The sun breaks over a clear if somewhat chilly morning in Davos, and we reflect on Singapore’s announcement that it has created a new government-led initiative around restoring consumer trust with artificial intelligence. This was a timely announcement as professors Pinar Ozcan (Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Saïd Business School), Alex Pentland (Toshiba Professor, MIT) and I soon after joined a panel discussion led by Andrew White (Associate Dean for Executive Education and Corporate Relations) with Mastercard’s Ajay Bhalla and ID2020’s Dakota Gruener about ‘Rewiring Trust’. Our discussion centred on how new technologies can tackle the challenge of people’s loss of trust in government and business.
We followed the panel with a private conversation under Chatham House Rule among faculty, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and select private sector discussants. We engaged on how government policy can better enable fintech innovation, while still providing for consumer protection. The 53 Commonwealth countries are asking for guidance, and looking to Oxford for the answers.
Later tonight Saïd Business School will take over the University’s hosting duties at the annual Oxford Nightcap, bringing a diverse group of alumni and friends of the school together for a convivial set of serendipitous collisions and no doubt much reflection on the concepts discussed during the day.
Peter Tufano, Peter Moores Dean and Professor of Finance, Saïd Business School, says a few words to wrap up Oxford Saïd’s ‘Rewiring Trust’ panel.
Paul Polman, Chair of Saïd Business School Board and Dean Peter Tufano will host the School’s final session tomorrow, looking at the need for evolution in business education. As business moves towards a more expanded role in society and acknowledges its broader duties to its stakeholders and the planet, business education must change.
The session will focus on responsible innovation for inclusion and growth, and a bolder approach to business education. In our digital world, how does use of technology underpin the development of an inclusive and fair society? Similarly, as business leaders are being asked to solve world problems, how can we, as business educators, help the leaders of tomorrow manage ever more complex issues? Certainly, this is one to look forward to.
David Shrier created and leads both the Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme and the Oxford Fintech Programme at Saïd Business School.
