Panel 1 | State of Private Equity & Beyond
Driven by economic reforms, the rise of entrepreneurship, and increasing foreign investment, the growth of private equity in Asia accelerated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This panel invites founders of pioneering private equity firms from this formative era to share their origin stories, recount impactful successes from their portfolios, and offer insights on navigating future investment landscapes. They will also highlight promising sectors for private equity engagement and conclude with advice for the next generation of leaders eager to enter the private equity space in Asia.
Rebecca Xu is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Asia Alternatives. She is on the Firm’s Investment Committee and co-leads Asia Alternatives’ investments in growth and venture capital funds, focusing most of her time on China investments. Prior to starting Asia Alternatives, she was a Senior Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”), the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group. Ms. Xu holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s in International Relations from the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing, China.
Tatsuo Kawasaki co-founded Unison Capital in 1998. His investment experience ranges from consumer goods, retail, food & beverages, financial services, and electronic parts manufacturing. Prior to founding Unison Capital, he worked at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey and also has experience in a start-up directing IPO. Tatsuo holds a B.A. in Economics from Keio University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Warren Allderige is the CEO and Managing Director of Pacific Harbor Group, a Hong Kong-based fund manager that looks at special situations funds, stressed and distressed debts. He has nearly 40 years of experience in investments and finance, in Europe, Asia, and North America, and over 20 years in Hong Kong. He holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S. from Cornell.
Charles C.Y. Wang is the Tandon Family Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He is a research member of the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) and an associate editor of Management Science and Journal of Accounting Research, two leading management journals. His research and teaching focus on corporate governance and valuation. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics, as well as an M.S. in Statistics, from Stanford University and a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell.
Panel 2 | Synchronizing Asia’s Healthcare Powerhouses
Exacerbated by the aging population, rising incidence of chronic diseases, and increasing cost, the healthcare sector calls for reformation. This panel invites leaders from multiple healthcare sectors to share their views on what the future of healthcare entails through a series of questions. We will uncover what the roles of healthcare players and start-ups will be and how collaboration among them can further drive innovation, improve healthcare access, reduce costs, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes in Asia and beyond.
David Boucher has worked in healthcare for 45 years; he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer at Bumrungrad International Hospital Phuket in Phuket, Thailand. Prior to that, David served as Chief of Service Excellence and Medical Value Travel (MVT) at the corporate level at Dubai-based Aster DM Healthcare. Additionally, he had served in several capacities as an executive of insurance company, BlueCross Blue Shield of South Carolina, and served as CEO at several hospitals in the United States. Mr. Boucher earned his bachelors from Slippery Rock University (Pennsylvania) and a Master of Public Health from the University of South Carolina.
Ms. Yew is a Partner at McKinsey & Company. She has advised life sciences companies and health systems globally across both the U.S. and Asia on accelerating the pace with which novel innovations can reach patients through application of digital and analytics. This has included driving digital transformations of global businesses, evaluating healthtech innovators for investors, building new ventures in digital health and more. Earlier in her career, she helped STEMCELL Technologies orchestrate international marketing strategies and propelled its growth in Asia-Pacific. Ms. Yew holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s in Molecular and Cell Biology from Harvard University.
Ms. Cheng plays a key role at Moderna, where she advances business development efforts, spearhead groundbreaking advancements in mRNA therapeutics, and orchestrate pivotal deals in cancer vaccine programs. Prior to that, she was a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group, where she led Healthcare strategy and due diligence projects for leading biopharma firms in North America. She also served as the co-chair of the HBS Healthcare Alumni Conference. Ms. Cheng holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and is an alumna of the Vagelos Life Sciences & Management Program with a dual degree B.A. in Biology from University of Pennsylvania and a B.Sc. in Finance at The Wharton School. Her life mission is to use her skills to bridge the gap between business and science to accelerate therapies for patients in the future.
