Dennis Uy to deliver keynote speech at BW Economic Forum

THE TWIN FORCES of innovation and disruption are sweeping the country’s current business landscape, and industry leaders must be quick to adapt or be left behind.

Following the theme of “Disruptor or Disrupted? Philippines at the Crossroads,” entrepreneur and “rock star” management executive Dennis A. Uy will deliver the keynote address at the BusinessWorld Economic Forum, to be held on May 18 at the Grand Ballroom of Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

Mr. Uy will draw on his knowledge and experience as the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Udenna Corp. to speak on the phenomenon of disruption.
No stranger to disruption himself, Mr. Uy has successfully led Udenna Corp. to become one of the fastest growing holding companies in the country, with businesses in fast-changing industries like oil and petroleum under the Phoenix brand, and in shipping and logistics through the wholly owned subsidiary, Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp.
Phoenix Petroleum is currently the third biggest oil company in the Philippines after just over a decade in operation, while Chelsea Logistics holds a dominant position in the shipping and logistics industry with the acquisition of a major stake in the publicly listed 2GO Group, the country’s leading shipping and logistics provider, where Mr. Uy also serves as chairman and CEO.
Udenna Corp. also has interests in real estate and property development, education, leisure, gaming and tourism and infrastructure.
Born and raised in Davao City, Mr. Uy graduated from De La Salle University in Manila with a degree in Business Management. He has been the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in the Philippines since November 2011, and has been recognized by various award-giving bodies for his leadership and management. These awards include the ASEAN Business Awards’ Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017, the MVP Bossing Award in 2016, the Agora Award for Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship-Large Scale in 2013, the Datu Bago Award in 2013 from the City Government of Davao, and he was a finalist for the CNBC Asia Business Leaders Award from 2011 to 2013.
The BusinessWorld Economic Forum will be a whole-day forum that aims to bring together industry leaders and key figures from the private and public sectors to explore and discuss timely and relevant topics that promote economic growth and technological advancement without overlooking society’s general welfare.
The first session will focus on “DISRUPTION: What Big Data is Already Predicting — or Warning — About Philippine Competitiveness,” and aims to explore the significance of innovations like the Internet of Things (IoT) in an era of hyper-connectivity; and how mobile, digital, and cloud technologies are reshaping not only consumer lifestyles but also how companies are conducting businesses.
Sharing their knowledge about the topic are Department of Information and Communications Technology Officer-in-Charge Eliseo M. Rio, Jr., McKinsey & Company Philippines Managing Partner Kristine Romano, and Professor at the Department of Analytics, Information & Operations, Asian Institute of Management Dr. Erika Fille T. Legara.
The second session will tackle “Artificial Intelligence, E-Commerce, Cashless Transactions: What New Consumer Expectations Mean for Businesses,” which will attempt to dissect the current landscape of the banking, retail, and services sectors, and the role of online platforms in engaging customers.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Managing Director Pia Bernadette Roman-Tayag, Union Bank of the Philippines President and CEO Edwin R. Bautista, Accenture, Inc. (Philippines) Country Managing Director Lito Tayag, and Adobomall creator and CEO Walt Steven Young will share their thoughts about the topic in this session.
To discuss how companies can use technology in turning disruption into an opportunity for growth, and how the country can foster a sustainable startup community anchored on innovation, the third session will center on “Finding Opportunities in the Age of Disruption.”
To lead the discussion are Voyager Innovations President and CEO Orlando B. Vea, Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.) CEO Anthony Thomas, Grab Philippines Country Head Brian Cu, and Satoshi Citadel Industries Co-Founder and Chief Community Officer Miguel Cuneta.
The last session, which will focus on “The Next-Generation Boardroom,” aims to discuss the future of the workplace and how disruption would affect leadership and management.
Speakers for this session will be Aboitiz Power Corp. Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer — Corporate Business Group Luis Miguel O. Aboitiz, Mobext Philippines Co-Founder and CEO Arthur Policarpio, and Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. Managing Director Camille A. Villar.
The BusinessWorld Economic Forum, organized by BusinessWorld Publishing Corp., has been held annually since 2016. It serves as a live platform for industry leaders and key figures in society to discuss issues and challenges that affect the country.
The event is open to BusinessWorld subscribers, readers, and the public.