it’s 2006 at the time I’m a high school teacher in a small
teacher in a small
teacher in a small mining town in the north of England it’s
mining town in the north of England it’s
mining town in the north of England it’s lunchtime and because it’s raining
lunchtime and because it’s raining
lunchtime and because it’s raining heavily outside in my classroom is that
heavily outside in my classroom is that
heavily outside in my classroom is that a small group of students aged around 13
a small group of students aged around 13
a small group of students aged around 13 and I like these kids a lot being
and I like these kids a lot being
and I like these kids a lot being teenagers and being naturally curious
teenagers and being naturally curious
teenagers and being naturally curious about their teacher they asked me where
about their teacher they asked me where
about their teacher they asked me where I live and I tell them that I live in
I live and I tell them that I live in
I live and I tell them that I live in the nearest big city their eyes light up
the nearest big city their eyes light up
the nearest big city their eyes light up they ask me what this city is like what
they ask me what this city is like what
they ask me what this city is like what it’s like to live there they speak of it
it’s like to live there they speak of it
it’s like to live there they speak of it as if it’s a far-off magical place it
as if it’s a far-off magical place it
as if it’s a far-off magical place it was just a 20-minute drive away but
was just a 20-minute drive away but
was just a 20-minute drive away but their worlds were so small that it may
their worlds were so small that it may
their worlds were so small that it may as well have been New York or San
as well have been New York or San
as well have been New York or San Francisco we then get unto the topic of
Francisco we then get unto the topic of
Francisco we then get unto the topic of the future I asked them what they’d like
the future I asked them what they’d like
the future I asked them what they’d like to be when they’re older and when they
to be when they’re older and when they
to be when they’re older and when they answered my heart sank the first boy a
answered my heart sank the first boy a
answered my heart sank the first boy a bright caring kid called Josh he tells
bright caring kid called Josh he tells
bright caring kid called Josh he tells me that he’ll probably end up on welfare
me that he’ll probably end up on welfare
me that he’ll probably end up on welfare just like his parents many of this tell
just like his parents many of this tell
just like his parents many of this tell me that they actually hoped to be on
me that they actually hoped to be on
me that they actually hoped to be on welfare when they’re older the rest they
welfare when they’re older the rest they
welfare when they’re older the rest they had their sights set on low-paying local
had their sights set on low-paying local
had their sights set on low-paying local service jobs many of the boys wanted to
service jobs many of the boys wanted to
service jobs many of the boys wanted to be taxi drivers many of the girls wants
be taxi drivers many of the girls wants
be taxi drivers many of the girls wants to be hair stylists you see they’ve
to be hair stylists you see they’ve
to be hair stylists you see they’ve grown up in a town that had been left
grown up in a town that had been left
grown up in a town that had been left behind and forgotten industry had moved
behind and forgotten industry had moved
behind and forgotten industry had moved on and evolved things had changed
on and evolved things had changed
on and evolved things had changed progress had happened and in the 1980s
progress had happened and in the 1980s
progress had happened and in the 1980s their parents and grandparents had been
their parents and grandparents had been
their parents and grandparents had been laid off from the coal mines and many of
laid off from the coal mines and many of
laid off from the coal mines and many of them had not found new work and with the
them had not found new work and with the
them had not found new work and with the kids in front of me that cycle was said
kids in front of me that cycle was said
kids in front of me that cycle was said to continue when these kids looked
to continue when these kids looked
to continue when these kids looked around them all they saw was a world
around them all they saw was a world
around them all they saw was a world where the only possibilities were to be
where the only possibilities were to be
where the only possibilities were to be a hairdresser be a taxi driver or to be
a hairdresser be a taxi driver or to be
a hairdresser be a taxi driver or to be on welfare and it was the limit of all
on welfare and it was the limit of all
on welfare and it was the limit of all they thought they could achieve that
they thought they could achieve that
they thought they could achieve that conversation at lunchtime really stuck
conversation at lunchtime really stuck
conversation at lunchtime really stuck with me 10 years later I live in a very
with me 10 years later I live in a very
with me 10 years later I live in a very different world I live in San Francisco
different world I live in San Francisco
different world I live in San Francisco worked for a large technology company
worked for a large technology company
