GSBC will continue to lean into its philosophy of ‘Educate, Innovate, Connect’ by offering students of its 72nd Annual School Session the opportunity to hear from Lamont Black, a recognized expert on cryptocurrency and blockchain.

Black will deliver his keynote, aptly titled, “A Culture of Innovation,” on July 25, 2023. As technological change in the business world continues to accelerate, bankers will need to embrace a culture of innovation. Black’s keynote session will highlight the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset and how bank leaders can lead the innovation in their organization. As Black states: “It begins with you.”

In the world of innovation, small- to medium-sized organizations can pivot faster than the largest ones. Black will discuss with the students emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, digital assets, metaverse and others. Every banker in the session will be challenged to make innovation a daily routine and regular conversation as they develop a leadership style for the future.

“Lamont has a gift of being able to connect with people and inspire them to think of a future of possibilities,” said Michael L. Stevens, GSBC President. “He’s the perfect messenger for GSBC’s mission and vision.”

Black’s teaching on cryptocurrency at DePaul University covers aspects of money and investing. In his graduate course on blockchain, he works with business and computer science students to build real-world blockchain applications. Prior to joining DePaul, Dr. Black was an economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington D.C., where he focused on bank regulation.

GSBC’s 72nd Annual School Session will kick off July 16, 2023, at the University of Colorado Boulder.