The Decision Analytics Forum:
An attendee’s perspective
For business professionals in the financial sector, the annual Decision Analytics Forum represents a great opportunity to meet with the worldwide business community, collecting ideas and sharing best practice. The event is designed to provide maximum value to attendees and we always look for honest feedback with the aim of improving the delegate experience.
We asked Mr Michael Ehrnsperger, Head of Credit Risk Project India for Dresdner Bank, to share his thoughts on his attendance to the DA Forum, held in Paris in November 2008. Mr Ehrnsperger is part of the community of e-news readers and entered the e-news competition last summer winning two complementary seats at the International Forum.
Q: Good morning Mr Ehrnsperger. First of all, thank you for accepting giving us this interview. This is the first time we had a competition to win free tickets to our international conference. How did you learn about this competition, and what was your reaction to finding out you had won?
A: Oh, I was really surprised, because I had forgotten that winning would entitle me to free participation. Normally, I have never luck in winning any competitions or lotteries, and to be honest, I only trusted it was genuine after I got a second e-mail informing me of the conference details.''Many of the speakers reacted on the current financial crisis and gave helpful links to the challenges every risk manager has to face at the moment...''Q: The Experian Decision Analytics Forum 2008 focused on ‘Managing retail credit in challenging times’. Our aim was to provide attendees with insight, experience and solutions to the challenges currently being faced in your industry. In your opinion, did the two day program achieve such an ambitious goal?
A: I’m absolutely convinced it did. The mix of the program, the different formats of communication and the high quality of the speakers offered every attendee the possibility to participate and benefit from the high level of expertise and knowledge. It is helpful to learn from others and to try new ways in managing risks.Q: The program included case studies, industry experts and institutional speakers. Which presentation impressed you most?
A: From my point of view, it was a good combination and I would not say that any one of them was best. Each presentation was brought alive by its speaker.
The attention of the audience slowed only down, as they realised this might be only a marketing show, but that happened only once.
Q: The Innovation Centre, with dedicated areas for demonstrations and product clinics, was available over the two days. Did you benefit from this opportunity and visit it? Which pod offered more interesting contents?
A: This was also a very good idea, to separate the product presentations from the other conference content. The popularity of the face-to-face sessions was so high that I had to queue in order to visit the Origination Pod, which is the one I was more interested in.Q: This edition of the Forum attracted over 150 delegates from financial organisations worldwide, from over 30 different countries. Were the topics discussed in the Forum of relevance to the worldwide economic surroundings prevailing nowadays?
A: I was really impressed with the fact that many of the speakers covered in their presentations, or in the discussion afterwards, the current financial crisis, and provided helpful links to the challenges every risk manager has to face at the moment.Q: Does such an international audience contribute to creating a stimulating atmosphere?
''You always need to know state-of-the-art-approaches if you want to change. Such a conference is the ideal platform to get what you want...''
A: You always need to know the state-of-the-art approaches if you want to evolve what you are doing today. A conference such as the DA Forum is the ideal platform to get what you want, if you don’t know what you need.Q: Following the last two editions in Budapest and Venice, this year we decided on another wonderful European venue to host our annual forum, in the heart of the historic Chantilly region, 30 minutes from Paris. Did you appreciate this choice? Did you have the chance to visit Paris?
A: I think it was a good venue offering options; on the one hand, staying in Chantilly gave us the possibility to have the conference in a relaxing atmosphere, and on the other hand, to get a feeling of the most impressive city in Europe. It was my first trip to Paris and I enjoyed the Seine Tour, which was organised for the evening before the event, very much indeed.Q: We are curious to know whether you are a loyal reader of the e-news newsletter. If so, what kind of content of e-news are you more interested in?
A: Due to the flood of information in my inbox, frankly speaking, it not possible to read every part of e-news.
Therefore, I tend to focus on consumer lending business and some stories about retailers, because they always provide some new ideas on the topic of customer orientation.
Q: Finally, will you participate in future Experian competitions?
A: I do hope so.
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