BGF opened the doors of Soho\u2019s Ham Yard Hotel for its seventh annual CEO event yesterday. \u2018Pioneers of Progress\u2019, brought together 200 of the UK\u2019s brightest leaders \u2013 from every sector and region \u2013 to discuss the future of British enterprise.<\/p>\n
Over the course of the afternoon, BGF championed the potential of business and heard from a range of experienced entrepreneurs and thought-leaders.<\/p>\n
BGF CEO Stephen Welton set the tone for the day ahead, calling the event an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements of UK companies that play an active role in shaping a more positive future.<\/p>\n
Paul Lindley, Ella\u2019s Kitchen founder, Jason Stockwood, Simply Business CEO, Will Butler-Adams, Brompton Bicycle managing director, and Stephen Murphy, OVO chairman and BGF non-executive director, took the stage to discuss the power of purpose and retaining a founding mission through growth.<\/p>\n
Next on the agenda: inspiring ideas for the future, three keynotes from the minds asking the big questions of business and society.<\/p>\n
Economist and former presidential adviser to George W. Bush Dr Pippa Malmgren, on looking towards\u00a0how\u00a0businesses and technologies will shape the future, said: \u201cPrediction is a mug’s game. Instead, we must focus on preparedness. Being prepared will make you agile, flexible and quick to adapt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, delivered the next keynote, on the disruptive potential of AI and the importance of educating young people to be prepared for the 21st<\/sup> Century: \u201cWe have been teaching people to act like machines, now we need to educate people to be more like humans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe rules have changed. Businesses assume they are the brand but social media has turned consumers into brands,\u201d said academic Dr Eliza Filby later, who addressed changing businesses through the generations and the impact technology has had on society.<\/p>\n Finally, futurologist Mark Stephenson took to the stage to close what had been a brilliant and stimulating series of discussions. Mark urged the audience to look forwards and take on the big societal challenges such as climate change: \u201cThe environment is starting to send back invoices. Any investment that doesn\u2019t commit to protecting the environment is not an investment, it\u2019s a cost to our future.\u201d<\/p>\n The event then continued to 100 Wardour street, hosting a dinner to celebrate the Pioneers of Progress, with the keynote speech from BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg who gave her view on Brexit and the future of Britain.<\/p>\n