Episode 536: Breaking the Future

In This Episode

SXSW is a safari to the future according to Todder Moning, Lead Futurist at U.S. Bank. But, as Mike Bechtell, Chief Futurist at Deloitte, pointed out in his Fintech House fireside last year: futurists are always wrong.

Why attempt to predict the future if you are likely to be wrong?

This year Todder and Eric Schurr, Chief Strategy Officer at Sunrise Banks and host of the Social Currency podcast at Provoke.fm, have a fireside chat with Dara Tarkowski, Founder of Actuate Law and host of the Tech on Reg podcast, about which rules to break and which to keep when thinking about the future. From large bank to small, both use the tools of Foresight to gain a competitive advantage when thinking about a future, even when it is likely wrong. Listen in to learn how to break out of your current mindset and preconceptions, including Todder's favorite: Future Safaris.

Read the entire transcript here.

Podcast Content:

Chapter 1: [00:00] Introduction and Live from South by Southwest

The hosts set the stage for this live recording at the Alloy Labs Fintech House, introducing foresight as a critical tool for navigating the future.

Chapter 2: [03:50] What is Foresight?

Guests Tod Moning and Eric Scherr explain the practice of foresight, its methodologies, and its role in helping organizations navigate uncertainty and plan for multiple futures.

Chapter 3: [12:30] Applying Foresight in Financial Services

Discussion on how foresight is implemented within financial institutions, balancing innovation with the industry's focus on safety, risk management, and compliance.

Chapter 4: [21:40] The Role of Regulators in Foresight

Exploration of whether regulators can or should engage in foresight, and how proactive planning could help address systemic risks and foster innovation.

Chapter 5: [30:20] Signals and Trends Shaping the Future

Guests highlight key signals and trends in technology, ESG, and societal changes, with a focus on how these factors impact financial services.

Chapter 6: [41:15] AI and the Future of Decision-Making

Discussion on the role of generative AI in foresight, its potential to support scenario building, and its limitations in predicting the unknown.

Chapter 7: [50:40] Crafting Preferred Futures

Eric and Tod emphasize the human-centric nature of foresight and the importance of defining and striving for preferred futures through deliberate actions.

Chapter 8: [59:30] Closing Reflections on Foresight's Value

Final thoughts on why foresight is essential for financial institutions and individuals, encouraging proactive engagement with the forces shaping our world.

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Episode 241: The Bankers' Bookshelf - Why Machines Will Never Rule the World: Artificial Intelligence without Fear

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