As Chief Marketing Officer of realme India, Francis Wong has helped shape one of the country’s fastest-growing smartphone brands by understanding what truly resonates with young consumers. His approach to marketing goes beyond benchmark scores and specification sheets, focusing instead on creating products and experiences that people can genuinely connect with. In this edition of Tech Titans, Wong shares why cycling helps him make better decisions, how an early lesson in embracing imperfect conditions shaped his leadership, and why Gen Z values purpose over hierarchy. He also discusses the biggest misconception around AI, the importance of creating opportunities for young talent, and why the future of technology belongs to brands that solve real problems, not those that simply market the latest buzzwords.
What are your thoughts on Gen Z work culture, and how do you shape your work style to align with them?
Gen Z does not work well with hierarchy for the sake of hierarchy. They respect clarity, speed and authenticity. With Gen Z, you cannot just give instructions. You have to give context. They want to know why something matters, what impact it creates, and how their work connects to the larger picture.
I also relate to the same Gen Z mindset, which is why my work style has also evolved because of that. I prefer faster conversations, fewer unnecessary layers and more ownership. I don’t believe in managing every small step. I believe in setting the direction clearly and then giving young teams the room to surprise you.
At realme, that mindset matters because our core audience is young India. If we want to build for them, we also need to listen to how they think, work, create and consume.
What’s the biggest lie the industry is telling itself about AI right now?
The biggest lie is that AI will automatically make everyone smarter. It will not.
AI will make sharp people sharper. It will make lazy thinking look faster, but not better.
The real advantage is not using AI to generate more output. The advantage is using AI to ask better questions, spot patterns faster and make decisions with more confidence.
I also think many brands are treating AI like a campaign word right now. That will not last. Consumers will not care that something has AI unless it actually makes their life easier.
The next phase of AI will not be about who says AI the loudest. It will be about who uses it the most meaningfully.
What brands of gadgets do you use every day?
My phone is obviously the most important device I use every day, which is realme GT 8 Pro -my daily driver. Another gadget I am using daily, which I haven’t seen much in India, is the Boox e‑ink tablet. It features a true paper-like e‑ink display, which is eye-friendly for long hours of reading documents and books. Besides reading, I can also write and take handwritten notes directly on the screen with a stylus. It combines the functions of an e-reader and a digital notebook all in one device. My day moves between calls, reviews, travel, content, product discussions and market updates. Smartphones and E-link tablets serve all the purposes for me.
When people look back at your work decades from now, what do you hope they say you changed?
I have been with realme since day one in 2018, and since then, I believe I have written a great story since my first daring leap. I hope people say we made technology feel more accessible, relevant and exciting for young consumers.
For me, marketing is not just about creating noise. It is about shaping belief.
If a young consumer in India feels that great design, powerful performance and meaningful innovation are not only meant for premium buyers, that is a real change.
I would like realme’s work to be remembered for challenging old category rules. We have always believed that young users deserve more, and that belief has shaped many of our decisions.
If people look back and say we pushed the industry to move faster for young India, I would be proud of that.
What’s harder: taking a bold decision or sticking with it when things go wrong?
I am always a bold decision maker, I dare to try things which are not tested yet, and I am willing to pay the cost of learning. One advantage we have at realme is that we adjust ourselves fast when things are not right. So I would say, sticking with it is harder.
Taking a bold decision can happen in one strong moment. Sticking with it requires conviction every single day after that.
When things go wrong, everyone suddenly becomes an expert in hindsight. That is when leadership is tested.
A bold decision is not bold because it looks good on paper. It is bold because you are willing to carry it through uncertainty.
Of course, sticking with a decision does not mean being stubborn. You need to read the market, listen to users, correct quickly and keep moving. But if the core belief is right, you cannot abandon it just because the first reaction is uncomfortable.
What part of AI genuinely excites you—and what part quietly worries you?
What excites me is how AI speeds up imagination.
Helping teams move faster, understand consumers better, and enabling young India to create with fewer resources.
What worries me is sameness – the possibility of everyone sounding the same.
Without a clear point of view, AI can make everything polished but forgettable. Human instinct and cultural nuance still matter—AI should sharpen creativity, not replace it.
What’s a personal habit or ritual that quietly shapes how you make big decisions?
Cycling is my reset button.
Whenever I’m stuck while making a decision, I prefer to go for a long ride in the fresh air. The rhythm of pedalling helps clear the noise and brings clarity.
By the time I’m back, the decision usually feels simpler and more instinctive.
It’s less about overthinking and more about creating space for the right answer to surface.
What’s one childhood incident that shaped who you are today?
One thing I learnt quite early is that you cannot wait for perfect conditions to start.
When you grow up, there are moments when you realise that resources, timing or circumstances may not always be ideal. But that cannot become an excuse.
That shaped how I look at work even today. I have always believed in moving fast, learning fast and improving while in motion.
Perfection is often used as a reason to delay. I prefer progress with direction.
That mindset has stayed with me, especially in a market like India where the consumer, competition and culture move incredibly fast.
What problem in the world still frustrates you enough to keep you awake at night?
The gap between potential and opportunity.
There is so much young talent today in India. But opportunity is still not evenly distributed.
Technology can help close that gap, but only if brands, institutions and leaders take that responsibility seriously.
Access to the right tools, skills and exposure can change the direction of someone’s life. That is why I strongly believe technology companies cannot only think about products. We also have a role in creating confidence, capability and access for the next generation.
Young people do not lack ambition. They need platforms that match it.
What’s a decision you made that looked risky at the time but turned out?
A risky decision was shifting from spec-heavy marketing to experience-led storytelling.
While others focused on numbers, we focused on real-life benefits—better photos, longer battery, smoother performance. It felt unconventional at the time, but it worked.
Consumers don’t remember specs; they remember how a product makes them feel. That shift helped build stronger connections, trust, and brand preference.
Rapid Fire
- Books you swear by: A Brief History of Humankind
- Current car: IM Motors (EV car)
- Dream car/bike: Aston Martin DB12
- Fitness gadgets you use every day: realme Smartwatch
- Go-to AI tool: Doubao AI
- Quote you live by: “Dare to Leap”