The online version of Web Summit 2020 marks a pivotal moment of transformation. Everything changed this year, epitomized by the unprecedented Covid-19 circumstances and new theorems that will define the way we think, work, produce, create. It seems that the previous life mode becomes a renegade, only to a hybrid model about to take place: a combination of advanced digital technologies (and everything that comes with) and of essential, deep human capital. It is a fact: a new era is starting now and everything becomes re-invented including the epicenter of this new chapter: ourselves. Web Summit 2020 was there to declare that, through many discussions and presentations of the usual intensity and wit-sdom. After all, the reputation of the conference is exceedingly growing and finds so many imitators and followers worldwide, that in a few years the “Web Summit culture” will become a steady policy for any town or city around the world. The original version remains irresistibly ingenious though, like any other authentic product or service, (also planned to be hosted by Tokyo in 2021, a much anticipated landmark in Web Summit history, with beautiful Lisbon still keeping the core event on its ground).
Here are the highlights of this year, as discussed and exchanged on our screens:
#DesignYour Leadership
In times that democracies around the world get poisoned by feudalism and irresponsible leadership, Paul Michelman, Dan Price (Gravity Payments, alias: Best Boss in America according to Inc. mag) and Ronny Chieng explore the mistrust origin in current unaccountable, greedy leadership either in politics but mainly in business. The narrative of the unapproachable Messiah boss who touches unconceivable amounts of cash while the bellow-him-executive earns the minimum wage is a scenario with catastrophic consequences for every aspiring business which is profit- driven today. Real socialism on the entrepreunerial environment is not only possible but essential for growth. No big secret there, but amazing to hear that as an established principle for business instead of a utopian notion of some sort.
#DesignYour BlockChain
The global crisis of trust degradation in every sector - says Charles Hoskinson of IOHK and co-founder of Ethereum- institution or service demands an emergency reset in order to regulate credibly a whole area of public or private functions from academic credentials to property management and from voting to medical records and copyright. The re-invention of the governance system through blockchain technology can and will lead to a fairer world, where the responsibility of Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) will be a proven asset and a means of protecting our own rights as consumers and individuals. Blockchain implementation will be the next step for every central administration, facilitating your local government or municipality .
#DesignYourSocialMedia
FCBK, IG, Twitter: are they helping or hurting our humanity today? Enablers of the creativity rush, self-expression and (graphic) identity/presence ramification, Social Media created a labyrinth of ideas but they also turned into huge conglomerates, enticing a loss of empathy nowadays due to their current hyper-administrative infrastructure. In the “Bonjour Tristesse” (engl: Good morning Sadness) current vibe, the experimentation on every medium tends to happen through an advertising galore system that alienate us from our quest for humanity. We still need to think those companies as tools in our civilian mindset, more than ever. People is the Matter and the way to reach to them, therefore platforms are important only as a means to that end (says Yiying Lu and her co-speakers with Debbie Millman asking the questions, in photo bellow ).
…”Empathy is cool, fashionable and palatable. Translate it to your own language with your audience.”…
Olivia Culpo, 4/12/2020, Web Summit 2020
In video bellow, Misan Harriman on self-discovery and philanthropy 4 all, starting with the example of fashion publications like British Vogue:
#DesignYourHealth #DesignYourEU_DigitalMode
..“I am not lowering the bar regarding the Covid-19 vaccination procedure safety protocols.”…
..”We need to be better prepared from now on for future crises of that type, coordination is key, giving a sense of predictability, consistency and transparency to the citizens is essential, otherwise there is no compliance.”…
Stella Kyriakides, 2/12/2020, Web Summit 2020 in an interview with Karen Tso.
When EU current administration appointed Cypriot politician Stella Kyriakides as the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, it sure did not encounter neither predict the possible Covid-19 outburst and its domino effect on multiple sectors, including local economies. Mrs Kyriakides proved to be the Goalkeeper of Brussels this last year, in a number of extra difficult tasks, showing proven sense and engaging sensibility in the current crisis making sure that the continent’s central administration will not compromise in hasty solutions to satisfy the account managers of a bunch of pharmaceutical companies. It seems that working hard enough to make-not-break the European territory is more than a Moto for Brussels at present time and the Health and Food safety team is staying focused on the importance of human lives instead of (well)-lobbyism.
