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MIT Sloan conference in São Paulo to focus on the future of work

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 30, 2019 – The digital age is impacting all aspects of life, including the future of work. Technological innovations have the potential to transform the workplace and enhance productivity, but it will take proactive and thoughtful discussion to harness these innovations for social benefit. To explore this further, the MIT Sloan Latin America Office (MSLAO) is working in conjunction with PageGroup, and with support from the MIT & MIT Sloan Club of Brazil, to host a Future of Work Conference on Thursday, August 29, 2019 in São Paulo, Brazil.

The conference, which will bring together leading experts from business and academia, aims to highlight the ways in which artificial intelligence, automation and the changing economy are affecting the future of work. This issue is crucial in Brazil, where 12 percent of the country’s workforce is unemployed.

MIT Sloan Prof. Roberto Rigobon says, “The conference is a great opportunity for an interdisciplinary discussion about reinventing the future of work. I look forward to exploring how we can address important labor issues in light of digital transformation.”

Lee Ullmann, MSLAO senior director, adds, “The future of work is changing the very nature of jobs and the skills they require. In an era of technological disruption, countries like Brazil will face both challenges and opportunities in preparing its citizens for these changes. As the largest country in Latin America and a major manufacturing center for the region, the future of work is critical not only for the region, but for the global economy.”

Discussions will cover topics, such as the history of labor markets, education, innovation in Brazil and advancing development in the 21st Century, artificial intelligence, fintech, the global rise of platform firms in urban mobility markets, and the future of measurement.

 

Speakers include:

  • Gary Gensler – Professor of the Practice of Global Economics and Management, MIT Sloan School of Management, Senior Advisor to the Director, MIT Media Lab, & Co-Director of MIT’s Fintech@CSAIL

  • Ilan Goldfajn – Former President, Banco Central do Brasil
  • Jason Jackson – Assistant Professor of Political Economy and Urban Planning, MIT
  • Melissa Nobles – Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Professor of Political Science, MIT
  • Gustavo Pierini – Representative, MIT Sloan Latin America Office
  • Robert Rigobon – Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management; Professor of Applied Economics, MIT Sloan
  • Ezequiel Zylberberg – Research Affiliate, MIT Industrial Performance Center

The event is also supported by the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, as well as the MIT Industrial Liaison Program and MIT Sloan Management Review Brazil. Sponsors include: everis, Alelo, Turim, Levee, Softys, Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio (CBA), C6 Bank, and Magalu.

The conference is part of MIT Sloan’s commitment to supporting the advancement of management education and practice in Latin America. MIT Sloan Global Programs’ Assistant Dean David Capodilupo notes, “Education and training are quintessential to the future of work. The drive to learn and improve the world through management practices remains a constant within MIT Sloan. We are pleased to host this conference, as our goal is to share the knowledge generated at the Institute across the globe and create a legacy of positive change.”

Through the MSLAO, MIT Sloan develops and nurtures meaningful activities throughout the region, such as faculty and student visits, admissions recruiting events, and conferences. Prior forums have focused on topics including: fintech, healthcare, big data, energy, China, and action learning.

Members of the media are invited to attend the event. For more information on the conference or to register, please visit: https://mitfutureofworkbrazil.com/

About the MIT Sloan School of Management

The MIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu.