With the rapid transformation of data technology, we currently stand at a historical turning point. Although the term “big data” has become the subject of heated discussion, rarely does anyone mention the abilities that this great revolution necessitates. Countless businesses and individuals regard data with equal parts trepidation and awe: “What does big data have to do with me?” The future is the era of big data; in the future, competition will be synonymous to data competition. It is high time that we forget the fanciful speculations and hype, and let big data truly “live” for once – not just as something “seen” but as something “utilized.” The data no longer serves simply as the basis for arithmetical calculations, but also possesses the potential to predict and create new opportunities.

Mr. Herbert Chia, Alibaba's Head of Intelligence, completed the TIEMBA (Tsinghua - INSEAD Executive MBA) programme in 2010. As Herbert puts it, the programme was an awakening "that gave him the energy and the power to do something else". In this presentation, Mr. Herbert Chia reviews the heat on Big Data and develops the discussion on how to turn it into something “utilized”. A brief introduction of Tsinghua-INSEAD EMBA Program will also be presented after the lecture.