Written by Patricia Voorhees of the Alta Group
CEMC 2018 FinTech Innovation Summit – What To Expect This Year
Patricia Voorhees, a director of The Alta Group featured CEMC Chairman, Scott Cohen to discuss the 2018 FinTech Innovation Summit – what to expect, how it will differ from the prior year, and why we should expect the “unexpected”.
Patricia: What can we expect from this year’s Innovation Summit?
Scott: I’m really excited about this year’s agenda and lineup of speakers. Topics will cover everyone’s hot buttons. We have the CEO of Siemens talking about what it takes to transition a century old global enterprise into innovators. We have panels on AI/Machine Learning, Blockchain/IOT, Big Data, with a cross-section of speakers from Fortune 500’s, cutting-edge start up from FinTech and beyond and VC’s — giving the broadest perspective possible on what is going on in each of these areas. Everything from adoption, invention and investment will be open for discussion.
Patricia: Sounds very exciting. What else is different this year?
Scott: We’ve increased Q&A time this year so that attendees can get their questions answered and spark a real dialogue with the audience. We’ve attempted to maximize collaboration by creating themed tables at lunch around the topics that matter most to each of our members and balanced the Panels and Discussions with breaks, cocktail hours, outdoor activities and meals designed to help discussions spill-over into meaningful conversations and networking opportunities.
Patricia: What will be consistent with last year?
Scott: The Summit will be at the Ritz Laguna Nigel again this year. You can’t find a more beautiful setting! It will continue to be an intimate, exclusive experience and planned so as to maximize networking opportunities. It will continue to drive out-of-the-box thinking and push the envelope in terms of what is possible in FinTech and Asset Purchase industries. We also plan to have world class entrainment throughout the event.
Patricia: The Ritz is a great hotel. What are you doing that we could class as “unexpected”?
Scott: This year we also want to talk about the indirect impact that innovation is having on our organizations and the world as a whole. In this vein we’ve invited Pablos Holman from Intellectual Ventures to talk about the amazing breakthroughs they’re making in everything from the Environment to Social Science and Disease. We’ll also cover the impact of innovation on employment and living standards and shine a light on how the recent regulatory changes will be shaping our industry in the near future.
Patricia: I can’t wait! Anything else you’d like to add?
Scott: Yes, it’s the feedback, participation and sponsorship from each of our members that is making this event possible. I’m so excited about the future of the CEMC and believe that we’ll continue to surprise our members with amazing content and discussion throughout the rest of 2018 and beyond. If some of our member are wondering if deeper involvement in the CEMC is worth it then I’d urge them to stick a toe in the water. We are a thriving community and the discussions to date have been quite gratifying for me personally. Can’t wait to see everyone in June!
