In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank chats to Gene Yu, who’s the founder and CEO of cybersecurity and crisis response company, Blackpanda, and also a former US Army Special Forces officer.

Gene talks about growing up Asian-American, becoming a Green Beret, negotiating with terrorists, and ultimately finding purpose as the founder of Blackpanda.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: Gene Yu, Founder & CEO, Blackpanda

1. Gene discusses how cultural expectations can drive ambition, but can also leave lasting emotional scars.
2. He suggests elite performance can often conceal a deep internal struggle.
3. Gene says failure can be a powerful force for redirection.
4. He believes that how we respond in a crisis reveals who we really are and what we have the potential to become.
5. Gene demonstrates that reinvention is possible at any stage of life.

00:00

An Extraordinary Life

Manisha introduces Gene and talks about how his career has spanned elite military service to cybersecurity leadership.

02:25

Growing Up Asian in White America

Gene and Manisha talk about how cultural dislocation shaped Gene’s early identity and self-perception.

04:50

Love Through Performance

Gene says that achievement became an emotional crutch and explains the cost of that mindset.

05:56

Losing Himself

He believes military life stripped away his identity before rebuilding him from scratch.

07:10

Fighting for Respect

He tried to assert himself by using physical dominance and nearly paid the ultimate price.

09:05

Becoming a Green Beret

Gene talks about what post-9/11 service meant to him and how he rose through the ranks.

12:45

Leaving the Military and a Loss of Purpose

He speaks about the struggle of stepping away from a life defined by mission and meaning.

17:00

When Everything Changed

How one phone call and a high-stakes rescue reshaped Gene’s career, his life, and his view of the world.

21:00

From Crisis to Cybersecurity

Gene explains what was behind the creation of Asia’s first cyber crisis response company.

26:10

Why Singapore Stuck

He shares how career opportunities and stability in Singapore turned a temporary move into a permanent home.

Useful links

https://www.blackpanda.com/

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/specialty-careers/special-ops/special-forces

https://www.americanspecialops.com/special-forces/cif/

In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank chats to author, historian, and filmmaker Sam Dalrymple, whose bestselling debut book Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia explores pivotal decisions from the past and looks at how they still shape the world we live in today.

Sam talks about partition, identity and forgotten geographies, sharing some insights on key historical figures. And he even discusses what he may write about next.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: Sam Dalrymple, Author and Historian

1. Sam explains how the British Empire in India was far larger than commonly believed, stretching from Yemen to Burma.
2. He talks about how partition was chaotic, rushed, and poorly planned, rather than the result of a grand imperial design.
3. Sam also explores how key historical figures like Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Pandit Nehru were far more complex than their modern portrayals suggest.
4. He believes that understanding history is key to gaining clarity on present-day conflicts.

00:00

A Book That Reframes Asia

Manisha introduces Sam and talks about how Shattered Lands challenges how we understand modern Asia.

02:04

“Which Partition?”

Sam references a conversation he had that led him to consider the many partitions that have helped shape Asia into what it is today.

03:45

The True Size of British India

From Burma to the Persian Gulf, Sam explains how much of Asia was once governed from Delhi, and why this is often forgotten.

06:45

The Archives That Changed Everything

He talks about how newly digitised records uncover hidden turning points in history, including how the Gulf nearly became part of India.

08:20

Chaos Over Conspiracy

Sam explains how partition was executed in just 77 days, and shares some insights on how unprepared and overwhelmed colonial authorities really were at the time.

11:10

Rethinking Muhammad Ali Jinnah

He goes on to talk about how studying the founding father of Pakistan revealed a far more complex figure than he expected.

14:30

Pandit Nehru’s Turning Point

Sam also details how a harrowing encounter following the Amritsar massacre became a defining moment in India’s push for independence.

17:00

Burma: From Global Hub to Conflict Zone

Sam and Manisha talk about how Burma was once the “Singapore of its time,” and how Rangoon’s fall can help explain Myanmar’s modern struggles.

