Fintech South 2023: Brian Benn with Clark Atlanta University

Intro: Broadcasting live from the beautiful Georgia World Congress Center for FinTech South. 2023. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here live from FinTech South. 2023 celebrating fintech leaders from around the world. Right now we have Brian Benn. TAG Chair and the CTO of Clark Atlanta University. Welcome, Brian.

Brian Benn: Hi, how are you?

Lee Kantor: I am doing well. For folks who don’t know, talk about your role at Clark Atlanta. What is the CTO doing over there?

Brian Benn: Well, it’s actually CIO, but kind of the same thing. I’m over the Office of Information Technology and Communications and just making sure that we’re using and leveraging technology to help support the university, help increase the productivity and profitability and attract more students and make the the technology experience great for both the student and faculty.

Lee Kantor: So what’s your backstory? How’d you get involved in this line of work?

Brian Benn: Well, I came up I did computer science and math undergrad, and then I started my career at NASA and just always kind of gravitated towards it. I just loved being able to use technology to pretty much do anything. And so I came up a little bit at NASA. Dod did some consulting for a while and spent ten of the last 11 years as the CIO for Atlanta Housing Authority. So I’m about 35, 36 days in this new gig.

Lee Kantor: So this is brand new for you.

Brian Benn: It is academia higher? Ed Yep.

Lee Kantor: So what is some of the challenges that academia has that maybe your previous world didn’t include?

Brian Benn: Well, you’ve got a lot of you’ve got a lot of brilliant minds. I don’t want to say God complexes per se, but I got a lot of PhDs and so forth to support and understand the dynamics and it’s and its research. So you want to be able to make sure that we can do our things but also segment them so they can research and they can be they can really kind of be innovative and leverage technology. So you’ve got to think beyond just keeping the systems up and running. But you’ve got to think about those 4000 students as well as the 1000 faculty and staff that you have to support. So you’ve got to be real, comprehensive and broad and you’re thinking and then employment of information technology.

Lee Kantor: So how is Clark doing when it comes to attracting students that could follow into a path, into fintech, into technology?

Brian Benn: I think they’re doing really well. I think they have I think they have a great business department for one education. Just all the departments I’ve seen already in my in my just over a month, they’re they’re really set up and really preparing the students to to step into the workforce and and really compete. And I think it’s really kind of exciting. It’s really exciting using technology and leveraging technology so they can get the best and the brightest out there into the workforce.

Lee Kantor: Now, what attracted you to get involved in Chair and take on the leadership role?

Brian Benn: Well, I just really love this tech ecosystem here in Atlanta. And I think the the thought leadership, the intellectual capital as well as the camaraderie is second to none. I know the Silicon Valley. I know there’s the research triangle, but I’m really excited about what we have potential and the upside regarding our tech ecosystem here.

Lee Kantor: So what since you’ve been around the block a little bit, what what do you think the ecosystem needs to do a better job with?

Brian Benn: I think we just need to continue to evangelize. I think we really need to understand how dynamic technology is and to just get out in front of it. I think if we can be more proactive instead of reactive and we can just continue to to employ technology to help the youngest all the way up to the oldest, whether we’re helping support those those older ones, a little reticent to use technology or whether we’re bolstering those young ones who’ve grown up in it. I just think we have a responsibility to make sure that we’re a technology evangelist and also like to bridge the digital divide. I think that’s important that we make sure that we understand that that’s a great equalizer in terms of technology, just like education was and still is.

Lee Kantor: So if you were kind of in charge, how would you bridge that divide? What are some of the things that we can be proactively doing to kind of lesson that divide?

Brian Benn: I just think wherever we can lean in, in terms of making sure there’s access and that’s access to devices, whether we have old devices that we might throw away, we want to make sure they get in the right hands where they can be reused. I also think we have to look at Wi-Fi that connectivity the same way we look at electricity and water and just make sure that even some of the barren areas around the city, whatever we can do to lean in and make sure there’s access to Wi-Fi. And lastly, I think training is important, whether it’s rudimentary training, basic computing skills or even what we can do with our jobs in terms of workforce development and and making sure we leverage technology in that way.

Lee Kantor: Is there an opportunity to introduce some of the. Computer sciences in an early age.

Brian Benn: Absolutely. I think the earlier we get them, the more and again, they’re playing with these things. But but I think so the application that they have is good. But I think we can also introduce that theoretical side and that theory early. And I think that combination of both the application and the theory will make the the best and the brightest practitioners.

Lee Kantor: And is there a way you think that we can get more mentors involved earlier because there’s a lot of mentors and job shadowing as the as the kid is, you know high school college. But if they saw the possibilities and understood that there’s a and they can have the ability to create things rather than just be a consumer of things, I would think that that would just accelerate everything. I think you’re exactly right.

Brian Benn: I think once the opportunity is shown to them, I think I think they really take advantage of it. I think we have a responsibility, especially when it comes to people of color, make sure that they have that access and also women who we don’t necessarily see in this field. So I think the earlier we can get both of those groups engaged, I think the better off we are for everybody.

Lee Kantor: Now, is that something that Tag is tackling or is that something that’s outside the scope?

Brian Benn: I think Tag is definitely doing that. As part of their tag ed initiative, they’re making sure they’re focusing on not just people of color and and from a diversity side, but also getting women. And we’re talking about young women. We’re talking about creating opportunities for them to get to the workforce, for them to make sure that they’re able to start businesses and companies and have incubators. So I think the tag is playing in that space very well.

Lee Kantor: Yeah, we’ve done a lot of work with women in technology and it seems that at a certain age it it just kind of splits where either they’re self-selecting out or they’re not getting the opportunities to continue down the path. And anything that can be done to help keep them on that path. I just see so many young people are just such consumers of this and they just can’t change their mindset. To say that I can be a creator as well. I can I can get on the other side of the table here.

Brian Benn: I think you’re exactly right. I think it’s more of a mindset. And I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the other initiatives that Tag has, and that’s bridge builders and that’s getting that’s getting minority and people of work, people of color, not just in the workforce, but helping them, like those incubators we mentioned start companies. And again, once you see that possibility and once you know it’s a possibility for you and then you get engaged at that level, especially in an early age, I think it’s not just I think there’s a win for everyone because we’re now maximizing our potential by leveraging all of our talent.

Lee Kantor: Now, what are some things that a person can be doing to get involved so that they can show that representation and show that path for especially young people in this?

Brian Benn: Well, again, I’ll definitely talk about tags since this is a tag event, but there’s several other there’s several other organizations here that we we partner with. But Tag has 20 plus societies. And if you go to tag online.org, you look at the different societies around all the different disciplines. You can find one that matches with you, that aligns with you and that aligns with your interest and your skill set. And then you can kind of see if you can volunteer and lean in in that space. And even if you want to step in with Tag, I think if you’re good technology savvy, I think that it’s important that we again, go back and give back in the schools at work and just be intentional about it. I think intentionality is is a big piece of this.

Lee Kantor: Well, Brian, thank you so much for sharing your story today. You’re doing important work and we appreciate you. It’s my pleasure.

Brian Benn: Thank you.

Lee Kantor: All right. This Lee Kantor will be back in a few at FinTech South 2023.