I took six years to get to undergraduate degrees I was at the end of my first one
degrees I was at the end of my first one
degrees I was at the end of my first one majoring in physics and mathematics and
majoring in physics and mathematics and
majoring in physics and mathematics and I had enrolled in a master’s in physics
I had enrolled in a master’s in physics
I had enrolled in a master’s in physics program somewhat unenthusiastically
program somewhat unenthusiastically
program somewhat unenthusiastically because my way wasn’t clear to me you
because my way wasn’t clear to me you
because my way wasn’t clear to me you know what was I going to do with this
know what was I going to do with this
know what was I going to do with this monsters I was in a materials physics
monsters I was in a materials physics
monsters I was in a materials physics class at the time and the topic turned
class at the time and the topic turned
class at the time and the topic turned to semiconductors and I thought wow this
to semiconductors and I thought wow this
to semiconductors and I thought wow this is fantastic look at this material that
is fantastic look at this material that
is fantastic look at this material that behaves in this funny odd way you know
behaves in this funny odd way you know
behaves in this funny odd way you know under different conditions and yet this
under different conditions and yet this
under different conditions and yet this is the material that is given as
is the material that is given as
is the material that is given as computers and all the electronics in the
computers and all the electronics in the
computers and all the electronics in the world and I thought well I really need
world and I thought well I really need
world and I thought well I really need to know more about this material I
to know more about this material I
to know more about this material I didn’t just pick up a textbook I decided
didn’t just pick up a textbook I decided
didn’t just pick up a textbook I decided to enroll in another undergraduate
to enroll in another undergraduate
to enroll in another undergraduate engineering program and you know all I
engineering program and you know all I
engineering program and you know all I can say is that to me being innovative
can say is that to me being innovative
can say is that to me being innovative has always meant doing what I really
has always meant doing what I really
has always meant doing what I really wanted to do you know if I was
wanted to do you know if I was
wanted to do you know if I was enthusiastically doing something then
enthusiastically doing something then
enthusiastically doing something then creativity and you know innovation came
creativity and you know innovation came
creativity and you know innovation came naturally I was at the end of my
naturally I was at the end of my
naturally I was at the end of my engineering undergraduate program and my
engineering undergraduate program and my
engineering undergraduate program and my project I picked was to do automatic
project I picked was to do automatic
project I picked was to do automatic wire placement you know using software
wire placement you know using software
wire placement you know using software what this meant is there’s a whole bunch
what this meant is there’s a whole bunch
what this meant is there’s a whole bunch of wires that needed to get from one
of wires that needed to get from one
of wires that needed to get from one point to another and they couldn’t cross
point to another and they couldn’t cross
point to another and they couldn’t cross each other and had to do this with
each other and had to do this with
each other and had to do this with software so this meant learning to
software so this meant learning to
software so this meant learning to program well and algorithms algorithms
program well and algorithms algorithms
program well and algorithms algorithms are really puzzles you know their
are really puzzles you know their
are really puzzles you know their puzzles that solve real problems in the
puzzles that solve real problems in the
puzzles that solve real problems in the real world and I thought okay I’m
real world and I thought okay I’m
real world and I thought okay I’m graduating next month I’m going to take
graduating next month I’m going to take
graduating next month I’m going to take a software job and I really didn’t know
a software job and I really didn’t know
a software job and I really didn’t know a lot of programming then I had done
a lot of programming then I had done
a lot of programming then I had done this only one big you know underground
this only one big you know underground
this only one big you know underground project so they gave me a customer
project so they gave me a customer
project so they gave me a customer service job you know think about this
service job you know think about this
service job you know think about this company they took the most junior person
company they took the most junior person
company they took the most junior person who barely knew how to program and put
who barely knew how to program and put
who barely knew how to program and put them in front of their most valuable you
them in front of their most valuable you
them in front of their most valuable you know assets that know the customers but
know assets that know the customers but
know assets that know the customers but a year later you know I was pretty good
a year later you know I was pretty good
a year later you know I was pretty good at my
