Up to Speed with UBS

“No one is more than two or three phone calls away: we're gonna get down to the truth,” says Arthur Law, co-founder of Vectr Ventures, in the final episode of season one of our podcast, Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Law shares why you shouldn't become a founder for the Lamborghini, qualities he’s looking for in deals right now, and why you should remember what your mother taught you when pitching to a venture capitalist. 

Focus on changing one person’s life, not the entire world, says Dee Dee Chan, chief investment officer of Park Lane Capital Holdings and director of Seal of Love Charitable Foundation, in the latest episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, she talks about collaborative giving as the future of philanthropy, why there’s a new energy and dynamism in the space, and how we can leverage technology to get more people giving. 

The influencer economy isn’t about influencers anymore, it’s about entrepreneurs, says Juliette Gimenez, co-founder and CEO of fashion and beauty e-commerce platform Goxip and influencer marketing platform RewardSnap, on the tenth episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Gimenez talks about how investors and influencers can make a formidable team, why nothing comes close to their talent for audience acquisition, and why influencers today are more like full-blown entrepreneurs.

It’s not about who will take the reins, but how, says Francesca Chan, a director from the Family Office at UBS, about the science of succession planning on the ninth episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Chan talks about how family businesses can ensure their legacy, why clear rules are key to maintaining harmony during a succession, and how to nurture your future successor without causing a family rift.

Don’t rely on Gen Z stereotypes and big data, but start with empathy, says Jerry Haha, director of Artificial Dust, on the eighth episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Haha talks about building a brand for the right reasons, how Gen Z can detect inauthenticity a mile off and why you should consider employing your community.

Are SPACs here for the long term? Eva Lee, the head of Greater China equities at UBS Global Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Office, answers this in the seventh episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, she talks about the return of these ‘blank cheque’ companies; how they are a founder-driven investment concept—high risk and potentially high return; and where you’re most likely to find the next Tesla. 

NFTs can help us save the world, says Max Song, the founder and CEO of climate tech company Carbonbase, on the sixth episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Song talks about taking NFTs beyond just digital art; incentivising climate action through a new sort of NFT model, preserve-to-earn; and how he’s going about creating a green metaverse.

Healthspan is the new lifespan, says Candice Chan, the co-founder of LifeHub, which delivers personalised, science-backed health services, on the fifth episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Chan shares how we can counteract the stressful 996 lifestyle, why mental health is set to take centre stage in the coming years and what today’s era of self-optimisation and self-personalisation means for investors.

Scalability and the right founding team are key factors to building the next fintech unicorn, says CEO of fintech unicorn Aqumon Kelvin Lei on the fourth episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Lei talks shares the stories behind the scenes of Aqumon’s meteoric success, why there’s a US$59 trillion opportunity sitting in fintech wealth management, and why self-confidence isn’t just about belief, it’s about having a deep understanding of your industry and sector.

“There has never been a bigger opportunity to rethink the way we eat,” says founder and editor-in-chief of Green Queen Media Sonalie Figueiras on the third episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Figueiras explains how Singapore’s forward thinking put the region on the map, the consumer need for localised, regionalised cuisine, and the untapped alternative seafood opportunity. The most exciting part? Asia’s growing appetite for alternative protein: “there's a lot more scope to kind of explore and create, and really take risks,” Figueiras shares.

Although people may make fun of it now– the metaverse won’t be put back in the bottle, says co-founder and CEO of OliveX and creator of the DOSE token Keith Rumjahn on the second episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Keith shares why Web 3.0 isn’t here to take everyone’s lunch; it’s different this time round, why high usage habits from metaverse early adopters is a key trend to watch, and how Asia is spawning a whole new generation of crypto natives. As Rumjahn explains, “what is the metaverse going to create? We don't know yet, and that's why it’s so exciting.”

The sustainable fashion industry is just getting started, and ultimately, it’s a game of standards, says co-founder and CEO of Unspun Walden Lam on the first episode of Up to Speed with UBS. In conversation with Gen.T’s Lee Williamson, Lam shares why brands prefer to talk about banana materials over excess inventory, what’s more sustainable than a kimono (hint: not much) and what will drive fashion’s biggest sustainability successes. As Lam explains, “we need to reduce impact versus everything being part of a marketing campaign.”

Generation T is launching a new podcast, Up to Speed with UBS. Featuring guest experts from Gen.T’s community of young leaders, the show delivers a smart business briefing on an idea or trend shaping Asia’s future. Our promise? Give us 10 minutes and we’ll make you 10 minutes smarter. Gen.T's Lee Williamson explains more.