Dr. Kwo is the Chief Commercial Officer of Everly Health, a digital health company at the forefront of the $300 billion virtual diagnostics-driven care industry. Dr. Kwo authored “DIGITAL MD: Revolutionizing the Future of Care” and served as Deputy Chief Clinical Officer for Elevance (NYSE: ELV) modernizing care for 43 million Americans in Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial populations. Dr. Kwo has started multiple venture-backed companies and served on multiple boards, such as Walmart (Mexico & Central America). She earned her BA in Human Biology from Stanford University, MD from Harvard Medical School, MBA from Harvard Business School, and an MPH from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Professor Chan is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets Unit at Harvard Business School. Prior to joining academia, Professor Chan has had extensive experience in the healthcare industry starting as a McKinsey consultant, and most recently as Senior Vice President of Market Strategy with Optum/UnitedHealth. Professor Chan holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and an M.P.H. from Harvard University
Panel 3 | State of VC: From Asia to the Bay
Driven by economic reforms, the rise of entrepreneurship, and increasing foreign investment, the growth of venture capital accelerated in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The ascendance of Asian venture capitalists and startups has been instrumental in the global evolution of the venture capital ecosystem, marking Asian VCs as pivotal players for innovation and economic dynamism. Asian VCs have not only fueled the rapid growth of unicorn companies, transforming local markets and sectors ranging from technology to fintech, but they have also played a critical role in nurturing a vibrant startup culture. This synergy between investors and startups has contributed significantly to the global startup and VC landscape, showcasing the region and the culture’s ability to drive technological advancement and economic growth. The impact of Asian venture capitalists and startups extends beyond regional boundaries, influencing the evolution of startup ecosystems and venture capital investment strategies worldwide, and underscoring the global importance entrepreneurial and investment activities.
Eddy Chan is a founding partner of “Indonesia-only” Independent venture capital firm Intudo Ventures with ~US$300 million in committed capital, that supports as the “Indonesia-beachhead” strategy for top tier institutions, 10+ Forbes Midas List investors and family offices in the world (coupled with 35+ hyperlocal Indonesian conglomerates / families). Prior to co-founding Intudo Ventures, Eddy worked on venture investments in startups since the late 1990s, including PayPal, Palantir, and Affirm, founded and operated venture-backed technology companies with operations in Silicon Valley and Asia, practiced corporate/M&A law and worked as an investment banker.
David Yin is a Partner at GSR Ventures, focusing on investments in early-stage fintech, blockchain, consumer, and Southeast Asian companies. Prior to GSR Ventures, David was head of strategy at an AI-powered alternative lending platform and consultant at McKinsey’s startup practice. He is the co-founder of the Southeast Asia Startup Initiative at Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, and MIT. David earned a BA from Yale University, MPA from Harvard University, and MBA from Stanford University
Susli is a Partner at Monk's Hill Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage tech companies, primarily Series A, in Southeast Asia. She is based in Indonesia and is the ESG leader for the firm, responsible for sourcing, analyzing and executing deals, and working closely with portfolio companies. Susli is the first Y Combinator backed female founder from Indonesia. She is also the Co-Founder of ErudiFi, a tech-enabled education financing company in Southeast Asia. Susli received her BA in Economics and Chinese from Yale, MBA from Wharton, and MA in International Development from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Brendon oversees Samsung Next’s investments in early-stage founders building in the technology areas of AI, blockchain, fintech, health tech, infrastructure, media tech and robotics. He has over 20 years experience investing in early-stage technology companies and previously served as a founding general partner of Altos Ventures. Prior to Altos Ventures, he was a strategy and management consultant in the media, consumer and technology industries.
Andy Wu is the Arjun and Minoo Melwani Family Associate Professor of Business Administration in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business School, where he teaches in the MBA and Executive Education programs. He researches, teaches, and advises managers on growth and innovation strategy in the technology industry. He received the HBS Wyss Award, HBS Williams Award, Poets & Quants 40 Under 40, and Penn Prize in recognition of commitment and excellence in teaching and mentoring. His research has been published in the Strategic Management Journal, Strategy Science, Organization Science, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Annals, Harvard Business Review, and other top journals
Fireside Chat | Global Gateways: Cross-Border Business and Regulation
Jason Hsu currently is an Edward Mason Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. From 2016 to 2020 Hsu served as Legislator At-Large in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan (the national parliament) where he focused on defense, technology, trade and foreign policy. Among the crucial legislative bills that he initiated and sponsored include FinTech Regulatory Sandbox Act, Autonomous Vehicles Management Act, Amendment on Anti-Money Laundering Law, Cybersecurity Management Act and Virtual Currency Guidelines (Security Token Offerings), Artificial Intelligence Development Act, Digital Economy Principal Act. Hsu is also prominent advocator for socially progressive legislation. He co-led the effort to pass Same Sex Marriage Act and championed for End-of-Life Dignity Act (Voluntary Euthanasia).
Rana Mitter is ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is the author of several books, including Forgotten Ally: China’s World War II (2013) which won the 2014 RUSI/Duke of Westminster’s Medal for Military Literature, and was named a Book of the Year in the Financial Times and Economist. He has commented regularly on China in media and forums around the world, including at the World Economic Forum at Davos. He previously taught at Oxford, and is a Fellow of the British Academy.
