We live in an exciting time of accelerated innovation, increased global competition, and unprecedented
opportunity to disrupt and reinvent. The exponential growth of digital technology, ubiquitous internet
connectivity, and proliferation of smart devices—all of which create a deluge of data that holds a competitive
advantage for anyone that can quickly and accurately understand it—is enabling a fourth industrial revolution.
The potential of modern technology cannot be understated. The concrete line between the physical and virtual
world is being erased, reducing the barriers to market entry and creating entirely new business models. Every
industry is ripe for disruption, even those that were the disruptors a decade ago. Consider the impact of crowd
funding on small business lending, online retail in the broader retail market, or subscription media services on
traditional cable television. Everywhere around you, this transformation is accelerating: Automated processes,
messenger bots, and artificial intelligence are just a handful of new technologies paving the way towards an
exciting, if uncertain, future.