The
Unique
Contributions
Podcast
Join our experts as they share stories, ideas and insights on the issues that matter most in our world today. Brought to you by RELX.
Below you can find all of the episodes for series one, or click here for series two, available now.
In each episode of Unique Contributions, we bring you closer to some of the most interesting people from around our business working on industry-shaping issues that matter. We explore how they and we collectively as a business, create a positive impact on society through our knowledge, resources and skills. This is what we call our “unique contributions”.
Society is facing real challenges. Our way of life as we previously knew it is currently being hampered by the global pandemic. Daily transactions and business activities are moving online where fraud is on the rise. Healthcare is under scrutiny like never before. Injustices are grabbing the headlines.
YS Chi, director of corporate affairs at RELX and Chairman of Elsevier explores these big issues by diving deep into conversations with some of his friends and colleagues and pushes them for answers. Along the way, he discovers the stories that have brought them to where they are today.
EPISODE 7:
Jelena Sevo:
Driving diversity
To conclude the first series of our Unique Contributions podcast, YS speaks to Jelena Sevo about diversity, inclusion and innovation, and what it means to be one of the most senior women at RELX. In her conversation, Jelena makes the business case for diversity and shares her insights into what more can be done to bring down the remaining barriers that still stand in the way. As chief strategy officer at RELX, Jelena talks about RELX’s approach to customer centricity and what makes the organisation different. Her personal story, set against the backdrop of a country that was once defined by polarisation and the rejection of diversity, is an engaging window into how a female leader is driving innovation through diversity of thought.
You can read more about what it's like to be a woman at RELX here, and learn about innovation and technology at RELX.
EPISODE 6:
ANNA DYCHEVA-smirnova:
LEADER OF POSITIVITY
Much has been discussed about the events industry during the pandemic. In this episode, YS explores with Anna Dycheva-Smirnova the lasting impact of shows on local economies and what it takes to be a leader in the industry. Anna discusses how authenticity, sincerity and openness have informed her leadership style with both clients and employees. Her positive mental attitude and a sense of higher purpose have ensured some of the highest advocacy scores in employee opinion surveys across RELX. A veteran of the industry, Anna shares her insights into how the industry has evolved over time and how moving from “instinct to database” is creating growth opportunities for clients.
Anna Dycheva-Smirnova is CEO of Reed Exhibitions Russia, Turkey and the Middle East, and also from January 2021, the new CEO of the UK.
You can read more of our stories on Reed Exhibitions here and why people at RELX recommend our company as a great place to work here.
EPISODE 5:
STEPHEN TOPLISS:
tackling cybercrime
What can businesses and individuals do to identify and prevent cybercrime? In this episode, YS is joined by Stephen Topliss who operates at the forefront of fraud analysis and online fraud prevention. Together they discuss how cybercrime has evolved during the course of the pandemic and the challenges this creates for organisations and individuals. Stephen shares his insights on the tension between convenience and verification, the need to educate the younger generations and the different geographical approaches to customer experience versus online authentication. Tune in to learn about digital identity and behavioural biometrics and how these, combined with machine learning techniques, can optimise fraud prevention.
Stephen Topliss is vice president of market planning for global fraud and identity at LexisNexis Risk Solutions Group.
You can read more about cybercrime and how to weed out online fraudsters in our story here.
EPISODE 4:
gaythri raman:
the rule of law campaigner
What is the rule of law, what does it mean in practice and why does it matter?
Gaythri Raman has dedicated a large part of her career to advance the rule of law. In this episode, YS asks Gaythri what it takes to meaningfully advance the rule of law around the world and about the role that technology can play in this journey. Based in South East Asia, Gaythri shares the stories that have changed her life and the lives of others to create a more equal society.
Gaythri Raman is managing director of LexisNexis South East Asia.
If you'd like to read more about how LexisNexis helps advance the rule of law, you can read our story here.
EPISODE 3:
rhett alden:
improving patients' lives
In this episode, YS discusses healthcare and improving patients' lives. In conversation with Rhett Alden, YS asks how it was possible to make such quick progress with the Covid vaccines, how to continue the push for more open access to information, and how to build trust. Rhett shares his insights on the exciting possibilities that come with bringing together large data sets that help better understand patients and the latest tools that are helping oncologists find the best cancer treatments.
Rhett Alden is chief technology officer for health and commercial markets at Elsevier.
If you'd like to read more about Elsevier and how it is experimenting with different models so it continues to innovate, you can read our story here.
EPISODE 2:
Dean Curtis:
Learning from sports
In this episode, YS Chi speaks to Dean Curtis about his unconventional professional journey which has seen him skip university, start a career in finance, move into professional soccer coaching at major UK clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, and then onto risk and compliance. Today, he’s leading two growing businesses that provide data and analytics. YS asks Dean about how these different paths have served each other and how his insights into sports, elite team performance and psychological safety informs his business decisions and leadership skills. Together, they discuss “co-opetiton” - the combination of competition and collaboration - in the age of Covid, insights into how analytics are helping the airline, travel and petrochemical industries make better decisions, and our responsibility to support their transition towards environmental sustainability.
Dean Curtis is group managing director of ICIS and Cirium which respectively provide data and analytics solutions to the petrochemical, and airline and travel industries.
You can read more about ICIS and Cirium in our story on how RELX has been transformed from a print-based publisher into an information-based analytics group, employing more than 9,000 technologists.
EPISODE 1:
Lance Fensterman:
Pop culture fanatic
In this episode, YS Chi speaks to Lance Fensterman, pop culture fanatic, entrepreneur and global head of ReedPOP. ReedPOP celebrates pop culture around the world and runs events like New York Comic Con, EGX Berlin, the Minecraft Festival and the Star War Celebration to name just a few. YS asks Lance about his unconventional career path and how he got to where he is today. Lance shares his insights into creating community engagement and compelling experiences in a digital world, and speaks of the challenges of navigating change. Throughout, we learn about leadership.
If you'd like to learn more about the crazy world of Comic Con, you can read our story here.
Unique Contributions is hosted by YS Chi
Youngsuk ‘YS’ Chi is an international businessman and a global thought leader in the publishing, education and information solutions industries. As Chairman of Elsevier, he works directly with key stakeholders in government, academia and industry to support over 30 million scientists, students and health information professionals. In his role as Director of Corporate Affairs for RELX, Elsevier’s parent company, he is responsible for government affairs, corporate communications and corporate responsibility across all four of the group’s market segments.
Based in London and New York, Chi travels extensively to engage with scientific research communities, deliver thought leadership on key trends and advise stakeholders, boards and groups across industries. Chi serves as Distinguished Visiting Professor at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Chi is also an independent director of Ingram Industries Inc. (Nashville, USA) and CFI Education (Vancouver, Canada), and is involved in numerous educational, artistic and charitable organizations including Princeton University, the Ban Ki-Moon Foundation and the Korea Society.
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
We help scientists make new discoveries, doctors and nurses improve the lives of patients and lawyers win cases. We prevent online fraud and money laundering, and help insurance companies evaluate and predict risk. Our events enable customers to learn about markets, source products and complete transactions. In short, we enable our customers to make better decisions, get better results and be more productive.
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