Sharon Gai, a Canadian born in China, has more than 10 years of experience in e-commerce, digital marketing and branding. The challenge of immigrating at a young age to a new country where she did not speak the local language honed her adaptability and resilience. This in turn awakened her inner creativity, allowing her to develop the ability to connect with both the East and the West. As a Global Shaper in the China Section of the World Economic Forum, Sharon brings a unique perspective.
She earned her bachelor’s degree with honours in international development from McGill University and completed her master’s degree in information management at Columbia University.
Sharon Gai in interview:
1. What are the core subjects of your keynote speeches?
My main topics are AI and China. I help organizations understand the complex internet landscape in AI and the Chinese internet ecosystem so that they can become agile disruptors in their industries and increase revenue and retain users. Through understanding the latest about the field of generative AI, employees in these companies are able to 10x their productivity. Companies will then be able to do more with less.
2. Which audiance or which branch do you reach with your speech?
My audiences have ranged from Heads of State to CEO’s of large companies. Specifically the sectors of retail and internet are most interested in my topics. However the concepts in AI pertain to all industries and all levels of employees in this age.
3. Are you a PREMIUM SPEAKER? Where do you get your insights from?
Why I’m different as a speaker:
- No one has my background and unique perspective.
- I have knowledge of markets both in east and west and am able to bring a level of innovation and insight in my presentations.
- Unlike other speakers who may not be practitioners, I personally worked on the projects that are in my presentations.
- I’m presenting about my first hand experience.
There are also few of my demographic on stage. I’m proud to represent my culture as an Asian female on the professional speaking stage.
4. What will be in the future? Does «time» play an important role in your work?
We live in a VUCA time, meaning it’s Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. Employees are uncertain about whether robots will replace them; Companies are uncertain of the state of the economy; and government is uncertain about the state of geopolitical state of affairs. So it is during these times that the more data points and knowledge one can have about the state of the world, the more we are able to decipher and make sense for the future.
Regarding time: I usually structure my presentations with The Past, The Present and The Future, while explaining how looking at history will influence the happenings in present day life. Similarly, by examining the things in the present, we are able to predict the future better.
5. Tell us your life motto? What do you want to give your listeners to take with them?
“Live with unwavering integrity, embrace the richness of diverse cultures, seek deep connections, and pursue knowledge to enlighten every path.”
I like to take listeners out of their comfort zones and take them to a world that might seem cognitively dissonant at first, but at the end, they realize that knowledge is the power they have in the world.