On October 22nd, the “Fintech and Economic Development in the Post-Pandemic Era” Forum organized by the MBA Center at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) was successfully held at the Lecture Hall II, Building 1, Hongkou Campus. The forum was accessible to current MBA students, alumni, candidates, and partners, both online and offline, to accommodate all interested participants.
The theme of this forum aligns with one of the concentrations of SISU MBA — Fintech. We are privileged to have distinguished guests in attendance, including Professor Wu Yunqiao, Vice Dean of SBM, Professor Yang Xiaolan, Vice Dean of SBM and a professor in the Fintech field, Mr. Zhang Jian, Director of the Department of Fintech and Financial Management at SBM, who is also a professor specializing in Fintech, Mr. Zheng Ke, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai North Bund (Group) Co., Ltd, and Lu Yichen, an outstanding alumnus from the SBM Class of 2021, currently serving as a Senior Wealth Manager and Investment Advisor at Everbright Securities.
To commence the event, Vice Dean Wu Yunqiao highlighted SISU's distinctive research focus on the intersection of fintech. He shared insights and experiences regarding financial innovation driven by technology and emphasized the importance of industry analysis through research. Vice Dean Wu Yunqiao encouraged students to stay current, grasp emerging trends in global fintech development, and become proficient in mainstream research methods to enhance competitiveness. Succinct yet profound, the opening speech ignited deep contemplation among the students, akin to the effect of a stone gently dropped into calm water, creating ripples that remained long after.
Next, Professor Yang Xiaolan delivered a lecture on Global Trends in Digital Currency Regulation. Professor Yang highlighted that digital currencies stand poised to become the prevailing currency. She provided insights into the global digital currency market, potential risks associated with it, and detailed information on countries’ favorable attitudes towards digital currencies, permitting Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and issuing licenses for the regulation of certain activities. Professor Yang's insightful narrative on the evolution of digital currency, underpinned by big data analysis, provided students with a comprehensive perspective on the trajectory of financial technology. It sparked immediate and intense curiosity among students, prompting questions about the future application domains of digital currency and its potential destinations. Could digital currency evolve into a dominant and pivotal currency within the financial realm? The questions will be addressed as students embark on their future research paths within the field of financial technology.
Following Professor Yang, Mr. Zheng Ke from North Bund (Group) Co., Ltd. delivered a presentation titled “Technology and Financial Strategy in the VUCA Era”. Taking his own experience as an example, Mr. Zheng inspired the idea of innovation and introduced Leadership in a VUCA World to the students. He pointed out that global fintech business models are diversified and standardized. Mr. Zheng highlighted that fintech companies aspiring to be listed in the STAR Market must possess robust technological foundations. His distinctive, experienced, and professional presentation offered both online and offline participants fresh insights into the field of fintech.
Lu Yichen, an outstanding alumnus of the SISU MBA Class of 2021, shared insights into the practical application and prospects of fintech in wealth management during the post-pandemic era. Drawing from his personal experience at Everbright Securities, he provided valuable perspectives. Lu shared his practical working experience and journey, introducing concepts such as wealth management and TAMP, along with other professional insights. He analyzed the future development trajectories of emerging market players, along with their strengths and weaknesses, using the 2020 chart of China's wealth management market players as a reference. Lu provided students with substantial insights.
Last but not least, Mr. Zhang Jian, Director of the Department of Financial Technology and Financial Management, delivered a speech titled “Information Accessibility and Corporate Innovation”. Mr. Zhang listed classic cases, with a primary focus on discussing how the limitations placed on search engine usage, using Google as an example, affect various aspects of enterprises, particularly patent invention. By summarizing his personal experiences, Mr. Zhang encouraged the audience to pay continuous attention to innovation within the field. Enterprise innovation may face various constraints. How to break through the bottleneck and open up innovation through technology and thinking, which requires each individual's ability to think independently. It's through innovative thinking that all other forms of innovation become achievable.
Then, we moved into the roundtable session on “Artificial Intelligence and Financial Development”, where Professor Yang and Mr. Zheng addressed questions such as How should we perceive the evolution of financial technology and Could digital currency potentially replace conventional forms of currency in the future. The forum came to a successful conclusion amid the enthusiastic inquiries from online and offline participants.
We are committed to continuing the “Shanghai International Studies University MBA Concentration-oriented Forum Series ”, which emphasizes the six specialized concentrations
of the SISU MBA program. We will extend invitations to academic professors and industry experts to engage in analytical discussions concerning global multidisciplinary trends, spanning both academic and practical dimensions. See you next time!