at my
at my by then and the sales guy in Calcutta I
by then and the sales guy in Calcutta I
by then and the sales guy in Calcutta I was in bangalore based in bangalore said
was in bangalore based in bangalore said
was in bangalore based in bangalore said can you come out and meet this potential
can you come out and meet this potential
can you come out and meet this potential customer you know he really wants to
customer you know he really wants to
customer you know he really wants to talk to somebody you know who can speak
talk to somebody you know who can speak
talk to somebody you know who can speak more of the language then the sales guys
more of the language then the sales guys
more of the language then the sales guys good so I said sure you know I like to
good so I said sure you know I like to
good so I said sure you know I like to travel and I went to Calcutta met this
travel and I went to Calcutta met this
travel and I went to Calcutta met this guy who was the owner of a glass bottle
guy who was the owner of a glass bottle
guy who was the owner of a glass bottle factory ok and remember this was
factory ok and remember this was
factory ok and remember this was nineteen eighty-four in India and he was
nineteen eighty-four in India and he was
nineteen eighty-four in India and he was revolutionary in his thinking he locked
revolutionary in his thinking he locked
revolutionary in his thinking he locked eyes with me because I seemed to
eyes with me because I seemed to
eyes with me because I seemed to understand more than the sales guy and
understand more than the sales guy and
understand more than the sales guy and he said I want software delivered with
he said I want software delivered with
he said I want software delivered with the hardware that this guy’s gonna sell
the hardware that this guy’s gonna sell
the hardware that this guy’s gonna sell me that’s going to automatically design
me that’s going to automatically design
me that’s going to automatically design my glass bottles given the volume and
my glass bottles given the volume and
my glass bottles given the volume and the maximum height and you know all the
the maximum height and you know all the
the maximum height and you know all the other parameters that went into making
other parameters that went into making
other parameters that went into making the color of the glass etc and he said
the color of the glass etc and he said
the color of the glass etc and he said then I won the software to automatically
then I won the software to automatically
then I won the software to automatically drive the machine in the manufacturing
drive the machine in the manufacturing
drive the machine in the manufacturing process so there was no human
process so there was no human
process so there was no human intervention in this and I thought wow
intervention in this and I thought wow
intervention in this and I thought wow you know this is great and the software
you know this is great and the software
you know this is great and the software guy had coached me to say that we could
guy had coached me to say that we could
guy had coached me to say that we could deliver any software he wanted so I
deliver any software he wanted so I
deliver any software he wanted so I looked at him and said yeah yeah so if I
looked at him and said yeah yeah so if I
looked at him and said yeah yeah so if I can do that you know definitely no
can do that you know definitely no
can do that you know definitely no problem back in the hotel that night I
problem back in the hotel that night I
problem back in the hotel that night I thought to myself well this guy is a
thought to myself well this guy is a
thought to myself well this guy is a visionary right you know he has this
visionary right you know he has this
visionary right you know he has this fantastic idea you know we had sort of
fantastic idea you know we had sort of
fantastic idea you know we had sort of walked through some of the back slums of
walked through some of the back slums of
walked through some of the back slums of calculator get to his factory but he
calculator get to his factory but he
calculator get to his factory but he wanted this fantastic software to go
wanted this fantastic software to go
wanted this fantastic software to go with his you know the mini-computer the
with his you know the mini-computer the
with his you know the mini-computer the sales guy was to be selling and I said
sales guy was to be selling and I said
sales guy was to be selling and I said you know there must be a way to do this
you know there must be a way to do this
you know there must be a way to do this but I can personally not do this you
but I can personally not do this you
but I can personally not do this you know I don’t have the tools to do this I
know I don’t have the tools to do this I
know I don’t have the tools to do this I had no computer science formal training
had no computer science formal training
had no computer science formal training then I told myself well I have to go get
then I told myself well I have to go get
then I told myself well I have to go get the tools so you thought of see the
the tools so you thought of see the
the tools so you thought of see the pattern here developing right so 1985 I
pattern here developing right so 1985 I
pattern here developing right so 1985 I was in the US getting a master’s in
was in the US getting a master’s in
was in the US getting a master’s in computer science and I took a job after
computer science and I took a job after
