Dan Wong is an expert in the fields of digital transformation, AI change management, and innovation – with over 20 years of experience in Greater China and Silicon Valley. Dan has been at the forefront of driving digital transformation at companies like Nokia (feature-phone to smart-phone transition), Samsung (hardware to software transition), and now at MTR Corporation where he is GM of Global Innovation. At MTR, Dan established an entirely new organization to drive transformation across all our core businesses at the global level. He built the Global Innovation Department from scratch, recruiting talent who would bring new capabilities to MTR including product innovation, ecosystem building, startup partnerships, venture investing, and product management. Many know MTR as a top tier transport operator but may not be aware that we have global operations (Stockholm, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau, and Hong Kong) as well as a broad business portfolio including real estate (commercial, residential, malls, parking lots), consultancy, data center, and financial services (via Octopus Corporation). To drive transformation at MTR, Dan established and manages an Innovation Fund that has enabled over 90 pilots to test, implement, and deploy new technologies (Web3, blockchain, robotics, sensors/IOT, 5G, green tech, materials, etc). Over 30 of these projects are AI-related, covering a wide range of applications across MTR’s core businesses in transportation, smart city, property, construction, and retail. This experience has given Dan a unique understanding on the best ways to apply and scale the business value of AI in large organizations. Dan’s AI journey started in 2014 as CEO of startup Rokid. With a team that included 15 PhDs and postdocs, the company used machine learning to develop a voice recognition and smart home product. The AI product and voice platform was launched in a year and won the 2016 Innovation Award for that category at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Subsequently, Dan was an advisor to several startups applying AI technology to manufacturing, retail, consumer products, and other sectors. Dan was directly involved in product strategy, go-to-market, partnerships, sales pitches, revenue generation, organizational design and even recruiting. Having built and sold multiple AI products, Dan has direct insight into the power as well as inherent limitations and pitfalls of this technology. Previous to Rokid, Dan was Vice President of Media Solution Center China at Samsung, where he was responsible for driving the hardware to software transformation in one the company’s largest markets, reporting directly to the Global Division President. He developed, customized, and launched 7 digital services covering mobile phones, tablets, smart TVs, connected cameras, wearables, and other products. Before that, he ran one of China’s largest mobile ad networks as Chief Operating Officer of Madhouse. At Nokia China, Dan spearheaded the feature-phone to smart-phone transformation by launching NSeries and Ovi services in the company’s largest market. He built NSeries into a $1.9B USD business across Greater China (covering Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan). While at Nokia, he was also responsible for the company’s Ovi internet services – launching multiple consumer services (app store, games, music, and maps) and establishing the joint-venture company that served as the basis for these services. Under Dan’s leadership, Nokia became the first foreign entity to obtain an Online Maps license in China’s tightly regulated market. In Silicon Valley, Dan has held various management positions with industry pioneering companies such as Openwave (WAP and mobile internet) and Excite@Home (broadband internet services and portal). Dan is a frequent industry event speaker and has experience working with media and government. He is on the board of several MTR incubated ventures and JVs including: Urban Access Solutions Corporation (smart city technology), SmartRail Tech Applications Company (AI and rail-tech), Mainnovation (robotics), MTR Digital Enterprise Solutions (digital asset management), and Carbon Wallet (sustainability). Fully fluent in Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Dan is also an Adjunct Professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University’s Antai School of Business, one of the top MBA Programs in Asia. He teaches a popular MBA course on AI, Product Management, and Product Innovation. Dan holds an MBA from Harvard Business School as well as BS Electrical Engineering and MS Materials Science from Stanford University.