worked for a large technology company back then I was surrounded by the past
back then I was surrounded by the past
back then I was surrounded by the past and the people held back by it but today
and the people held back by it but today
and the people held back by it but today I’m surrounded by the future and the
I’m surrounded by the future and the
I’m surrounded by the future and the people help who are helping to build it
people help who are helping to build it
people help who are helping to build it and I’m here today having lived in an
and I’m here today having lived in an
and I’m here today having lived in an experience both of these worlds that
experience both of these worlds that
experience both of these worlds that rainy classroom at lunch time 10 years
rainy classroom at lunch time 10 years
rainy classroom at lunch time 10 years ago and today living in Silicon Valley
ago and today living in Silicon Valley
ago and today living in Silicon Valley and helping to build the future to talk
and helping to build the future to talk
and helping to build the future to talk about how critical it is
about how critical it is
about how critical it is we willfully set out to create a future
we willfully set out to create a future
we willfully set out to create a future that works for everybody now it sure is
that works for everybody now it sure is
that works for everybody now it sure is an exciting time today shopping malls
an exciting time today shopping malls
an exciting time today shopping malls are closing and been replaced by slick
are closing and been replaced by slick
are closing and been replaced by slick smartphone apps farmers using drones and
smartphone apps farmers using drones and
smartphone apps farmers using drones and sensors and artificial intelligence to
sensors and artificial intelligence to
sensors and artificial intelligence to increase their crop yields hailing a
increase their crop yields hailing a
increase their crop yields hailing a taxi in the street kind of feels like a
taxi in the street kind of feels like a
taxi in the street kind of feels like a relic from a bygone era all of a sudden
relic from a bygone era all of a sudden
relic from a bygone era all of a sudden and especially in San Francisco
and especially in San Francisco
and especially in San Francisco autonomous vehicles are actually
autonomous vehicles are actually
autonomous vehicles are actually starting to roam our streets you see
starting to roam our streets you see
starting to roam our streets you see lots of these around it’s an interesting
lots of these around it’s an interesting
lots of these around it’s an interesting time because every industry – right now
time because every industry – right now
time because every industry – right now is being transformed forever by
is being transformed forever by
is being transformed forever by technology and every company whatever
technology and every company whatever
technology and every company whatever its focus will soon be a technology
its focus will soon be a technology
its focus will soon be a technology company at its core and in the coming
company at its core and in the coming
company at its core and in the coming years whole new industries are going to
years whole new industries are going to
years whole new industries are going to be spawned that we can’t even imagine
be spawned that we can’t even imagine
be spawned that we can’t even imagine yet many of today’s jobs will disappear
yet many of today’s jobs will disappear
yet many of today’s jobs will disappear or will be changed beyond recognition
or will be changed beyond recognition
or will be changed beyond recognition by these forces and of course many new
by these forces and of course many new
by these forces and of course many new jobs will emerge but they can look very
jobs will emerge but they can look very
jobs will emerge but they can look very different and they’re gonna require very
different and they’re gonna require very
different and they’re gonna require very different sets of skills from the jobs
different sets of skills from the jobs
different sets of skills from the jobs of today industry is reinventing itself
of today industry is reinventing itself
of today industry is reinventing itself and so too must those seeking work and
and so too must those seeking work and
and so too must those seeking work and opportunity and stability but as those
opportunity and stability but as those
opportunity and stability but as those kids and their grandparents and parents
kids and their grandparents and parents
kids and their grandparents and parents knew when progress happens when things
knew when progress happens when things
knew when progress happens when things change when industry shifts people and
change when industry shifts people and
change when industry shifts people and areas can get left behind and as the
areas can get left behind and as the
areas can get left behind and as the world moves ahead at this rapid pace
world moves ahead at this rapid pace
world moves ahead at this rapid pace were at greater risk than ever before of
were at greater risk than ever before of
were at greater risk than ever before of leaving hold sections of the population
leaving hold sections of the population
leaving hold sections of the population whole areas behind and with recent
whole areas behind and with recent
whole areas behind and with recent political history in mind it is sobering
