Professor Kennedy combats the fear of numbers
by Kennie, Nathan
Professor Michael Kennedy delivered a TEDx talk on "Arithmophobia" or the fear of numbers at the Up for Debate Weekend, hosted by Bishop’s University. The numbers Professor Kennedy explored revolved around world hunger, wealth inequality, climate change, online privacy, surveillance capitalism, and job loss due to artificial intelligence. His affable speaking style did not discount the nature of the challenge that he sees before accountants, those who aspire to be accountants, and those who teach those who so aspire. I am deeply concerned,
he said, that if accounting is the language of business, we’re not telling the whole story.
Solutions from his standpoint as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) include reimagining the three pillars of accounting: Revenue minus Expenses equals Profit, Assets equals Liabilities plus Equity, and Gross Domestic Product equals Consumer & Government Spending, Investments, and Net Exports. Professor Kennedy presents complex and serious ideas in a friendly and open manner, which explains his popularity with students in the Manning School of Business Administration. Watch Professor Kennedy’s talk below.