Change has been the biggest challenge of the past four years and will continue to be the biggest challenge in the next four years, said Professor Ian Fenwick. Professor Fenwick, with his dynamic vision, has recently been appointed for a second four-year term as the Director of the Sasin School of Management. As with all organizations, Sasin has undergone dramatic transformations in the past few years, while remaining dedicated to: inspire.connect.transform for a smarter, better, and more sustainable world. “What Sasin calls entrepreneurial mindset is really an intense curiosity, a constant questioning of ‘why not?’ An incessant urge to explore the unknown; to ask why things are done in one way, and why not try another,” he said. Professor Fenwick believes that since life itself is an ongoing process of experimentation and trial-and-error, it is crucial for individuals to embrace change, try new things, and avoid being confined to a single approach. He encourages cultivating mindfulness and adopting a flexible mindset to unlock incredible potential by recognizing opportunities within problems. “We should allow time off to think and consider, to feel, to experience, and evaluate what one should be doing,” he remarked.

“Most people fix on the problems in the opportunities. We should be looking for the opportunities in the problems. That’s really what entrepreneurial mindset is all about.”

Professor Fenwick also expressed the need to translate talk into action. “All the time we need to think: ‘If not me who, if not now, when?’ Each of us needs to take responsibility for the future of all of us,” he said, adding that, if we are to avoid repetition of past mistakes, we cannot leave fixing systemic issues to others. Visible transformations will be seen in the way things are done at Sasin, as the school is fully committed to promoting inclusivity and nurturing creativity within increasingly diverse groups of individuals.

“One of the key drivers of future success will be the ability to embrace different mindsets: the ability to empathize with those of different opinions. The whole area of inclusiveness will be become a vital competitive strength for tomorrow”

Professor Fenwick thinks that the future of business education will focus on teaching leaders what they need to know, when they need to know it, in a just-in-time manner, rather than preparing for hypothetical scenarios. “So much of the education we’ve done in the past has been ‘just in case’ – we teach lots of things just in case you need it one day. But what you need is right now, what I need is what I need now – ‘just in time,’” he emphasized. Additionally, he sees that the future of business education will be “blended” – a mix of online learnings and in-persons interactive sessions. “Lifelong learning” will also become critically important. “I learned a lot when I was in my twenties – I did a Ph.D. and all that sort of stuff – but I’ve learned far more in my last ten years than I ever did before,” said Professor Fenwick. Professor Fenwick has recently created a new position at Sasin –- Head of Stakeholder Engagement. Professor Fenwick hopes that by fostering greater stakeholder engagement, Sasin can unlock its full potential. “If Sasin is to realize its potential, you need to realize your potential,” he said, empowering all students, faculty, and staff to take responsibility and own the future of Sasin. Overall, Professor Fenwick envisions a future where Sasin embodies its core values, embraces change, fosters inclusivity, and prepares individuals to navigate dynamic business landscapes through mindful decision-making and active learning.