60 Seconds With... Aviador Group's Brian Byrne
We all know what they are experts on, but we want to know what makes our speakers tick. In this series, we sit down with some of our key speakers for 60 seconds to find out a bit more about them before they take to the stage at FundForum International in Berlin, 6-8 June 2016.
60 Seconds with...
Brian Byrne, CEO of Aviador Group
1. What is your personal philosophy?
I am a huge proponent of life-long learning and service to others. Not just in business, but in the journey of life. Learning a new language, catapulting oneself into a "shake-it-up" life change to a foreign country and "putting oneself out there" to experience, to learn, to give and to simply "be". Mentoring is huge for me in the sense of helping those with passion and dreams to get on the right path---imparting some of my insights and life experience which will live on long after me through the successes of other people.
2. If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
Honestly, I tell people all the time that the only person I would rather be is TOM FORD! If he is not game to take on my life for a day (perfectly understandable!), I would have to settle for Jason Bourne or James Bond. And since neither of those people exist in real life, I guess I will simply have to continue being me!
3. Disruption is always on the tip of everyone’s tongue. In your opinion, what is going to be the ultimate game-changer for the finance industry?
Those who heard my remarks at RiskMinds last summer will remember that my scenario work forecasts the demise of CREDIT and a cashless society--sooner than later. But the ultimate game-changer will be the shift of wealth and purchasing power from Western hands to Eastern hands and inter-generationally from older pockets to younger. I will comment more on this in Berlin.
4. What's your favourite thing about Berlin?
The Checkpoint Charlie museum which showcases the power of the human spirit and the desire to be free. My first trip to Berlin was in 1983 before the wall came down and I loved spending my "Ostmarks" on the other side of the wall, riding around in a rickety Trabant and crossing back again. Felt very much like what Mr. Bond would experience in an average day's work.
5. What are you most looking forward to at Fund Forum 2016?
As always, meeting new people and hearing new insights and ideas. For me, conferences are tremendous opportunities to share, to learn and connect with other people. For those of us who were born to be global citizens, there is no better place to be! And in such a great, historical city!
Brian Byrne will be speaking at the FutureFinance Forum at FundForum International, taking place in Berlin, 6-8 June 2016.