computer science and I took a job after that in a Silicon Valley company pretty
that in a Silicon Valley company pretty
that in a Silicon Valley company pretty standard you know software company I was
standard you know software company I was
standard you know software company I was having a reasonably good time there but
having a reasonably good time there but
having a reasonably good time there but you know those two people over there in
you know those two people over there in
you know those two people over there in the corner
the corner
the corner who were in front of a white board all
who were in front of a white board all
who were in front of a white board all day writing equations and arguing with
day writing equations and arguing with
day writing equations and arguing with each other but they seem to be having
each other but they seem to be having
each other but they seem to be having the most fun so I pretty Bowl I went up
the most fun so I pretty Bowl I went up
the most fun so I pretty Bowl I went up to them and I said hey you know I’m
to them and I said hey you know I’m
to them and I said hey you know I’m so-and-so and what do you guys do here
so-and-so and what do you guys do here
so-and-so and what do you guys do here you know I see you writing interesting
you know I see you writing interesting
you know I see you writing interesting stuff on the board and you don’t seem to
stuff on the board and you don’t seem to
stuff on the board and you don’t seem to be actually ever in front of a computer
be actually ever in front of a computer
be actually ever in front of a computer you’re arguing with each other all day
you’re arguing with each other all day
you’re arguing with each other all day so it turned out that these two people
so it turned out that these two people
so it turned out that these two people were physics phd’s arguing about
were physics phd’s arguing about
were physics phd’s arguing about simulation models for transistors and
simulation models for transistors and
simulation models for transistors and you know semiconductors so I said well
you know semiconductors so I said well
you know semiconductors so I said well it looks like someone with a PhD has the
it looks like someone with a PhD has the
it looks like someone with a PhD has the most fun in the company so I want that
most fun in the company so I want that
most fun in the company so I want that job so I enrolled in a physics I mean
job so I enrolled in a physics I mean
job so I enrolled in a physics I mean not in a physics PhD because I really
not in a physics PhD because I really
not in a physics PhD because I really didn’t had left physics behind a while
didn’t had left physics behind a while
didn’t had left physics behind a while ago in a computer science PhD so I
ago in a computer science PhD so I
ago in a computer science PhD so I graduated with a PhD the doctorate at
graduated with a PhD the doctorate at
graduated with a PhD the doctorate at the age of 35 had my first child then
the age of 35 had my first child then
the age of 35 had my first child then and I went on to work for a Silicon
and I went on to work for a Silicon
and I went on to work for a Silicon Valley company and it was definitely one
Valley company and it was definitely one
Valley company and it was definitely one of the you know best jobs I’ve had and
of the you know best jobs I’ve had and
of the you know best jobs I’ve had and this company was an innovative company
this company was an innovative company
this company was an innovative company and they were very prolific and filing
and they were very prolific and filing
and they were very prolific and filing patents hence the you know the 43 or so
patents hence the you know the 43 or so
patents hence the you know the 43 or so patents on which I’m either soul or
patents on which I’m either soul or
patents on which I’m either soul or co-inventor not all of these are
co-inventor not all of these are
co-inventor not all of these are entirely my ideas and you know this life
entirely my ideas and you know this life
entirely my ideas and you know this life went on and I was 42 had my second child
went on and I was 42 had my second child
went on and I was 42 had my second child and in my 50s I decided to do a start-up
and in my 50s I decided to do a start-up
and in my 50s I decided to do a start-up so I have a co-founder Kathy Faust so
so I have a co-founder Kathy Faust so
so I have a co-founder Kathy Faust so she and I decided that we have this
she and I decided that we have this
she and I decided that we have this brilliant idea and we were going to do a
brilliant idea and we were going to do a
brilliant idea and we were going to do a start-up now 50 so I’m from the valley
start-up now 50 so I’m from the valley
start-up now 50 so I’m from the valley well you know all the startups most of
well you know all the startups most of
well you know all the startups most of the startups happen right but we neither
the startups happen right but we neither
the startups happen right but we neither of us fit the typical demographic of a
of us fit the typical demographic of a
of us fit the typical demographic of a start-up founder right women enough 50s
start-up founder right women enough 50s
start-up founder right women enough 50s we didn’t look like 22 year old males
we didn’t look like 22 year old males
we didn’t look like 22 year old males from Stanford I mean you know sorry that
from Stanford I mean you know sorry that
