some people say I’m privileged they say I’m always you know in the right spot at
I’m always you know in the right spot at
I’m always you know in the right spot at the right time it’s this coincidence I
the right time it’s this coincidence I
the right time it’s this coincidence I don’t think so you know as I got older I
don’t think so you know as I got older I
don’t think so you know as I got older I really don’t find my life journey so far
really don’t find my life journey so far
really don’t find my life journey so far as a blend of coincidences I understood
as a blend of coincidences I understood
as a blend of coincidences I understood more and more over the years what was
more and more over the years what was
more and more over the years what was guiding me and you know why things
guiding me and you know why things
guiding me and you know why things happen the way they did and the internet
happen the way they did and the internet
happen the way they did and the internet really contributed its fair share to it
really contributed its fair share to it
really contributed its fair share to it understanding the Internet really helped
understanding the Internet really helped
understanding the Internet really helped me to understand myself much much better
me to understand myself much much better
me to understand myself much much better but first things first
but first things first
but first things first I’m a native German I’m born into a
I’m a native German I’m born into a
I’m a native German I’m born into a middle-class family I was the first one
middle-class family I was the first one
middle-class family I was the first one in our family who cut to university I
in our family who cut to university I
in our family who cut to university I studied economics and I was also somehow
studied economics and I was also somehow
studied economics and I was also somehow the black sheep of the family because I
the black sheep of the family because I
the black sheep of the family because I didn’t walk down the safe and secured
didn’t walk down the safe and secured
didn’t walk down the safe and secured way my parents always wished I would so
way my parents always wished I would so
way my parents always wished I would so I played pretty well basketball I was
I played pretty well basketball I was
I played pretty well basketball I was part of the German national team but I
part of the German national team but I
part of the German national team but I stopped it when it became too commercial
stopped it when it became too commercial
stopped it when it became too commercial I didn’t feel like being used after my
I didn’t feel like being used after my
I didn’t feel like being used after my studies I got a wealth I got offered a
studies I got a wealth I got offered a
studies I got a wealth I got offered a well-paid job at a German TV channel but
well-paid job at a German TV channel but
well-paid job at a German TV channel but I reject it because you know I didn’t
I reject it because you know I didn’t
I reject it because you know I didn’t want to commit myself for something I
want to commit myself for something I
want to commit myself for something I wasn’t convinced of and frankly speaking
wasn’t convinced of and frankly speaking
wasn’t convinced of and frankly speaking I was never ever convinced to work for
I was never ever convinced to work for
I was never ever convinced to work for anyone so I always did my own thing and
anyone so I always did my own thing and
anyone so I always did my own thing and it was always about connecting people
it was always about connecting people
it was always about connecting people and it was always about building bridges
and it was always about building bridges
and it was always about building bridges so I never walked down a steady straight
so I never walked down a steady straight
so I never walked down a steady straight line but I feel that I always had an
line but I feel that I always had an
line but I feel that I always had an unflappable sense of direction
after my studies I took one year off I
after my studies I took one year off I bought a one-way ticket to New York to
bought a one-way ticket to New York to
bought a one-way ticket to New York to visit my aunt and to explore the u.s. I
visit my aunt and to explore the u.s. I
visit my aunt and to explore the u.s. I somehow got stuck in the northern Bay
somehow got stuck in the northern Bay
somehow got stuck in the northern Bay Area in Sausalito to be more precise
Area in Sausalito to be more precise
Area in Sausalito to be more precise it’s just when you cross the Golden Gate
it’s just when you cross the Golden Gate
it’s just when you cross the Golden Gate Bridge the next stop it was there when I
Bridge the next stop it was there when I
Bridge the next stop it was there when I met an Austrian and he answered my
met an Austrian and he answered my
met an Austrian and he answered my question is this Pete private with he
question is this Pete private with he
question is this Pete private with he said it’s all yours so I took him at his
said it’s all yours so I took him at his
said it’s all yours so I took him at his words and one year later we got married
words and one year later we got married
words and one year later we got married it was him actually who introduced me to
it was him actually who introduced me to
it was him actually who introduced me to the world of networks he introduced me
the world of networks he introduced me
the world of networks he introduced me to the well which was really the very
to the well which was really the very
