Around the world, we are facing major economic, social, and environmental challenges that cannot be solved without collaborative global leadership. At the same time, paradigm-shifting advances in technology are reshaping how we live and work, creating new opportunities while challenging long-standing practices and assumptions. Leaders across business, government, and civil society all have a role to play.
What has changed in leadership, which principles endure, and how will tomorrow’s leaders need to adapt?
On 17th November, Muhtar Kent shares insights from his remarkable 41-year career at The Coca-Cola Company in a conversation with Professor Edward Brooks, Director of the Programme for Global Leadership
We spoke to Muhtar who explained how he felt about speaking in Oxford: “It will be an honour and pleasure to return to Oxford to talk about Brand Leadership in the Quantum and AI era. I look forward to intellectually stimulating session.”
Muhtar gave us a brief overview of his lecture content:
“The Industrial Revolution gave us machines. The Digital Revolution gave us data. The AI Revolution gives us decisions. The Quantum Era will give us unimaginable possibilities but also complexities. For leaders, this means simultaneous challenges; and in this complex world, how do we ensure technology amplifies thought and actions..?”
“The Quantum era will not just make things faster; it will make new things possible. The key will be how to continue build and sustain human trust in this new and much faster world."
Speaker bio:
Muhtar Kent is a member of the Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company. From 2009-2017, he served as the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Previously, he was President and Chief Executive Officer and earlier, President and Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Kent joined The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1978, holding a variety of marketing and operations leadership positions over the course of his career. In 1985, he became General Manager of Coca-Cola Turkey and Central Asia. Beginning in 1989, he served as President of the Company’s East Central Europe Division and Senior Vice President of Coca-Cola International, with responsibility for 23 countries.
Active in the global business community, Mr. Kent is a member of the board and past Co-Chair of The Consumer Goods Forum, past Chairman of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, a board member and past Chairman of the U.S.-China Business Council, a past board member of the National Committee on US-China Relations, and past Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. ASEAN Business Council. He serves on the boards of 3M, Special Olympics International, Catalyst, Cambridge China Development Trust and Emory University.