How a city looks is often different than how it functions, with even the most diverse and cosmopolitan urban centers struggling to bring the growth and extend the benefits of the digital economy to all of its citizens.

On the latest episode of “What’s Next In,” Miguel Gamiño Jr., head of Global Cities and City Possible at Mastercard, discusses how his career in information and technology has spanned the continent and why a city only works if it works for everyone. But don't jus think of them as 'smart cities.'

Before COVID-19, he says, “the digitization of public services and advancement of these quote-unquote smart cities concepts were a ‘nice to have.’ COVID all of a sudden made that a health concern, sometimes a life safety concern … All of sudden, resources can get reprioritized when you’re talking about those kinds of consequences of not acting.”