C. Foo James is an Adjunct Professor with the National University of Singapore and the Founder of Financial Storytelling. He has dedicated his life to helping non-financial people understand the power of financial statements in a simple, easy, and fun way.
With years of experience as a former regional finance head of a US Fortune 500 company, James is an expert in his field, but what sets him apart is his love for storytelling. By weaving together engaging narratives with complex financial concepts, James is able to make finance come wonderfully alive for his learners. His upcoming book, "Financial Storytelling: Once Upon a Balance Sheet," is poised to revolutionize the way we think about finance. By emphasizing the power of financial analysis as a storytelling tool, James shows us that financial statements are not just numbers and figures but a window into a business's strength, performance, and health.
Walter de Oude, a visionary business leader, has consistently redefined the financial landscape by driving extraordinary business growth and innovation. As the founder of Singapore Life (Singlife), he scaled the company to a remarkable valuation of S$3.2 billion by 2020, transforming it into a major player in the financial sector within just six years. Now, with Chocolate Finance, Walter is spearheading a new era in spare cash savings, offering a bold alternative to traditional fixed deposits that delivers superior returns without rigid constraints. Through his leadership at Chocolate Ventures, he continues to fuel high-growth businesses, inviting investors to co-invest in promising ventures where his expertise generates substantial value. Walter’s track record of building impactful, forward-thinking companies is reshaping how businesses grow, setting new benchmarks for financial success and customer-centric innovation.
His reputation as a distinguished thought leader and business achiever has been forged from his 25+ years leading global initiatives across multiple verticals including Luxury, Hospitality, Automotive, Retail, Financial, Consulting and Healthcare sectors. He is known as an expert in delivering innovative, digital, and integrated marketing solutions and strategies that not only streamline processes but drive dramatic business growth in highly competitive international markets.
Based in Singapore, Harsh is the Founding Partner of Capital Code, a bespoke investment management firm specializing in the food and agribusiness value chain. His team’s unique edge comes from their extensive AgriFood industry knowledge, M&A and corporate finance experience, and a network with significant involvement. Harsh boasts a robust background in global M&A, investment, and business development, having successfully managed over 30 M&A transactions, investments, and strategic projects across regions such as SEA, India, the Black Sea, ANZ, the US, and Africa. His previous roles span management consulting, investment banking, and corporate M&A at firms like McKinsey, Macquarie, Olam, and Rippledot. With 20 years of experience, Harsh has cultivated deep expertise and strong relationships with strategic partners, business leaders, founders, investors, and advisers in the AgriFood and Natural Climate Solutions sectors.
Amit Agrawal is a Pragmatic, Customer-focused, Result Oriented, data-driven, and regulatory-driven transformation leader. Brings a well-rounded experience with business-minded strategic thinking complemented by strong technical acumen and excellent analytical skills. Hands-on with a strong sense of accountability and team spirit and always willing to roll up the sleeves and go the extra mile. Led by Investment banking over 20 years of investment banking corporate finance experience encompassing the financial services advisory spectrum Amit has been sharing his knowledge and experience with gen-next as guest faculty, entrepreneurship mentor, and panel judge to a few business schools and journal contributions (FMS, MDI, SRM, FORE, FIIB, IILM, Jaipuria, etc.) M&A advisory, Transaction structuring, Restructurings, Family Business Advisory Capital Raising (Angel/ Seed/ VC/ PE), Debt Syndication advisory (INR/ ECB), Business Plan Advisory, Strategic Advisory, and Valuations Funds and Value unlock advisory Advising across Indian, the US, Middle East, and Asian Markets.