to the well which was really the very first online community the well was
first online community the well was
first online community the well was launched in 1985 in 1987 I got my first
launched in 1985 in 1987 I got my first
launched in 1985 in 1987 I got my first email account there and this was you
email account there and this was you
email account there and this was you know a whole 7 years before the internet
know a whole 7 years before the internet
know a whole 7 years before the internet got pictures the well actually they had
got pictures the well actually they had
got pictures the well actually they had the office just one street below where
the office just one street below where
the office just one street below where we are living and every time you know
we are living and every time you know
we are living and every time you know when we got this sweet sweet smell of
when we got this sweet sweet smell of
when we got this sweet sweet smell of grass up where we were I know we were on
grass up where we were I know we were on
grass up where we were I know we were on so I never I was never ever interested
so I never I was never ever interested
so I never I was never ever interested in all this technical stuff of the
in all this technical stuff of the
in all this technical stuff of the network part what I really wanted to
network part what I really wanted to
network part what I really wanted to understand was what makes this Internet
understand was what makes this Internet
understand was what makes this Internet so much different from what we had
so much different from what we had
so much different from what we had before and I was really lucky to be
before and I was really lucky to be
before and I was really lucky to be there at the well at the well because
there at the well at the well because
there at the well at the well because they were really a bunch of people who
they were really a bunch of people who
they were really a bunch of people who where digital natives in a much more
where digital natives in a much more
where digital natives in a much more radical sense than the date of birth
radical sense than the date of birth
radical sense than the date of birth birth would imply so in conversations
birth would imply so in conversations
birth would imply so in conversations with them it was really really easy for
with them it was really really easy for
with them it was really really easy for me to get lost and you know to forget
me to get lost and you know to forget
me to get lost and you know to forget about set agendas and any fixed kind of
about set agendas and any fixed kind of
about set agendas and any fixed kind of outcomes it was very easy just to follow
outcomes it was very easy just to follow
outcomes it was very easy just to follow the dynamics of these open conversations
the dynamics of these open conversations
the dynamics of these open conversations and this was the time when I really fell
and this was the time when I really fell
and this was the time when I really fell in love
in love
in love with open processes you know I was open
with open processes you know I was open
with open processes you know I was open I was kind of curious and I always had
I was kind of curious and I always had
I was kind of curious and I always had my set of values where every action very
my set of values where every action very
my set of values where every action very every project I was working on was based
every project I was working on was based
every project I was working on was based upon so my projects they brought me to a
upon so my projects they brought me to a
upon so my projects they brought me to a hundred and twenty countries on this
hundred and twenty countries on this
hundred and twenty countries on this planet I worked with governments I
planet I worked with governments I
planet I worked with governments I worked with big institutions I worked in
worked with big institutions I worked in
worked with big institutions I worked in war zones and so-called safe ground I
war zones and so-called safe ground I
war zones and so-called safe ground I worked with top managers I worked with
worked with top managers I worked with
worked with top managers I worked with head of states but also with very very
head of states but also with very very
head of states but also with very very ordinary people to illustrate all this I
ordinary people to illustrate all this I
ordinary people to illustrate all this I tell you
tell you
tell you little story and the story is about the
little story and the story is about the
little story and the story is about the NATO summit 2012 in Chicago
NATO summit 2012 in Chicago
NATO summit 2012 in Chicago Stephanie Barb’s
Stephanie Barb’s
Stephanie Barb’s German woman she was by then head of
German woman she was by then head of
German woman she was by then head of public diplomacy at NATO
public diplomacy at NATO
public diplomacy at NATO she asked me in preparation of the
she asked me in preparation of the
she asked me in preparation of the summit if I would help her to connect
summit if I would help her to connect
summit if I would help her to connect this closed very closed organization
this closed very closed organization
this closed very closed organization NATO with online activists in the Middle
NATO with online activists in the Middle
NATO with online activists in the Middle East and Afghanistan and I said wow this
East and Afghanistan and I said wow this
East and Afghanistan and I said wow this is a bold move I got a couple of
is a bold move I got a couple of
