Welcome to Inner Circle, the Mastercard podcast that covers the trends, topics and tech driving payments innovation in Asia Pacific. Each episode will bring you bite-sized nuggets of knowledge to keep you abreast of the forces shaping the industry now and for the future. Tune in for your shot of insider insights from those in the know.
As technologies reshape the world around us, how are consumers and businesses navigating the shifts that transform the way we live, work, and interact? Unmask the factors behind rising fraud, pitfalls of rapid technological convergence, and the ethical considerations confronting businesses in the age of artificial intelligence.
12 Oct 2023
The Future of the Space Economy
Embark on a journey through the endless potential of space, from the burgeoning field of space tourism to the exciting frontier of asteroid mining. Discover what will drive the growth and transformation of commerce in space.
15 Sept 2023
Navigating Disruptive Innovation with the Cool Kids of Tech
Enter the world of cutting-edge technology and disruptive innovation where we reveal the latest advancements and breakthroughs that are reshaping the digital frontiers, safeguarding our online identities from emerging threats, and confronting the complex challenges of our rapidly evolving digital landscape.
17 Jul 2023
Leading the Way in Clean Energy: What’s Next for Sustainable Payments?
Sustainability has become a hot corporate buzzword, but is it a fad, or here to stay? Marie Soon, Mastercard APAC head of Sustainability, chats with Eugenia Koh from Standard Chartered and Mathias Wikström from Doconomy to debunk common misconceptions, explore why going green makes good business sense - and ‘cents’ - and how companies can successfully transition to a low-carbon economy through smart innovation.
4 May 2023
From Plastic to Pixel: The Future of Payments
Has cash been dethroned as king? Have we reached a ‘cheque-mate’? How far are we from a world where digital currencies fully replace paper and plastic forms of currency? Connie Cheng, VP, Innovation Management, Asia Pacific at Mastercard speaks to Natasha Zurnamer, CEO & Co-Founder of Optty, and Paul Weingarth, CEO & Co-Founder of Slyp, about the next generation of payments, and the many possibilities that the future holds.
29 Aug 2022
Inflation: Is The End In Sight?
Supply chain disruptions, rising commodity costs, pent-up demand – just a few of the many drivers behind inflation. In this episode, David Mann, Mastercard’s Chief Economist for AP & MEA, unpacks why inflation is so high, and if higher prices are here to stay.
23 Aug 2022
A Holistic Approach to Women’s Economic Empowerment
The list of barriers holding women from participating in the digital economy is long. Still, they are not inevitable—if governments, the private sector and financial services providers work together to remove them. Hear from Payal Dalal, Senior Vice President at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth on the collective strides made in the region and beyond, and the necessary holistic approach to further promote women’s participation in the economy.
5 Aug 2022
Navigating The Digital Assets Landscape
Blockchain, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, CBDCs – what are the opportunities, and what are the risks? In this episode, our experts break down the buzzwords and explore how businesses can harness the power of the digital asset ecosystem to stay relevant to a new generation of crypto natives. Find out more in the ‘Tokens on a chain’ report: https://news.mstr.cd/3d5iHS4
27 May 2022
Unpacking Asia Pacific’s Travel Recovery
If flight booking trends continue at their current pace, an estimated 430 million more passengers are expected to fly in Asia Pacific in 2022 compared to last year. With border measures relaxing and travel recovery underway for much of the region, Mastercard’s Chief Economist for AP & MEA explains who is the post-pandemic traveler? What do they want to do? Where do they want to go? And how are they getting there?
Get the "Travel 2022: Trends & Transitions" report here: https://bit.ly/3MG4eZR (https://bit.ly/3MG4eZR)
1 Nov 2021
Up for Grabs: The $5.5T B2B Commerce Opportunity
APAC is the B2B commerce capital of the world. Yet less than 1% of the addressable opportunity in industries like electronics, retail and FMCG is actually carded—presenting vast untapped potential for financial institutions. Why is so much being left on the table?
30 Jul 2021
Travel Ready for Takeoff?
With international borders largely closed and an estimated $5 trillion in excess savings banked in the last year, people are itching to pack their bags again. Mastercard’s Chief Economist for AP & MEA explains the findings from the latest Recovery Insights report, detailing what indicators such as flights booked, road trips taken, and even hairdresser appointments, tell us about the future of travel.
Get the "Recovery Insights: Travel Ready for Takeoff?" report here: https://bit.ly/3C3nNGD
1 Jul 2021
Supporting Digital India
Join industry veteran Nikhil Sahni, our newly appointed Division President, South Asia & Country Corporate Officer, India for a deep dive into how Mastercard is pioneering some of its most advanced technologies on the subcontinent and supporting India’s transformation to a digital-first, data-first nation.
3 May 2021
What’s Driving the Resurgence in Instalments?
43% of consumers in Asia Pacific would be willing to spend at least 15% more if they could pay by instalments – a compelling proposition for retailers and many in the payments ecosystem. In this discussion, we unpack the surging popularity of “buy now, pay later” offerings and how instalments differ from the layaway plans of old.
30 Mar 2021
The Cyber Threat On Our Shores
As more people live their lives online due to COVID-19, cybercriminals have spotted a lucrative opportunity – and many IoT vulnerabilities to exploit. Tune in to find out what businesses should do about it.
9 Dec 2020
The Limitless Potential of Acceptance
In this episode we explore the future of payments acceptance which is changing rapidly in response to COVID. As merchants increasingly seek digital, touchless experiences to keep customers and staff safe, what new possibilities can we explore for payments or loyalty at the point of interaction?
27 Nov 2020
Coopetition - Pipe Dream or Real Thing?
In this episode we explore the concept of coopetition - collaborating with competitors to win. Is it still beneficial for tech companies, or does losing ownership of IP outweigh the benefits? As nationalist sentiment and protectionist tendencies persist, how can companies make the most of it in today’s environment?
29 Sept 2020
Crash Course in Cybersecurity
Do you know what happens when you click “pay now” at checkout? How do we verify your identity, process the transaction and stop fraud in its tracks – all within seconds? Tune in to find out.
28 Jul 2020
Post-Pandemic Reboot: Cities, Travel & Trade
Julienne Loh, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Partnerships, Asia Pacific at Mastercard tells us about the challenges that cities, travel and trade are facing, and how governments and businesses can partner to support them and accelerate economic recovery.
29 Jun 2020
Making Cents of the Data
In our first episode, we speak to Donald Ong, APAC head of Mastercard Advisors, about the role of data, analytics and Test & Learn technology in helping businesses to recover and rebound from the downturn.
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