Cambodia's insurance industry is one of the premium sectors experiencing upward growth. This upward growth of the insurance industry can be attributed to growing incomes and increasing awareness in the industry. In recent years the industry has been experiencing fierce competition among its peers which has led to new and innovative products within the sector.

In particular, the insurance market has remarkably maintained its positive growth at 8 percent in 2020 and about 10 percent in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A big leader in the industry like Forte plays a huge role in the development of this sector. Forte is a Cambodian company providing in-depth personal and corporate insurance coverage and offers a multitude of solutions tailor-made for you and your business. From your family to your employees, to your financial assets, Forte is sure to cover you from all angles.

Sharliza Rahman, Chief Brand & Digital Officer at Forte has distinguished herself in the industry by creating powerful brand storytelling strategies that enhance both the user experience and the company's growth. Her career began with web development and digital marketing, and as she advanced, she added brand, communications, and customer experience to her skill set. She gained broad knowledge by taking risks in her job decisions, and this is what made her a leader.

Below is an excerpt from Sharliza Rahman, Chief Brand and Digital Officer, Forte exclusive interaction with us.

Tell us about your early education and previous work experience. What is your remarkable abilities as a marketing expert?

I am from Singapore and my journey began by learning to code. It helped me to establish my own web design company while in secondary school and eventually became Head of Digital in the higher education and non-profit sector in London. When DBS Bank in Singapore offered me a position to lead their regional internal communications due to my digital background, that was a chance to broaden my knowledge of communications and  Cambodia to help businesses become more corporate and refresh their brands.

I consider myself to be a T-shaped marketer because I initially focused on web development and digital marketing before broadening my knowledge to include brand, communications, and customer experience. By taking calculated risks with my job decisions, I have gained invaluable experience. I truly enjoy creating a great corporate brand story from the ground up, beginning with our vision and mission, and continuing all the way to how customers would interact through online and offline channels.

Tell us about responsibilities that you carry out at Forte Insurance.

Since its founding in 1999, Forte has experienced great success and is currently Cambodia's top general insurer and fastest-growing life insurer. By utilizing digital technologies to support our growth ambitions and strengthen our reputation, I collaborate with our leadership team to establish an integrated group brand, marketing, and customer experience strategy.

"My motivation comes from seizing new possibilities to develop, go where I’m needed, and support CEOs and business owners strategically"

Describe the challenges you face and actions you put forth to encounter them in your current position.

Cambodia is a developing market where individuals are still wary of financial institutions and don't yet understand the importance of using insurance to protect their finances. The environment here is genuinely hyper-personalized. Popular mobile applications here are always supported by real-world, human assistance. Therefore, the solutions we develop must be incredibly practical, simple to use and personalized. To enable people to make proper financial decisions and fulfill their aspirations, we also need to concentrate on financial inclusion and education.

What are some of the most significant milestones you have achieved in your professional journey? What has been the driving force behind your success as a professional?

My motivation comes from seizing new possibilities to develop, go where I'm needed, and support CEOs and business owners strategically. One of my biggest achievements was helping Urbanland Asia, a real estate firm I worked for, to win the Best Developer of the Year award at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards. I am also appreciative of my life-long friends who have shaped my path in life.

In the future, how do you see the marketing landscape in the Asian business landscape changing? Which market developments, in your opinion, will have the biggest influence?

Emerging markets in South East Asia greatly benefit from an expanding middle class and a growing number of young people. Businesses that concentrate on improving their mobile experience will succeed, as demonstrated by ABA Bank's success in Cambodia. To truly democratize technology use in these developing markets, it would be interesting to investigate how to implement and track conversational commerce at scale as well as how to get around the language barrier associated with voice search and OCR (optical character recognition) for regional languages.

What advice do you have for young women and girls who are hoping to manage, head businesses and launch their own ventures?

Care deeply about growing and developing your team. Be friendly to all your colleagues and keep your boss happy - this does not necessarily mean saying yes all the time, but rather remaining flexible and adaptable so that when it matters you can act according to what’s right in the given situation and get the support you need. Stay connected to your friends and networks.  Compassion and understanding go a long way.

Sharliza Rahman, Chief Brand And Digital Officer,  Forte Insurance

Sharliza Rahman is Chief Brand and Digital Officer at Forte Insurance. She has more than 15 years of experience working abroad in real estate, finance, higher education, and many more industries. She guides businesses in their digital evolution and transformation into customer-centric enterprises.