Wednesday Oct 18, 2023

011 Carlos Moedas| transforming tradition w/innovation

CARLOS’ BIO

Carlos Moedas is a Portuguese civil engineer, economist and politician who is the sitting mayor of Lisbon.Two weeks prior to the election he was 20 points down and his win represents one of the most stunning political victories in Europe. Before leading the city of Lisbon, he served as the EU’s Commissioner of Research, Science and Innovation and as Secretary of State of Portugal.

Carlos achieved significant success in the world of business during a two decade career that includes working as a project manager for the Suez Group in France, an M&A banker at Goldman Sachs, a real estate investment banker at Eurohypo Investment Bank, Managing Partner at what is now the Savills Portugal consultancy and starting his own investment management company, Crimson Investment Management.

He also holds or has held positions and honorary roles that include:

European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Member
Aga Khan University, Member of the Chancellor’s Commission
Africa Europe Foundation (AEF), Member of the Africa-Europe Relations Group
Friends of Europe, Member of the Board of Trustees
Trilateral Commission, Member of the European Group
UNESCO, Member of the Advisory Board of the "Futures of Education" Initiative
Member of the Portuguese Academy of Engineering (2014)
Commander of the Spanish Order of Civil Merit by the King Felipe VI of Spain
Honorary Doctorate in Laws by the University of Cork; Honorary Doctorate by ESCP Europe - École supérieure de commerce de Paris; Honorary Fellow of the AAS - African Academy of Sciences; Gold Medal from the Portuguese Order of Engineering (2019)

He is not only a bright mind and committed public servant, but a remarkable human being shaping the world who I’ve had the privilege of knowing for about 25 years while studying for our MBA degree at Harvard. We also happen to have held similar innovation, technology and investment focused roles in the United States and the European Union for a few overlapping years last decade.

“Being mayor, you are the mayor of the little things and the big things”

“Bridging tradition with innovation requires citizen participation”

"Europe is good at turning money into knowledge like scientific production, not so good at turning knowledge into money"

EPISODE OUTLINE

(0:00) - Intro

(0:38) - Bio

(01:21) - Innovation and science = economic engine; knowledge-->jobs-->money

(04:15) - Running a city; in between big things and small things

(06:53) - Citizens designing policy; reducing the distance, open doors to all

(08:28) - Lack of faith in politicians; erosion of institutional trust

(09:40) - Positioning Lisbon; transformation, tradition, government for/by people

(12:46) - Politics changing; the Nordics example, Carlos taking the bus