The 7^th Annual Greenwich Economic Forum this week brought together dozens of CEOs, CIOs, and top financial executives of all stripes for thought-provoking conversations. Topics included trends in asset management, global geopolitics, financial technology, and financial regulation. Tough to find more sophisticated and diverse thought-leadership outside a small town in Switzerland or the Beverly Hills Hotel.

What struck us is the velocity of change sweeping across the world of capital formation. Industry givens – e.g. publics and privates are distinct asset classes – are called into question. Top managers with scale and skill play up and down the capital structure, and across the risk and size spectrum. And macro issues such as interest rates and economy are merely investor playthings. It’s a breathtaking evolution. At least, that’s where we seem to be.

What is clear is that change is coming on the wings of technological innovation with billions of data bits flying at us every day. Managers are increasingly challenged in their abilities to assimilate this information, let alone make timely and appropriate decisions. As the founder of a leading non-profit put it, “You’re either overloaded, or out of work.”