This (Financial) Time is different . . . feeling excited to appear in the paper, let me reflect on my personal FT story. 

 

Reflecting on the first time of my endeavour to publish an opinion letter to the Financial Times editor, I can remember myself contemplating the feelings, expecting to appear in the paper worldwide. It was back in May 2018, when several FT writers debated whether economics has failed. The debate sparked a remarkable reaction, as more than 300 readers responded by email or in online comments, not counting a vigorous discussion on the social media. My letter in response to this global debate on the future of economics was selected for publication; I was so excited to be included in the paper. 

 

Almost a year later, it was Tuesday; the day before, Martin Wolf -the FT's chief economics commentator- has published an important piece on the long global debt cycle. While in the office, I wrote some thoughts and shaped them in the form of a letter responding on the subject. Without further ado, seeking Martin’s feedback, I forwarded the letter to his e-mail and… bingo! got the reply “A good letter”, with the editor included in the cc field. Really surprised and of course excited, I extended my thanks for the prompt response; a couple of days later, the text appeared in the paper as the central piece of the Letters page. 

 

But success is hardly guaranteed. On another occasion, during the Delphi Economic Forum, inspired as I was watching online a panel discussion on the peril of a depression of liberal democracy, with the participation of Martin Wolf, again, I was pleased to have an exchange with him after sending some comments and thoughts via the e-mail. I decided to draft a letter, on a relevant subject, to be submitted for publication. Unfortunately the letter was not used by the editor. In the days that followed, an important opinion article on the dominant role of the US dollar in the global financial system attracted my attention; I then prepared a new piece to be submitted as a letter in response, analysing institutional arrangements in the name of “monetary peace” in the aftermath of the Great Recession. The letter appeared in the FT paper; and perseverance did pay off -a lesson to remember. 

 

These stories to recall, as the best was yet to come...

 

Indeed, this (Financial) time is different! 

 

Truly grateful to the amazing team of the FT Board Director Programme, and proud for this achievement; a unique journey which -to recall Aristotle- involves educating the mind and educating the heart  

 

Last but not least -to share part of my testimonial-, I was motivated to take the FT NED Diploma course in order to further improve my knowledge, skills and behaviours as an effective non-executive board member, and to gain more credibility and a competitive edge.

 

Congratulations to all fellow graduates in this great group (Cohort 56).