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This podcast has
210 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Insignia Ventures PartnersExplicit
No
Date created
2020/04/06
Latest episode
2026/04/14
Average duration
22 min.
Release period
14 days
Description
Singapore and Southeast Asia's longest running VC podcast! Previous guests include Dianping founder Zhang Tao, Nobel Laureate in economics Michael Spence, MUFG APAC Chief of Staff and Mars Growth founder Osamu Abe, Kaszek Ventures and MercadoLibre founder Hernan Kazah, Endeavor Catalyst managing partner Allen Taylor, monashees founding partner Eric Acher, Tao of Alibaba author and Alibaba Global Initiatives’ Brian Wong, JETRO Director General of Innovation Takeo Nakajima, Ard Financial Group executive chairman Ganhuyag, Appier founder Chih Han Yu, and Carro founder Aaron Tan.
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Why you should take stablecoins seriously with Coinbase Singapore Country Director Hassan Ahmed
2026/04/14
This special episode, recorded live at the Insignia Ventures Partners office at the Singapore Exchange Centre in Singapore with VP of Strategic Development and Operations Allen Chng, explores a question that feels increasingly urgent: if money is becoming more digitally-native, what happens to the systems built for an earlier era?
Drawing on Hassan Ahmed’s experience across traditional finance, fintech, and now Coinbase Singapore, the conversation unpacks why stablecoins are gaining traction, why Singapore matters in that shift, and where new opportunities may emerge for builders and investors.
Transcript
Timestamps
(02:15) Three Generations of Money
(05:47) Stablecoins and Wall Street
(11:10) The Role of Singapore for Coinbase in Asia
(15:11) Agent Payments and Coinbase's X402
(19:01) Builder Risks and Stablecoin Rules
(22:56) Future of Payments: Agentic Commerce, Local Stablecoins
(26:28) Unbanked to Unbrokered: The Next Big Fintech Innovation Wave
(28:37) Outlook for Builders and Investors
About our guest
Hassan Ahmed is the CEO and Country Director for Coinbase Singapore. Based in Singapore, he leads Coinbase’s operations and strategy in the Southeast Asia region, focusing on expanding the platform’s presence, fostering partnerships, and supporting the local developer ecosystem. Before joining Coinbase, Hassan served as CEO of Coins.ph, a major crypto brokerage in the Philippines, and Head of Strategy for GoPay in Indonesia under GoTo Group. He also held roles in New York, including at eToro USA as Director of Finance & Operations, Venmo as the Head of Business Operations, and Merrill Lynch as the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. Hassan holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updatesThe content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
The right way to bridge fintechs and banks with Standard Chartered Head of Fintech, Asia Luke Boland
2026/03/12
Luke Boland shares insights from his journey spanning over 15 years in banking, from managing merchant relationships during the early days of contactless payments in Australia to building Standard Chartered's FinTech client coverage across Asia. In this conversation, he discusses the evolution of bank-fintech relationships, the bank's approach to supporting both global players and homegrown innovators like StraitsX and Finmo, the role of stablecoins in bridging traditional finance and digital innovation, and practical advice for FinTech founders on building strong partnerships with financial institutions.
About our Guest
Luke Boland is the Executive Director and Head of Fintech for ASEAN, South Asia, and GCNA (Greater China and North Asia) at Standard Chartered Bank, based in Singapore. In this role, he leads the Corporate & Investment Banking initiatives within Banks & Broker Dealers, focusing on expanding Standard Chartered's FinTech client coverage across Asia and the bank's global network.
Boland joined Standard Chartered in March 2020 as Director of FinTech, and was promoted to his current executive director role in January 2024. His career spans over 15 years in banking, with a strong focus on transactional banking, cash management, and payments. Prior to Standard Chartered, he spent over a decade at National Australia Bank (NAB), where he held various leadership positions across Singapore and Melbourne, including Director of Transactional and Trade Asia and Associate Director of Transactional Banking Asia.
Boland's early career included a role as Business Relations Manager at Merchantlink, a merchant acquiring business, where he developed deep expertise in card acceptance and payments infrastructure. He holds a Bachelor of Business in International Business (Applied) from RMIT University in Melbourne.