is a bold move I got a couple of sleepless nights because I’m not really
sleepless nights because I’m not really
sleepless nights because I’m not really a friend of NATO but finally I agreed
a friend of NATO but finally I agreed
a friend of NATO but finally I agreed and you know I took this job
and you know I took this job
and you know I took this job so there I was in between these two
so there I was in between these two
so there I was in between these two worlds on the one side there was NATO
worlds on the one side there was NATO
worlds on the one side there was NATO with 14 levels of hierarchies from the
with 14 levels of hierarchies from the
with 14 levels of hierarchies from the humblest employee up to the secretary
humblest employee up to the secretary
humblest employee up to the secretary general Rasmussen these days everything
general Rasmussen these days everything
general Rasmussen these days everything was really mapped out on the other side
was really mapped out on the other side
was really mapped out on the other side when my people you know these online
when my people you know these online
when my people you know these online activists in the Middle East and
activists in the Middle East and
activists in the Middle East and Afghanistan who had access to
Afghanistan who had access to
Afghanistan who had access to communities when NATO had no standing it
communities when NATO had no standing it
communities when NATO had no standing it wasn’t really easy to convince them to
wasn’t really easy to convince them to
wasn’t really easy to convince them to support Stephanie in their efforts but
support Stephanie in their efforts but
support Stephanie in their efforts but Stephanie had made some really
Stephanie had made some really
Stephanie had made some really remarkable statements in an interview we
remarkable statements in an interview we
remarkable statements in an interview we did beforehand so where she laid out how
did beforehand so where she laid out how
did beforehand so where she laid out how she was planning to connect these two
she was planning to connect these two
she was planning to connect these two very very different world
very very different world
very very different world this would challenge NATO in its
this would challenge NATO in its
this would challenge NATO in its organization and she was ready to take
organization and she was ready to take
organization and she was ready to take this challenge and she really got things
this challenge and she really got things
this challenge and she really got things going so within these 14 hierarchies she
going so within these 14 hierarchies she
going so within these 14 hierarchies she set up a matrix organization of 30
set up a matrix organization of 30
set up a matrix organization of 30 people from various departments within
people from various departments within
people from various departments within NATO these 30 people they were all
NATO these 30 people they were all
NATO these 30 people they were all really excited and curious you know on
really excited and curious you know on
really excited and curious you know on our mission to connect these two worlds
our mission to connect these two worlds
our mission to connect these two worlds four and a half months before the summit
four and a half months before the summit
four and a half months before the summit we launched the platform we NATO we
we launched the platform we NATO we
we launched the platform we NATO we started out with a live stream between
started out with a live stream between
started out with a live stream between Stephanie and Joey Ito joey ito is I
Stephanie and Joey Ito joey ito is I
Stephanie and Joey Ito joey ito is I would say truly one of the guys was
would say truly one of the guys was
would say truly one of the guys was always at the forefront of the internet
always at the forefront of the internet
always at the forefront of the internet movement he’s a close friend of mine and
movement he’s a close friend of mine and
movement he’s a close friend of mine and he’s currently head of the MIT Media Lab
he’s currently head of the MIT Media Lab
he’s currently head of the MIT Media Lab so these two they had a live stream and
so these two they had a live stream and
so these two they had a live stream and they were we’re discussing a book this
they were we’re discussing a book this
they were we’re discussing a book this was the day when the NATO machinery
was the day when the NATO machinery
was the day when the NATO machinery started rolling the classic PR
started rolling the classic PR
started rolling the classic PR department kicked in the NATO
department kicked in the NATO
department kicked in the NATO ambassadors kicked in every part every
ambassadors kicked in every part every
ambassadors kicked in every part every department involved kicked in and they
department involved kicked in and they
department involved kicked in and they simply over rolled with their hierarchy
simply over rolled with their hierarchy
simply over rolled with their hierarchy and with everything you know they were
and with everything you know they were
and with everything you know they were so well trained in they simply over
so well trained in they simply over
so well trained in they simply over rolled the matrix within a day or two
rolled the matrix within a day or two
rolled the matrix within a day or two this entire we NATO sink crashed and it
this entire we NATO sink crashed and it
this entire we NATO sink crashed and it crashed because of reason we were
crashed because of reason we were
