SMU hosts fireside chat with global leaders on growth and collaboration
SMU hosted a landmark fireside chat on 3 December 2024, featuring Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore and Mr. Larry Fink, BlackRock Chairman and CEO. . Moderated by SMU Board of Trustees Chairman and DBS CEO Piyush Gupta, the dialogue brought together global thought leaders to discuss pressing issues such as globalisation’s fragmentation, rising populism, and equitable growth. The event reinforced SMU’s role as a hub for fostering impactful conversations that address today’s most critical challenges through bold leadership and international collaboration.
The event attracted an audience of distinguished business leaders and academics who relished the opportunity to gain insights that resonate deeply with contemporary global issues.
Some of the key topics covered during the fireside chat included the fragmentation of globalisation, rising populism, and the critical need for equitable growth. The speakers underscored the transformative potential that innovation and international cooperation have in addressing global crises amid these challenges.
International cooperation needed
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam opened the dialogue by highlighting the structural shifts facing global politics and economics: "The weakening of the multilateral order has not been unexpected, but a continued drift will be in no one’s interests. The underlying problems, however, are within societies, where new strategies are needed to address social divisions, and in many cases political fragmentation. Redressing those problems will take time, but has to go hand in hand with international cooperation to address common challenges and achieve a more stable balance in major power relations."
BlackRock’s Mr Fink added his perspective that, along with the challenges, we can expect new opportunities during this period of immense change. “Technological advancements and geopolitical shifts are creating uncertainties. At the same time, this will create new opportunities,” he said.
“Despite the challenges, I’m optimistic that economies can continue to deepen capital markets and unlock more private sector investment to fuel global growth.”
In summarising the discussion, Mr Piyush Gupta concluded that collaboration is a cornerstone of efforts to counter oncoming global challenges.
“The conversation between President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Mr Larry Fink was a masterclass in grappling with the profound disruptions reshaping our global economy,” he remarked.
Their insights laid bare the need for bold, collaborative leadership across public and private sectors to address these systemic challenges. “From navigating the low-carbon transition to ensuring economic opportunities, the discussion underscored that the solutions to our greatest challenges lie in collective innovation and shared commitment to building a more resilient, equitable future."
SMU’s commitment to convening critical dialogues like this reaffirms its role as a global leader in fostering impactful conversations that address the challenges of tomorrow.