…“Customers should have access and manage their own data, no matter the size of the platform they use.”…
…”We are not afraid in Brussels to break/split big companies, if needed, fault to to their unorthodox practices. We can do it as a last resource but not as a universal policy/technique in every case.”…
…”Online and offline are the 2 sides of the same world not 2 different worlds.”…
Margrethe Vestager, 4/12/2020, Web Summit 2020 in a conversation with Nicholas Thompson.
Margrethe Vestager needs no introduction, especially to the digital world but also to all of us citizens of EU who happen to enjoy the fruits of her labour and constant effort to improve digital services and the digital legislation framework inside (and outside) the continent. A Web Summit cult figure but also a capable female politician inside the EU Central, MV deciphered the challenges of this year including the need for restoration after a penalty and the recovery of the market post-damage, a new code of conduct (i.e. the Anti-Trust Law Enforcement) for any upcoming big company, the pros and cons of the new tools set for distant working/learning, the need to release the weights and move faster in a capitalistic environment of private property and initiative. With the opportunity of the investigation on Amazon recent retail practices, in a year that digital commerce seems to be a generalized solution more than ever before, MV has her schedule full, getting the “bad guys” but also resuming to work with dignity in an area of duty with so many unfolded issues and complications.
#DesignYourAI #AI4Good
Why we are hesitating to use ArtificiaI Intelligence to face Covid-19, (provided the pandemic acts as an accelerator mostly inside large companies, in order for them to reduce collateral costs)? Is there unfairness, fake news, violence, abuse in AI? We just need smarter systems for less biased AI, since AI is symbiotic with many jobs, amplifying people’s aptitudes and capabilities but also an adoptive model to replace routine jobs like assembly lines, telesales or waitressing in the future. AI is not to substitute whatsoever creative, compassionate, analytical and emotional skillsets. Watch an extract of the discussion between Simon Segars (Arm) and Kai-Fu Lee:
#DesignYourMoney
...”Your child will tell you in the future: I ‘ve got my pension and it is Green, produced by ethical funds. Where is yours?”…
Richard Curtis, Make My Money Matter, 3/12/2020, Web Summit 2020
If we chose an electricity provider based on renewable energy resources in order to help saving the planet how come we are not interested to invest our money in an ethical pension scheme, based on funds that are not toxic or speculative but producing benevolent revenues? Join the campaign here and check out Richard Curtis talking about it in the video bellow.
#DesignYourPlanet #BeANetZeroHero
Trust, transparency and shared vision: that’s what it takes for environmental organizations like Fauna & Flora International and BP oil and gas company to team up for one cause: net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (in picture bellow Marc Rose of FFI with Bernard Looney of BP, coordinated by Amy Bernstein - exchanging views on their partnership to save the planet).
Sustainability is not an expense but a cost-reduction factor and it needs to be implemented at the birth of every business, like an energy certificate for buildings, like water, electricity or consumables. Thus said Tony Milikin (Chief Sustainability Officer at AB InBev) & Friends (in pic bellow).
#DesignYourClassroom #EducatingAgainstRacism
...”Black & White are tones, not colours. All human skin shades and hues are variations of the brown colour, depending of the level of melanin on each creature/human being.”…
…”For the first time in history people saw live this year what African people are witnessing for centuries. That man put his knee on the neck of the victim and then looked at the camera. There is no denial, there it is, watch it. Now, what are you going to do About It?”…
Jane Elliott, 4/12/2020, Web Summit 2020
#DesignYourMentalWellness #CognitiveFitness #DigitalNutrition
Mental wellness is in decline around the world. How do we use technology to take care of our mind in a holistic way? An empowering voice for women around the world and a former high-rank executive and CEO in multinational companies in the likes of Cisco, legendary
Padmasree Warrior (on the left in photo bellow) created Fable, an app promoting reading as a meditative and healing tool through a unique social experience. A fan of Headspace and Spotify, PW introduces at Web Summit 2020 one of the most promising ideas of the year. Fable is a new approach to meditation, literacy and literature with a huge potential for further development.
NEXT: OUT OF THIS WORLD: THE STARTUPs LIST IN WEB SUMMIT 2020 (Part B).
#CleanPlanet #CleanMedia
A4D-D4A 💙💚🙆
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