Revitalizing traditional Asian companies to adopt to the digitalization wave is the biggest challenge faced by top regional executives.

Asian business leaders plotted yesterday the precarious path of the region's economy through their individual organizations in the annual Forbes Global CEO Conference in Singapore.

Sabin M. Aboitiz, president and CEO, Aboitiz Group said: "We are transforming a 100-year-old company to a 25-year-old athlete."

"Thinking as a startup but not forgetting our legacies," was how he described the transformation of the Aboitiz group.

"And at the heart and soul of everything is people," he indicated.

Known for his passion for people and innovation, he is currently leading the Aboitiz Group on a "Great Transformation" towards becoming the first techglomerate in the country.

The Aboitiz Group is one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines with interests in energy, banking, food, real estate, infrastructure, construction, technologies, data science and artificial intelligence.

True industrialist

Outside the Aboitiz Group, Sabin holds positions in various business and socio-civic organizations including Lead Strategic Convener of the Private Sector Advisory Council to the government, co-chairperson of the Sustainable Growth Working Group in the APEC Business Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, member of the United Nations Global Compact Network Philippines Board of Trustees, and Steward of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism.

According to Forbes, Sabin's creative and resourceful approach to employee engagement has earned him the Philippine Quill Award of Excellence for Communication Management, and his commitment to sustainability has led the Aboitiz Group to the frontlines of renewable energy in the country.

In its 21st year, the annual conference convened CEOs, tycoons, entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders to discuss key issues of global concern and to build new partnerships, according to Forbes.

The business bible said it takes boldness and vision to pilot an enterprise as the global business scene is transformed by new realities.

Valuable perspective

"The view from the top provides some perspective, but the rest of the crew must be motivated to embrace change as well," it added.

"Leadership is about appreciating the perspective of all your stakeholders, and I think that's what politics teaches you," according to Binod K. Chaudhary, chairperson of CG Corp. Global, said during the Captains Courageous session.