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Artificial Intelligence: Will AI Create a Small Business Utopia?
From her success as an investor, business owner, and policymaker to her seminal research at Harvard Business School, Karen Mills is a leading voice in how artificial intelligence is driving change at an unparalleled pace across the small business sector, with significant implications for our nation’s economy. As technology opens the doors to vast troves of data, opportunities are emerging to create new insights on a small business’s health and prospects. In a future where business owners can more clearly interpret trends and help them plan more effectively and where lenders can better understand their creditworthiness, a “Small Business Utopia” is possible. Mills offers insights and predictions on how small businesses can leverage innovative technology to improve longevity, drive growth, and prepare for the future.
Fintech: How Technology is Transforming Lending and Shaping a New Era of Business Opportunity
Fintech innovators are disrupting nearly every aspect of the financial sector, ushering in a new era of opportunity and innovation for small business owners while traditional banks scramble to catch up. In this substantive, engaging, and actionable talk, Mills takes audiences behind the in-depth research of her new book Fintech, Small Business & The American Dream to reveal how technology will transform the small business lending market and facilitate entrepreneurship, and how traditional lending institutions can create an impetus for innovation and change. Drawing on her extensive experience as former head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (2009-13) and current fintech backer, Mills provides in-depth analysis and tangible takeaways on fintech’s implications for both small businesses and the economy at large. Covering key issues such as the historical role of credit markets, the dynamics of innovation cycles, and the policy implications for regulation, Mills customizes her talk for bankers, investors, and regulators.
Leading in Uncertainty: How an Entrepreneurial Mindset Can Overcome Challenges and Disruptions
An entrepreneurial mindset is not just for running a business, it’s a leadership quality that often defines success, progress and innovation. Thinking outside the box to confront disruption, challenges or simply the unknown is what America’s entrepreneurs – and business leaders – must do every day. Throughout her career Karen Mills has drawn on innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to succeed at the highest levels of both business and government. When she joined the White House economic team at the height of the Great Recession, her bold actions helped save small businesses owners trapped by frozen credit markets. Karen’s unique experiences in Washington and as a venture capitalist offer practical and inspirational insights for leaders of any organization.
Where are the New Jobs? Optimism and Opportunity in America’s ‘New’ Economy
Americans should be optimistic about the opportunities available in the “new” economy. While the first two decades of the 21st century have been marked by tepid growth, a great recession and a global pandemic, bright spots are emerging that are driving the creation of good-paying jobs and economic opportunity. Economic forces are shifting and key players – including entrepreneurs and small supply chain companies – are proving their resilience through reinvention and innovation, supported by a growing movement of collaboration between government, philanthropy and business sectors. With unique perspective and insight gained from her successful leadership at the highest levels of both business and government, Karen Mills will share why she’s optimistic and believes this cross-sector collaboration may well define the 21st century economy.
In a Fintech Future, Who Will Be the Winners and Losers?
Fintech innovators are disrupting nearly every aspect of the financial sector. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the small business economy. While the loan application process at banks can take weeks, fintech startups are putting capital in the hands of small business owners within days, and even minutes. It's a classic David vs. Goliath story, with online startups taking market share from community banks and Wall Street giants alike. But the truth is, sometimes David wins, sometimes Goliath wins, and sometimes the right solution involves a combination of the two. From leading a $100 billion loan portfolio at the U.S. Small Business Administration to her seminal research at Harvard Business School, Karen Mills continues to have a front-row seat to how this dynamic and evolving financial sector is changing the landscape and opportunities for small businesses and our nation’s economy. In this highly-competitive space, Karen offers game-changing insights and analysis for convenings of community bankers, regional banking executives, internal bank leadership teams and fintechs.
