Nominees Category: Individual

Supporting a flourishing fintech industry is crucial for growth in Asia Pacific. Connie Cheng, Mastercard’s VP of Innovation for APAC, embodies this purpose with boundless energy, blending creativity with strategic foresight to deliver solutions that enable Mastercard, its fintech partners, and clients to thrive in the future of commerce.

Since assuming her role in 2022, Connie has spearheaded approaches to client and fintech collaboration and employee innovation programs that have become models for Mastercard globally while the Mastercard Experience Center in Singapore stands as an industry leader in experiential engagement. Her bold vision was on full display at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2024, where she masterminded the Sphere of Commerce, an immersive showcase that brought to life Mastercard’s vision of a borderless, interconnected future powered by fintech. Connie’s impact extends beyond the company through innovation programs that unlock growth opportunities across industries and shape industry discourse and policy considerations regionwide.

Dina Artarini has been instrumental in shaping DANA since joining in 2018 as Chief Legal & Compliance Officer. With expertise in financial regulations and banking law, she bridges fintech innovation with regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance while driving progress. A seasoned legal professional, she began her career in 1997 and later held key leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank. With degrees from the University of Indonesia and Boston University, she brings a strong legal foundation to DANA, positioning it as a trusted fintech leader.

Beyond compliance, Dina fosters collaboration between regulators and industry players, shaping policies like e-KYC and QRIS adoption. Under her leadership, DANA has grown into Indonesia’s leading fintech with 200 million users. She also champions diversity and inclusion, empowering women in leadership. As ASPI Secretary, she influences national payment policies while supporting grassroots initiatives for women and children, proving leadership extends beyond business into meaningful social impact.

Bhavna isn’t just a digital transformation leader—she’s the problem solver clients demand in the room. If a solution doesn’t exist, she builds it. As Solutions Partner at Publicis Groupe APAC, she’s been the driving force behind GrowthOS—Publicis’s proprietary intelligence platform that connects data, media, and creativity into a seamless ecosystem.

Under her leadership, GrowthOS evolved from a tool into a powerhouse, now embedded in the agency’s core DNA, with 70% of teams leveraging it to drive impact. Her AI-driven innovations cut reporting times by 3x, unlocked major wins like Unilever and Kenvue, and helped Publicis Groupe dominate APAC new business rankings in 2024. Whether it’s building brand safety dashboards with Google, pioneering measurement with Meta, or making AI adoption seamless with the “Governance Agent,” Bhavna is the architect of transformation. She doesn’t just push boundaries—she redraws them. Clients trust her. Teams rally around her. And the industry is catching up.

In the data economy, success belongs to those who own, protect, and activate their data. Mamta believes that businesses must move beyond adopting the latest technology—they need a tailored, strategic roadmap that aligns with their unique challenges and objectives. Her vision is clear: digital transformation is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it requires structured execution, measurable impact, and a relentless focus on business outcomes.

As Digital Transformation Lead for OpenMind, Mamta has played a critical role in reshaping how brands harness AdTech and MarTech, ensuring data isn’t just collected but activated for competitive advantage. From pioneering AI-driven planning solutions to creating scalable data frameworks, she has consistently delivered solutions that drive growth, efficiency, and innovation.

Now expanding her leadership from regional to global, Mamta is setting new benchmarks in data-driven marketing, privacy-compliant audience strategies, and AI-powered decision-making—helping brands thrive in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Olga is a transformative marketing leader who has propelled KIT Global from a traditional service agency to a platform-driven industry leader. She revolutionized the company’s marketing approach by shifting from high-cost, short-term tactics to a data-driven, thought leadership strategy that delivers sustainable growth. Under her leadership, KIT Global’s brand presence has soared—securing top-tier media coverage, elevating the CEO as a globally recognized industry voice, and positioning the company as a dominant force in digital marketing.

She has optimized marketing investments, forged strategic collaborations, and aligned sales and marketing to drive measurable revenue impact. Beyond strategy, Olga is a hands-on mentor, building a high-performing global team and spearheading initiatives like the Global Case Jam. As the CEO’s right hand, she ensures marketing is not just about visibility but a powerful engine for business success at scale.