crashed because of reason we were discussing before at NATO usually only
discussing before at NATO usually only
discussing before at NATO usually only two people were entitled to give public
two people were entitled to give public
two people were entitled to give public statements so we knew if we didn’t
statements so we knew if we didn’t
statements so we knew if we didn’t succeed that our thirty people within
succeed that our thirty people within
succeed that our thirty people within the net within the metrics weren’t
the net within the metrics weren’t
the net within the metrics weren’t allowed to give comments to you know
allowed to give comments to you know
allowed to give comments to you know make their own remarks in real-time to
make their own remarks in real-time to
make their own remarks in real-time to this online community it wouldn’t work
this online community it wouldn’t work
this online community it wouldn’t work and this is exactly what happened so
and this is exactly what happened so
and this is exactly what happened so actually this we NATO it went on until
actually this we NATO it went on until
actually this we NATO it went on until the summit in Chicago but I left the top
the summit in Chicago but I left the top
the summit in Chicago but I left the top earlier
earlier
earlier Steffie lost her job after the summit
Steffie lost her job after the summit
Steffie lost her job after the summit and this whole thing went on in the very
and this whole thing went on in the very
and this whole thing went on in the very traditional polished Nate away but
traditional polished Nate away but
traditional polished Nate away but looking back actually for me this way
looking back actually for me this way
looking back actually for me this way NATO wasn’t a failure it really
NATO wasn’t a failure it really
NATO wasn’t a failure it really straightened out things in my head for
straightened out things in my head for
straightened out things in my head for the project for a new project
the project for a new project
the project for a new project I was already worth working on and this
I was already worth working on and this
I was already worth working on and this was a project which is in rural India I
was a project which is in rural India I
was a project which is in rural India I call it John buck hassle John Barr is a
call it John buck hassle John Barr is a
call it John buck hassle John Barr is a small small village in the heart of
small small village in the heart of
small small village in the heart of India like 1,100 people living there in
India like 1,100 people living there in
India like 1,100 people living there in this village you know the parents kill
this village you know the parents kill
this village you know the parents kill their girls because they can’t pay that
their girls because they can’t pay that
their girls because they can’t pay that are we women they don’t have any rights
are we women they don’t have any rights
are we women they don’t have any rights the tribals are tremendously suppressed
the tribals are tremendously suppressed
the tribals are tremendously suppressed by caste and the average family owns
by caste and the average family owns
by caste and the average family owns less than one euro a day in this village
less than one euro a day in this village
less than one euro a day in this village I have built a skatepark this is almost
I have built a skatepark this is almost
I have built a skatepark this is almost surreal why a skate park why
surreal why a skate park why
surreal why a skate park why skateboarding you might ask
skateboarding you might ask
skateboarding you might ask skateboarding or skateboarding culture
skateboarding or skateboarding culture
skateboarding or skateboarding culture is all about counterculture it’s against
is all about counterculture it’s against
is all about counterculture it’s against mainstream it’s all about disobedience
mainstream it’s all about disobedience
mainstream it’s all about disobedience it’s all about resilience in finding
it’s all about resilience in finding
it’s all about resilience in finding your own way everything what we don’t
your own way everything what we don’t
your own way everything what we don’t have in this village so my simple
have in this village so my simple
have in this village so my simple assumption was what this skatepark set
assumption was what this skatepark set
assumption was what this skatepark set up as an open process disrupt this
up as an open process disrupt this
up as an open process disrupt this village enough to drive change two and a
village enough to drive change two and a
village enough to drive change two and a half years later I can say yes it can
half years later I can say yes it can
half years later I can say yes it can this skatepark has built bridges over
this skatepark has built bridges over
this skatepark has built bridges over deep deep chasms it really has banished
deep deep chasms it really has banished
deep deep chasms it really has banished it has broken down cars barriers
it has broken down cars barriers
it has broken down cars barriers we are almost at you know gender
we are almost at you know gender
we are almost at you know gender equality at least when we look at the
equality at least when we look at the
equality at least when we look at the skatepark and it has really brought up
skatepark and it has really brought up
skatepark and it has really brought up activities and programs one could never
activities and programs one could never
activities and programs one could never ever thought of from the beginning today