Panel 4 | Buoyance and Uncertainty, Navigating Asia as MNCs
Large-scale multinational corporations (MNCs), with their scale and diversified business interests, have long played a pivotal role in Asia’s economic development. These enterprises have navigated great risks and uncertainties while continuing to evolve to capture growth as they operate in developing markets. This panel invites leaders from different walks of the MNCs scene (operators, investors, and legal advisors) to shed light on the unique opportunities and effective means for large MNCs to adjust to the ever-evolving dynamics in Asia.
Craig S. Smith just began his newest role as Chief Executive Officer for Aimbridge Hospitality. Based in Dallas, Texas, Aimbridge Hospitality is the world’s leading global hospitality management company and a trusted operator of over 80 globally recognized lodging brands and distinctive luxury and lifestyle assets.
Prior to this role, he oversaw the global operations for the fastest-growing division of the world’s largest hospitality company, Marriott International, with specific responsibility for 2,500+ hotels worldwide with $15B+ USD in sales across 136 countries and territories.
The son of a career Ambassador and father of five, Craig has lived in 13 countries and has a deep appreciation for cultural differences across generations and geographies.
Carmen Li is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the financial industry and strategic partnerships. Currently serving as the Head of Global Strategic Alliances at Bloomberg Enterprise Data, Carmen oversees a global team and manages over 900 partners worldwide.
Before joining Bloomberg, Carmen held several senior roles at Citibank. Her last role was as the Global Market Manager for Working Capital Products. Prior to her tenure at Citibank, Carmen was a part of the Strategic Planning Group at American Express. Carmen's career began at DRW, a high-frequency trading firm. Carmen holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She also earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She resides in Westchester, NY with her two daughters and husband.
Dohyun Kim is a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions practice in Skadden’s New York office. She regularly advises public and private companies and PE firms in a wide variety of U.S. and cross-border transactions and corporate matters. She has represented clients across a diverse range of industry groups and sectors. Her past work includes advising SHEIN, Hyundai; and advising various large international companies in acquiring investments in South Korea. Ms. Kim holds a BA from Ewha Womans University and a JD from NYU Law School
Mr. Liang serves as the Director of Research and a Partner at Pleiad Investment Advisors, a $2.5B Asia-based investment management company. Previously, Mr. Liang was an Executive Director and Senior Analyst at Azentus Capital, an ex-Goldman Sachs Principal Strategies hedge fund, based in Hong Kong. During his five years at Azentus Capital, Mr. Liang focused on fundamental long-short equity investments across various Asian and global markets in a variety of sectors. Mr. Liang began his career with J.P. Morgan's Investment Banking Division in Hong Kong as an analyst in the Diversified Industrials and Transportation Group. Mr. Liang graduated with a BA in Economic and International Studies from Yale University and graduated from Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development in 2022.
Michael Lingzhi Li is an Assistant Professor in the Technology and Operations Management unit at HBS. He teaches the first-year TOM course in the required curriculum.
Professor Li’s research focuses on the end-to-end development of decision algorithms based on machine learning, causal inference, and operations research. He examines the implementation of such algorithms in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and public health organizations, and their potential to fundamentally transform healthcare operations. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2022 INFORMS Edelman Finalist, the 2021 INFORMS Pierskalla Award, and the 2021 Innovative Applications in Analytics Award.
Panel 5 | Entrepreneurship: Innovation from Asia to the Globe
​In the dynamic landscape of Asian markets, startups play a crucial role in driving innovation, fostering economic growth, and addressing unique regional challenges. This panel brings together visionary founders of successful startups across Asia, who have navigated the complex terrain of launching and scaling businesses in various sectors. Panelists will share their journey from ideation to execution, the obstacles they have overcome, and the strategies that propelled their ventures to prominence. Attendees will gain insights into the evolving startup ecosystem, including trends in technology adoption, consumer behavior, and location selection. The discussion will also delve into the importance of digital transformation and cross-border partnerships in ensuring long-term success. Concluding with actionable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, this panel aims to inspire the next generation with the tools to thrive in Asia's competitive business environment. Join us to explore the future of entrepreneurship in Asia, where tradition meets innovation, creating unparalleled opportunities for growth and impact.
Sara Jane Ho is the founder of China's first etiquette school, star of her own Daytime Emmy-nominated Netflix show Mind Your Manners, author of a book by the same name, and cofounder of intimate wellness brand Antevorta inspired by traditional Chinese medicine.
Her surprisingly down-to-earth demeanor and genuine passion and gift for helping others transform their lives cemented the success of her feel-good makeover show, and her etiquette book Mind Your Manners carries her deeper, more expansive definition of etiquette to a global audience.