22:05

Project Dastaan: Reconnecting Across Partition

Sam explains how a university idea became a cross-border VR project, aimed at reconnecting communities divided since 1947.

24:05

Stories Beneath the Surface

Manisha talks to Sam about how he uses his travel writing as a gateway to explore history and culture more deeply.

26:00

Identity and What’s Next

Sam reflects on his mixed identity and what he hopes to...

In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank sits down with Lu Zhang, the Founder and Managing Partner of Silicon Valley–based, Fusion Fund. They discuss Lu’s journey from growing up in Inner Mongolia, to launching her first venture fund in her early twenties.

Lu also shares her perspective on what’s currently shaping innovation and venture capital, and explains why she believes AI is reshaping healthcare, space tech and the global economy.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: Lu Zhang, Founder & Managing Partner, Fusion Fund

1. Lu believes curiosity is key to success and often matters more than age, credentials, or background.
2. She feels Silicon Valley remains a global tech leader due to its unique combination of talent, capital, and appetite for risk.
3. Lu notes that the next phase of AI will focus on practicality, with systems that are cheaper, more efficient, privacy-conscious, and ready for real-world use.
4. In her opinion, AI has the potential to transform both healthcare and space tech.
5. According to Lu, leaning into the unknown during periods of uncertainty and change can lead to the biggest rewards.

00:00 - The AI Moment

Manisha introduces Lu and sets the scene on why AI investment, innovation, and global attention are accelerating at an unprecedented pace.

01:59 - Roots of Curiosity

Lu reflects on her upbringing, early imagination, and how her background shaped her appetite for innovation.

05:08 - From Technologist to Entrepreneur

She talks about how a passion for deep tech led her to launch, scale, and exit her first company in her early twenties.

06:38 - Building Fusion Fund

Lu shares her journey from starting a venture fund and earning credibility, to scaling up from being a solo GP to a global platform.

10:57 - Why Silicon Valley Still Wins

She takes a candid look at what makes Silicon Valley’s ecosystem uniquely powerful for startups, investors, and exits.

15:30 - Inside the AI Investment Boom

Lu talks about capital flooding into AI and causing expectations to rise across the market.

16:40 - AI in Healthcare: Personalised and Preventative

Lu discusses how AI is transforming diagnostics, digital therapeutics, and the future of treatment.

18:05 - Who Owns Your Data?

Lu and Manisha talk about the hidden cost of AI tools and why data ownership and privacy will redefine business models.

19:15 - Space Tech Meets AI

Lu believes falling launch costs, satellite data, and AI-powered space technology could reshape life on Earth.

21:35 - What Comes Next

She touches on navigating bubbles, uncertainty, and opportunity and shares her advice for young innovators trying to define their future.

Useful links

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/carbon-nanotube

In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank sits down with former DBS CEO, Piyush Gupta, who reflects on his visionary 15 year tenure at the bank.

He tells us how he’s spending his “retirement” and also discusses everything from Gen-Z challenges and climate realities to regional geopolitics.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: Piyush Gupta

• Piyush believes India’s moment is here but it’s complex. He sees the country as one of the world’s biggest long-term opportunities, but notes it requires expertise, patience, and cultural understanding.
• He also notes that Southeast Asia’s real short-term crisis isn’t climate. It’s jobs and youth unemployment, as AI reshapes the workforce.
• Piyush urges Gen Z to build skills and take smart risks, and embrace entrepreneurship as traditional jobs shift or disappear.
• Despite rising US–China tensions, he believes a fully bipolar world is unlikely and that Asia will navigate relationships “issue by issue.”
• Piyush talks about the lessons learnt from transforming DBS, and that the company’s leap from a “traditional bank” to a global digital leader, hinged on culture, technology, and picking the right bets.

01:00 - A New Chapter for Piyush Gupta

How the former DBS CEO is embracing a “retirement” filled with influential roles across business, education, and nature.

