Google Zeitgeist Partner Forum 2009
I’ve just left the 2 day event astounded by the quality of speakers and range of ideas debated.
Couple of highlights include;
Dr Dieter Zetsche (Head of Mercedes) saying that the future of cars may be the shift from personal ownership towards centralised car sharing.
Franco Bernabe (CEO Telecom Italia) predicting that the most interesting trend in mobile will be ‘objects talking to one another’ to help create efficiencies in everyday living. (Separately this theme was picked up later by Larry Page who is involved with projects to create the first mass produced automated car (e.g. no driver) to help reduce the 2m deaths that occur each year through traffic accidents). He also spoke as the most important trend in the World Economy will be the transition of China from being primarily a producer to becoming a consumer as America loses its preeminent position in the world in regards to this.
Carlie Mayfield (Chairman John Lewis) an analogy for the opportunity for innovation and entrepreneurship in this downturn can be found in nature with the effect of forest fires. Some plants can only germinate in the post-fire environment such of the seeds of one of the biggest trees, the Sequoia.
Nassim Taleb (Author of ‘The Black Swan’) stated that we haven’t seen the worst of the recession yet and that in a world of over a million economists only 5 or so predicted the current crisis and therefore the their profession and the computer modeling they undertake should be totally disregarded.
Mark Thompson’s (Director General BBC) comments around user engagement and the fact that on the day of the heaviest snowfall in the UK this year the BBC received 30k individual pieces of content from the public.
Anshu Jain (Head of Global Markets Deutsche Bank) claiming that when the US housing market stabilises and doesn’t drop for 3 consecutive months this will be the best indicator that the current economic crisis has bottomed out.
The Prince of Wales discussing the urgency of the issues surrounding climate change and specifically promoting his new campaign www.rainforestsos.org including a wonderful quote that “when natures capital is spent we cannot replace it with an injection of cash”. He also talked about the need for individual engagement to promote CSR and mobilise business towards greater accountability and responsibility to its local environment www.bitc.org.uk
Kristian Segerstrale (CEO Playfish) talking about his foray into the $50bn gaming industry but with the focus away from the solitary activity of traditional computer gaming and socialising the activity with your friend network so that the ‘emotional driver is your relationships and not the game itself’.
The 2 days concluded with Eric Schmidt, Larry Page discussing with Richard Branson his philanthropic and charitable activities specifically The Elders where both Peter Gabriel and himself have assembled people of ‘high moral authority’ such as Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela amongst others to try and help find solutions to problems that have failed through traditional partisan political agendas by their direct intervention and dialogue (Zimbabwe, Iraq etc)
These were only a few of the speakers but represent the amazing calibre of thinkers and innovators present. It seems to me that only a company like Google that leads the way in thought leadership in so many areas could assemble such a range of people to contribute to the significant issues on discussion. Whilst not naïve to the commercial imperatives that Google has I can’t help but feel that the drive towards ‘making things work better’ as Larry Page said still sits at the heart of this phenomenal business and the authenticity that their leader projects.
Favourite quotes of the two days from David Jones (CEO Havas) attributed to African Tribesman - "If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together" and Lorraine Twohill (VP Marketing Google) attributed to Andy Warhol " Time changes things but you have to change things for yourself".
All the speakers and discussions will be posted on YouTube in the coming days.
