I am obsessed in thinking about the opportunity deficit I found myself in
opportunity deficit I found myself in
opportunity deficit I found myself in 2008 in the South Bronx on a daily basis
2008 in the South Bronx on a daily basis
2008 in the South Bronx on a daily basis working on an education program that was
working on an education program that was
working on an education program that was designed to help a population of kids
designed to help a population of kids
designed to help a population of kids who otherwise had no hope they were
who otherwise had no hope they were
who otherwise had no hope they were suffering from an enormous opportunity
suffering from an enormous opportunity
suffering from an enormous opportunity deficit growing up in a small town in
deficit growing up in a small town in
deficit growing up in a small town in Virginia I never imagined that I would
Virginia I never imagined that I would
Virginia I never imagined that I would end up in a place like the South Bronx
end up in a place like the South Bronx
end up in a place like the South Bronx but me and my best friend Nick what we
but me and my best friend Nick what we
but me and my best friend Nick what we wanted to do was develop a program that
wanted to do was develop a program that
wanted to do was develop a program that might give certain opportunities to kids
might give certain opportunities to kids
might give certain opportunities to kids who otherwise would never have them a
who otherwise would never have them a
who otherwise would never have them a 20-percent graduate high school
20-percent graduate high school
20-percent graduate high school graduation rate twenty percent of that
graduation rate twenty percent of that
graduation rate twenty percent of that population would then go to college it
population would then go to college it
population would then go to college it amazes me that in the wealthiest city in
amazes me that in the wealthiest city in
amazes me that in the wealthiest city in the world part of that city is
the world part of that city is
the world part of that city is representative of the poorest
representative of the poorest
representative of the poorest congressional district in the country
congressional district in the country
congressional district in the country now I was also spending my time not just
now I was also spending my time not just
now I was also spending my time not just in the South Bronx but at one of the
in the South Bronx but at one of the
in the South Bronx but at one of the largest most international media
largest most international media
largest most international media companies in the world a company that
companies in the world a company that
companies in the world a company that reached three and a half billion people
reached three and a half billion people
reached three and a half billion people with their various media products but
with their various media products but
with their various media products but they wanted to do good they were funding
they wanted to do good they were funding
they wanted to do good they were funding a school in the south bronx called Eagle
a school in the south bronx called Eagle
a school in the south bronx called Eagle Academy for young men now this company
Academy for young men now this company
Academy for young men now this company which again wanted to do good here in
which again wanted to do good here in
which again wanted to do good here in the city with which it is based was
the city with which it is based was
the city with which it is based was trying to help provide and combat the
trying to help provide and combat the
trying to help provide and combat the opportunity deficit that existed for
opportunity deficit that existed for
opportunity deficit that existed for this population of kids now how do you
this population of kids now how do you
this population of kids now how do you address that how do you help this
address that how do you help this
address that how do you help this population achieve something that they
population achieve something that they
population achieve something that they will never be able to normally achieve
will never be able to normally achieve
will never be able to normally achieve without graduating from high school
without graduating from high school
without graduating from high school without graduating from college so we
without graduating from college so we
without graduating from college so we developed a business program it was to
developed a business program it was to
developed a business program it was to teach them the basics of
teach them the basics of
teach them the basics of entrepreneurship how do you start a
entrepreneurship how do you start a
entrepreneurship how do you start a company you don’t have to have a degree
company you don’t have to have a degree
company you don’t have to have a degree to be able to start a company some of
to be able to start a company some of
to be able to start a company some of the most successful business executives
the most successful business executives
the most successful business executives in the world never graduated from
in the world never graduated from
in the world never graduated from college why
college why
college why these kids have be any different so we
these kids have be any different so we
these kids have be any different so we convince this very large global company
convince this very large global company
convince this very large global company to help fund us and support us in
to help fund us and support us in
to help fund us and support us in developing this program in the South
developing this program in the South
developing this program in the South Bronx that Eagle Academy for young men
Bronx that Eagle Academy for young men
Bronx that Eagle Academy for young men but we faced insurmountable challenges
but we faced insurmountable challenges
but we faced insurmountable challenges and being able to develop this program
and being able to develop this program
and being able to develop this program but it might not have been the things
but it might not have been the things
but it might not have been the things that you imagined it would be confidence
that you imagined it would be confidence
that you imagined it would be confidence is everything how do you instill
is everything how do you instill