political history in mind it is sobering
political history in mind it is sobering to imagine how even deeper divisions how
to imagine how even deeper divisions how
to imagine how even deeper divisions how an even bigger gap will affect our
an even bigger gap will affect our
an even bigger gap will affect our country our communities and our world in
country our communities and our world in
country our communities and our world in this new economy many people are left
this new economy many people are left
this new economy many people are left wondering what is my place and the
wondering what is my place and the
wondering what is my place and the answer all too often is that you don’t
answer all too often is that you don’t
answer all too often is that you don’t have one what we want instead is a world
have one what we want instead is a world
have one what we want instead is a world where instead of leaving people behind
where instead of leaving people behind
where instead of leaving people behind technology brings people along for the
technology brings people along for the
technology brings people along for the ride where it enables them and allows
ride where it enables them and allows
ride where it enables them and allows them to fulfill their potential well I
them to fulfill their potential well I
them to fulfill their potential well I think back to those students what
think back to those students what
think back to those students what strikes me most is the amount of
strikes me most is the amount of
strikes me most is the amount of unfulfilled potential they represented
unfulfilled potential they represented
unfulfilled potential they represented smart bright creative kids with so much
smart bright creative kids with so much
smart bright creative kids with so much to offer the world potential that was
to offer the world potential that was
to offer the world potential that was hidden in planes
hidden in planes
hidden in planes and potential there was destined to go
and potential there was destined to go
and potential there was destined to go untapped but we know from history that
untapped but we know from history that
untapped but we know from history that when we couldn’t alot came a potential
when we couldn’t alot came a potential
when we couldn’t alot came a potential when we can unleash untapped pools of
when we can unleash untapped pools of
when we can unleash untapped pools of talent it results in broad increases in
talent it results in broad increases in
talent it results in broad increases in productivity and quality of life because
productivity and quality of life because
productivity and quality of life because in a knowledge service is an information
in a knowledge service is an information
in a knowledge service is an information economy this is where growth comes from
economy this is where growth comes from
economy this is where growth comes from technology plus human potential so how
technology plus human potential so how
technology plus human potential so how can we build this future what do we do
can we build this future what do we do
can we build this future what do we do well it’s a really difficult problem
well it’s a really difficult problem
well it’s a really difficult problem with lots of moving parts and it’s
with lots of moving parts and it’s
with lots of moving parts and it’s difficult to tackle this and a 15-minute
difficult to tackle this and a 15-minute
difficult to tackle this and a 15-minute talk but I wanted to cover some things
talk but I wanted to cover some things
talk but I wanted to cover some things today I think we can start doing to
today I think we can start doing to
today I think we can start doing to start working towards this feature first
start working towards this feature first
start working towards this feature first we need to find an enable and embrace
we need to find an enable and embrace
we need to find an enable and embrace new ways of working you see the way that
new ways of working you see the way that
new ways of working you see the way that we work today hasn’t really changed in a
we work today hasn’t really changed in a
we work today hasn’t really changed in a long time and it’s really a hangover
long time and it’s really a hangover
long time and it’s really a hangover from a bygone era a past where we used
from a bygone era a past where we used
from a bygone era a past where we used to drive to a physical office 9:00 to
to drive to a physical office 9:00 to
to drive to a physical office 9:00 to 5:00 where paper correspondents arrived
5:00 where paper correspondents arrived
5:00 where paper correspondents arrived at our desks every day where the
at our desks every day where the
at our desks every day where the landline telephone was a main keep main
landline telephone was a main keep main
landline telephone was a main keep main connection to the world and where
connection to the world and where
connection to the world and where collaboration and connection mainly took
collaboration and connection mainly took
collaboration and connection mainly took place at the local level and none of
place at the local level and none of
place at the local level and none of this is true today and our ability to
this is true today and our ability to
this is true today and our ability to contribute and connect and collaborate
contribute and connect and collaborate