from Stanford I mean you know sorry that image didn’t work so what we did is we
image didn’t work so what we did is we
image didn’t work so what we did is we basically raised our seed money almost a
basically raised our seed money almost a
basically raised our seed money almost a million dollars from to National Science
million dollars from to National Science
million dollars from to National Science Foundation grams you know that was a way
Foundation grams you know that was a way
Foundation grams you know that was a way to go because we won’t be you know we
to go because we won’t be you know we
to go because we won’t be you know we would not be able to raise money the
would not be able to raise money the
would not be able to raise money the traditional way and we thought we just
traditional way and we thought we just
traditional way and we thought we just have this brilliant idea right so first
have this brilliant idea right so first
have this brilliant idea right so first lesson here especially for you know all
lesson here especially for you know all
lesson here especially for you know all you young people in the audience is
you young people in the audience is
you young people in the audience is ignore your age
ignore your age
ignore your age just go do stuff when you want to do it
just go do stuff when you want to do it
just go do stuff when you want to do it now whatever motivates you at whatever
now whatever motivates you at whatever
now whatever motivates you at whatever age just go do it because it’s that kind
age just go do it because it’s that kind
age just go do it because it’s that kind of following what sparks that interest
of following what sparks that interest
of following what sparks that interest in you makes you most creative makes you
in you makes you most creative makes you
in you makes you most creative makes you most you know innovative I think and
most you know innovative I think and
most you know innovative I think and second lesson is really to ignore
second lesson is really to ignore
second lesson is really to ignore naysayers unfortunately most of the
naysayers unfortunately most of the
naysayers unfortunately most of the naysayers are usually your close friends
naysayers are usually your close friends
naysayers are usually your close friends and family and so they are being really
and family and so they are being really
and family and so they are being really kind when they tell you you know really
kind when they tell you you know really
kind when they tell you you know really you really want to go get a second
you really want to go get a second
you really want to go get a second undergraduate degree couldn’t just read
undergraduate degree couldn’t just read
undergraduate degree couldn’t just read this from a textbook and go get a job
this from a textbook and go get a job
this from a textbook and go get a job like the rest of us you know good
like the rest of us you know good
like the rest of us you know good friends or you know starting a ph.d
friends or you know starting a ph.d
friends or you know starting a ph.d program at the age of 30 you know
program at the age of 30 you know
program at the age of 30 you know leaving a Silicon Valley job that paid
leaving a Silicon Valley job that paid
leaving a Silicon Valley job that paid thirty seven thousand dollars in 1989
thirty seven thousand dollars in 1989
thirty seven thousand dollars in 1989 just a really good salary for five years
just a really good salary for five years
just a really good salary for five years of slogging out as a grad student on
of slogging out as a grad student on
of slogging out as a grad student on maybe 10,000 a year you know
maybe 10,000 a year you know
maybe 10,000 a year you know assistantship program so it doesn’t
assistantship program so it doesn’t
assistantship program so it doesn’t matter and a shout out to my parents my
matter and a shout out to my parents my
matter and a shout out to my parents my father’s passed away in my husband who
father’s passed away in my husband who
father’s passed away in my husband who always been supportive of you know every
always been supportive of you know every
always been supportive of you know every crazy idea I’ve had and have been
crazy idea I’ve had and have been
crazy idea I’ve had and have been correct me to do that thing that’s
correct me to do that thing that’s
correct me to do that thing that’s really important to have support in your
really important to have support in your
really important to have support in your family now this startup let’s talk a
family now this startup let’s talk a
family now this startup let’s talk a little bit about the startup because you
little bit about the startup because you
little bit about the startup because you know this is what’s driving me and my
know this is what’s driving me and my
know this is what’s driving me and my co-founder today the idea came to me in
co-founder today the idea came to me in
co-founder today the idea came to me in a slightly different way than it did my
a slightly different way than it did my
a slightly different way than it did my co-founder so I’m going to tell my
co-founder so I’m going to tell my
co-founder so I’m going to tell my stories I’m the one on stage driving
stories I’m the one on stage driving
stories I’m the one on stage driving around in the Bay Area I know traffic
around in the Bay Area I know traffic
around in the Bay Area I know traffic can be pretty bad in the car and I’m
can be pretty bad in the car and I’m
