Last night we attended, for the first time (we finally got around to subscribing to this), one of the Robert Morris University Speakers Series events. The speaker was Zanny Minton Beddoes, the Editor-in-Chief of The Economist, the first woman to hold this position in the 176 year history of that publication.
She is a renowned expert on global economics, and Forbes magazine cites her as one of the most powerful women in the world. After listening to her speak, I get it.
I know a lot of smart people, and I have heard a lot of smart people speak over the years, but Zanny Minton Beddoes, if she's not the smartest person I've ever heard speak, she's certainly in the Top Five, maybe Top Three.
I could only try to absorb some of what she was saying last night. I certainly cannot summarize it here, but I will tell you that she identified four factors that have already begun and will continue to shape world economics and political policy over the course of the next five to ten years.
- The increasing use of digital technology and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
- The fact that China has emerged as the preeminent economic super power in the world. It's no longer the USA, folks, it's China.
- The aging population across the world. For the first time in history, there are more people over age 65 than there are under age 5.
- Climate change. It's very real, despite what some may try to tell us. The rest of the world is getting this far better than we are in America.
She expounded on each of those points, and it made for fascinating listening.
I went into the lecture thinking "An economist? Hope I can stay awake", and I ended up listening to, as I said, one of the smartest people I've ever heard. It was terrific.
It wasn't all deadly serious. A question from the audience asked Ms. Beddoes to compare and contrast President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "Well, they both have very interesting hair" was her opening line, before she gave a very reasoned and serious answer to the question.
And the name Zanny? Her birth name is Susan. Her mother wanted to name her Suzanne, and "Zanny" just evolved from that as she grew up.
Next up in the Speakers Series - Bob Woodward of the Washington Post. Can't wait for that one.
Bob -- you had me until factor #4 Climate Change. It is just weather but the "smart people" know they can profit from the panic and misinformation. As for numbers #1 and #2 our President has been saying the same rhetoric for 3 years now and he gets heat for communicating on TWITTER. Any idea how much these smarty pants get paid to entertain us?
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