contribute and connect and collaborate remotely has reached new heights and the
remotely has reached new heights and the
remotely has reached new heights and the world’s largest technology companies
world’s largest technology companies
world’s largest technology companies like Facebook and Google and Microsoft
like Facebook and Google and Microsoft
like Facebook and Google and Microsoft today are working on amazing new
today are working on amazing new
today are working on amazing new technologies that are going to make this
technologies that are going to make this
technologies that are going to make this even more immersive what you’re seeing
even more immersive what you’re seeing
even more immersive what you’re seeing here is Facebook’s virtual meeting space
here is Facebook’s virtual meeting space
here is Facebook’s virtual meeting space I’ve had a chance to try this on and
I’ve had a chance to try this on and
I’ve had a chance to try this on and when you put the headset on your brain
when you put the headset on your brain
when you put the headset on your brain believes you’re in the room with other
believes you’re in the room with other
believes you’re in the room with other people it’s amazing and Facebook
people it’s amazing and Facebook
people it’s amazing and Facebook actually did an early test but they had
actually did an early test but they had
actually did an early test but they had a bug in the software when when people
a bug in the software when when people
a bug in the software when when people landed in this space their hands were
landed in this space their hands were
landed in this space their hands were actually connected to each other and so
actually connected to each other and so
actually connected to each other and so people put the headset on and land in
people put the headset on and land in
people put the headset on and land in the space and suddenly they’d be
the space and suddenly they’d be
the space and suddenly they’d be face-to-face with somebody else with
face-to-face with somebody else with
face-to-face with somebody else with their hands connected to them and they
their hands connected to them and they
their hands connected to them and they noticed that it actually caused them to
noticed that it actually caused them to
noticed that it actually caused them to blush in real life their brains believe
blush in real life their brains believe
blush in real life their brains believe they’re in the space so if you get a
they’re in the space so if you get a
they’re in the space so if you get a chance to try this I encourage you to
chance to try this I encourage you to
chance to try this I encourage you to and soon you’ll be able to strap on a
and soon you’ll be able to strap on a
and soon you’ll be able to strap on a $200 headset and be in the same space
$200 headset and be in the same space
$200 headset and be in the same space with other people and I think if
with other people and I think if
with other people and I think if companies embrace this kind of
companies embrace this kind of
companies embrace this kind of technology and put new platforms and
technology and put new platforms and
technology and put new platforms and procedures and hiring processes in place
procedures and hiring processes in place
procedures and hiring processes in place it can really start to reverse the
it can really start to reverse the
it can really start to reverse the trends that we’re seeing of opportunity
trends that we’re seeing of opportunity
trends that we’re seeing of opportunity being concentrated in just a handful of
being concentrated in just a handful of
being concentrated in just a handful of metro areas that’s really cool
metro areas that’s really cool
metro areas that’s really cool and we know that for every good job that
and we know that for every good job that
and we know that for every good job that we can keep in the local economy rather
we can keep in the local economy rather
we can keep in the local economy rather than moving to one of those metro areas
than moving to one of those metro areas
than moving to one of those metro areas it actually has a multiplier effect over
it actually has a multiplier effect over
it actually has a multiplier effect over time creating additional jobs in the
time creating additional jobs in the
time creating additional jobs in the local economy next and this is so
local economy next and this is so
local economy next and this is so important to me as a former teacher we
important to me as a former teacher we
important to me as a former teacher we really need to find and develop and
really need to find and develop and
really need to find and develop and fully embrace new ways of learning it
fully embrace new ways of learning it
fully embrace new ways of learning it used to be that you could develop a very
used to be that you could develop a very
used to be that you could develop a very specific set of skills early in your
specific set of skills early in your
specific set of skills early in your life you get a degree or diploma a
life you get a degree or diploma a
life you get a degree or diploma a certificate and then pretty much rely on
certificate and then pretty much rely on
certificate and then pretty much rely on that skill set for the rest of your life
that skill set for the rest of your life
that skill set for the rest of your life until retirement and of course those
until retirement and of course those