The Small Business Playbook: Three Keys for Growth and Success
America’s community of nearly 30 million small businesses is diverse. From manufacturing suppliers and distributors to Main Street shops and tech companies, they collectively drive job creation, innovation and our nation’s competitiveness. Quite simply, their success is America’s success. Yet the challenges facing small businesses can be numerous and daunting. Drawing on her success as a small business owner and investor, to her leadership at the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, Karen Mills has the playbook for helping small businesses successfully tackle the challenges head on. As you convene your suppliers, distributors, franchisees and members, let Karen share the Small Business Playbook for getting (1) the money, (2) the customers and (3) the skilled workforce to grow and succeed.
Economic growth expert Karen Mills explores how artificial intelligence is driving change in the small business economy and transforming lending
Bringing impeccable insights on the unique opportunities and challenges facing small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the economy overall, former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration KAREN G. MILLS is a go-to expert on innovation, growth, and competitiveness. Drawing on her experience as an investor, business owner, policy maker, and leading researcher, Mills offers practical, unique, and game-changing perspective on how small businesses can leverage innovative technology to achieve the same results as global companies. In an interview with Forbes, Mills shared how in her book Fintech, Small Business & The American Dream she explores ‘what the world will look like as big data, AI, and machine learning come into financial services – lending in particular – in full force’. She predicts a transformative trend, that will strengthen small business longevity. In addition to her much-recommended book, Mills has written on building a small business utopia – in which AI increases small business success; AI, big data, and the future of lending, and how AI can help small businesses.
Currently a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Business School, Mills is a leading voice on economic growth and innovation, heralded for balancing substantive commentary with actionable strategies. Sought after for her experience leading the SBA and as a member of President Obama’s National Economic Council, Mills also offers a unique perspective on the realm of policy and the institutions that will determine regulation, as she shared in an MIT panel for the AI and the Work of the Future Congress. Mills shares eye-opening, substantive remarks that help small businesses prepare for the future, receiving rave reviews at each engagement: ”Working with Karen Mills was an absolute pleasure. Her speaking engagement was so well received and in turn we had many bankers request [a video of] her presentation.” (PayNet)
Watch Karen G. Mills on the MIT panel on AI >>
Watch Karen G. Mills keynote for Fundación Rafael del Pino >>
Karen Mills explores how technology is transforming small business and small business lending
Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration KAREN MILLS’ book, Fintech, Small Business & The American Dream is a crucial and compelling examination of how technology is transforming small business lending, offering powerful and timely lessons for bankers, fintech investors, regulators, and anyone who is interested in the future of small business in America. As Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said of the book: “It will change how you think about both financial innovation and small business.” In-demand on Yahoo Finance, the American Banker, CNBC's Squawk Box, the Harvard Business Review, and more, Mills shares eye-opening, substantive remarks that help small businesses prepare for the future. A current Senior Fellow at the Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, Mills is a leading voice on economic growth and innovation, regularly in-demand for her keen and actionable insights on fintech, supply chain disruption, and the future of the labor force. As an expert on economic growth, small businesses and governments around the world seek Mills’ insights not only for her higher-level ideas of growth and innovation, but also for important small business tactical understanding. Sought-out to speak everywhere from LendIt to Intuit to American Express, she receives rave reviews at each engagement such as: “Karen was fantastic... Loved working with her.” (LendersOne Conference) and "Working with Karen Mills was an absolute pleasure. Her speaking engagement was so well received and in turn we had many bankers request [a video of] her presentation." (PayNet)
Watch some of KAREN MILLS' talks here > >
Karen Mills is an expert on supply chain disruption
Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration KAREN MILLS is a leading expert on supply chain innovation, in-demand for her sharp, actionable insights. Mills recently penned a groundbreaking paper on the topic, "A New Categorization of the U.S. Economy: The Role of Supply Chain Industries in Innovation and Economic Performance," which made headlines in Forbes and the Harvard Business Review, thanks to the paper's insights into how supply chains could unleash the next job wave. Mills has also been sought-out for several interviews to shed further light on how the "supply chain economy" could be a source of better quality jobs hidden in plain sight. She's shared her in-depth, first-hand insights with audiences nationwide to rave reviews. At a recent Milwaukee Economic Forum, she encouraged business leaders to go beyond supply chains related to manufacturing, and to invite new businesses in the future-facing service sector. Her comments garnered tweets of praise from the audience such as: "Phenomenal speaker who presented solid data and thoughtful suggestions for improvement for #MKE.”; “Very good presentation by @KarenGMills.”
