Matthew GriffinFounder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
G7 · G20governments advised
850+keynotes
102countries
17codexes
Future of work sessions forPepsiCoWinchester CollegeUniversity of GreenwichDiscoverASM TechnologiesGovernment of Bahrain
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The MiSK Foundation and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, asked Matthew to give this year's MiSK Talks keynote, delivered virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Held every year, MiSK Talks promotes entrepreneurship and futures thinking across the kingdom, with a special focus on how new technologies can help Saudi Arabia realise its Vision 2030 strategy.
The format was one of the most unusual Matthew has experienced, and he has shared stages with military helicopters, Abrams tanks, brass bands and self-driving cars. The event was staged as a drive-in, in a sand-covered car park next to the Riyadh Expo centre between two of the city's busiest highways. More than 800 people watched from their socially distanced cars, listening to the speakers on their FM radios while the presentations played on giant screens either side of the stage, with more following on the live streams.
"Today one entrepreneur can impact the lives of billions, and do it at a speed that was previously unimaginable."Matthew Griffin, Riyadh, January 2021
Matthew's subject was the Future of Education and Entrepreneurship. He looked at how new technologies and new thinking will help reform today's industrial age education systems so they are fit for the future.
He then turned to entrepreneurs, and how they will be able to develop and grow their businesses at a speed and scale that would have been almost unimaginable even a decade ago. His central point was that today one entrepreneur can affect the lives of billions of people, and do it faster than ever before.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Skills pipelines will change shape.
The keynote argued that industrial age education must be reformed to suit the future. Self-directed learning online is becoming a main route to skills, not just a supplement. Leaders who still recruit only from traditional pathways may miss capable people.
Small teams can reach very large markets.
Founders now grow at a speed and scale that were almost unimaginable a decade ago. Exponentially improving technologies keep reshaping the economy. Incumbents should expect competitors to appear and scale faster than their planning cycles assume.
Talent rules and shocks move together.
Saudi Arabia is dismantling sponsorship rules that tied migrant workers to a single employer. The pandemic forced this very event into a virtual format. Workforce plans need to allow for both policy change and sudden disruption.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
Which of our hiring routes still depend on industrial age education?
How quickly could a small rival reach our customers?
What would our talent plan look like if rules changed suddenly?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
It suggests two linked shifts. Education is being reformed, and entrepreneurs can grow with unusual speed. Organisations should review where they find skills and how fast a new competitor could reach their market.
How does Informal Education relate to the keynote?
The keynote called for reform of industrial age education. 311 tracks Informal Education as a trend with an Act now rating, with wide use dated 2020. It shows people building skills through self-directed routes, which affects how organisations recruit and train.
How do Exponential Technologies relate to the keynote?
The keynote said entrepreneurs can now grow at a speed and scale that were almost unimaginable a decade ago. 311 rates Exponential Technologies as Act now. They keep reshaping the economy even as classic chip scaling slows.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
311 offers a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. Sessions are held in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
Prepare students for a future that is science fact.
311 Institute's Future of Education and Learning codex looks at how we prepare students and workforces for a future where science fiction is science fact, the same challenge Matthew set for reforming industrial age education systems.
