Philipp Kristian

Philipp is a globally recognised trust-economy expert, author, educator and strategist who has built an international reputation for helping organisations navigate digital transformation through the lens of trust. Having spent more than a decade working with major organisations across Asia, he has advised Fortune 500 leaders on large-scale innovation initiatives, ecosystem development and customer engagement strategies. As the author of ‘The Trust Economy’ and ‘RESET’, Philipp is widely sought after as a keynote speaker for his ability to explain how trust has become one of the most valuable assets in modern business. His expertise combines innovation, technology, leadership and human behaviour, making his insights highly relevant to organisations facing rapid change.

Beginning his career in strategy and innovation consulting, Philipp developed a strong foundation in helping organisations adapt to evolving market conditions. Early roles included working as a consultant for DDX Denkfabrik.Digital and serving as a researcher at the Hasso Plattner Institute. He later became an advisory member for Circles.Life and joined FutureBrand Singapore as its first innovation strategist. Building on this experience, Philipp moved into leadership roles with major financial services organisations, including MetLife, where he founded FutureLab, and Manulife, where he served as Asia Innovation Fellow. These positions enabled him to lead innovation programmes and create customer-centric value propositions across diverse markets.

Alongside his corporate career, Philipp has established himself as a respected academic and thought leader. He has lectured at the Singapore Management University, the Civil Service College, INSEAD Executive Education and CEDEP. His contributions to innovation and leadership have earned international recognition, including being named a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum and a Global Fellow by Kairos Society ASEAN. He was also recognised among the St. Gallen Symposium’s Knowledge Pool Leaders of Tomorrow.

Today, Philipp continues to influence organisations worldwide as a Visiting Professor, Executive Education faculty member and Advisor for the German Accelerator. His work focuses on helping leaders understand how trust drives economic value, organisational resilience and sustainable growth. By combining academic research with real-world business experience, Philipp delivers practical insights that enable organisations to build stronger relationships with customers, employees and stakeholders in an increasingly digital world.

Philipp is hired as a speaker for his unique ability to translate complex concepts around trust, innovation and digital transformation into practical business strategies. Drawing on years of experience advising multinational organisations across Asia, he helps audiences understand how trust influences customer behaviour, organisational performance and long-term growth. His engaging presentations blend research, case studies and actionable frameworks that leaders can immediately apply. Whether speaking to executives, entrepreneurs or public sector organisations, Philipp provides valuable insights into navigating uncertainty, building confidence and creating sustainable competitive advantage in the modern economy.

Here are some of the key milestones that define Philipp Kristian’s remarkable career:

  • 2023 – Appointed Advisor for the German Accelerator, supporting high-growth companies with innovation and expansion strategies.
  • 2022 – Joined CEDEP as a lecturer, delivering executive education on innovation, leadership and transformation.
  • 2022 – Became a lecturer at INSEAD Executive Education, sharing expertise with senior business leaders.
  • 2022 – Appointed lecturer at the Civil Service College, helping public sector leaders navigate change and innovation.
  • 2019 – Began lecturing at the Singapore Management University, contributing to leadership and innovation education.
  • 2018 – Named a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum in recognition of his leadership and impact.
  • 2016 – Recognised as a Global Fellow by Kairos Society ASEAN for his contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • 2015 – Named a Knowledge Pool Leader of Tomorrow by the St. Gallen Symposium.
  • 2015 – Selected as a Leader of Tomorrow by the St. Gallen Symposium.
  • 2013 – Joined FutureBrand Singapore as its first innovation strategist while also serving as an advisory member for Circles.Life.