Welcome to the latest episode of ExtraMile by WisdomPlexus, where we bring you exclusive insights from industry leaders who are leading the way in technology and innovation.
We are thrilled to welcome Steven Cho, the driving force behind Whale Cloud International’s marketing strategy. As Chief Marketing Officer of the firm, Steven has spent two decades helping telecom companies worldwide reinvent themselves, not just with new technology, but with entirely new ways of doing business.
In this discussion, we will explore how Whale Cloud’s partnership with Alibaba Cloud opened new doors, why artificial intelligence is now fundamental to every telecom operation, and how to communicate complex tech solutions in ways that resonate with real decision-makers.
For anyone leading teams through digital change, working in telecom, or building the future of technology, Steven offers hard-won wisdom about adapting, innovating, and seeing opportunities where others see challenges.
Whether you are in telecom, tech, or leading change, this conversation is packed with lessons on growth, innovation, and staying ahead of change. Let's dive in!
Hello Steven, Hope you are doing well!
1. You have held a number of jobs. You started as an Account Manager and now you are a Chief Marketing Officer. So, you have been with Whale Cloud for over 20 years. Please tell us about the deciding moments in your career?
Ans. Over the past 20 years at Whale Cloud, my career has been shaped by a series of transformative moments. In 2008, I made a pivotal shift from software development to account management—this marked the beginning of my customer-centric mindset, teaching me the value of building trust and understanding client needs. In 2011, stepping into the role of BSS Marketing Director, I began to craft marketing strategies and realized how powerful a strong brand can be.
The next key milestone came in 2015 when I became VP of the BSS Product Line. This role required me to bridge product innovation with market demands, strengthening my ability to lead cross-functional teams. Then in 2018, I took on the challenge of leading cloud business marketing—diving into a rapidly changing industry and driving new market opportunities.
Since 2020, as Chief Marketing Officer, I’ve had the privilege to lead Whale Cloud’s global marketing efforts—shaping strategy, championing innovation, and fueling growth. Each chapter of my journey has reinforced the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
2. Whale Cloud was founded in 2003 and since then it has expanded enormously. Its strategic cooperation with Alibaba Cloud in 2018 is quite noteworthy. What was the impact of this collaboration on your company's standing in the marketplace?
Ans. Our partnership with Alibaba Cloud in 2018 was a catalyst for transformation. It brought together two strong forces—Whale Cloud’s telecom expertise and global reach, and Alibaba Cloud’s strength in infrastructure and AI. The result was a new wave of innovation, enabling us to co-create digital platforms that are scalable, intelligent, and cloud-native. This collaboration elevated our position in the global market as a forward-looking technology provider with a strong ecosystem and international reach.
3. How has Whale Cloud’s marketing approach progressed under your leadership? How did you deal with the changing needs of telecom operators?
Ans. At Whale Cloud, our marketing approach has always been rooted in a customer value–centric mindset. We have further reinforced this by shifting from a traditional product-focused narrative to one that emphasizes strategic outcomes and real-world impact. Our strategy focus goes from providing traditional BSS/OSS offerings to beyond connectivity, such as cloud, fintech, and e-commerce. We’ve also placed AI at the center of our messaging—demonstrating how intelligent platforms can help operators automate, predict, and optimize at scale.
In a fast-evolving industry, changing customer needs are inevitable. Rather than viewing these shifts as challenges, we embrace them as a source of motivation and innovation. We actively and attentively listen to our clients to understand their evolving priorities, whether it’s agility, automation, new revenue streams, or improved user experience. This openness, combined with our ability to turn insights into action, keeps us aligned with operator needs and enables us to evolve both our marketing and solutions in step with the market.
4. We are witnessing 5G deployment and cloud adoption in the telecom industry. According to you, what are the biggest challenges telecom operators face today? How is Whale Cloud working on such pain points？
Ans. Telecom operators today face mounting challenges in modernizing legacy systems, managing increasing network complexity, and generating new value beyond connectivity—all while maintaining operational efficiency and ensuring data compliance. Meanwhile, the rise of 5G, cloud, and edge technologies is adding further layers of complexity.
At Whale Cloud, our response is an “AI-first” approach embedded across our solutions—from intelligent BSS/OSS to AI-powered network automation and real-time customer insight platforms. We help operators simplify operations, accelerate time-to-market, and unlock new revenue streams through scalable, intelligent architectures built for the next era of telecom.
5. Whale Cloud focuses on business support systems, operations support system, cloud services, and artificial intelligence. In your opinion, which of these service areas is now getting the most momentum in the market?
Ans. AI is undoubtedly the fastest-moving area right now. It’s not just a technology trend—it’s a new operating model. Telecom operators are looking to embed intelligence across the board—from network operations to customer engagement and business planning. Cloud remains foundational, but AI is becoming the competitive differentiator. That’s why Whale Cloud has adopted an AI-first strategy, ensuring that all our offerings—whether BSS/OSS or industry platforms—are infused with AI to enable automation, prediction, and real-time optimization.
6. Companies are now depending on data intelligence across industries. How is Whale Cloud helping clients to go from being rich in data to an organization that is swayed by insights?
Ans. At Whale Cloud, we believe that the true value of data lies not in its volume, but in the insights it can generate and the decisions it can drive. Many organizations have abundant data, but lack the tools or capabilities to transform it into actionable intelligence.
To address this, we offer end-to-end data intelligence solutions—from data integration and governance to advanced analytics and AI-driven decision engines. Our platforms help clients break down data silos, enable real-time analysis, and apply predictive models across customer experience, network optimization, and business operations. By embedding data intelligence into daily processes and strategic planning, we empower our clients to shift from reactive decision-making to proactive, insight-led growth.
7. Which market trends will have the most effect on the telecom sector in the next three to five years? Tell us how Whale Cloud is preparing for these changes.
Ans. AI-native telecom operations, open digital platforms, and ecosystem-based revenue models will define the next phase of telecom. Operators will evolve into intelligent service enablers, with AI embedded into everything from network orchestration to customer journey design. Whale Cloud is ready for this future—we’re building AI-inside products, developing open APIs, and creating ecosystem-ready solutions. As we move beyond connectivity, AI serves as a key enabler—empowering our customers to accelerate growth, elevate user experiences, and drive continuous innovation.
8. Your background in product management, marketing, and digital transformation is impressive. Please give advice and guidance to marketing leaders who are attempting to communicate complex technological solutions.
Ans. My advice is simple: lead with relevance, powered by intelligence. As marketers, our job is not to explain technology—it’s to make its impact clear. With AI reshaping what’s possible, we need to simplify the complex, ground our stories in real-world use cases, and speak in outcomes. At Whale Cloud, we’re shifting from feature sheets to scenario narratives—from specs to strategic impact.
Marketing today isn’t just about reach—it’s about resonance, especially when the technology is advanced and transformative.
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