Throughout his tenure at Standard Chartered, Boland has been instrumental in fostering partnerships with leading fintechs in the region, including Xfers (now StraitsX), Finmo, and Atome. He has been at the forefront of the bank's digital asset strategy, supporting the integration of stablecoin infrastructure and blockchain technology into traditional banking services. Under his leadership, Standard Chartered has positioned itself as an active participant in Asia's evolving FinTech ecosystem, supporting both global players and homegrown innovators.
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
Why AI native companies can't chase features and what they should focus on instead with Diaflow CEO and co-founder Jonathan Pham
2026/03/05
In the crowded landscape of AI workflow automation, Diaflow has carved out a distinctive position by prioritizing what enterprise customers care about most: security, compliance, and trust. After years of building custom enterprise software and witnessing firsthand how traditional automation failed to deliver on its promises, founder Jonathan Viet Pham and his co-founders launched Diaflow in September 2023 with a different approach—an AI-native platform that's both powerful and accessible without coding expertise.
The results surprised even the founding team: within weeks, the platform ranked number one on Product Hunt and attracted over 10,000 users, with unexpected traction in the competitive US market. In this conversation, Viet discusses how Diaflow differentiates through enterprise-grade compliance standards, the evolution toward a hybrid pricing model, the company's community-first strategy including free university access, and how Insignia Ventures Partners' seed investment is accelerating both technological innovation and global expansion into Southeast Asia and beyond.
About Our Guest
Jonathan Viet Pham is the Founder and CEO of Diaflow, an AI-native workflow automation platform that enables businesses to deploy powerful AI agents without extensive coding knowledge. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jonathan brings a unique blend of finance and technology expertise to his role. His family developed Vietnam's first dictionary, which was sold to Apple in 2014, instilling in him an early appreciation for product development. After studying finance at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland, Viet founded his first global startup in 2017, expanding it to five countries before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pivot.
From 2020 to 2023, Jonathan served as Managing Partner at Devtify Technologies, where he led digital transformation consultancy and implementation for over 50 global clients across the Financial Services Industry and Digital Retail sectors in the US and Vietnam. His client portfolio included major brands such as TheFaceShop Vietnam, BeautyBox, Reebok Vietnam, and Techcombank, achieving seven-figure annual revenue. He also founded Artcific, a digital platform connecting artists and galleries that attracted 20,000 daily visitors, and co-founded Calioo Technologies, an online marketplace for bakeries and eateries in Hong Kong.
In September 2023, Jonathan co-founded Diaflow with his long-time collaborators Lai Pham (Co-founder and CTO) and Anh Doan (Co-founder and CISO), a team that has worked together for over seven years. Under his leadership, Diaflow has achieved significant milestones including ranking number one on Product Hunt, attracting over 10,000 users globally, and securing full compliance with HIPAA Type II, SOC 2 Type I, and GDPR standards. The company raised a seed round led by Insignia Ventures Partners in 2025, positioning it for continued global expansion and technological innovation in the AI workflow automation space.
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
Ganhuyag Chuluun Hutagt, Ard Financial Group Executive Chairman, on Building Mongolia's Investor Nation
2026/02/06
Ganhuyag Chuluun Hutagt shares stories and insights from his journey of over 30 years, from his first job at the Mongolian Stock Exchange at age 18 to becoming a pivotal figure in the country’s financial and technological evolution. As a founder of key institutions like XacBank and Ard Financial Group, he has been a relentless champion for financial inclusion and innovation.
In this episode, he discusses his vision for transforming Mongolia into a leading "investor nation," the challenges and opportunities presented by Mongolia’s geography, and his ambitious plans to leverage tokenization, AI, and renewable energy to secure Mongolia's place on the global stage.
A great conversation to learn from for decision makers looking for inspiration on driving market development.
Transcript
About our Guest
Mr. Ganhuyag Chuluun Hutagt is a highly successful and innovative banking executive, entrepreneur, and a champion for financial inclusion. As the CEO and founder of Ard Financial Group, Mr. Hutagt serves as chairman of Ard Holdings' various subsidiaries, including Ard Credit, Ard Insurance, and Ard Securities. Under his leadership, Ard Holdings became the second-largest company on the Mongolian Stock Exchange.
With 30 years in the banking and microfinance industry, Mr. Hutagt has an extensive and distinguished career. He is the founder of XacBank, which was named one of the top 100 global microfinance institutions by Forbes Magazine. He has served as an advisor to the President and Prime Minister of Mongolia and is a founding member of the Mongolia Economic Forum. He also served as the country's Vice-Minister of Finance.
