Be in Front of Innovation

Read how Talal helps clients bring the future closer and create lasting impact through innovation.

Innovation is not a corporate catchphrase for Talal Ikhwan, it is a practice. As a leader of KPMG in Singapore’s Digital Village, he has spent the past seven years driving transformation through technology. Collaborating with Fortune 500 giants and multinationals, he and his team have been reimagining businesses models and spearheading digital revolutions powered by cutting-edge technology.

"Innovation is about bringing the future closer," he says. "It’s about fast-tracking what’s possible and creating solutions that have a lasting impact."

Talal’s career path is unconventional. Starting as a pharmacist in Germany to now leading a team of engineers, designers and strategists at KPMG in Singapore, his journey has been one marked by bold thinking and curiosity. At the heart of his work lies a passion for using technology to solve complex challenges for clients while cultivating a team rooted in creativity, courage and forward-thinking innovation. “Pharma taught me to listen, first to patients, now to users. That discipline guides how we design to address user’s needs.” he shares.

Innovation as a catalyst for transformation

Talal’s role in the Digital Village team is unique - not just within KPMG in Singapore, but across the global network. "There are fragments of similar capabilities elsewhere, but not with the same construct or maturity," he explains.

KPMG’s Digital Village pairs startup speed with consulting rigor. Blending human-centered design, agile engineering and sharp business strategy, the team delivers solutions at speed. "We think differently, and we build quickly," Talal says. "When clients come to us, they may not know exactly what they need. Our job is to guide them, identify the core problems, and create custom solutions that align with their objectives. We don’t just throw technology at them, we tailor it to their needs."

A recent project shows the approach. A large organisation struggled to access and use its knowledge base "We built AI-work assistants that retrieve years of accumulated content across departments, breaking down silos and enabling employees to access information seamlessly," Talal says. From a whiteboard sketch, the system evolved to include artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, such as generating complex documents in minutes and acting as a digital work companion for employees.

"It started as an idea on paper in a workshop and grew into a tool that’s transforming the way they work,” Talal says. “That’s the kind of lasting impact we aim for."

In many cases, clients are embedded in the process from day one. Ideating alongside the team, testing prototypes and shaping the direction of the solution in real time. This spirit of collaboration ensures that what is built is not only technically sound, but deeply relevant to the people who will use it.

The Digital Village team is also working on new frontiers - harnessing geospatial data and AI to tackle climate risk. "We’ve recently been recognised among KPMG firms globally for our innovative use of use of AI in ESG. Our solution fuses geospatial and hazard modelling data with agentic AI, enabling any user to interact directly with complex datasets," Talal explains.

Fostering a culture of courage and creativity

A typical day for Talal and his team often begins with what they call a “toolbox session” - a focused design sprint where ideas are unpacked, stress-tested and reimagined. Engineers explore emerging technologies, while others shape raw concepts into scalable, real-world solutions. It’s less about hierarchy and more about unlocking fresh perspectives to shape what’s next.

This rhythm of open exploration fuels the team’s ability to anticipate needs clients haven’t yet articulated. “We don’t start with solutions—we start with questions,” Talal says. “What if? Why not? How might we?” From there, possibilities unfold. Some ideas evolve into enterprise-grade platforms; others spark entirely new ways of thinking.

What binds the team is not just technical skills, but a shared hunger to explore, experiment and build with purpose. Talal encourages an entrepreneurial mindset across the board. “I tell them, treat this as your own venture - own it, innovate and make it succeed,” he says.

“Everyone brings a different lens. My role is to create the space for that kind of thinking to thrive.”

Be in Front with accountability

For Talal, KPMG's "Be in Front" ethos resonates deeply. "Being in front means thinking differently, challenging yourself and demonstrating the value you’re creating," he says.

"That’s accountability—not just to your clients, but to your team and yourself."

This mindset shapes both his leadership style and his approach to client relationships.

"When we meet clients, the first step is always building trust. I'm not just here to sell a solution; I’m here to partner and deliver something meaningful."

Talal acknowledges that innovation comes with challenges, including the need to constantly reinvent. "Unlike other advisory services, innovation doesn’t repeat itself. We have to reinvent ourselves every year to stay ahead. A few years ago, Digital Village focused on blockchain based solutions; today, we deliver large‑scale enterprise AI.