can be pretty bad in the car and I’m reading news all the time when I’m not
reading news all the time when I’m not
reading news all the time when I’m not in the car and I was frustrated that in
in the car and I was frustrated that in
in the car and I was frustrated that in the car I couldn’t really turn on the
the car I couldn’t really turn on the
the car I couldn’t really turn on the radio and got to hear the news I wanted
radio and got to hear the news I wanted
radio and got to hear the news I wanted this was some years ago before we had
this was some years ago before we had
this was some years ago before we had this million and plus you know apps in
this million and plus you know apps in
this million and plus you know apps in the app store right now you have radio
the app store right now you have radio
the app store right now you have radio stations podcasts and what kind system
stations podcasts and what kind system
stations podcasts and what kind system right so how was I going to be able to
right so how was I going to be able to
right so how was I going to be able to get access to any information I wanted
get access to any information I wanted
get access to any information I wanted in the car like a radio station with the
in the car like a radio station with the
in the car like a radio station with the information that I was interested in
information that I was interested in
information that I was interested in that’s the problem that I had and I
that’s the problem that I had and I
that’s the problem that I had and I wanted to be able to solve this problem
wanted to be able to solve this problem
wanted to be able to solve this problem now the problem is actually quite
now the problem is actually quite
now the problem is actually quite difficult in some sense because I am
difficult in some sense because I am
difficult in some sense because I am interested say in politics and gardening
interested say in politics and gardening
interested say in politics and gardening so I want a radio station for gardening
so I want a radio station for gardening
so I want a radio station for gardening and I wanted radio station for politics
and I wanted radio station for politics
and I wanted radio station for politics and my friend over there is interested
and my friend over there is interested
and my friend over there is interested in stock market and surfing right so she
in stock market and surfing right so she
in stock market and surfing right so she wants a radio station for stock market
wants a radio station for stock market
wants a radio station for stock market and one for surfing now how do you go
and one for surfing now how do you go
and one for surfing now how do you go about solving a problem like this i
about solving a problem like this i
about solving a problem like this i think you know innovation can often come
think you know innovation can often come
think you know innovation can often come as a Eureka moment but I think more
as a Eureka moment but I think more
as a Eureka moment but I think more often it comes as an assembly of smaller
often it comes as an assembly of smaller
often it comes as an assembly of smaller ideas that together you know create
ideas that together you know create
ideas that together you know create something fantastic that one can use
something fantastic that one can use
something fantastic that one can use here’s one problem right the internet is
here’s one problem right the internet is
here’s one problem right the internet is mostly written information how do you go
mostly written information how do you go
mostly written information how do you go from written information to audible
from written information to audible
from written information to audible information you do you know machine
information you do you know machine
information you do you know machine synthesis of speech and the technology
synthesis of speech and the technology
synthesis of speech and the technology here is improving it’s not perfect you
here is improving it’s not perfect you
here is improving it’s not perfect you know prosody getting emotional content
know prosody getting emotional content
know prosody getting emotional content into synthesized speech is just
into synthesized speech is just
into synthesized speech is just beginning and this is what we use you
beginning and this is what we use you
beginning and this is what we use you know we are using a lot of machine
know we are using a lot of machine
know we are using a lot of machine synthesized voice in order to generate
synthesized voice in order to generate
synthesized voice in order to generate the correct information into the correct
the correct information into the correct
the correct information into the correct way no audio form but this isn’t really
way no audio form but this isn’t really
way no audio form but this isn’t really even the crux of the problem the crux of
even the crux of the problem the crux of
even the crux of the problem the crux of the problem is this if I were to search
the problem is this if I were to search
the problem is this if I were to search on the internet today using the word say
on the internet today using the word say
on the internet today using the word say stock market I get 107 million hits you
stock market I get 107 million hits you
stock market I get 107 million hits you know from one of your standard search
know from one of your standard search
know from one of your standard search engines and then what do you do with
engines and then what do you do with
