Gen Z perspectives: PepsiCo gets personal, OCBC goes local and Tony Fernandes keeps it real

Happy Friday, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE readers and welcome back to Gen Z Perspectives, your go-to feature where we unpack the week’s top stories and trending topics through the eyes of Gen Z. From the biggest industry moves to viral moments and marketing controversies worth dissecting, we’re bringing the heat with authenticity, awareness and probably a few unfiltered takes.

This week, PepsiCo stepped into the corporate spotlight with its first-ever brand campaign, OCBC Malaysia gave Mickey Mouse a local makeover, and Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes got candid at Digital Marketing Asia Singapore 2026.

Buckle up, there’s plenty more ahead.

Don't miss: Gen Z perspectives: Samsung turns up the heat on Apple’s big fold

1. PepsiCo steps out from behind its household names

PepsiCo has launched its first-ever corporate brand campaign, "House of brands", as it looks to build greater awareness of the company behind brands including Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade and Quaker.

The campaign addresses a gap between recognition of PepsiCo’s individual brands and the parent company, with only 18% of people associating PepsiCo with brands beyond Pepsi, according to the company.

Read more here. 

2. OCBC turns Mickey Mouse local with MY food-inspired blind boxes

OCBC Malaysia is turning Mickey Mouse into a local icon, with limited edition debit cards and a blind box collection that reimagines the Disney character around Malaysian food and culture.

Running from 3 August to 30 November, the "OCBC Mickey go local" campaign gives new customers a choice of two Mickey Mouse debit card designs. Both feature localised designs, with one depicting Mickey Mouse holding a durian, while the other pictures Mickey and Minnie in front of a trishaw and hawker stall, with the KL city skyline in the background. 

Read more here. 

3. 'I’m still talking to everybody,' Tony Fernandes on what data can't tell you

For Tony Fernandes (pictured above), staying ahead is not simply about adopting the latest technology or finding the next big idea. It is about knowing when to trust data, when to rely on instinct, how to use technology without losing human connection, and how to keep a business flexible enough to change with its customers.

That philosophy has shaped Fernandes’ approach to AirAsia, which has evolved from an airline with two Boeing 737s into a business that has expanded well beyond its core aviation operation. Speaking during a fireside chat at DMA Singapore 2026, the Capital A CEO reflected on how COVID-19 accelerated that process, forcing the group to reassess its assets, capabilities and relationship with customers.

Read more here. 

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