04:40 - Why India Matters More Than Ever

Piyush explains why India’s scale, reforms, and digital leap make it a defining opportunity for East Asia.

06:20 - Climate Stress vs. Youth Job Crisis

A look at why jobs—and not climate—could dominate Asia’s agenda in the next decade.

08:30 - Advice for Gen Z

Piyush urges young people to build broad skills and embrace entrepreneurship.

13:20 - Geopolitics in Asia: Navigating the “New Normal”

He argues that countries won’t have to pick sides, predicting an interconnected global order.

16:40 - Lessons from Transforming DBS

Piyush reflects on key tech bets, cultural shifts, and the leadership priorities that helped reshape the bank.

21:20 - Measuring Success

Piyush shares his view on what success really means.

22:50 - Singapore’s Rise as a Financial Powerhouse

He discusses how Singapore became an unlikely global finance hub—and what it needs to thrive in the future.

25:00 - The ‘Real Piyush’ Meme and Handling Global Fame

Piyush explains the story behind an identity mix-up that went viral.

26:45 - Staying Grounded

Piyush believes in living without regrets and talks about how old friends keep him humble.

29:30 - Parting Wisdom & A Symbolic Gift

He shares his grounding rituals, passions, and the story behind the DBS House.

Useful links

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dbs-bank_after-15-years-with-dbs-today-marked-piyush-activity-7311312452120391680-d5e3/

https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/ips/research/s-r-nathan-fellowship-for-the-study-of-singapore

In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank sits down with pioneering Thai economist, technologist, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist Jeep Kline, Founder & Managing Partner of Raisewell Ventures.

Jeep shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Bangkok, to earning her stripes at the World Bank, and launching the world’s first Android tablet at Intel, before ultimately founding a VC firm focused on both deep-tech innovation and real impact across Southeast Asia.

Jeep opens up about resilience, failure, identity, the challenges facing young entrepreneurs, the future of climate tech, and her mission to unlock Southeast Asia’s full potential in the AI age.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: Jeep Kline, Managing Partner & Founder, Raisewell Ventures

• Jeep believes that growing up through the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, combined with years of never winning anything as a competitive swimmer, helped teach her how to adapt and move on after failure.
• A revelatory experience in Tanzania made Jeep realize that technology, and not just policy, is key to improving lives. This realization resulted in her pivoting from economics to tech.
• At Intel, Jeep helped launch the world’s first Android tablet, motivated by a belief that powerful technology should be affordable and accessible across emerging markets.
• Raisewell is Jeep’s fourth fund and the one closest to her mission: backing founders tackling massive global problems in climate, AI, healthcare, and hard tech.
• Jeep talks about how women in Venture Capital can be stereotyped and how this has inspired her to double down on deep tech.

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

Manisha introduces Jeep Kline and her trailblazing role as a Thai-born Silicon Valley VC.

01:10 – Growing Up in Bangkok

Jeep talks about how her education and cultural background have shaped her outlook.

03:05 – Language Barriers

Jeep recounts helping teach herself English by listening to news programs.

04:55 – Living Through the Asian Financial Crisis

How failure, family hardship, and resilience have helped form Jeep’s worldview.

06:10 – A Calling to Economics

Why the financial crisis pushed Jeep to study economics.

10:10 – Hustling Her Way Into the World Bank

How cold calling 50 economists paid off for Jeep.

11:35 – Seeing Technology’s Power in Tanzania

The moment Jeep realized tech is key to improving the lives of millions.

13:50 – Pivot to Tech: UC Berkeley & Intel

Her transition from economics to tech, earning her MBA, and joining Intel.

15:30 – Launching the First Android Tablet

Why affordability mattered so much to Jeep.

18:05 – Early Startup Lessons

How Jeep learnt to understand founder–VC dynamics.

20:30 – Founding Raisewell Ventures

Why Jeep focuses on high-return, high-impact deep tech.

22:00 – What She Looks for in Founders

Jeep rates authenticity, clarity and intellectual honesty.

