How do we prepare our people for present and future challenges in a hyper-uncertain world?

Paralyzed by the crisis of a generation, we lack the vision and the playbook to confront the challenges before us. Leadership during this time means making the tough choices daily to ready our spirit, engage in reality checks, inspire with shared values, and take nimble action for a better future.

With its new theme, “How to Lead Adaptively Beyond the Crisis,” this Asia Leadership Forum 2020 is dedicated to helping leaders initiate change and manage progress in their organizations and communities.

This forum is where the realities and contradictions of our times are seen through the lens of leading-edge Harvard thought leadership and its practice. It is where leaders come together to clarify their values, gain actionable insights, and acquire tools and frameworks to make a difference in a world that is constantly spinning.

Learn, network, and listen to Harvard thought leaders and local expert practitioners on how you can create a future that defies the odds.

SPEAKERS

Samuel Kim

MPA, Harvard University, Founding President, CAL

Rahul Daswani

MPP, Harvard University
Assistant Director, GovTech

Steve Jarding

Professor, Harvard University

David Shore

Professor, Harvard University

Barbara Kellerman

Professor, Harvard University

Moshik Temkin

Professor, Harvard University

Nishith Jain

MBA, IIM-Bangalore
Senior Director, ServiceNow

Laura Thompson

EMP, INSEAD
CEO, Laura Thompson Coaching

Ami Valdemoro

MPP, Harvard University
Leadership Coach & Social Entrepreneur

Junko Yoda

Former Asia Pacific Treasurer, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank
Advanced Leadership Initiatives Fellow, Harvard University

Richard Lum

Founding CEO
Foresight Vision Strategy

John Riady

Executive Director, Lippo Group

Dindo Manhit

Founder and Managing Director, Stratbase Group

Bilahari Kausikan

Former Permanent Secretary, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Gita Wirjawan

Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia (2011 - 2014)

Melissa Ngiam

CEO, Generasi Gemilang

Mae Perez

Executive Director, Real LIFE Foundation

AGENDA

16 NOV
Monday
17 NOV
Tuesday
18 NOV
Wednesday
19 NOV
Thursday
20 NOV
Friday
21 NOV
Saturday

MONDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2020

THE WORLD OF COVID: HOW DO WE CONFRONT IT?

THE LEADERSHIP DEMANDED OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE

SAMUEL KIM

In the COVID Era, we are experiencing two major currents: complexity colored by uncertainty, tension, and fragmentation on one hand; and possibility powered by intelligence, innovation and technology on the other. The quality of our leadership will matter more than ever in adapting to the changes, mobilizing disparate groups, while balancing these forces to advance progress during these tough times. Listen to Samuel Kim share how leaders can help their organizations move towards a world after COVID. Read More
samuelkim

HOW DOES THE WORLD OVERCOME A CRISIS?

MOSHIK TEMKIN

Politicians and pundits often use historical analogies to explain the current crisis. But as they are often serving their own agendas, this practice can also mislead, distorting the past and present. Understanding the history of past crises can help us gain a clinical perspective of the patterns and processes of human nature and society. What we can do as concerned citizens is develop a critical mindset of how we arrived at this moment and a sober-minded resolve to make a better future for ourselves. Moshik Temkin will share birds-eye view lessons on how societies have overcome crises through collaborating across government, civic, and business communities; communicating to the public about the unknown future; and agile decision making. Read More
moshiktemkin

The Organizers reserve the right to alter the content and timing of the programme in the best interest of the conference or due to unforeseen circumstances.

TUESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2020

INSPIRING OTHERS DURING A CRISIS

STRATEGIC INFLUENCE DURING TIMES OF CRISIS

STEVEN JARDING

All decision makers are now facing the stress of uncertainty. The nature of communication changes during times of uncertainty. Now more than ever, you must communicate more authentically with clarity, persuasion, and inspiration. Effective communication could ultimately define breakthrough opportunities and determine the course of important trajectories. This session seeks to share key principles, strategies of communication, and a model of public presentation as taught at Harvard and around the world by our world-renowned speaker. Steve’s methods of communication are unique, having been perfected over his 40-year career in communication training to thousands of public officials around the world. Through this session, participants will gain exposure to methods on how to speak well in public settings and navigate a diverse range of leadership scenarios. Read More
stevenjarding