until retirement and of course those days are now gone and the credentials of
days are now gone and the credentials of
days are now gone and the credentials of yesterday are really holding us back in
yesterday are really holding us back in
yesterday are really holding us back in so many ways the opportunity that they
so many ways the opportunity that they
so many ways the opportunity that they provide just doesn’t scale and often
provide just doesn’t scale and often
provide just doesn’t scale and often they just exacerbate and multiply
they just exacerbate and multiply
they just exacerbate and multiply already deep divisions in opportunity
already deep divisions in opportunity
already deep divisions in opportunity students leaving school today will also
students leaving school today will also
students leaving school today will also have five or more distinct careers
have five or more distinct careers
have five or more distinct careers throughout their lives and reinvention
throughout their lives and reinvention
throughout their lives and reinvention is really the new normal these kids are
is really the new normal these kids are
is really the new normal these kids are going to have to reinvent themselves
going to have to reinvent themselves
going to have to reinvent themselves throughout their lives and pick up new
throughout their lives and pick up new
throughout their lives and pick up new skills align with the needs of industry
skills align with the needs of industry
skills align with the needs of industry and we need education systems that allow
and we need education systems that allow
and we need education systems that allow them to do this this is also the case
them to do this this is also the case
them to do this this is also the case for all the workers that may be
for all the workers that may be
for all the workers that may be displaced from their jobs today by
displaced from their jobs today by
displaced from their jobs today by automation and perhaps for the first
automation and perhaps for the first
automation and perhaps for the first time in their working lives they’re
time in their working lives they’re
time in their working lives they’re going to have to reinvent themselves –
going to have to reinvent themselves –
going to have to reinvent themselves – they’re going to have to learn entirely
they’re going to have to learn entirely
they’re going to have to learn entirely new sets of skills in order to continue
new sets of skills in order to continue
new sets of skills in order to continue supporting their families
supporting their families
supporting their families we need employers to start looking at
we need employers to start looking at
we need employers to start looking at the workforce today start identifying
the workforce today start identifying
the workforce today start identifying sections of their working population
sections of their working population
sections of their working population that might be affected by automation in
that might be affected by automation in
that might be affected by automation in the future and to start proactively
the future and to start proactively
the future and to start proactively helping them to develop future-proof
helping them to develop future-proof
helping them to develop future-proof skills that align with their future
skills that align with their future
skills that align with their future needs in the future needs of industry as
needs in the future needs of industry as
needs in the future needs of industry as well and this is in the interests of all
well and this is in the interests of all
well and this is in the interests of all of us but of course today anybody can
of us but of course today anybody can
of us but of course today anybody can learn skills with a smartphone or a
learn skills with a smartphone or a
learn skills with a smartphone or a tablet and that’s really amazing and
tablet and that’s really amazing and
tablet and that’s really amazing and with the new technologies like virtual
with the new technologies like virtual
with the new technologies like virtual reality this learning is going to become
reality this learning is going to become
reality this learning is going to become even more immersive and engaging and
even more immersive and engaging and
even more immersive and engaging and accessible at low cost but it’s often
accessible at low cost but it’s often
accessible at low cost but it’s often not given as much currency as more
not given as much currency as more
not given as much currency as more traditional forms of learning and we
traditional forms of learning and we
traditional forms of learning and we need to turn that around
need to turn that around
need to turn that around we need an employer’s to start giving
we need an employer’s to start giving
we need an employer’s to start giving this informal and technology-based
this informal and technology-based
this informal and technology-based learning more currency because it’s much
learning more currency because it’s much
learning more currency because it’s much more scalable and the best thing your
more scalable and the best thing your
more scalable and the best thing your schools can do is to ignite a lifelong
schools can do is to ignite a lifelong
schools can do is to ignite a lifelong love of learning in students that’s
love of learning in students that’s
love of learning in students that’s going to see them through this lifetime
