ASIA’S NO. 1 SHARED SERVICES & GBS EVENT
October 13 - 16, 2025
| One Farrer Hotel, Singapore
13 October | Innovate-a-Thon: Innovate, Co-Create, Impact
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Registration Opens
10:30 am - 10:35 am
Welcome Address by SSON Network
10:40 am - 10:40 am
SSOW Innovate-A-Thon: Innovate, Co-Create, Impact
A hackathon-inspired event designed for GBS, Shared Services & transformation leaders to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
WHY?
- Learn tools to think creatively and boost collaboration within your own organisation to solve complex business and customer challenges.
- The practice to pitch, create buy-in and secure sponsorship for new business cases.
- New, innovative ideas and solutions to shared challenges.
- Unique and unparalleled in-depth networking with your peers.
HOW?
- Attendees will be divided into groups of 6 as a team.
- Teams pick their Challenge Statement as well as their group name, group ethos and solution for the challenge.
- A guided process for teams to work through a solution and a pitch based on the problem statement.
- Teams pitch their solutions to the judging panel.
- Awards ceremony follow for the category winners and the deliverer of the best pitch.
10:40 am - 12:00 pm
Challenge Statement #1: Creating Your Own Launching & Migration Play Guide
Dr. Patricia Francis, C.A. (M), FCCA (UK) -
Head of Global Financial Markets Operations Strategy and Learning & Development,
Standard Chartered
- Step one: Embarking on strategy - creating a business case to move into shared services.
- Step two: Setting up a centre abroad - what are the key steps to consider when setting up a centre in a nearshore location?
- Step three: Ensuring a successful transition. Which are the first processes to transition? Why and how?
Each Group will have 5 min to present your final strategy to the entire team. Awards ceremony follow for the category winners and the deliverer of the best pitch.
Dr. Patricia Francis, C.A. (M), FCCA (UK)
Head of Global Financial Markets Operations Strategy and Learning & DevelopmentStandard Chartered
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch & Networking Break
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Challenge Statement #2: Developing and Communicating the GBS Value System
Sharmini Krishnan -
Head of PMI Business Solutions (Philippines) Inc.,
Philip Morris International
Vandana Sharma - Head of GBS AMEA, Kellogg Company
- Step one: Answer the ultimate question - why should GBS exist?
- Step two: Developing the most impactful value drivers and measurement metrics.
- Step three: Winning internal love. Selling your GBS strategy effectively by converting the shared services language to business language
Each Group will have 5 min to present your final strategy to the entire team. Awards ceremony follow for the category winners and the deliverer of the best pitch.
Sharmini Krishnan
Head of PMI Business Solutions (Philippines) Inc.Philip Morris International
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Challenge Statement #3: Creating Business Cases For Generative AI
Gavin Lam -
Vice President, Global Business Services Operations,
NTT DATA Inc
- Step one: Identifying business areas where Generative AI can contribute maximum business value.
- Step two: Developing a solution package to fully implement Generative AI in these business areas.
- Step three: Creating a full business case plan to win the endorsement and investment from the C-suites.
Each Group will have 5 min to present your final strategy to the entire team. Awards ceremony follow for the category winners and the deliverer of the best pitch.
