Over the last decade, a number of new technologies – popularly called Fintech – have transformed the the world of finance. Particularly important in this “Fintech revolution” are three types of technologies: Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and crypto currencies (often referred to as “crypto”).
This 3-day program is designed to present a basic overview of Fintech, how Fintech is disrupting the financial industry, the influence of technology in financial services, and the – possible – impact on the role of the finance professional (in its wide variety). One of the key points in the program is to discuss both the benefits and risks associated with Big Data management.
The discussion includes:
- Everyone is convinced of the importance of Big Data, but how should companies process the data? Big Data by itself is useless unless it is analyzed. But to analyze the data, it needs to be organized properly. What do companies need to do to organize the data they have?
- ChatGPT and other foundational models have attracted a lot of attention recently. They can pass law exams, they can create art, they can write financial research. A researcher at Google even argued that a Google AI chatbot was sentient, i.e. able to feel. What are the chances that your job will be supplanted by these systems? Why are the foundational models of AI suddenly so good in producing output that is better than human output?
- Can AI models understand us enough to make decisions for us? What are the dark sides of this type of system?
- Crypto has gone through a huge upheaval recently. How are crypto systems reinventing traditional finance systems in new and innovative ways? How are they recreating the problems in traditional finance systems? Is there a future for crypto?
- How do smart contracts work? How are they best deployable?
- What are non-fungible tokens (NFTs)? Why did people pay so much money for blockchain tokens?
As a result of the fast-paced developments, organizations need to reorganize themselves – in many cases by adding digital technology, by buying startups, or by restructuring. Their competitors include not just young start-ups, but also giant technology firms such as Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Alibaba, and Tencent. How can these challenges be best managed?
“The program will show how Fintech can be a force for good in using data to gain insights that benefit clients and financial service providers, but also remind participants that there can be a dark side including the misuse of data during this time of disruption — in which regulators often scramble to keep up with the latest rules and innovations,” says Raghavendra Rau, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild Professor of Finance at Cambridge Judge, who conducts the program.
How you will benefit
- Understand why finance is being disrupted by technology
- Grasp what areas of your own organization might be at risk, the chain in which it operates, and your role
- Brainstorm on ways to effectively deal with the disruptive effects of technology on your own organization
- Comprehend how your company should process and analyze data
- Learn more about crypto developments
- Understand when AI is most likely to be effective and its recent developments such as ChatGPT
- Gain an understanding of how smart contracts work and their uses
- Learn more about non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
Program length
3 days
| Day 1 | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Day 2 | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Day 3 | 09:00 – 17:00 |
Day 1
Analyzing information flows in firms and markets
Understanding information flows in firms and markets
- Information problems in firms
- Imperfect information, asymmetric information, and behavioral biases
- Digitalization and information flows within firms and markets
- Organizing data in firms: processing and analyzing
- Capturing multi-dimensional preferences and data from stakeholders
- Case study: Jumia Nigeria: From Retail to Marketplace (A)
- Case study: Netflix Inc.: The Disruptor Faces Disruption
Day 2
Distributed Ledgers: Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Beyond
- What is bitcoin?
- What is a distributed ledger? When is it useful?
- When are blockchains useful?
- What are non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchains? When are blockchains useful?
- Understanding smart contracts
- The problems with poor smart contracting
- Case study: R3 Corda: A distributed ledger technology for financial services
- Case study: From Crowdfunding to Digital Banking: The Evolution of Funding Societies
- Brainstorming: Threat and Opportunity Analysis
– When should you implement blockchain technology in your own firms? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Day 3
AI and Machine Learning; Transforming the financial firm
- How are AI systems created?
- Do AI systems help understanding employees and customers better?
- Can deep learning help detect fraud?
- The problems of AI systems
- The dark side of technology
- Case study: A Chairman’s Decision: Launching A Robo-Advisor in CCB Principal Asset
- Brainstorming: Threat and Opportunity Analysis
– How can we implement machine learning or artificial intelligence in our own organizations?
Using information to transform the financial firm
- Case study: Telenor: Revolutionizing Retail Banking in Serbia – Digital Transformation of the Customer Experience
Because the program presents a broad overview of Fintech and related subjects, it will be very useful to many different financial roles. Industry executives, entrepreneurs, and investors who need to understand all aspects of this changing landscape, will also greatly benefit from attending.