Mr. Hutagt has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Alumni of his alma mater, Corvinus University of Budapest. His work has been featured in The Economist, The Atlantic, The Financial Times, and the New York Times. He was also selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2009.
He lives in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with his wife and children.
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
Osamu Abe, MUFG Chief of Staff for Asia Pacific, on venture investing for banks and institutions
2026/01/08
Osamu Abe shares stories and insights from his career of nearly 30 years at MUFG from investment banking to taking an executive education on Sand Hill Road, later on setting up MUFG's first international CVC fund then MUFG's first spin out growth debt and equity funds (Mars Growth Capital and Mars Equity), and finally continuing to work with startups as Chief of Staff for Asia Pacific.
Timestamps
(01:15) Intro to startups and venture;
(03:43) How Japanese corporates have evolved in their approach to venture investment globally;
(10:44) How MUFG spun out Mars Growth Capital and Equity, and Abe-san’s views on the real value of venture debt;
(20:36) Abe-san’s views on the impact of the Japan Southeast Asia corridor on adoption of emerging technologies;
(23:40) Advice for founders on working with Japanese corporates;
(26:36) Advice on developing corporate governance for startups;
(29:39) What Abe-san has learned from leading and managing several venture funds through the years;
(32:42) Rapid Fire Round;
About Mr. Osamu Abe
Mr. Osamu Abe was appointed Chief of Staff for Asia Pacific for MUFG Bank in May 2025. Based in Singapore, he is responsible for managing the safety and soundness of the bank’s branch operations — which include risk, compliance, and regulatory matters — across 17 markets in South-east Asia, East Asia (including China), South Asia (including India) and Oceania.
Prior to the current appointment, Mr. Abe was CEO and board member of Mars Equity M.C. Pte. Ltd. where he oversaw the launch of investment activity at the $500-million growth equity fund based in Singapore. He also served as the board member of Mars Growth Capital, a startup debt fund with total commitment of $1 billion. Mr. Abe will continue to serve on the Boards of the two entities.
Mr. Abe has over 28 years of extensive experience in corporate & investment banking through senior postings across MUFG’s global network. When he relocated to Singapore in 2023, Mr. Abe was appointed Managing Director and Deputy Head of Global Corporate & Investment Banking (GCIB) for Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for managing MUFG’s global corporate client portfolio and oversaw all governance and control aspects of this business across the region.
Prior to that, he was the Managing Director of the Bank’s GCIB Planning Division in Tokyo, a position he held since 2019. He was a senior member of MUFG Americas’ GCIB Planning Division in New York in 2017 where he supported the implementation of the region’s strategic plan and drove key initiatives. Mr. Abe also held roles with the Human Resources Office and Global Planning Division’s Strategic Planning department in Tokyo, and Global Credit Liaison.
He began his career in 1997 with the then Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi’s Nihonbashi Corporate Banking Office, followed by his first overseas assignment in 2001 with the European Business Division in London.
Mr. Abe holds a Master of Science in Business from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and Bachelor of Law from Tokyo University.
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
Robert Subbaraman, Nomura Global Head of Macro Research, on Japan's return to the investor spotlight
2025/12/16
Fresh from the Japan SEA Market Forum last November, we managed to have a quick chat with Robert Subbaraman, Managing Director and Global Head of Macro Research on Nomura, about the rest of the world's views on the Japan opportunity, especially in AI, their role in an increasingly multipolar world, and how the Japan "revival" ties to the Southeast Asia's growth story.
About Robert Subbaraman
Rob Subbaraman joined Nomura in October 2008 and is Chief Economist and Head of Global Markets Research for Asia ex-Japan. He manages a team of 20 economists and strategists, who forecast Asia's economies and make market trade recommendations. Beyond analyzing the economic cycle, the team prides itself on its collaborative, thematic research. Rob chairs the Asia ex-Japan research exec committee, and is on Nomura exec committees for Global Markets Research and Global Emerging Markets.
Prior to joining Nomura, Rob was at Lehman Brothers for 12 years and was Chief Economist, Asia ex-Japan. Rob is based in Singapore and has spent the last 18 years in Asia, including living in Hong Kong and Tokyo. He has a central banking background, having worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia in the Economic Analysis Department for seven years prior to joining Lehman Brothers.