Nishank is a financial expert with over 22 years of experience in investment banking and wealth management. His expertise spans emerging market structured loans, leveraged finance, principal finance, real estate, asset finance, distressed debt trading, derivatives, commercial banking loans, and various forms of lombard loans. He has worked with corporates, banks, non-bank financial institutions, insurance companies, sovereigns, SPVs, funds, hedge funds, and private equity sponsors. Nishank has successfully initiated new lending initiatives and established best practices in risk analysis, forecasting models, early warning tools, MIS, and stress testing. He specializes in risk evaluation, devising hedging strategies, drafting risk policies, financial modeling, equity valuation, and developing rating models for structured credit transactions. His strategic risk management approach supports the growth of wealth management businesses.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a distinguished social entrepreneur and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, revolutionized the BFSI sector by founding the Grameen Bank and introducing groundbreaking concepts of microcredit and microfinance. His strategic vision in utilizing microcredit for economic and social development earned him global acclaim and the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Recognized with the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, Dr. Yunus is also ranked #2 on Foreign Policy magazine's 'Top 100 Global Thinkers.' Beyond his impactful contributions, he advocates for business strategy evolution through social businesses and corporate social procurement partnerships. Dr. Yunus believes organizations can drive positive impact by integrating social responsibility into their supply chains, emphasizing the transformative potential of strategic collaborations for societal benefit.
Anju Patwardhan is a distinguished figure in global finance, renowned as a Fintech Venture Capital (VC) investor, board director, and former banking executive. Over two decades, she held pivotal roles at Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank, shaping the financial landscape from Singapore to Silicon Valley. Serving as an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) on boards in the US, the UK, Europe, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand since 2011, Anju's impact spans continents. A Stanford alumna with a Fulbright Fellowship, she brings a rich tapestry of experience. Anju is a sought-after speaker on Fintech, Venture Capital, and topics like Longevity and Financial Well-being. Leveraging her background managing a $1 billion Fintech VC Fund, Anju provides strategic advisory services, offering unique insights into digital strategy, transformation, and BigTech considerations. With expertise in digital banking, risk management, and operations, Anju Patwardhan is a pioneering force shaping the future of finance globally.
Jeremy, a two-time Olympian, has excelled in both bobsleigh and rugby, achieving world titles in surf lifesaving post-retirement. As a corporate professional including roles at SwissRe, Goldman Sachs, and Artesian Venture Partners and a two-time Olympian, Jeremy shares stories of determination and perseverance from set backs to success. They will inspire and entertain. He encourages people to look at their own lives, realize and follow their dreams .. and do a bobsleigh ride at one time in your life! Jeremy’s talk will leave you empowered, inspired, motivated and also equipped to take action on your own life journey. Recognized as one of Australia's Top 100 professionals in 2020, Jeremy received the Best Health & Wellness Leader (Asia) 2021 award.
Cyrus Daruwala serves as the Managing Director at IDC Financial Insights, overseeing initiatives encompassing both operational stability and strategic innovation within financial institutions. Cyrus and his teams focus on all aspects of "run the firm" or "change the firm." With a two-decade-long career dedicated to this sector, he and his teams delve into diverse realms such as legacy transformation, hybrid cloud adoption, analytics, and fintech integration. Mr. Daruwala's expertise lies in aiding financial entities to navigate complex challenges, from assessing operational hurdles to expanding their consumer base. Prior to his role at IDC Financial Insights, he played a pivotal role as a managing partner in a regional research firm, significantly advancing its research and publication domains. His comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and investment landscapes enables him to foster collaborations among institutions, vendors, and government bodies across projects.
Lyndon is the Owner and Director of LGD Strategic Solutions, providing independent management consulting services across the energy, materials, and technology sectors in South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and India. With over 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, including roles as an industry banker and structured finance specialist at ANZ, Lyndon brings a wealth of expertise in strategy formulation, business valuation, M&A, capital raising, risk management, and transfer pricing. He leverages a vast network of contacts, including strategic players, PE funds, banks, and family offices, to deliver tailored solutions for his clients. Passionate about helping businesses navigate complex markets, Lyndon is also a high-energy speaker with a wide range of specialties, including energy, geopolitics, finance, investing, and business strategy. He is open to facilitating seminars, moderating panels, and speaking engagements.
