In this Good to Great Podcast episode, hosts Samanata Thapa and Masrur Rahman sit down with Md. Shamsul Haque, former Director General of the SAARC Wing and Additional Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, and current CEO of Coders Trust Bangladesh, to answer a question that should be keeping every South Asian policymaker and business leader up at night: why does a region with one of the youngest workforces on the planet, a manufacturing base of enormous scale, and consumer demand that global brands are racing to tap into trade more with countries thousands of miles away than with its own neighbors? Intra-regional trade sits at a mere five percent while ASEAN has crossed twenty-five percent and the EU operates near sixty. Something is broken, and it has been broken for nearly four decades. Mr. Haque takes listeners inside the rooms where regional decisions were made, revealing how a consensus-based system became a consensus-based gridlock, why high-level summits have been frozen for over a decade, and what political fault lines continue to block progress. The conversation also pushes forward, exploring how the SAARC Development Fund could transform the region's unskilled workforce into a digitally competitive talent pool, what a South Asian Economic Union would actually require, and why Bangladesh may hold the key to restarting the entire process. Whether you are a policymaker, trade professional, entrepreneur, or simply someone who believes South Asia deserves better, this episode will change how you think about the region's future.

In this Good to Great Podcast episode, hosts Yume Towhida and Masrur Rahman are joined by Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), Managing Director of New Vision Solutions Limited and President of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to examine the future of Japanese foreign direct investment in Bangladesh’s ready-made garments industry. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience working with Japanese investors, Jun shares an insider’s perspective on how Japanese manufacturing philosophy, long-term partnership models, and discipline-driven productivity systems could shape Bangladesh’s next growth phase. The conversation explores what might trigger Japanese investment at scale, why joint ventures and minority stakes often come before acquisitions, and how know-how transfer can elevate skills, quality, sustainability, and global credibility across the apparel ecosystem. A must-listen for policymakers, industry leaders, and anyone interested in the evolving dynamics of Japan–Bangladesh collaboration in the global RMG landscape.

In this Good to Great Podcast episode, hosts Azwad Mostafiz and Timea Hejja welcome Caterina Occhio, Europe Board Regional Representative of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), ESG & Sustainability Advisor, and founder of SeeMe, a pioneering ethical jewelry brand whose iconic heart-shaped pieces are handcrafted by women survivors of violence. Joining her is Jette Lore Ladiges, Independent Global Board Member of WFTO and CEO of El Puente. Together, they explore how local craft, home décor, and fashion brands can break into the European market. From navigating strict regulations and fair pricing to elevating design and leveraging digital platforms, they reveal how WFTO’s guarantee system and global networks empower artisans to connect with buyers and collaborate with luxury brands. A must-listen for entrepreneurs, artisans, and anyone passionate about fair trade and sustainable fashion.

In this episode of the Good to Great Podcast, hosts Tamara Héjja and Timea Héjja talk with global fashion strategist Bharat Pratap Singh about how a single design idea becomes a product worn around the world. Having worked with brands including ZARA, H&M, American Eagle Outfitters Inc., PULL&BEAR, C&A, River Island, PVH Corp., Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and UNIQLO, Bharat explains what makes certain ideas scale globally while others don’t. He shares how trends like Barbiecore and Craftcore develop, how culture shapes what sells in different markets, and how technology is changing design, sampling, and production. They also discuss sustainability, the future of global fashion, and the thinking behind fast, high-impact product decisions. This conversation gives a rare, inside look at how global fashion really works and what brands need today to succeed.

In this podcast session hosted by Timea Héjja and Tamara Héjja on the Good to Great Podcast, George Hartel, Chief Commercial and Development Officer at GQ Group Thailand, shares how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing fashion brand storytelling. From boosting creativity and productivity to maintaining authenticity and addressing ethical challenges, George explains how GQ integrates AI across design, marketing, and operations. Listeners will gain insights into how AI is driving personalization, accelerating content creation, and reshaping consumer engagement, and why fashion brands that embrace it early gain a decisive edge.

In this episode of the Good to Great Podcast, hosts Masrur Rahman and Timea Héjja explore how fashion brands grow across borders while staying authentic. Joining them are Iftekhar Mallick, General Manager at Beximco Group and former member of the senior leadership team at Bata Group, and Emma Pritchard, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Marketing at Southampton Solent University in the United Kingdom. Together, they unpack strategies for entering new markets, balancing global identity with local culture, and using technology responsibly. From Zara’s localization in India to Bata’s resilience in South Asia and LVMH’s data-driven personalization, this episode offers a masterclass in how fashion thrives globally without losing its soul.

In this episode of the Good to Great Podcast, host Masrur Rahman speaks with Carry Somers, co-founder of Fashion Revolution and the League of Artisans. Together they unpack the Crafted Report, a first-of-its-kind benchmark that reveals how South Asia’s artisan communities are reshaping global supply chain transparency. From wage insecurity and cultural appropriation to innovative tools like eco-mapping, blockchain, and digital product passports, Carry lays out a blueprint for moving from extractive practices to equitable partnerships. This conversation highlights how South Asian artisans are not just heritage keepers but co-creators of tomorrow’s more transparent industry.

In this episode of the Good to Great Podcast, host Tamara Héjja sits down with Ugandan fashion designer Katende Godfrey, Co-founder and CEO of IGC Fashion. Together they explore how African fashion is redefining global culture through Afrofuturism, storytelling, and sustainability. From the idea that “Africa has always been sustainable” to the role of fashion as a language of identity and legacy, this conversation reveals how style can empower communities and position Africa as a leader in the future of global fashion.