going to see them through this lifetime
going to see them through this lifetime of change and disruption and reinvention
but none of this matters if your world
but none of this matters if your world is so small that you don’t believe
is so small that you don’t believe
is so small that you don’t believe there’s anything out there for you if
there’s anything out there for you if
there’s anything out there for you if you’re a high school student leaving
you’re a high school student leaving
you’re a high school student leaving school in a small rural town or in
school in a small rural town or in
school in a small rural town or in distressed urban community if you’re a
distressed urban community if you’re a
distressed urban community if you’re a person who’s been displaced from their
person who’s been displaced from their
person who’s been displaced from their job by automation if you don’t believe
job by automation if you don’t believe
job by automation if you don’t believe in your heart that you’re worthy and
in your heart that you’re worthy and
in your heart that you’re worthy and capable of making a contribution and if
capable of making a contribution and if
capable of making a contribution and if you believe the opportunity is for other
you believe the opportunity is for other
you believe the opportunity is for other people in faraway cities are not people
people in faraway cities are not people
people in faraway cities are not people like you then all the work and learning
like you then all the work and learning
like you then all the work and learning opportunities in the world will make any
opportunities in the world will make any
opportunities in the world will make any difference
difference
difference and there’s something we can all do to
and there’s something we can all do to
and there’s something we can all do to help many of the people in this audience
help many of the people in this audience
help many of the people in this audience and watching this talk came from
and watching this talk came from
and watching this talk came from communities where opportunity wasn’t
communities where opportunity wasn’t
communities where opportunity wasn’t widespread communities that are at risk
widespread communities that are at risk
widespread communities that are at risk of being chained to the past if this is
of being chained to the past if this is
of being chained to the past if this is you I believe that we have a
you I believe that we have a
you I believe that we have a responsibility to go back into our
responsibility to go back into our
responsibility to go back into our communities to connect with people to
communities to connect with people to
communities to connect with people to mentor people to help light a path to
mentor people to help light a path to
mentor people to help light a path to opportunity for people who may not be
opportunity for people who may not be
opportunity for people who may not be able to see it today if you think that
able to see it today if you think that
able to see it today if you think that there was probably somebody in your past
there was probably somebody in your past
there was probably somebody in your past that did this for you and now is the
that did this for you and now is the
that did this for you and now is the time to be that person for others I’d
time to be that person for others I’d
time to be that person for others I’d like to see and I really believe that we
like to see and I really believe that we
like to see and I really believe that we can build a world where in the future
can build a world where in the future
can build a world where in the future when a teacher sits down with some
when a teacher sits down with some
when a teacher sits down with some students on a rainy lunchtime in a
students on a rainy lunchtime in a
students on a rainy lunchtime in a classroom and asked them what they’d
classroom and asked them what they’d
classroom and asked them what they’d like to be when they’re older but that
like to be when they’re older but that
like to be when they’re older but that teacher gets a very different response
teacher gets a very different response
teacher gets a very different response than I did ten years ago a world where
than I did ten years ago a world where
than I did ten years ago a world where students futures are full of excitement
students futures are full of excitement
students futures are full of excitement and abundance and opportunity whether in
and abundance and opportunity whether in
and abundance and opportunity whether in love with learning and they know how to
love with learning and they know how to
love with learning and they know how to use tools that I can let them redevelop
use tools that I can let them redevelop
use tools that I can let them redevelop their skills over their lifetimes where
their skills over their lifetimes where
their skills over their lifetimes where they know there are good jobs they can
they know there are good jobs they can
they know there are good jobs they can get right where they are I believe we
get right where they are I believe we
get right where they are I believe we can build that world and you can always
can build that world and you can always
can build that world and you can always part of it thank you
part of it thank you
part of it thank you [Applause]
”
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