Sara Jane grew up in Hong Kong before moving to the US to attend Phillips Exeter, Georgetown, and Harvard Business School. She divides her time between Shanghai, New York and Los Angeles.
Rachel Leng is COO and Co-Founder of SeiRogai, Inc., a Tokyo-based media technology startup and business consultancy, advertising, film & media production company. Previously, she was Leader of Business Development on the Investment Management team at a Japanese private equity fund, as well as Policy Analyst at a top think tank in Seoul, South Korea.
Rachel is an international speaker, multi-award-winning writer, former Miss Singapore titleholder, and East Asia specialist. She is a graduate from Harvard University (MA) and Duke University (BA).
Rachel has been profiled by over 50 global media on topics including entrepreneurship, cross-border business & leadership, cultural perspectives and multinational careers, as well as beauty, travel, and wellness. Rachel is also active as a business mentor and advisor for various startups and entrepreneurship programs. She has been nominated by the Government of Japan for the 2021 INNO-vation Generation Awards, and commemorated as the 2017 Best Mentor of the Year by the Government of South Korea.
Yang Yang Zhang is the Chief Innovation Officer at Xendit, where she leads the growth of new business, including Market Expansion and the development of new products. She architected a first-to-market direct debit product for both banks and e-wallets which became the backbone for Xendit’s growth into becoming the largest payment gateway in the Philippines, processing over $30 billion in under three years. She now leads a portfolio of expansions across Southeast Asia, as well as a suite of Innovation products in the embedded finance and open banking space.
Prior to Xendit, Yang Yang co-founded the Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX), the country's first fully licensed crypto exchange, funded by industry giants such as Ripple and Tiger Global. There, she served as Chief Product and Strategy Officer.
A graduate of MIT, Yang Yang is passionately committed to employing technology in designing solutions to long-standing industry pain points; today, she is excited to revolutionize digital payment infrastructure across Southeast Asia through her work at Xendit.
Larry Liu is the CEO and founder of Weee!, the largest and fastest-growing online Asian and Hispanic e-grocer, which provides exciting, high-quality products to consumers nationwide.
Almost two decades ago, Larry came to the United States as an engineer; he quickly realized there was not simply a lack of Asian goods at local stores, but that a social and joyful aspect of shopping was missing. Larry believes that people should celebrate life through food by empowering the shared discovery of delightful, food-at-home products and experiences. Founded in 2015 and valued at over $2.8 billion, today, Weee! has over 2,000 employees and serves ethnic communities with access to authentic and exciting food throughout the nation.
Prior to launching Weee!, Larry worked at Intel, Brocade, and Atmel in various engineering and finance roles. He holds a BSEE from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and an MBA from UC Davis Graduate School of Management.
Dennis “DJ” DiDonna has dedicated his career to commercializing social science research to create organizations which positively impact the world.
He is a Senior Lecturer in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit at Harvard Business School where he teaches the required first year course: The Entrepreneurial Manager.
In 2019, DJ founded The Sabbatical Project to define, explore, and research sabbaticals. He is currently writing a popular press book that explores the role of extended leave in a thriving economy and healthy society. DJ’s work on sabbaticals has appeared in The Atlantic, Time Magazine, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Quartz, Fortune and at TEDx in Silicon Valley. DiDonna has designed sabbatical policies for dozens of organizations, from nonprofits to Fortune 50 companies, both in the United States and around the world.
Panel 6 | Global Gateways: Cross-Border Business and Regulation
Jingli Jiang is a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Jingli’s focus is in international trade, especially with relation to US trade law and policy and its impact on multinational corporations based in the US, Greater China, and worldwide. Jingli has significant experience in regulatory, corporate, and geopolitical issues in the field of high-tech. Some of the work she has done includes advising two AI companies in the People’s Republic of China on US export controls and sanctions and representing a US technology company on export control matters.
Tiana Zhang is a litigation partner in the Shanghai office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. Tiana focuses on cross-border investigations, disputes, and crisis management for companies operating in China and the US. Tiana is a top-ranked attorney in a broad range of government investigation and financial crime issues and has represented major companies like eBay and ConocoPhillips.
Rana Mitter is ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is the author of several books, including Forgotten Ally: China’s World War II (2013) which won the 2014 RUSI/Duke of Westminster’s Medal for Military Literature, and was named a Book of the Year in the Financial Times and Economist. He has commented regularly on China in media and forums around the world, including at the World Economic Forum at Davos. He previously taught at Oxford, and is a Fellow of the British Academy.
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