Philipp Kristian Diekhöner – the “5-Premium-Speakers-Questions”
Philipp Kristian Diekhöner has been living in Singapore since 2013. There he was a Founding Member of MetLife’s world’s first R&D centre, after that he was responsible for the development of new business models in the Asia region at Manulife. In Singapore’s booming start-up scene he is not an unknown quantity: as Founding Advisor of the digital telecom provider Circles.Life he helped to establish one of Singapore’s most successful start-ups.
As part of his education, Diekhöner attended the d-school of the Hasso-Plattner Institute (Design Thinking), the Singapore Management University and the University of Groningen (International Business and Management, Cum Laude). He was honored as St. Gallen Symposium Leader of Tomorrow, Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum and Fellow of the Kairos Society.
What are the core subjects of your keynote speeches?
My core topic is the evolution of trust in the digital economy. People trust each faster and more easily thanks to digital user interfaces. This sparked interesting new business models and lots of innovation. In my book, I describe trust as the engine behind innovation – in order for new value to be created, people need to trust each other. My keynotes offer a strategic and pragmatic Perspective on trust and value creation in the digital age. This is the key to resourceful Transformation and effective product and service innovation.
Which audience or which branch do you reach with your speech?
Predominantly tech companies and financial institutions, well-known event organisers and associations – but growth stage start-ups are also among my clientele. Typically, the audience comprises management and c-suite.
Why are you a Premium Speaker? Where do you get your insights from?
I was lucky to support some of Singapore’s most successful start-ups (such as Circles.Life, the first truly digital telco in the region) in transforming their market. That also influenced the contents of my book. Prior, I shaped large transformation projects as a consultant and subsequently helped accelerate the digitisation efforts of big financial players from the inside as an innovation strategist. Most of my insights originate outside of work these days. Whilst skiing, running, swimming or doing yoga I reflect on my work life and this often leads to new ideas. Conversations with clients, audiences and the wide range of people I encounter on a daily basis are great input materials. I chance upon a lot of perspectives during my 200+ days of travel every year!
What will be in the future? Does 'time' play an important role in your work?
Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Time shapes change. Innovation and digitisation only make sense if they progress swiftly. That requires lots of trust. On the flipside, the things we trust the most barely change. That means highly trusted products and services can stand the test of time. Trust dynamics are thus absolutely pivotal in shaping our future.
What is your life motto? What would you like to give your listeners on the way?
(from my own collection of life quotes – besides, I am a big fan of wise words by Oscar Wilde)
""Kids have lots of ideas and little needs. Adults have lots of needs and little ideas. Be a child, because that makes you bigger, not smaller.”"