EMPATHETIC LEADERSHIP:
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WHEN THE WORLD IS FALLING APART

AMI VALDEMORO

With the future fraught with uncertainty, leaders are operating under ever more risky conditions. Mistakes are inevitable in both strategic decisions and policy as we work our way towards a “new normal” in the next months, or even years. Whether it be to our staff or superiors, how might we create a shared narrative that helps everyone stay productive, relevant, and even thrive? Ami Valdemoro will share key leadership and communication principles that will help you uncover the values that can unite a group in confronting a challenge and inspire collective action at work or in your community. Read More
amivaldemoro

The Organizers reserve the right to alter the content and timing of the programme in the best interest of the conference or due to unforeseen circumstances.

WEDNESDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2020

SELF-LEADERSHIP FOR A VALUE-DRIVEN FUTURE

FUTURE OF LEARNING:
HOW TO BUILD RESILIENCE DURING CRUCIBLE EXPERIENCES

LAURA THOMPSON

Covid-19 continues to disrupt our personal and professional lives. We are now working in environments characterized by increasing novelty, complexity, and change. Working in the discomfort of change is often the most difficult leadership practice because it begins with changing yourself. Based on years of experience working in high-stake environments and coaching others in their leadership journeys, Laura Thompson will explore how to build personal fortitude in the face of difficulty. She will share both mindfulness, communication, and personal leadership practices that will help you build resilience during crucible experiences. Read More
laurathompson

SELF-AWARENESS:
A KEY FACTOR TO NAVIGATING THROUGH CRUCIBLE MOMENTS

JUNKO YODA

It is not the strongest nor the most intelligent that will survive the uncertainty we face – but those who are most adaptable to change. But working in the discomfort of change is often the most difficult leadership practice because it begins with changing yourself. It starts with the simple but difficult step of learning to understand how you react in tense moments; having a network of ‘allies’ that provides you objective feedback; accepting the things you are unable to change; and finally, discovering new insights on what can be done incrementally to make progress. Join us for a conversation with Junko Yoda (Harvard University, ALI fellow), Former Managing Director from Deutsche bank and Co-Founder of CLinked, a non-profit organization that trains communities to protect and empower vulnerable women, as we learn how to identify your triggers and how we can make clear, value-based decisions during crucible moments. Read More
junkoyoda

GAINING THE POWER TO LEAD THROUGH YOUR VALUES

BARBARA KELLERMAN

In a rapidly changing landscape, the overwhelming stress, the high stakes of our decisions, and the complexity surrounding us can be debilitating. What makes someone a successful and effective leader? Have you ever met a high-impact leader who thrives wherever you place him or her? What is true leadership really anchored on? In this session, Barbara Kellerman, James McGregor Burns Lecturer in Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School will share ideas, techniques, and tools that can assist them in their leadership development journey, chiefly concepts like the power of story; knowing your values, leadership principles and ethical boundaries; building a support team; and improving leadership effectiveness through fit of life story, situation, and adaptive authentic style. Read More
barbarakellerman

The Organizers reserve the right to alter the content and timing of the programme in the best interest of the conference or due to unforeseen circumstances.

THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2020

EMBEDDING INNOVATION IN YOUR ORGANIZATION

FUTURE OF WORK:
HOW TO BUILD ADAPTIVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT GROW BEYOND CRISIS

NISHITH JAIN

“Our moral obligation is not to stop the future, but to shape it…to channel our destiny in humane directions and to ease the trauma of transition. – Alvin Toffler, Futurist. There is no shortage of ideas on how we should lead transformation in our organizations and systems. But one of the biggest opportunities the Covid crisis has afforded a leader and their team is a readiness in mindset and behavior to change. If a bold strategic plan stands a chance of being implemented, it is vital that the behavioral shifts are discussed, understood, and nurtured—all in service of the transformational vision laid out in the plan. Nishith Jain will share three approaches to change that can be applied to both your team and organization when thinking about how to shape your future. Read More
nishithjain

STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES FOR LEADING INNOVATION DURING A CRISIS

DAVID SHORE

More than 100 years ago, in his inaugural address as president of Harvard University, A. Lawrence Lowell set the philosophy for education at Harvard.  He suggested that students ‘know a little bit of everything and something well.’  Drawing from three decades of research, consulting, and teaching graduate courses and executive education programs in Asia and North America, David A. Shore’s ‘meta-analysis’ reveals top tips for successfully launching, leading, and realizing value from innovation and change initiatives. This session has been designed with a singular purpose – to help you mitigate the minefields of innovation and change.  This fast-paced talk will not simply ‘admire the problem,’ but rather provide actionable insights as we explore a little bit of everything about successfully leading innovation and change. Read More
davidshore

The Organizers reserve the right to alter the content and timing of the programme in the best interest of the conference or due to unforeseen circumstances.

FRIDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2020

FORESIGHT SKILLS TO CONFRONT UNCERTAINTY

HOW TO THINK LIKE A FUTURIST

RAHUL DASWANI

All decision makers are now facing the stress of uncertainty. “Futures thinking” comprises a range of scenario planning strategies and foresight tools that have helped companies like Shell, Google, and Amazon as well as governments like Singapore, Iceland, and Canada envision the future, enhance their decision making, and ultimately leverage the possibilities they face. In this talk, Rahul Daswani, former Senior Strategist at the Centre for Strategic Futures in Singapore as he shares a framework that can enable you to approach your current unknowns using a futures framework and transform how your organization or community implements strategic thinking and planning. Read More
rahuldaswani

THE FUTURE IS EXPANDING:
FORESIGHT AS A CRITICAL SKILL FOR SHAPING A NEW ERA

RICHARD LUM

The world is in the midst of multiple, simultaneous transitions: Supply chains and business models are being disrupted while entire industries are on life support. School campuses are closed while work-from-home parents tutor their children. Healthcare systems are overwhelmed while systemic vulnerabilities are exposed. Governments are drastically changing their spending with no set patterns. The pandemic has accelerated many of these trends while introducing dramatic new uncertainties and turbulence. Fortunately, organizations that apply foresight to their strategic planning and decision making have the tools and insights to anticipate new threats and identify emerging opportunities in times of dramatic change. Richard Lum, CEO of Vision Foresight Strategy LLC. Dr. Lum is a veteran of foresight projects for organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense, the European Union, NASA, and PepsiCo. In this conversation, he will introduce key elements of effective foresight and discuss how organizations use foresight to anticipate emergent threats, spot rising opportunities sooner, and create new possibilities. Read More
richardlum

The Organizers reserve the right to alter the content and timing of the programme in the best interest of the conference or due to unforeseen circumstances.

SATURDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2020

Q&A, ROUNDTABLE AND NETWORKING

8:30 AM MYT
(UTC +8:00)

LIVE Q&A [40 MINS EACH]

– Q&A WITH BARBARA KELLERMAN

– Q&A WITH DAVID SHORE

– Q&A WITH STEVE JARDING

– Q&A WITH LAURA THOMPSON, JUNKO YODA & AMI VALDEMORO

– Q&A WITH RICHARD LUM, RAHUL DASWANI & NISHITH JAIN

12:40 PM MYT

BREAK/LIVE JAZZ

1:10 PM MYT

PRACTITIONER’S ROUNDTABLE [50 MINS EACH]

BUSINESS LEADERSHIP: SERVICE & STRATEGY IN THE AGE OF COVID

– JOHN RIADY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LIPPO GROUP
– DINDO MANHIT, FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, STRATBASE GROUP

POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL LEADERSHIP: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE, RESPONDING DURING COVID

– GITA WIRJAWAN, MINISTER OF TRADE OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA (2011 – 2014)
– BILAHARI KAUSIKAN, FORMER PERMANENT SECRETARY, SINGAPORE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
– MOSHIK TEMKIN, PROFESSOR, HARVARD UNIVERSITY

SOCIAL & CULTURAL LEADERSHIP: SURVIVING, SERVING, & UNITING DURING COVID

– MELISSA NGIAM, CEO, GENERASI GEMILANG
– MAE PEREZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, REAL LIFE FOUNDATION

4:00 PM MYT

NETWORKING WITH ALF SPEAKERS AND RETHINKING ASIA 7 AUTHORS

5:00 PM MYT

CLOSING OF 3RD ALF ONLINE

The Organizers reserve the right to alter the content and timing of the programme in the best interest of the conference or due to unforeseen circumstances.

IN COLLABORATION WITH