23:20 - Quick Fire Questions

Jeeps answers questions about Ray Dalio, Zohran Mamdani and the K shaped economy.

26:30 – The Future of Climate Tech

Jeep talks about why now, not later, is the time to invest heavily.

28:45 –...

In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank looks at a pivotal 24 hours in South Korea that captured the world’s attention: the Trump–Xi handshake in Busan and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sharing fried chicken with Samsung and Hyundai bosses.

Joining Manisha are two expert voices — Curtis Chin, former US Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank, and Sam Olsen, geopolitical strategist and author of States of Play — to explore the state of US-China relations, and what these photo ops actually mean for Asia, the global chip race and the future world order.

• Manisha Tank

• Curtis S. Chin, Chair, Senior Fellows; Senior Advisor, Global Markets, Milken Institute • Sam Olsen, Geopolitical strategist, Chief Analyst at Sibylline

Despite shifting policies and unpredictability, the fact that a US President physically showed up in the region carries huge symbolic weight.

Most ASEAN nations want to avoid choosing sides between the US and China.

The outcome of the “fourth industrial revolution” and the AI race will heavily influence regional alliances.

If Taiwan continues to sit at the heart of advanced chipmaking, it could become an even more critical strategic target.

While the West talks tariffs, local businesses in countries like Thailand and Vietnam fear being flooded by low-cost Chinese products.

Super typhoons in the Philippines and worsening disasters across Asia remind leaders that existential climate threats may ultimately force collaboration that geopolitical rivalries cannot.

AI-driven advances in nuclear fusion, modular reactors and climate tech could offer a realistic pathway to abundant clean energy — but only if benefits are shared across geopolitical blocs.

00:06 - Setting the Scene: Two Photo Ops, One Global Story

2:24 - Trump in Asia: Why Showing Up Still Matters

7:30 - US/Japan & US/Korea: Renewed Alliances on Display

9:40 - Where does the US/ China Geopolitical Relationship Stand Now?

11:40 - Nvidia, Blackwell Chips and China’s Tech Catch-Up

14:00 - Economic Fallout: Tariffs, Flooded Markets & Southeast Asian Anxiety

19:00 - Geopolitical ‘Great Split’: Red vs. Blue Economies

21:43 - Climate Crises as a Geostrategic Equalizer

24:58 - AI, Energy Innovation & Reasons for Optimism

26:34 - Closing Thoughts

We’re on a mission to bring the real Asia — its thinkers, builders, dreamers, and disruptors — to global ears. So if you know someone who would be a great guest or want to contact the team, please email:

tanktalksasia@asiaworks.com

And don’t forget to follow, subscribe, and share so you don’t miss the next episode of Tank Talks Asia.

In this episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank sits down with YolanDa Brown, the UK’s premier female saxophonist, during her debut Asia tour. From sold-out performances in Tokyo and Singapore to her deep passion for music education and mental health advocacy, YolanDa shares how music can be a force for change, connection, and joy.

She discusses everything from growing up in a Jamaican-British household and earning an OBE from King Charles, to the global rise of K-Pop — and even how she can solve a Rubik’s Cube in just three minutes.

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Guest: YolanDa Brown OBE

• YolanDa highlights how musical collaboration can bring cultures together and technology can empower artists everywhere to build audiences beyond borders.
• YolanDa notes the importance of nurturing creativity, confidence, and emotional wellbeing in the next generation, with music offering a safe outlet for emotions and connections.
• From the Commonwealth to K-Pop, YolanDa champions collaboration over division and community over anger.
• She believes in being “unapologetically yourself.”

0:00 - Welcome to Tank Talks Asia

Manisha introduces the show and this episode’s featured guest, YolanDa Brown.

1:02 - Jazz, Reggae & Asia

YolanDa discusses performing in Tokyo and Singapore.

2:14 - A Musical Homecoming with Yamaha

YolanDa talks about working with Yamaha.