Timestamps
(00:37) What Makes Japan Exciting Again;
(03:07) Japan's Role in the Global AI Supply Chain;
(05:25) TechnoNationalism and its Implications;
(07:42) A Macro View of the Southeast Asia Private Market Opportunity;
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
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The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
From Japan's public markets to a Singapore venture capital firm with Rei Murakami (Insignia Ventures Academy Cohort 3 Alum, Kadan Capital Founding Partner)
2025/12/10
After several years working at Mistubishi and then for her family office foundation investing in the public markets, Rei Murakami found a new goal while she was working out of Singapore: to get into venture capital investing. She joined our Certificate in Venture Capital for its third cohort in 2022 and a year later founded Kadan Capital, an early stage venture firm investing in fintech and AI startups across Asia.
She goes on call to share her journey from Japan to Singapore, from the public markets to venture capital, and going from Insignia Ventures Academy's 12 week program to setting up Kadan Capital.
Rei also hosts Kadan's podcast True Founders Stories
Timestamps
(00:30) Introducing Rei and her journey from Japan to Singapore;
(02:00) Why Rei became interested in venture capital;
(02:59) Rei's Insignia Ventures Academy experience;
(05:39) Starting Kadan Capital with a focus on fintech and AI in Southeast Asia;
(09:18) Rei's value-add as an investor;
(11:00) Rei's views on the Japan-Southeast Asia cross-border venture activity and investing in Japan;
(14:12) Advice for founders on expanding to Japan;
(16:03) Rei's views on exits in Southeast Asia;
(18:38) Learnings on being a venture capitalist;
(20:07) Make or break moment in Rei's career;
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
How Akhil Nigam, Finmo CPO and co-founder, is Redefining Treasury Management with AI and Strategic Partnerships | Call 199
2025/12/03
Finmo CPO and co-founder Akhil Nigam joins Paulo for a chat live from the 10th Singapore Fintech Festival 2025 to talk about Finmo's journey creating a truly connected intelligence platform for finance teams and treasury management able to serve businesses from SMEs to larger multi-market enterprises. A lot of it has to do with Akhil's partnership-first approach to product development. This interview was recorded live at the Finmo booth in Singapore Fintech Festival 2025.
Timestamps
(00:04) How Akhil became co-founder and CPO of Finmo;
(02:39) Why Finmo started out with money movement;
(05:15) The evolving needs of CFOs and finance teams;
(08:49) The role of stakeholder partnerships in product development;
(13:37) Finmo's journey with leveraging AI;
(18:23) How does AI help with Finmo's vision for treasury management;
(21:23) How Finmo's product developments over the past year have strengthened its competitive advantages;
(25:01) Managing product and partnerships priorities across multiple markets;
(28:22) The next ten years of treasury management;
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
What it takes to drive AI agent adoption for SMEs in Southeast Asia with Fluid CEO Trasy Lou Walsh
2025/12/01
Live from Singapore Fintech Festival, we sat down with Fluid CEO and co-founder Trasy Lou Walsh on the future of B2B payments and finance they are building with AI agents on their platform.
This interview was recorded live at Media Lounge in Singapore Fintech Festival 2025.
Timestamps
(00:00) Catching up with Trasy on Fluid since our last call in 2024;
(02:52) Understanding the automation needs for SME payments from a process perspective;
(04:26) Use cases for AI agents in the B2B payments flow;
(06:28) Learnings from driving AI agent adoption for SMEs so far;
(07:43) Biggest challenge so far driving AI agent adoption for SMEs;
(09:49) Competitive advantage for Fluid with its development of an AI agent stack;
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
The real reason Japan is investing in Southeast Asia innovation with Takeo Nakajima
2025/11/21
15% of the total trade volume of Japan with the world comes from Southeast Asia, the country's third largest trading bloc. More than 15,000 Japanese firms are active in the region. Cash-rich Japanese firms looking to scale up growth globally. Local governments are looking for innovative solutions to societal issues like depopulation.
We discuss these drivers for cross-border innovation and more with Takeo Nakajima, Director General of Innovation at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
This interview was recorded live in Singapore from the Japan SEA Market Forum 2025 hosted by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Nikkei Asia, and JETRO.
