Ambassadors of the Future meet the Futurists
We need to identify individuals from multiple continents and countries with differing levels of maturity to better understand the uncertainties and complexities of the future of money.
The American Caucasian white male view of the world will be insufficient to devise a satisfactory strategy to deal with the uncertainties of the future of finance. Indian, Chinese, Japanese, South African (or African), Middle Eastern, European (both EU and non-EU) viewpoints will be necessary to inform and test hypothesis and strategies and develop likely future planning scenarios.
An on-going structured Research and Development program is not only necessary to develop new products and services, but a corresponding communication and exposition mandate will be critical for companies to continue to be seen as innovative in the marketplace. By sponsoring labs and expositions, FI R&D can help re-ignite the culture of innovation and help diversify and engage our workforce.
I must face the fact that I do not live in the Mecca for technologists, although I happen to work and go to school with some VERY bright, VERY innovative thinkers amongst my team members and classmates. The trick is to engage them and celebrate their “differentness” instead of trying to make them conform to the mold and not rock the boat.
Innovators by their very nature are non-conformists, always seeking to understand the reasons and rationale behind “why?” and often find themselves wondering “why not?” when others are asking dismissively, “why?” to change.
Analysts, meet the Experts; Consultants, meet the Realists
Industry Analysts, Consulting Boutiques and Independent Researchers could become our greatest marketing machine, if engaged appropriately. I see no evidence of actively engaging with a wide variety of analysts to poke and prod and disagree with their hypotheses. Truth be told, most pundits tend toward exaggeration and extremism of their viewpoints or opinions to get more reactions out of their more docile customers. After all, analysts and consultants are valued for their opinions and reputations are based on their being right or provocative. So if you can’t be right all the time, at least be provocative, right?
Analysts and Consultants are paid to be biased. Unlike so-called “reporters” or “journalists” in the larger press and media, we engage analysts and consultants FOR their opinion and knowledge and experience. If we aren’t vetting them against our experts and realists, they aren’t having any fun or getting any smarter and we aren’t getting the most value from them. They live for engagement. If we are too polite and only listen, then we have to pay more to get their attention. Many consultants and analysts will willingly come onsite and work pro bono if they feel that doing so will make them more marketable to other customers. And as a technology solution provider, we should be hosting consultants and analysts much more frequently than we do. We WANT them to know our “secrets” so that they can tell them to everyone else and they will want to do business with us because WE are THAT good.
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