engines and then what do you do with that you can’t really build a radio
that you can’t really build a radio
that you can’t really build a radio station worse based on instant search
station worse based on instant search
station worse based on instant search right so what we actually have to do and
right so what we actually have to do and
right so what we actually have to do and what we are doing is week after week
what we are doing is week after week
what we are doing is week after week month after month year after year even
month after month year after year even
month after month year after year even we are looking at sources of information
we are looking at sources of information
we are looking at sources of information across newspapers magazines podcast
across newspapers magazines podcast
across newspapers magazines podcast bloggers to understand what are the
bloggers to understand what are the
bloggers to understand what are the topics that are typically carried from
topics that are typically carried from
topics that are typically carried from that source of information i have got
that source of information i have got
that source of information i have got thousands of these sources classified
thousands of these sources classified
thousands of these sources classified into thousands of topics and there’s a
into thousands of topics and there’s a
into thousands of topics and there’s a probability function associated with hey
probability function associated with hey
probability function associated with hey this is the new york times gardening you
this is the new york times gardening you
this is the new york times gardening you know source feed so this mostly carries
know source feed so this mostly carries
know source feed so this mostly carries gardening but it could have some
gardening but it could have some
gardening but it could have some information about climate change and
information about climate change and
information about climate change and other things i don’t know so i have this
other things i don’t know so i have this
other things i don’t know so i have this box with this loads of information like
box with this loads of information like
box with this loads of information like so now you come to me and you say tell
so now you come to me and you say tell
so now you come to me and you say tell me about surfing I pull out all the
me about surfing I pull out all the
me about surfing I pull out all the sources that seem to have the highest
sources that seem to have the highest
sources that seem to have the highest probability for surfing and i created a
probability for surfing and i created a
probability for surfing and i created a do station for her based on that and I
do station for her based on that and I
do station for her based on that and I go to my technology and say I really
go to my technology and say I really
go to my technology and say I really want to know what’s happening in in the
want to know what’s happening in in the
want to know what’s happening in in the world of vegetable gardening and so I
world of vegetable gardening and so I
world of vegetable gardening and so I pull out all the sources that match that
pull out all the sources that match that
pull out all the sources that match that topic and this is how we can create you
topic and this is how we can create you
topic and this is how we can create you know radio stations now through
know radio stations now through
know radio stations now through smartphone apps in this way and this
smartphone apps in this way and this
smartphone apps in this way and this idea is empowering and it takes computer
idea is empowering and it takes computer
idea is empowering and it takes computer science to actually implement this but
science to actually implement this but
science to actually implement this but its usefulness is and you know undoubted
its usefulness is and you know undoubted
its usefulness is and you know undoubted because it’s not just the drivers in the
because it’s not just the drivers in the
because it’s not just the drivers in the car that benefit from this but the blind
car that benefit from this but the blind
car that benefit from this but the blind you know the vision impaired the sick
you know the vision impaired the sick
you know the vision impaired the sick any number of such people who would
any number of such people who would
any number of such people who would benefit from hearing stuff rather than
benefit from hearing stuff rather than
benefit from hearing stuff rather than reading stuff or even I at the end of
reading stuff or even I at the end of
reading stuff or even I at the end of you know end of a day when I’ve been in
you know end of a day when I’ve been in
you know end of a day when I’ve been in a front of a computer all day my
a front of a computer all day my
a front of a computer all day my eyesight tired right so I am showing
eyesight tired right so I am showing
eyesight tired right so I am showing some signs of my age and what I would
some signs of my age and what I would
some signs of my age and what I would really like to do is lie back and listen
really like to do is lie back and listen
really like to do is lie back and listen to my gardening feed maybe or I’m
to my gardening feed maybe or I’m
to my gardening feed maybe or I’m catching up on my politics thank you
catching up on my politics thank you
catching up on my politics thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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