Karen Mills shares insights on disruption and the future of work
Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration KAREN MILLS was sought-out to speak at the 2020 MIT "AI and Work of the Future Congress" and at the 2018 MIT Technology Review's EmTech Next Conference, to shed light on crucial topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the future of work, disruption and more. A current Senior Fellow at the Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, Mills is a leading voice on economic growth and innovation, regularly in-demand for her keen and actionable insights on fintech, supply chain disruption, and the future of the labor force. As an expert on economic growth, businesses and governments (including officials in the United Kingdom, Australia and the European Union) seek Mills’ insight not only for her higher level ideas of growth and innovation, but also for important small business tactical insights. On an EmTech Next panel entitled MIT Work of the Future: Perspectives from Business and Economics, she illuminated what we can learn from past examples of massive disruption in the workforce, which lessons apply today, and where we might be in uncharted territory. She highlighted how AI function more as a service than a physical good, and its economic implications, as well as the four players participating in the supply and demand of the work force and how they are, and are not, serving one another. Heralded for balancing substantive commentary and actionable strategies, Mills receives rave reviews after each of her events, including: "Working with Karen Mills was an absolute pleasure. Her speaking engagement was so well received and in turn we had many bankers request [a video of] her presentation," (PayNet) and "Karen was fantastic... Loved working with her" (Lenders One Conference).
Attention Banks: Programming Idea for regional events with your best small business customers
As the former head of the Small Business Administration (2009-2013), and as a vocal and active champion for small business and regional development, KAREN MILLS is an expert on issues affecting your best customers: access to capital, supply chain issues, and technological disruption. The difference, however, is that Mills is an authentic champion of small businesses as the true driver of the economy and savors the interaction with the audience in the Q&A that follows every keynote. That one-on-one feeling makes her appearance truly valuable for your clients. Banks approach us about securing Mills for a series of events, in each of their important regions, as a marketing event for prospective business customers, current customers and employees. She is impressive and motivating, and has worked on small business policy at the highest level.
Learn more about Karen Mills' work on small business access to capital >>
Karen Gordon Mills is a Senior Fellow at Harvard Business School and a leading authority on U.S. competitiveness, entrepreneurship, and innovation. She served in President Barack Obama’s Cabinet as the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from 2009 until 2013, and was a member of the President’s National Economic Council. At SBA, she led a team of more than 3,000 employees and managed a loan guarantee portfolio of over $100 billion. At the height of the Great Recession, she took steps that led to record-breaking years for SBA lending and investments in growth capital. Additionally, Mills’ efforts helped small businesses create regional economic clusters, gain access to early-stage capital, boost exports, and tap into government and commercial supply chains. She is the author of the book Fintech, Small Business & the American Dream: How Technology is Transforming Lending and Shaping a New Era of Small Business Opportunity, as well as numerous other publications on fintech, innovation policy, and the supply chain economy.
Mills is a venture capitalist and the President of MMP Group. She is the Vice Chair of Envoy, an immigration services provider, and a Director of several Churchill Capital entities. She is also a Director of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Private Capital Research Institute (PCRI). Mills is a Member of the Harvard Corporation and a past Vice Chair of the Harvard Overseers.
Mills earned an AB in economics from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar. She received the U.S. Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award for her work in innovation, and is a frequent guest on radio and news outlets, including SiriusXM, Bloomberg TV, Yahoo Finance and CNBC, with recent articles in American Banker, Fortune, Inc., and the Harvard Business Review.
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