is everything how do you instill confidence in a population of kids who
confidence in a population of kids who
confidence in a population of kids who know nothing other than the street that
know nothing other than the street that
know nothing other than the street that they live on and the environment with
they live on and the environment with
they live on and the environment with which they exist how do you also instill
which they exist how do you also instill
which they exist how do you also instill confidence in middle management at a
confidence in middle management at a
confidence in middle management at a fortune 50 company very difficult we
fortune 50 company very difficult we
fortune 50 company very difficult we developed this program and we were
developed this program and we were
developed this program and we were hopeful it would be successful but we
hopeful it would be successful but we
hopeful it would be successful but we faced two very significant challenges
faced two very significant challenges
faced two very significant challenges the school itself advised us that the
the school itself advised us that the
the school itself advised us that the only way to attract these kids was to in
only way to attract these kids was to in
only way to attract these kids was to in fact give them presents we didn’t give
fact give them presents we didn’t give
fact give them presents we didn’t give them presents they weren’t going to show
them presents they weren’t going to show
them presents they weren’t going to show up to learn about business going back to
up to learn about business going back to
up to learn about business going back to the company on Sixth Avenue the guy who
the company on Sixth Avenue the guy who
the company on Sixth Avenue the guy who championed our cause got demoted and the
championed our cause got demoted and the
championed our cause got demoted and the people who the person who replaced them
people who the person who replaced them
people who the person who replaced them didn’t have enough confidence to
didn’t have enough confidence to
didn’t have enough confidence to continue to support our program because
continue to support our program because
continue to support our program because it wasn’t their own so the program
it wasn’t their own so the program
it wasn’t their own so the program failed spend a lot of time focusing on
failed spend a lot of time focusing on
failed spend a lot of time focusing on our successes but I wanted to start in
our successes but I wanted to start in
our successes but I wanted to start in something where I failed the program
something where I failed the program
something where I failed the program failed fast-forward I was working as an
failed fast-forward I was working as an
failed fast-forward I was working as an intern still 4 News Corporation and they
intern still 4 News Corporation and they
intern still 4 News Corporation and they developed something called The Wall
developed something called The Wall
developed something called The Wall Street Journal CEO Council it was
Street Journal CEO Council it was
Street Journal CEO Council it was working on this that I all sudden
working on this that I all sudden
working on this that I all sudden realized the power that could happen
realized the power that could happen
realized the power that could happen when you bring a group of influencers
when you bring a group of influencers
when you bring a group of influencers together in one space at one time to
together in one space at one time to
together in one space at one time to talk about Ana rain array of issues
talk about Ana rain array of issues
talk about Ana rain array of issues education health care national security
education health care national security
education health care national security the spread of extremism youth
the spread of extremism youth
the spread of extremism youth unemployment when you bring a small
unemployment when you bring a small
unemployment when you bring a small group together a small group of
group together a small group of
group together a small group of influencers together it’s amazing what
influencers together it’s amazing what
influencers together it’s amazing what these people
these people
these people I formed a group called Concordia again
I formed a group called Concordia again
I formed a group called Concordia again starting it with my best friend Nick we
starting it with my best friend Nick we
starting it with my best friend Nick we didn’t want to create a think tank or an
didn’t want to create a think tank or an
didn’t want to create a think tank or an institute or something that would
institute or something that would
institute or something that would research things we wanted to be
research things we wanted to be
research things we wanted to be convenors we wanted to bring a group of
convenors we wanted to bring a group of
convenors we wanted to bring a group of influencers together in one space at one
influencers together in one space at one
influencers together in one space at one time in an environment conducive to
time in an environment conducive to
time in an environment conducive to partnership how could you build
partnership how could you build
partnership how could you build something taking the experience the
something taking the experience the
something taking the experience the entrepreneurial spirit and the
entrepreneurial spirit and the
entrepreneurial spirit and the creativity of the private sector and
creativity of the private sector and
creativity of the private sector and bring to it the scale of the public
bring to it the scale of the public
bring to it the scale of the public sector going back to college me and Nick
sector going back to college me and Nick
sector going back to college me and Nick we both went to school in DC and I was
we both went to school in DC and I was
we both went to school in DC and I was on Facebook one day and so on ad for
on Facebook one day and so on ad for
on Facebook one day and so on ad for this thing called the hilltop auction
this thing called the hilltop auction
this thing called the hilltop auction and i saw on it you could buy lunch with
and i saw on it you could buy lunch with
and i saw on it you could buy lunch with a president I’d never met a president
a president I’d never met a president
