
I see some familiar faces in here thank you for being here today and also the
you for being here today and also the
you for being here today and also the organizers of has been for really
organizers of has been for really
organizers of has been for really allowing us Ted speakers to elaborate
allowing us Ted speakers to elaborate
allowing us Ted speakers to elaborate and speak on topics that we think are
and speak on topics that we think are
and speak on topics that we think are important right so the topic I’m gonna
important right so the topic I’m gonna
important right so the topic I’m gonna be talking about today is locational
be talking about today is locational
be talking about today is locational privilege and it’s a topic and a word
privilege and it’s a topic and a word
privilege and it’s a topic and a word that I admittedly made up but it’s
that I admittedly made up but it’s
that I admittedly made up but it’s definitely affected everyone in this
definitely affected everyone in this
definitely affected everyone in this room and hopefully we can start some
room and hopefully we can start some
room and hopefully we can start some discussion around it it’s a simple idea
discussion around it it’s a simple idea
discussion around it it’s a simple idea that people who grow up and reside in
that people who grow up and reside in
that people who grow up and reside in certain cities have an advantage over
certain cities have an advantage over
certain cities have an advantage over others right now the only way I can tell
others right now the only way I can tell
others right now the only way I can tell this story it’s the my own personal lens
this story it’s the my own personal lens
this story it’s the my own personal lens so I grew up in South Florida and a town
so I grew up in South Florida and a town
so I grew up in South Florida and a town called Deerfield Beach which is about 30
called Deerfield Beach which is about 30
called Deerfield Beach which is about 30 to 45 minutes north of Miami now it’s
to 45 minutes north of Miami now it’s
to 45 minutes north of Miami now it’s really a culturally rich area with some
really a culturally rich area with some
really a culturally rich area with some of the largest populations of Cubans
of the largest populations of Cubans
of the largest populations of Cubans Haitians and Brazilians anywhere in the
Haitians and Brazilians anywhere in the
Haitians and Brazilians anywhere in the United States now I’m really proud of
United States now I’m really proud of
United States now I’m really proud of being from South Florida it really is
being from South Florida it really is
being from South Florida it really is really culturally rich but there’s a
really culturally rich but there’s a
really culturally rich but there’s a limit to what you’re exposed to growing
limit to what you’re exposed to growing
limit to what you’re exposed to growing up in South Florida compared to a kid
up in South Florida compared to a kid
up in South Florida compared to a kid from San Francisco or New York City
from San Francisco or New York City
from San Francisco or New York City South Floridians in general have a more
South Floridians in general have a more
South Floridians in general have a more restrictive view of the world when you
restrictive view of the world when you
restrictive view of the world when you grow up in those innovation hubs you’re
grow up in those innovation hubs you’re
grow up in those innovation hubs you’re surrounded by so much activity you have
surrounded by so much activity you have
surrounded by so much activity you have a network of out-of-the-box thinkers and
a network of out-of-the-box thinkers and
a network of out-of-the-box thinkers and visionaries there really expand what you
visionaries there really expand what you
visionaries there really expand what you believe you can achieve in this world
now this isn’t just a opinion of mine we
now this isn’t just a opinion of mine we can actually quantify exactly which
can actually quantify exactly which
can actually quantify exactly which cities in the United States are the most
cities in the United States are the most
cities in the United States are the most innovative so if you use biotech and
innovative so if you use biotech and
innovative so if you use biotech and biopharma as an example being that
biopharma as an example being that
biopharma as an example being that biotech is a pretty good indicator of
biotech is a pretty good indicator of
biotech is a pretty good indicator of how innovative a city is being that’s an
how innovative a city is being that’s an
how innovative a city is being that’s an innovative field in itself we can use
innovative field in itself we can use
innovative field in itself we can use metrics such as VC funding NIH funding
metrics such as VC funding NIH funding
metrics such as VC funding NIH funding patents or data companies in the cities
patents or data companies in the cities
patents or data companies in the cities and also the amount of talent available
and also the amount of talent available
and also the amount of talent available there and we can rank which cities are
there and we can rank which cities are
