At the Microsoft Business Value event, Liddell looked at the 10 biggest companies now and 20 years ago, both in New Zealand and the US, and noted that one of the things that struck him most between the business scene then, early on his career, and now, is in how companies are valued.

He noted that today, intellectual property, goodwill and intangible assets are far more valuable compared to hard assets than 20 years ago.

A classic example, he told the audience, is Google, whose shares recently surged through the $500 price barrier.

New Zealand companies are in a better position than ever to take advantage of phenomena such as Google Inc., YouTube Inc. and Skype Ltd., he says.

'I've never seen a country better suited to taking advantage of the 'long tail' [the Internet consumer phenomena identified in the book of the same name]', he says.