a president I’d never met a president before but I was intrigued to meet a
before but I was intrigued to meet a
before but I was intrigued to meet a president so I went to the auction and
president so I went to the auction and
president so I went to the auction and up came an opportunity to have lunch
up came an opportunity to have lunch
up came an opportunity to have lunch with this man his name is Alexander
with this man his name is Alexander
with this man his name is Alexander Khrushchev ski and he was president of
Khrushchev ski and he was president of
Khrushchev ski and he was president of poland i bought the lunch for $75 i
poland i bought the lunch for $75 i
poland i bought the lunch for $75 i think the lunch itself cost more than
think the lunch itself cost more than
think the lunch itself cost more than that they also i had on that a lunch
that they also i had on that a lunch
that they also i had on that a lunch with this guy jose maria aznar he was
with this guy jose maria aznar he was
with this guy jose maria aznar he was president of spain that sounded pretty
president of spain that sounded pretty
president of spain that sounded pretty cool $75 was a pretty good deal i think
cool $75 was a pretty good deal i think
cool $75 was a pretty good deal i think i bought this one for 60
so nick and i go to these two lunches
so nick and i go to these two lunches and we forge a friendship with two
and we forge a friendship with two
and we forge a friendship with two people at run government’s run countries
people at run government’s run countries
people at run government’s run countries and we learned about what was happening
and we learned about what was happening
and we learned about what was happening in the world the changing global economy
in the world the changing global economy
in the world the changing global economy and how we as a society needed to change
and how we as a society needed to change
and how we as a society needed to change our approach to these issues
our approach to these issues
our approach to these issues collaborative governance public-private
collaborative governance public-private
collaborative governance public-private partnerships so therefore we began to
partnerships so therefore we began to
partnerships so therefore we began to think convening leaders what did we
think convening leaders what did we
think convening leaders what did we learn from The Wall Street Journal CEO
learn from The Wall Street Journal CEO
learn from The Wall Street Journal CEO Council what did we learn from these two
Council what did we learn from these two
Council what did we learn from these two great men brilliant men brilliant
great men brilliant men brilliant
great men brilliant men brilliant leaders one had brought his country into
leaders one had brought his country into
leaders one had brought his country into NATO the other the other protected his
NATO the other the other protected his
NATO the other the other protected his country during a time of violent
country during a time of violent
country during a time of violent extremism so we started convening
extremism so we started convening
extremism so we started convening leaders under the auspices of building
leaders under the auspices of building
leaders under the auspices of building partnerships we formed Concordia
partnerships we formed Concordia
partnerships we formed Concordia Concordia the Roman goddess of
Concordia the Roman goddess of
Concordia the Roman goddess of understanding we thought the name made a
understanding we thought the name made a
understanding we thought the name made a lot of sense bringing together an
lot of sense bringing together an
lot of sense bringing together an unlikely cast of characters all with
unlikely cast of characters all with
unlikely cast of characters all with remarkably influential positions to
remarkably influential positions to
remarkably influential positions to think about how they could have impact
think about how they could have impact
think about how they could have impact how they could address an issue we went
how they could address an issue we went
how they could address an issue we went around we built a plan just like any
around we built a plan just like any
around we built a plan just like any entrepreneur we wrote it out and we
entrepreneur we wrote it out and we
entrepreneur we wrote it out and we wouldn’t pitched it to everyone we had
wouldn’t pitched it to everyone we had
wouldn’t pitched it to everyone we had ever met and everyone said it was a bad
ever met and everyone said it was a bad
ever met and everyone said it was a bad idea everyone said it would be a mistake
idea everyone said it would be a mistake
idea everyone said it would be a mistake everyone said there’s Davos there’s
everyone said there’s Davos there’s
everyone said there’s Davos there’s Clinton Global Initiative who needs you
Clinton Global Initiative who needs you
Clinton Global Initiative who needs you so we went back to the drawing board and
so we went back to the drawing board and
so we went back to the drawing board and we said we’re going to have an event we
we said we’re going to have an event we
we said we’re going to have an event we have no idea whether five people are
have no idea whether five people are
have no idea whether five people are going to show up or 500 people are going
going to show up or 500 people are going
going to show up or 500 people are going to show up but we’re going to have an
to show up but we’re going to have an
to show up but we’re going to have an event we built the theme around
event we built the theme around
event we built the theme around partnerships against extremism what is
partnerships against extremism what is
partnerships against extremism what is the role that the private sector could
the role that the private sector could
the role that the private sector could play in combating extremism in college
play in combating extremism in college
play in combating extremism in college we’d witnessed the wars in Iraq and
we’d witnessed the wars in Iraq and
we’d witnessed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but what about youth
Afghanistan but what about youth
Afghanistan but what about youth unemployment what about this opportunity
unemployment what about this opportunity