3:25 - Roots & Upbringing

How family, culture, and confidence have helped to shape YolanDa’s outlook.

5:01 - Honored by the King

YolanDa tells us about receiving her OBE and what it truly means.

7:39 - Reframing the Commonwealth

A discussion about how history can be used as a platform for change and unity.

9:34 - Championing Children’s Mental Health

YolanDa talks about her Band Jam TV show and Sesame Street collaborations with Elmo.

13:18 - The Healing Power of Music

YolanDa shares a personal story about how music can be incredibly emotional.

14:56 - Making Music Joyful

YolanDa talks about teaching improvisation and how to find the heart in music performances.

16:23 - The Global Language of Jazz

Manisha and YolanDa chat about how jazz is having a renaissance across cultures.

16:50 - K-Pop, Authenticity & Generational Connection

They go on to discuss the K-Pop phenomenon.

19:41 - India, Bollywood & Beyond

YolanDa shares her thoughts on what drives global music success.

22:05 - Breaking Barriers in the Industry

She also talks about the power of collaboration, independent artists and the importance of “finding your tribe”.

25:02 - Dreaming Big in Asia

YolanDa discusses future tour plans and potential collaborations.

26:44 - Fun & Quirky Facts

YolanDa shares some light-hearted facts with Manisha.

28:29 - Closing Thoughts

Manisha and YolanDa talk about amplifying Asia’s creative voice.

Don’t miss out

We’re on a mission to bring the real Asia — its thinkers, builders, dreamers, and disruptors — to global...

Episode Overview

In this very first episode of Tank Talks Asia, Manisha Tank talks to some of the region’s most influential movers and shakers at the Milken Institute Asia Summit in Singapore.

TTA Producer and Milken insider Yeen Chong joins her to offer insights from an event that brings together billion-dollar investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are all helping to shape the future of Asia.

Featuring insights from leaders including Curtis Chin, Pandu Sjahrir, Lu Zhang, Steven Ciobo, Chinta Bhagat and more, this episode captures the optimism, urgency, and cultural energy driving what many believe is Asia’s decade.

Manisha and Yeen ask the question why Asia, and why now?

Featured Voices

Host: Manisha Tank

Producer and Co-host: Yeen Chong, Head of Communications, Milken Institute Asia

Voices from the Milken Institute Asia Summit:

• Curtis S. Chin, Chair, Senior Fellows; Senior Advisor, Global Markets, Milken Institute; featured at 5:30 and 22:23
• Pandu Sjahrir, Chief Investment Officer, Danantara Indonesia; featured at 7:41 and 22:27
• Miro Lu, Founder & Managing Director, Perspective Media; featured at 9:25
• Lu Zhang, Founder & Managing Partner, Fusion Fund; featured at 11:18 and 22:17
• Chinta Bhagat, Managing Partner, Aries Holdings; featured at 13:39
• Steven Okun, Founder & CEO, APAC Advisors; featured at 15:14 and 22:05
• Steven Ciobo, Milken Institute Asia Fellow, Former Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism & Investment, & Minister for Defence Industry; featured at 16:11
• Billy Naveed, Founder & Chairman, Young Founders School; featured at 17:48
• Alicia Ng, VP, Head of R&D, Wider Asia, Haleon; featured at 19:34
• Laura Entwistle, Director of Strategic Partnerships; Unheard; featured at 20:58

Key takeaways from our guests

• Asia is no longer emerging — it’s driving global opportunity.
• The region’s diversity is its strength, not a challenge.
• Tech, especially AI, is reshaping every industry from China to Indonesia.
• Immigrant identity is a powerful entrepreneurial fuel.
• Geopolitical tensions require resilience, not fear.
• Growth must be balanced with awareness of ethical and societal issues.
• Culture, community, and family remain central to Asia’s identity.

Don’t miss out

We’re on a mission to bring the real Asia — its thinkers, builders, dreamers, and disruptors — to global ears. So if you know someone who would be a...