in a year like no other, success has meant innovating

A 2020 like no other has the world still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there have been pockets of success – from those willing to do things differently, and run at the crisis head on.

That was the overarching theme of the ANZ Finance and Treasury Forum in 2020, which described a world defined by the recovery from the pandemic and left attendees with no doubt as to what would be its key drivers in 2021 – technology, sustainability and innovative leadership.

“This has been a year where, more than ever, successful leaders have not been afraid to innovate,” ANZ Group Executive, Institutional Mark Whelan said at the event.

ANZ Group Executive, International Farhan Faruqui said leadership has evolved through the downturn, changing expectations for the leaders of the future.

“Those who make tough and bold decisions quickly and with empathy, are the new breed of leaders for our time,” he said.

The event featured a host of international thought leaders, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, founder and President of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media, Ian Bremmer; Allan Joyce, CEO of Qantas Airways, Richard Lancaster, Chief Executive Officer of CLP Holdings Limited and Isabel Chatterton, Regional Industry Director, Infrastructure & Natural Resources of IFC.

You can see highlights of this year’s forum on video below.

Bremmer said while the macroeconomic outlook was currently in flux, he expects the situation to settle somewhat by the middle of 2021.

“Clearly we’re all going to be living with the effects of this virus – these disruptions for many, many years to come,” he said.

“And yet – 2021 - by the time we get to the middle of next year, I do think we’re going to be looking at an improvement at getting away from the coronavirus and how the next global order looks as opposed to still in the thick of it.” 

Technology will play a big role in driving that improvement for business, Faruqui said.

“Real-time data insights have become critical for business looking to survive,” he said. “Supply chains are fundamentally changing and digitising.”

ANZ Managing Director, Institutional Australia Tammy Medard said tech had connected people through the pandemic in ways that had never occurred before.

“This is what makes me excited about technology,” she said. “The people-to-people connectivity… the accessibility it enables and the humongous world problems it's solving.”