unemployment what about this opportunity deficit that this population of people
deficit that this population of people
deficit that this population of people were feeling what drove the violence so
were feeling what drove the violence so
were feeling what drove the violence so we announced a date sep tember twentieth
we announced a date sep tember twentieth
we announced a date sep tember twentieth two thousand eleven nine days after the
two thousand eleven nine days after the
two thousand eleven nine days after the ten
ten
ten anniversary of 911 the theme
anniversary of 911 the theme
anniversary of 911 the theme partnerships against extremism how do
partnerships against extremism how do
partnerships against extremism how do you address this issue what we wanted to
you address this issue what we wanted to
you address this issue what we wanted to do was teach the private sector how the
do was teach the private sector how the
do was teach the private sector how the public sector operates and thinks we
public sector operates and thinks we
public sector operates and thinks we invited a bunch of different people and
invited a bunch of different people and
invited a bunch of different people and we thought would be really interesting
we thought would be really interesting
we thought would be really interesting to ask George W Bush his thoughts on
to ask George W Bush his thoughts on
to ask George W Bush his thoughts on this subject so we invited him I was at
this subject so we invited him I was at
this subject so we invited him I was at a baseball game three weeks before
a baseball game three weeks before
a baseball game three weeks before September 20 at 2011 and I got a call
September 20 at 2011 and I got a call
September 20 at 2011 and I got a call from a woman named to meet Anita McBride
from a woman named to meet Anita McBride
from a woman named to meet Anita McBride and she said I have some interesting
and she said I have some interesting
and she said I have some interesting news for you george w bush’s in toronto
news for you george w bush’s in toronto
news for you george w bush’s in toronto in the morning and he has to be in
in the morning and he has to be in
in the morning and he has to be in georgia in the evening but if we can
georgia in the evening but if we can
georgia in the evening but if we can figure out a way to get him to New York
figure out a way to get him to New York
figure out a way to get him to New York he wants to come to your conference he
he wants to come to your conference he
he wants to come to your conference he wants to talk about the role of the
wants to talk about the role of the
wants to talk about the role of the private sector in combating extremism he
private sector in combating extremism he
private sector in combating extremism he wants to talk about what he did right
wants to talk about what he did right
wants to talk about what he did right but more importantly what he did wrong
but more importantly what he did wrong
but more importantly what he did wrong so we invited a hundred people begged
so we invited a hundred people begged
so we invited a hundred people begged really to come to a half day conference
really to come to a half day conference
really to come to a half day conference we weren’t asking for their money we
we weren’t asking for their money we
we weren’t asking for their money we just wanted their time so we hosted them
just wanted their time so we hosted them
just wanted their time so we hosted them they gave us their time we’re
they gave us their time we’re
they gave us their time we’re nonpartisan so we had to think about the
nonpartisan so we had to think about the
nonpartisan so we had to think about the political balance of this was pretty
political balance of this was pretty
political balance of this was pretty controversial to host really the first
controversial to host really the first
controversial to host really the first forum after george w bush’s presidency
forum after george w bush’s presidency
forum after george w bush’s presidency that would really talk about the fight
that would really talk about the fight
that would really talk about the fight against extremism and his work on the
against extremism and his work on the
against extremism and his work on the war on terror so the next year we
war on terror so the next year we
war on terror so the next year we expanded there was this tool
expanded there was this tool
expanded there was this tool public-private partnerships it had
public-private partnerships it had
public-private partnerships it had become a little bit of a trend in
become a little bit of a trend in
become a little bit of a trend in Washington but what was it really so we
Washington but what was it really so we
Washington but what was it really so we thought we’d invite Bill Clinton and he
thought we’d invite Bill Clinton and he
thought we’d invite Bill Clinton and he came he wrapped up his annual meeting of
came he wrapped up his annual meeting of
came he wrapped up his annual meeting of clinton global initiative and he came
clinton global initiative and he came
clinton global initiative and he came down the street and came to our forum
down the street and came to our forum
down the street and came to our forum and he talked about the role that
and he talked about the role that
and he talked about the role that public-private partnerships would play
public-private partnerships would play
public-private partnerships would play in public policy around the world that
in public policy around the world that
in public policy around the world that if governments looked at businesses
if governments looked at businesses
if governments looked at businesses differently and businesses looked at
differently and businesses looked at
differently and businesses looked at governments differently what could
governments differently what could
governments differently what could potentially happen as we continue to
potentially happen as we continue to
potentially happen as we continue to grow and convene people we started to
grow and convene people we started to
grow and convene people we started to build a reputation could you change the
build a reputation could you change the
build a reputation could you change the world with this concept of
world with this concept of
world with this concept of public-private partnerships
