Finance and Tech: A Decade-Long Dance

Imagine walking into a room filled with finance leaders, and you hear them talking about the future of their industry. Adena Friedman, the big boss at Nasdaq, and C. S. Venkatakrishnan, the top dog at Barclays, recently shared their thoughts at the Fortune Global Forum in New York City. Friedman believes we're in a tech renaissance in finance, and it's going to last for another ten years. Nasdaq, based in New York, provides tech to 130 markets worldwide. Friedman thinks that to make these markets more liquid, we need easier global payments. She also mentioned that cloud services and AI will make markets more scalable. But with all this tech, cybersecurity will have to step up its game to keep the bad guys out.

Venkatakrishnan sees the future of finance as data-driven. He thinks we should use data better to make smarter financial decisions. CFOs are getting ready for AI and automation to change their jobs. They’ll have more time for strategic thinking, and some even want AI assistants. For this new era, execs want employees with tech skills and a strong understanding of tech's potential and risks. At Nasdaq, about half of their team is in development and engineering. They’re bringing in more AI and data science skills. But they also value soft skills and a culture of curiosity and growth.

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