Welcome to another edition of Fast Five - VCCI’s fortnightly series where we ask Victoria’s most successful business leaders to answer five questions to gain an insight into the inner-workings of some of Australia’s biggest and most effective businesses.

With more than 20 years of experience in the Australian financial services industry, Damien Mu has had his fair share of ‘magical moments’ to get to where he is today. While his success is immense, Damien explains why focusing on the smallest things can make the biggest difference.

#1: What will be your greatest challenge in the next six months?

We have learned from the past six months that living and working through a pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint. Our short-term challenge – and our opportunity – is to adapt to a new future that is evolving from the community’s shared experience.

We know that many people are struggling with their mental health at present, due to isolation and financial instability, and we want to do what we can to help people understand and look after their own health and wellbeing.

Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference. This is how we will not only survive, but also revive and thrive together.

#2: How are you and the AIA future-proofing your business?

“Survive, Revive, Thrive” has been our mantra for much of 2020. AIA’s purpose is to make a difference in people’s lives, and our people have rallied around that for our customers, partners and each other.

We are looking at our future ways of working, and how we want our business to thrive. We’re using technology, data and analytics to better understand what customers want and need, and then bringing the right people together to develop those solutions and deliver them in ways that best suit our customers.

We’ll thrive if our community thrives.

Our commitment to making a difference in people’s lives extends beyond our life, health and wellbeing proposition. It extends to community initiatives and partnerships that help our employees, their families, the local community and society at large live healthier, longer, better lives.

#3: What does AIA need to do to achieve greater success?

Our dream is to champion Australia and New Zealand to be the healthiest and the best-protected nations in the world. We want to partner with our customers on their health and wellbeing, to inspire and support them to take small steps every day towards a healthier, longer, better life.

It’s our challenge to ensure that our solutions are relevant and delivered to customers and partners in ways that suit their needs in a changing world.

Getting that right means we will continue to make a difference in people’s lives.

#4: What has been the greatest accomplishment of your career?

To date there have been many magical moments and some great challenges, and I’m hoping there are many more to come.

But I would say the greatest accomplishment in my career so far has been to create and inspire a common purpose for people to unite around and link to their personal purpose in life, and to help them achieve their dreams, if they:

1. Have a belief in their ability to achieve something
2. Make a plan with small steps and goals to get there
3. Get on with the work needed to get there!

#5: What excites you about the future?

I have so many positive things to be excited about – I lead a great team, we run a great business, and we have a great offer for Australians and New Zealanders.

More broadly, as part of the AIA Group, we’re on a journey to enable millions of people in our region to live healthier, longer, better lives, delivering solutions to customers in ways that allow them to choose how, when and where they engage with us.

I am especially motivated by the opportunity I have to lead the AIA team in Australia and New Zealand, and to be a part of that exciting future.