2026: This Year Sounds Different

Everyone can see the demand side of the AI boom. The harder question is what's actually constraining supply. In this episode of The Active Share, Hugo is joined by Siuchoon Koay, a research analyst covering large-cap global semiconductors at William Blair, for a technical walk through the AI hardware stack — from GPUs and high-bandwidth memory to substrates and rack-level power. Siuchoon traces how the industry's bottlenecks have migrated over the past two years, weighs Nvidia's and TSMC's strategic choices around capacity and vertical integration, and assesses the risk that Chinese open-source models pose to Western margins. The real question isn't whether AI demand is real, it's who ends up paying for it.

How can organizations build the cultural agility required to remain competitive? In this episode of SuiteTalk, Hugo is joined by Mariam Ahmed, co-founder and CTO of Menza, to explore how organizations can navigate fragmented data landscapes and harness AI for genuine decision-making advantage. Mariam brings a distinctive vantage point, having launched an AI platform after spending time as a founding engineer at a commercial large language model company and beginning her career in equity derivatives at Goldman Sachs. Hugo and Mariam also touch on not just the technical challenge of data fragmentation, but the organizational and strategic imperatives underlying it.

Five years after his last appearance, Jay Kannan, CFA, a research analyst on William Blair’s global equity team, returns to The Active Share to explore how technology has fundamentally transformed from software and services to infrastructure and hardware. Where Hugo and Jay’s 2021 conversation centered on e-commerce and cloud adoption, their discussion this time around focuses on the physical constraints powering AI—from semiconductor bottlenecks and substrate shortages to power grids and the cascading supply chain effects. Together, Hugo and Jay examine why demand for compute far exceeds supply, where value is captured across the stack, and what's breaking under the weight of explosive token growth.

Emerging markets debt (EMD) has evolved from a niche corner of global fixed income into a broad, increasingly resilient asset class. In this episode of The Active Share, Hugo is joined by Marcelo Assalin, CFA, partner, portfolio manager, and head of William Blair’s EMD team, to reflect on how the asset class—and his own investment approach—have matured over the years. Together, Hugo and Marcelo discuss the expanding opportunity set in frontier markets, common misconceptions around risk and EMD, and why today’s macro backdrop may be more supportive than many investors assume.

Africa’s growth story has long been misunderstood. On this episode of The Active Share, Hugo is joined by Joe Studwell, author of "How Asia Works" and "How Africa Works," to unpack the forces shaping Africa’s economic trajectory. Studwell challenges common misconceptions about the continent’s development, arguing that agricultural productivity, population density, and education are the foundations of sustained growth. He and Hugo also discuss the complex role of China’s investment; lessons from Botswana, Mauritius, and Rwanda; and why urbanization and demographic growth could reshape Africa’s economic future.

In a world where law enforcement faces unprecedented challenges, the role of leadership has never been more critical. On this episode of The Active Share, Hugo sits down with Kristen Ziman, Aurora, Illinois’ first female chief of police and now a sought-after leadership consultant, who shares her journey and the transformative power of effective leadership in policing. Kristen also reflects on how optimism, transparency, and courageous conversations can transform not just police departments, but any organization facing turbulence and change. Her story provides a unique blueprint for leaders who are ready to build trust, drive accountability, and create cultures that thrive—even when the pressure is on.

What happens when elite sport meets elite data? In this episode of SuiteTalk, Hugo sits down with Will Lopes, CEO of Catapult Sports, to explore how technology is reshaping the way athletes train, perform, and stay healthy. From wearable devices and real-time analytics to AI-powered insights, Lopes explains how teams are moving beyond intuition to make smarter, more precise decisions. Lopes also offers candid insights on leadership and the role AI will play in enhancing—not disrupting—the future of sports.

“They say the first thing that dies in your life is your taste in music.” In this episode of The Active Share, we invite you to rethink not just your playlists, but your investment mindset for 2026. Hugo is joined by William Blair’s Simon Fennell, partner, and Olga Bitel, partner, for a candid conversation about the emergence of a new investment regime—one shaped by the rise of AI, shifting geopolitics, and rapidly evolving market dynamics. Together, the trio unpacks what these seismic changes mean for investors and investment strategies alike. And as Simon reminds us, there has never been a more important time to challenge personal biases and to stay open to new opportunities.

On this episode of SuiteTalk, Hugo sits down with Martin Bruncko, CEO and founder of Schuman Financial, which is the issuer of EURØP, a regulated, fully backed euro stablecoin. They discuss Martin’s journey from tech entrepreneur and investor to a leader shaping digital finance and break down why financial services are moving on-chain. The conversation also explores the technological barriers slowing adoption and the transformative potential of stablecoins and blockchain technology.

What does it take to lead, innovate, and thrive in Asia’s diverse travel market? On this episode of SuiteTalk, Hugo is joined by Jane Sun, the CEO of Trip.com Group, where she shares her remarkable journey from CPA to CEO. Together, they discuss navigating Asia’s complex markets, leveraging AI to enhance customer experiences, and leading through crises, all while reflecting on how travel and curiosity can shape growth, leadership, and perspective.