Gareth Lai is Head of Strategic Partnership & BD at Binance X. I was born and raised as a third generation South African and relocated to Hong Kong in 2007 to follow my entrepreneurial dreams. I'm a firm believer that anything is possible and over the years have become a: Self-initiator, motivator and entrepreneur - Initiated and established several start-ups, turning ideas into commercially-viable businesses - Proven track record in developing sales, new regional expansion and marketing initiatives to increase revenue inside large companies - Love to challenge the status quo and find ways to disrupt – make ways for the new to improve efficiency and effectiveness - Stay on the cutting edge of new technologies and trends as they develop, including blockchain, cryptocurrency, big data and VRAR Leader, partner and implementer - Led multiple teams across four unique regions (Seoul, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Singapore) within 1.5 months to successfully execute a multicity hackathon attracting 750+ top tier blockchain and business applicants from over 40 countries - Led a team to build a new service offering within an established corporate environment with minimal guidance; growing the business from HK to Beijing and Shanghai; managed a collaborative and cohesive regional team - Partner with a successful US start-up to expand into Asia, leading a team to launch the business and build brand awareness, client base and new revenue streams Communicator and networker - Good listener with empathy and curiosity, can easily relate and make connections with people to understand their needs and challenges - Strong negotiator achieving win-win situations and closing deals – leverage where possible to save costs deriving to efficient pricing - Avid networker – always active in communities, start-up and charity events, sporting functions to meet and network with people across all walks of life - Confident public speaker including presentations, facilitations, and MC with the ability to speak in impromptu situations