regional business, or managing your own next leadership move in this region, this episode will give you clear lenses, concrete questions, and a more realistic roadmap for choosing where — and how — you can truly win.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

6. 30 Years, Three Markets: Impact, Trust, and Career Compounding with Javier Calvar

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:41:43 +0000

"Trust happens when expertise meets warmth." Ipsos leader Javier Calvar on why curiosity, determination, and empathy build careers that last—and why impact beats activity every time.

From London to Shanghai during the WTO boom, then back to London, and now leading in Hong Kong, Javier breaks down 30 years of staying with companies long enough to compound results. He reveals the framework that's guided every move: serve clients first, grow teams second, let revenue follow. We explore the mistakes that taught him most—like the taxi ride moment when he forgot to celebrate a win—and why timing, visibility, and building equity matter more than politics when senior roles open up. Javier also gets real about leading through VUCA markets, reinventing relevance post-COVID, and why Asia's agility gives it an edge the West struggles to match.

In this episode:

The three traits that compound careers: curiosity, determination, empathy
Why impact beats activity: clients, teams, then revenue follows naturally
The trust equation: credibility + warmth = the foundation for leading teams
Timing and visibility for promotions without playing politics
The taxi story: why you must celebrate wins before coaching for improvement
Shanghai 2002: riding the WTO boom and the opportunities fast growth creates
VUCA reality: leading through uncertainty, reinvention, and market shifts in Hong Kong
Why Asia adapts faster: agility as cultural DNA vs. Western pace
Greater Bay Area opportunities and staying relevant when markets transform
AI's double-edge: efficiency vs. enhancement, and why human intelligence still wins

If you lead teams across cultures, want to build a career that compounds, or need to navigate uncertainty without losing your center, this one's for you.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

5. From Rainy Motorway to Six Countries: Cultural Intelligence with Justin Sargent

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:33:40 +0000

"You've got to take control of that journey yourself." Former Nielsen APAC President Justin Sargent on why cultural intelligence, career ownership, and human leadership matter more than ever.

A snap decision in a traffic jam became a 25-year journey across six countries. Justin breaks down what he learned leading teams from Sydney to Shanghai, bridging HQ and local markets, and turning relationships, adaptability, and intentional career moves into sustainable performance. We cover the shift from waiting for direction to owning your development, reading cultural cues that others miss, and why vulnerability and openness unlock trust faster than authority ever will.

In this episode:

The motorway moment: how one decision launched an international career
India's "say-do ratio" and the art of bridging global HQ with local brilliance
China's "meeting outside the meeting" and what leaders miss when they don't adapt
Why cultural intelligence is the difference between short-term compliance and long-term results
Career ownership: filling your own gaps instead of waiting to be developed
Leading virtual global teams and getting people excited when you don't manage them directly
Why change and transformation demand cultural intelligence more than the status quo

Justin Sargent, Founder, Justin Sargent Advisory | Author, Beyond Borders, Beyond Belief

If you lead across cultures, manage global teams, or want to own your leadership trajectory, this one's for you.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

4. The Three Pillars of Career Resilience: Insurance, Branding & Strategic Networking

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 10:06:00 +0000

In this solo episode of Leaders in Motion, Kevin Hong breaks down the core framework from the first Global Executive Advantage workshop, featuring insights from three experts: Barry (career insurance), Mélanie (executive branding), and Lei (strategic networking). The result is a practical model for building career resilience in volatile markets.

Kevin explores the three pillars of resilience:

Career Insurance: A disciplined approach to assessing your assets, preparing scenario plans, and reducing concentration risk so you can act in weeks - not months - when conditions shift.
Professional Branding: How to communicate expertise, leadership posture, and values with consistency and intention, so opportunities find you across industries and borders.
Strategic Networking: Moving from passive contact collection to proactive, reciprocal relationships that expand influence and create opportunity long before you need it.

Kevin closes the episode with a one-hour actionable playbook to strengthen your career resilience immediately.

If you're a global executive navigating uncertainty and want a clear path to stay relevant, visible, and adaptable, this episode gives you a framework you can apply today.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

3. From China Expat to Global CTO: Leadership Lessons from Fabien Dumont

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 23:15:00 +0000

“Life is a matter of people.” Autoliv CTO Fabien Dumont on building sustainable performance across cultures, crises, and decades.

From quality manager in France to global CTO via a transformational China tour, Fabien breaks down how relationships, execution, and long‑horizon bets compound. We cover the shift from short wins to durable results, aligning with HQ without losing local relevance, and the decisions that only pay off years later.

In this episode:

Turning China’s speed into global advantage
“Feed, feed, feed” HQ: cadence, transparency, and trust
Saying no, focus, and the career math behind tough calls
How to reverse knowledge transfer and scale best practices worldwide
Building teams that outlast market cycles

Fabien Dumont, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Autoliv

If you lead across regions or report to a global HQ, this one’s for you.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

2. APAC Leadership Management: Managing HQ, Culture, and Visibility

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:30:00 +0000

In this short solo episode, I share key insights from a conversation I led with three senior APAC executives: Andy Wälti (former Head of China & APAC at Clariant), Howard Li (President of LPKF China), and Justin Sargeant (former APAC President at NielsenIQ).

Their experiences highlight three core pillars of effective APAC leadership: managing global HQ expectations, developing cultural agility, and building real global visibility across multinational organisations.

I focus on the signals that matter most today for APAC leaders aiming for stronger global influence, cross-border impact, and readiness for international executive roles.

If these themes resonate with your own leadership journey, this episode will give you the clarity and direction you need to move forward.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

1. From Banks to Payments: Career Agility and Leadership in China with Greg Au-Yeung, Head of China at Ingenico

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 23:15:00 +0000

“China owns the supply chain - from a toaster to a rocket engine.” Greg Au Yeung, Managing Director and Head of China at Ingenico, joins Leaders in Motion to unpack how to lead through transformation in the world’s fastest payments market.

From Hong Kong developer to global executive, Greg breaks down how to switch sectors, manage HQ alignment, and lead with clarity amid geopolitics and AI disruption.

We cover why mobility is the ultimate executive edge - across cities, sectors, and skills - and how to build teams that stay relevant in a volatile decade.

In this episode:

Why China became both the lab and factory for payments innovation
Managing HQ risk appetite, compliance, and “bias vs. education”
Building R&D hubs that survive policy swings and market shocks
Mobility as a moat: city, sector, and skill resets across decades
AI’s double edge for leaders, teams, and the next decade of finance

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

If the topics discussed resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners to set up a consultation.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Leaders in Motion - The Podcast of Global Leadership & Executive Careers

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:54:35 +0000

Welcome to Leaders in Motion, the podcast where global executives explore how to lead, adapt, and thrive in the age of transformation.

Hosted by Kevin Hong, Partner at LYC Partners and Co-founder of The Council, this show dives into how leaders navigate disruption, build resilient careers, and balance global strategy with local execution.

In each episode, Kevin sits down with senior executives across industries to uncover real stories of career reinvention, cross-cultural leadership, and AI-driven transformation.

You’ll also hear leadership insights distilling frameworks from leadership webinars and expert panels actionable tools for today’s C-suite and tomorrow’s emerging leaders.

If you’re a global executive or an ambitious leader seeking clarity and strategy for your next move, this show is for you.

----------

🎧 Follow the show now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.
✍️ If the topics resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization—assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners to set up a consultation.

----------

Leaders in Motion is a podcast by LYC Partners, produced by Mélanie Hong, creator and producer of strategic podcasts for leaders and organizations shaping the future. Music credits :

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.