Leadership Conference

Kathleen Schwind

“Technology is the key to solving the biggest problems our world faces today.” This sentiment, expressed by Dr. Victor Fung during his welcome remarks, guided the focus of this year’s Fung Scholars Leadership Conference. I had the honor of attending the conference this year, hosted at the incredible LiFung Plaza Explorium in Shanghai. I had the opportunity to attend the Fung Scholars Hong Kong conference last year as well, and since then have been looking forward to this year’s conference and reconnecting with the individuals I met last year (while also meeting new ones).

This year’s Fung Scholars Leadership Conference was a unique opportunity that combined leading experts in the field of big data and business innovation, and some of the brightest and most curious young minds around the globe. The speakers provided insight into the history of big data’s technological advances as well as current and future applications, while addressing the challenges that using big data will have in the next decade. The Scholars in the audience were from a variety of backgrounds (physics, biology, linguistics, etc.) and it was fascinating to hear from a number of them about how big data is revolutionizing their field, or how it has the potential to in the future. As an international relations and politics student myself, I was particularly thought about the nature of global geopolitics, the global supply chain, and the shift towards a bipolar world, and how employing aspects of big data and innovative business models will affect these areas in the future. I also thought about technology governance, and how regulations need to not only focus on privacy but on inclusion too.

One of the most valuable parts of the conference was the opportunity to network with Fung Scholars from around the world. I was so excited to see, in person, the friends I made at the conference last fall (we have stayed in touch online since then) and we were able to pick up right where we left off. I also loved meeting new Scholars, and hearing about their passions, interests, and future goals as related to big data and innovation or beyond. The Ideas Polygram gave us the opportunity to hear in-depth about a few projects that fellow Scholars are currently working on. I also appreciated the space that the conference provided to talk about pressing world issues with individuals from different backgrounds and from different countries. These were some of the most insightful conversations I have had, and I was able to take these ideas and perspectives and apply them to my own studies at the University of Cambridge.

Additionally, the Hello Design Thinking workshop, powered by the Fung Academy, gave me a fresh perspective on the foundation of creative thinking and kickstarting innovation that I will continue to use in my personal projects.

Technology is a key to solving the world’s biggest problems, present and future. What the Fung Foundation has also taught me is that people are also key, and that formed multinational networks and partnerships can exponentially increase our capability to tackle these challenges. Attending this year’s Fung Scholars Leadership Conference, meeting the people already working on these problems, and becoming friends with the people who will continue to do so the future, has inspired me to think even bigger and innovate boldly. Thank you to the Victor and William Fung Foundation, and to the conference organizers, for another incredible conference and experience.