public-private partnerships
public-private partnerships but convening was one thing how do you
but convening was one thing how do you
but convening was one thing how do you get this population two people to then
get this population two people to then
get this population two people to then do something as we continue to grow we
do something as we continue to grow we
do something as we continue to grow we got really good at conferences we got
got really good at conferences we got
got really good at conferences we got really good at convening people but what
really good at convening people but what
really good at convening people but what comes next partnerships are vital to
comes next partnerships are vital to
comes next partnerships are vital to generating a virtuous cycle was what
generating a virtuous cycle was what
generating a virtuous cycle was what Biden Vice President Joe Biden said at
Biden Vice President Joe Biden said at
Biden Vice President Joe Biden said at our fifth annual summit we agreed but
our fifth annual summit we agreed but
our fifth annual summit we agreed but how do we a small team build
how do we a small team build
how do we a small team build partnerships off of this convening we
partnerships off of this convening we
partnerships off of this convening we tested formats take a group president
tested formats take a group president
tested formats take a group president CEOs CEOs of SMEs some of the most
CEOs CEOs of SMEs some of the most
CEOs CEOs of SMEs some of the most creative non-governmental organization
creative non-governmental organization
creative non-governmental organization leaders bring them together around one
leaders bring them together around one
leaders bring them together around one table make them all feel equal what do
table make them all feel equal what do
table make them all feel equal what do you talk about where do you go from
you talk about where do you go from
you talk about where do you go from there we started to build a bully pulpit
there we started to build a bully pulpit
there we started to build a bully pulpit we started to build a platform where you
we started to build a platform where you
we started to build a platform where you could raise awareness it was that
could raise awareness it was that
could raise awareness it was that platform that led to the Secretary
platform that led to the Secretary
platform that led to the Secretary General of OAS he chose that platform to
General of OAS he chose that platform to
General of OAS he chose that platform to make his first public comments about the
make his first public comments about the
make his first public comments about the modero government in Venezuela and the
modero government in Venezuela and the
modero government in Venezuela and the heat and the crisis that was happening
heat and the crisis that was happening
heat and the crisis that was happening there come to Concordia 2016 which we
there come to Concordia 2016 which we
there come to Concordia 2016 which we just finished last night we talked about
just finished last night we talked about
just finished last night we talked about a wide array of issues but here’s what I
a wide array of issues but here’s what I
a wide array of issues but here’s what I was most excited about is we could
was most excited about is we could
was most excited about is we could convene all of these fascinating people
convene all of these fascinating people
convene all of these fascinating people but where was it going what was it going
but where was it going what was it going
but where was it going what was it going to do so he started thinking about a
to do so he started thinking about a
to do so he started thinking about a partnership model how do we create these
partnership model how do we create these
partnership model how do we create these partnerships continuing to grow I my
partnerships continuing to grow I my
partnerships continuing to grow I my laugh at that first summit were rebadged
laugh at that first summit were rebadged
laugh at that first summit were rebadged a hundred people to come in this one we
a hundred people to come in this one we
a hundred people to come in this one we had 2400 coming and talking about all of
had 2400 coming and talking about all of
had 2400 coming and talking about all of these different issues we got to still
these different issues we got to still
these different issues we got to still got criticized it’s too broad you’re not
got criticized it’s too broad you’re not
got criticized it’s too broad you’re not going to be able to impact anything we
going to be able to impact anything we
going to be able to impact anything we talked a lot yesterday about the refugee
talked a lot yesterday about the refugee
talked a lot yesterday about the refugee crisis but not just what governments are
crisis but not just what governments are
crisis but not just what governments are responsible to do but what is the role
responsible to do but what is the role
responsible to do but what is the role that business should have in this space
that business should have in this space
that business should have in this space what does the power that business could
what does the power that business could
what does the power that business could have in addressing these issues
have in addressing these issues
have in addressing these issues from this partnerships have been formed
from this partnerships have been formed
from this partnerships have been formed I want to end with one of my favorite
I want to end with one of my favorite
I want to end with one of my favorite quotes German philosopher whatever you
quotes German philosopher whatever you
quotes German philosopher whatever you can do a dream you can do begin it
can do a dream you can do begin it
can do a dream you can do begin it boldness has genius power and magic in
boldness has genius power and magic in
boldness has genius power and magic in it begin it now if you really want to
it begin it now if you really want to
it begin it now if you really want to focus on what you don’t have just start
focus on what you don’t have just start
focus on what you don’t have just start doing thank you
doing thank you
doing thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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