ever thought of from the beginning today
ever thought of from the beginning today I hear parents say that their kids have
I hear parents say that their kids have
I hear parents say that their kids have for the very first time in their lives
for the very first time in their lives
for the very first time in their lives toys that the language has really become
toys that the language has really become
toys that the language has really become more precise has become more defined the
more precise has become more defined the
more precise has become more defined the number of fights has went down and this
number of fights has went down and this
number of fights has went down and this was really astonishing for me to see
was really astonishing for me to see
was really astonishing for me to see over the last couple of weeks because we
over the last couple of weeks because we
over the last couple of weeks because we are going to some rough times that the
are going to some rough times that the
are going to some rough times that the tribals and the other stand together
tribals and the other stand together
tribals and the other stand together when me or the skatepark really become
when me or the skatepark really become
when me or the skatepark really become under attack so I think this is proof of
under attack so I think this is proof of
under attack so I think this is proof of concept what have I done well we have
concept what have I done well we have
concept what have I done well we have defined or I’ve defined a couple of
defined or I’ve defined a couple of
defined or I’ve defined a couple of golden rules one rule is girls first
golden rules one rule is girls first
golden rules one rule is girls first this is a very simple thing whenever a
this is a very simple thing whenever a
this is a very simple thing whenever a girl goes to the skate park and says
girl goes to the skate park and says
girl goes to the skate park and says girls first she would get a skateboard
girls first she would get a skateboard
girls first she would get a skateboard no discussion the second rule is no
no discussion the second rule is no
no discussion the second rule is no school no skateboarding this really
school no skateboarding this really
school no skateboarding this really swept the kids into the school since we
swept the kids into the school since we
swept the kids into the school since we are there the government school got
are there the government school got
are there the government school got three new teachers and above all my job
three new teachers and above all my job
three new teachers and above all my job and everything and everyone who is
and everything and everyone who is
and everything and everyone who is working with me our highest priority our
working with me our highest priority our
working with me our highest priority our biggest premise is really that we walk
biggest premise is really that we walk
biggest premise is really that we walk our talk that we do what we say and that
our talk that we do what we say and that
our talk that we do what we say and that we really treat everyone egle equal and
we really treat everyone egle equal and
we really treat everyone egle equal and within this frame set our job is nothing
within this frame set our job is nothing
within this frame set our job is nothing but to observe to observe what is
but to observe to observe what is
but to observe to observe what is happening and whenever one kid or one
happening and whenever one kid or one
happening and whenever one kid or one villager is starting to move
villager is starting to move
villager is starting to move we again bring in our network and design
we again bring in our network and design
we again bring in our network and design together with this kit or with this
together with this kit or with this
together with this kit or with this family or with this village
family or with this village
family or with this village a very individual learning path so we do
a very individual learning path so we do
a very individual learning path so we do not work with predefined programs I
not work with predefined programs I
not work with predefined programs I actually believe that current government
actually believe that current government
actually believe that current government aid is failing because they work a lot
aid is failing because they work a lot
aid is failing because they work a lot with these programs which are defined
with these programs which are defined
with these programs which are defined for the villagers and not with them so I
for the villagers and not with them so I
for the villagers and not with them so I personally I have to find my drop in
personally I have to find my drop in
personally I have to find my drop in this village that it that I really do
this village that it that I really do
this village that it that I really do become obsolete one day
become obsolete one day
become obsolete one day so whenever the villagers are ready to
so whenever the villagers are ready to
so whenever the villagers are ready to move for themselves by themselves this
move for themselves by themselves this
move for themselves by themselves this is the day when I leave hopefully off to
is the day when I leave hopefully off to
is the day when I leave hopefully off to the next open process wherever or
the next open process wherever or
the next open process wherever or whatever it might be
whatever it might be
whatever it might be thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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