The February 2025 edition of this now staple Bayes Alumni networking event was centred on an engaging and insightful panel discussion on the subject of ‘Navigating the Future of Work: How Business Professionals Are Shaping Tomorrow’s Industries’ featuring:
Daria Zlobina (MSc Marketing, Strategy and Innovation, 2018) – Senior Manager, Strategy and Connections Planning, 2K Games
Elena Kastellanou (MSc Shipping, Trade and Finance, 2023) – Maritime Industries Trainee, Société Générale
Levi Francis (BSc Actuarial Science, 2011) – Director, KPMG
Martin Koderisch (Full-Time MBA, 2004) – Founder, Scalepoint Partners
What skills and mindset do you think are essential for professionals to thrive in today’s evolving workplace?
Daria: “I think it boils down to being proactive with your development and understanding what is important to you, what your interests are, what career vision you have and identifying your strengths. Your career is going to grow, so seize opportunities to upskill, of which continuous learning and networking are both important parts.”
Levi: “Stakeholder management is sometimes overlooked. The success of so many projects depends on the influence you can have on other people. When people value your contribution, they’re on board with you. Challenges should always be viewed as opportunities and having people on your side can only boost your chances of rising to such challenges. However, you need to be flexible. Invariably the most successful people in business are those who evolve and adapt. In my field (insurance) COVID taught us all the merits of adaptability.”
Martin: “For me it’s about taking initiative, rather than waiting to be told what to do. Mindset is crucial as you can have all the hard skills you want but it’s often your personality and those key soft skills that will make the difference. Self-development is often the most effective way of differentiating yourself and being able to compete. In big corporations, you’ll often see people who are too comfortable waiting to execute orders whereas, on the flipside, in smaller set-ups you’ll see the more proactive start-up mentality. The latter can definitely be carried into the former to achieve results. So whether you’re moving from a larger business to a smaller one or vice versa, embrace change and be proactive. Change is the only constant, so develop a growth mindset in order to embrace it fully.”
What impact has the pace of technological change had in your respective industries to date?
Elena: “For shipping, tech can be leveraged to achieve the main overarching goal of cutting down emissions by 40% by 2030 and then reaching net emissions by 2050. Alternative fuels have already proven a new development for the better as well as increased investment in research and development for monitoring equipment and scientific vessels, so technology is definitely helping us to move in the right direction.”
Martin: “People say that AI is going to be the most transformative technology for many decades and generations. However, in recent times, we’ve gone through huge changes in the PC industry, mobile phones, the Internet and e-mail, all of which were massively transformational. New developments such as intercommunicative-level AI can be a change for the better in terms of how we approach problem-solving. Also, in industries such as healthcare and pharmaceutical research the impact could also be huge and for the better, if handled in the right way.”
Levi: “In insurance, the buzzword is ‘insuretech’. Based on recent successes and failures in the sector, technology should definitely be embraced but companies need to make sure they continue hitting their targets. In short, don’t try to run before you can walk. You’ll have professions such as underwriting where not embracing AI could prove costly, so the key is to be open to it whilst recognising its limitations. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach with the new technologies currently emerging.”
How have sustainability and corporate social responsibility impacted your areas of business?
Elena: “Sustainability and corporate social responsibility have become central in shipping. We’re seeing growing pressure from regulators, investors, and clients to reduce the environmental footprint and demonstrate responsible practices. This has influenced everything from vessel design and fuel choices to financing and partnerships. We now integrate ESG criteria into investment decisions and work closely with stakeholders to meet decarbonization goals. Initiatives like the Poseidon Principles have also tied financial performance to environmental impact, pushing the industry toward greater transparency and long-term sustainability.”
Are there any imminent trends, innovations or changes that you are really excited about or, conversely, view with trepidation?
Daria: “One of the biggest opportunities is the hyper-personalisation that we can bring to marketing campaigns. People want to get the right ad at the right time with the right brands, so if AI could help with this, I reckon the consumer will be all the happier for it. The less we bombard people with noise and the more tailored the marketing they receive, the more effective operations will be. I say this as a consumer and not just a marketing professional.”
Levi: “We’ve been talking about AI and embracing tech. I have this graph in my head, with accuracy along one axis and explainability along the other. Automation and delivering products that are fit for purpose is great, but are they readily explainable? AI is really exciting for me in the insurance industry but let’s see first how that evolves and what different products will be developed with increased automation.”
Martin: “Gaining control over our personal data is a major bone of contention in the finance industry. The future is exciting, but the concern is that the rise and rise of AI will lead to a loss of control over personal information. What I would like to see are developments that will mitigate risk whilst saving the consumer time. I don’t think we are all going to end up being replaced by AI but by embracing it we could perform better in our jobs. I’m about to start using it, so let’s see how I handle the experience!”
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