Timestamps
(00:25) Japan’s Layered Trade and Innovation Relationship with Southeast Asia;
(03:36) Innovation Opportunities for Southeast Asia and Japanese Innovation;
(06:42) Message to Founders Looking to Build Cross-Border Innovation Between Japan and Southeast Asia;
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
Tonik's Greg Krasnov gets the tea on IPOs from Tokyo Stock Exchange APAC Deputy Head Beomsu Son
2025/11/13
We brought together Philippine digital bank Tonik CEO and founder Greg Krasnov and Tokyo Stock Exchange APAC Deputy Head and IPO Specialist Beomsu Son for a conversation on the Philippines digital banking opportunity (from a Japan POV), opening up Japan's public markets to more issuers internationally, the first Philippine company in TSE's Asia Startup Hub, and the value of going public in Asia's deepest liquidity pool.
Timestamps
(00:08) Not Beomsu's first time in the Philippines;
(00:50) Introducing Tonik and the Philippines;
(01:54) Japan Public Markets going global;
(03:38) A Philippine Digital Bank's View of the Japan Public Markets;
(04:54) Southeast Asia's Impact on the Japan Public Market Playbook;
(06:18) Leveraging Tokyo Stock Exchange's Asia Startup Hub;
(07:48) Making the Most out of Going Public in Japan;
(09:29) What Makes Digital Banking in the Philippines exciting;
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
POPMART Head of Southeast Asia & Middle East Jeremy Lee faces spicy questions on AI, IP Protection, Blind Box Questions and more
2025/10/30
POPMART Head of Southeast Asia & Middle East Jeremy Lee hops on a quick but jam packed conversation with On Call host Paulo on the role of Southeast Asia in POPMART's Global Business, the opportunities for creators and storytellers in the age of generative AI and new innovations in IP protection, and his learnings on leadership across several years leading regional business development for consumer brands.
This On Call with Insignia episode is part of a series featuring speakers from the NOVA 2025: SG60 Edition event co-hosted by Smobler, the New York Stock Exchange, Gemini, Nifty Gateway Studio, and Skadden.
Timestamps
(00:28) Role of Southeast Asia in POPMART's Global Business;
(01:33) Role of Role of Singapore and Southeast Asia for Consumer Brand Creation;
(02:51) Learnings on IP Protection and IP Innovation for Brands;
(04:40) Thoughts on AI and Future of Storytelling;
(06:41) GTM Learnings from Southeast Asia;
(07:58) Blind Box Leadership Questions;
About Jeremy Lee
Jeremy Lee is Head of Southeast Asia & Middle East for POPMART. Prior to POPMART, he held regional sales and business development leadership roles across consumer brands, from the Lego Group to J&J. He has also been handpicked across these roles to be a leading Diversity & Inclusion advocate, co-creating a psychological safe space to enable team members to bring the best versions of themselves to the workplace.
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
The Boons and Banes of Tomorrow's Storytelling Technology with Smobler CEO and founder Dr Loretta Chen
2025/10/29
Dr Loretta Chen, PhD, a mulitihyphenate figure in the media, education, publishing, performing arts & cultural scene for over two decades, hops on a quick but jam packed conversation with On Call host Paulo on the future of storytelling, finding its value in leadership, and sifting through the noise to tell stories that matter.
This On Call with Insignia episode is part of a series featuring speakers from the NOVA 2025: SG60 Edition event co-hosted by Smobler, the New York Stock Exchange, Gemini, Nifty Gateway Studio, and Skadden.
Timestamps
(00:18) Significance of SG60 for Loretta;
(01:38) Power of Storytelling in Leadership;
(03:43) Evolution of Storytelling for Leaders;
(05:57) Role of Technology in Storytelling;
(06:57) Emerging Technologies for Storytelling;
(09:24) Future of Storytelling;
(10:45) Advice on Storytelling for Leaders;
(11:51) Blind Leadership Questions;
(14:00) Epilogue: What is Smobler?;
About Loretta
A multifaceted and influential figure in the media, education, publishing, performing arts & cultural scene for over two decades, Dr Chen was the People's Choice for Nominated Member of Parliament and has been the International Consultant to the Kingdom of Bhutan since 2011. She is a passionate advocate for social equity - challenging the status quo through artistic, literary and entrepreneurial avenues.
When the Metaverse came into play, Dr Chen envisioned a unique opportunity to shape social narratives with technology. Through her latest venture, Smobler, Dr Chen aims to create a Metaverse for Good to drive positive change, promote inclusivity and leverage emerging technologies to empower and inspire audiences across the globe. Dr Chen is part of the AWS Women Founders Program, UBS Project Female Founder, a Top 100 WoWomen of the Future, Forbes and Asia’s Most Inspiring.
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
Wall Street Going Global with NYSE Head of International Markets Cassandra Seier | NOVA SG60 Ep 2
2025/10/27
NYSE Head of International Markets Cassandra Seier hops on a quick but jam packed conversation with On Call host Paulo on Singapore and Southeast Asia public market opportunities going global, the ways NYSE is diversifying capital access for issuers and investors, globalization of venture exits, and more.
This On Call with Insignia episode is part of a series featuring speakers from the NOVA 2025: SG60 Edition event co-hosted by Smobler, the New York Stock Exchange, Gemini, Nifty Gateway Studio, and Skadden.
Timestamps
(00:38) Singapore and Southeast Asia Public Market Opportunities Going Global;
(02:32) Diversifying Capital Access for Issuers and Investors;
(03:48) Globalization of Venture Exits;
(05:41) Enriching the Public Markets Playbook;
(07:35) Public Markets as Innovation Bellwether;
(08:25) Why you should engage with exchanges early;
(13:00) Blind Leadership Questions;About Cassandra SeierCassandra Seier is the Head of International Capital Markets for NYSE Group, a part of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE).
Cassandra is responsible for attracting new listings from companies around the world, including Asia, Canada, EMEA and Latin America. She advises private companies, private equity and venture capital firms, investment bankers and others on the IPO landscape, NYSE initiatives and listing venue selection.
Prior to joining the NYSE, Cassandra spent more than 24 years at Goldman Sachs, where she most recently served as a Managing Director focusing on futures and OTC clearing. During her time at Goldman, Seier worked in the bank’s offices in Singapore, New York and London.
Cassandra earned a BA in Finance with a minor in Economics from the University of Oregon. She has been a CFA charterholder since 2004. Seier is President and CEO of Women in Financial Markets (WIFM), a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect, elevate, and advance female leaders in the financial industry.
Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
Stablecoins Going Global with StraitsX Head of Commercial Jason Tay
2025/10/13
StraitsX Head of Commercial Jason Tay hops on a quick but jam packed conversation with On Call host Paulo on the ways stablecoins are becoming more global, more accessible, and more integral to payment experiences, not just for Web3 wallet holders but more importantly for companies like StraitsX, your chicken rice aunties (among hundreds of thousands other SMEs and more traditional businesses globally).
This On Call with Insignia episode is part of a series featuring speakers from the NOVA 2025: SG60 Edition event co-hosted by Smobler, the New York Stock Exchange, Gemini, Nifty Gateway Studio, and Skadden.
Timestamps
(00:28) Stablecoins Going Global;
(02:02) Technology is Experience;
(04:41) Bringing Web3 to Chicken Rice Aunties;
(07:44) Blind Leadership Questions;
About Jason Tay
Jason Tay is a digital assets and fintech professional and thought leader whose career started in corporate investment banking at JP Morgan and SGCIB. In 2019, he joined MDAQ and later became the Head of Business Development and Government Relations. In 2024, he joined StraitsX as their Head of Commercial, leading the firm's P&L and Revenue generating functions, overseeing Marketing, Onboarding and Strategy business units, as well as launching new chain partnerships and go-to-market strategies for wider adoption of the companies' web3 payment infrastructure.
About StraitsX
StraitsX is the stablecoin-native settlement layer driving global finance, and a Major Payment Institution licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. As the issuer of XUSD and XSGD stablecoins, StraitsX leverages the power of blockchain and stablecoin technology to drive payments interoperability while offering innovative tools for fund management, stablecoin integration, and cross-border transactions. Partnering with leading financial institutions, global liquidity providers, and payment technology partners, StraitsX delivers cutting-edge payment solutions in a highly regulated and reliable environment, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the digital economy. StraitsX is part of Fazz Financial Group, a leading ecosystem of financial services in Southeast Asia.
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Directed by Paulo Joquiño
Produced by Paulo Joquiño
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
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