Dr. Sung Won Sohn

Preparing Leaders for the Economy Ahead

Expert on

  • Economics
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Geopolitics
  • Business Growth
  • Change
  • Futurist 

Fee Range

$10,000–$15,000

Travels from

CA, US

Biography

Dr. Sohn is a Professor of Finance and Economics at Loyola-Marymount University. He is also president of SS Economics, an economic consulting firm focused on the U.S. economy, international trade in the pacific-rim and technology including AI. Dr. Sohn was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hanmi Financial Corporation, a commercial bank in Los Angeles, California. Before joining Hanmi in 2005, Dr. Sohn was an Executive Vice President and Chief Economic Officer at Wells Fargo Banks. He was also Vice Chairman of the Board at a retailer Forever 21. Dr. Sohn also serves as Vice President and Commissioner for LACERS (Los Angeles City Employee Retirement System) and Chair of the Investment Committee, managing $18 billion in assets. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Western Alliance Bancorporation, and National Association of Corporate Directors PSW. Dr. Sohn is an internationally-known economist.

Dr. Sohn was Martin V. Smith Professor of Economics at California State University CI and director of Institute for Global Economic Research (IGER) forecasting economic and investment conditions in the Pacific-rim countries.

Prior to Wells Fargo, Dr. Sohn was a Senior Economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisors in The White House. He was responsible for economic and legislative matters pertaining to The Federal Reserve and financial markets. Dr. Sohn has also been a tenured professor in Pennsylvania State University System.

In 2001, Bloomberg News selected Dr. Sohn as one of the five most accurate forecasters in the United States. In 2002, Blue Chip Publications picked him as the most accurate forecaster for the Western States, and he was named to Time Magazine’s Board of Economists. In 2006, The Wall Street Journal featured a story naming Dr. Sohn as the most accurate economist in the United States. This is one of the most prestigious honors in the economics profession.

Dr. Sohn was chosen as one of the 100 most influential Minnesotans of the 20th century by the state’s largest daily newspaper, The Star Tribune. Others on the list included Charles Lindberg, Sinclair Lewis, Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Charles Schultz of Peanuts.

The Economic Outlook: What Business Leaders Need to Know About Markets, Policy, and Global Risk

Today’s economic environment is being shaped by rapid policy shifts, geopolitical uncertainty, financial market volatility, and the accelerating influence of artificial intelligence. In this timely and insightful program, business leaders will gain a clear understanding of where the U.S. and global economies are headed and what those trends mean for strategic decision making. Attendees will learn how inflation, interest rates, labor markets, government policy, and global instability are impacting growth, investment, and long term planning. This session translates complex economic forces into practical business insight, helping organizations make smarter decisions and build resilience in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Key Takeaways
• Understand how inflation, interest rates, labor market trends, and Federal Reserve policy influence business conditions and strategic planning
• Gain practical guidance for navigating investment decisions, hiring, budgeting, and capital allocation during periods of uncertainty
• Learn how artificial intelligence is reshaping productivity, workforce dynamics, and competitive advantage across industries
• Explore strategies for managing risk, responding to market volatility, and building organizational resilience in a rapidly changing global economy

Reinventing Your Business in the Age of AI and Economic Transformation

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how businesses compete, create value, and drive growth. In this forward looking keynote, Sung Won Sohn explores how companies must reinvent themselves as the global economy shifts from products and transactions toward data, services, and platform driven ecosystems. Using real world examples from companies like Mastercard and other industry leaders, he demonstrates how AI is transforming data into strategic intelligence and long term competitive advantage. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how economic transformation and digital disruption are redefining business success.

Key Takeaways
• Understand how AI is changing business models, industries, and competitive dynamics
• Learn why data, platforms, and ecosystems now drive enterprise value
• Explore how leading companies are using AI to create new revenue opportunities
• Gain insight into how organizations can adapt and reinvent themselves for the future economy

Long Term Economic Consequences of the Iran War

Global conflict is reshaping the economic landscape in ways that will continue long after the war itself ends. In this timely presentation, Sung Won Sohn examines how geopolitical instability, rising energy costs, and supply chain disruption are creating a more volatile and inflationary global economy. He explains why businesses can no longer rely on old assumptions about trade, logistics, and pricing, and what leaders must do to prepare for a higher cost operating environment. This session provides practical insight into the long term economic realities businesses will face in an increasingly uncertain world.

Key Takeaways
• Understand how geopolitical conflict impacts inflation, energy markets, and global growth
• Learn why supply chains are shifting from efficiency toward resilience and security
• Gain strategies for managing rising costs, volatility, and economic uncertainty
• Explore the long term implications for investment, operations, and business planning