there and we can rank which cities are the most innovative in the United States
the most innovative in the United States
the most innovative in the United States and no matter what metrics you use or
and no matter what metrics you use or
and no matter what metrics you use or how you weigh them the results come out
how you weigh them the results come out
how you weigh them the results come out to be about the same so Boston San
to be about the same so Boston San
to be about the same so Boston San Francisco and you
Francisco and you
Francisco and you city these are the most innovative
city these are the most innovative
city these are the most innovative cities in the United States this is
cities in the United States this is
cities in the United States this is where most of the innovation is
where most of the innovation is
where most of the innovation is cultivated now South Florida simply
cultivated now South Florida simply
cultivated now South Florida simply isn’t on that list we’re mostly known
isn’t on that list we’re mostly known
isn’t on that list we’re mostly known for our clubs the beaches and really the
for our clubs the beaches and really the
for our clubs the beaches and really the drug trafficking that built the
drug trafficking that built the
drug trafficking that built the tri-county area but we did have our own
tri-county area but we did have our own
tri-county area but we did have our own form of innovation our own form of VC
form of innovation our own form of VC
form of innovation our own form of VC funding and that was through sports
funding and that was through sports
funding and that was through sports football in particular it was the only
football in particular it was the only
football in particular it was the only way we had seen that we could make it
way we had seen that we could make it
way we had seen that we could make it out of our circumstances if he went to a
out of our circumstances if he went to a
out of our circumstances if he went to a low income public school growing up in
low income public school growing up in
low income public school growing up in South Florida it was the only example we
South Florida it was the only example we
South Florida it was the only example we had seen that worked and we had many
had seen that worked and we had many
had seen that worked and we had many examples to look forward to
examples to look forward to
examples to look forward to we had Eddie Jones who played here on
we had Eddie Jones who played here on
we had Eddie Jones who played here on the Lakers about ten years ago some more
the Lakers about ten years ago some more
the Lakers about ten years ago some more recent examples like Jason pierre-paul
recent examples like Jason pierre-paul
recent examples like Jason pierre-paul of the Giants not Robinson of the
of the Giants not Robinson of the
of the Giants not Robinson of the Jaguars Patrick Peterson of the
Jaguars Patrick Peterson of the
Jaguars Patrick Peterson of the Cardinals just to name a few these were
Cardinals just to name a few these were
Cardinals just to name a few these were the examples that we look to to achieve
the examples that we look to to achieve
the examples that we look to to achieve affluence coming from a less privileged
affluence coming from a less privileged
affluence coming from a less privileged background you can simply go to the
background you can simply go to the
background you can simply go to the Wikipedia page of any public school in
Wikipedia page of any public school in
Wikipedia page of any public school in South Florida and scroll down to the
South Florida and scroll down to the
South Florida and scroll down to the notable alumni section I’ve put my high
notable alumni section I’ve put my high
notable alumni section I’ve put my high schools on here and as you can see
schools on here and as you can see
schools on here and as you can see there’s no entrepreneurs there’s no law
there’s no entrepreneurs there’s no law
there’s no entrepreneurs there’s no law firm partners there’s no CEOs it’s
firm partners there’s no CEOs it’s
firm partners there’s no CEOs it’s simply football players athletes maybe a
simply football players athletes maybe a
simply football players athletes maybe a musician here there so the paths to
musician here there so the paths to
musician here there so the paths to success seem very limited it didn’t seem
success seem very limited it didn’t seem
success seem very limited it didn’t seem like we had many options to look forward
like we had many options to look forward
like we had many options to look forward to and if football didn’t work out or
to and if football didn’t work out or
to and if football didn’t work out or sports didn’t which often it doesn’t for
sports didn’t which often it doesn’t for
sports didn’t which often it doesn’t for the majority of people it didn’t seem
the majority of people it didn’t seem
the majority of people it didn’t seem like there was any way we could make a
like there was any way we could make a
like there was any way we could make a living for ourselves otherwise so let’s
living for ourselves otherwise so let’s
living for ourselves otherwise so let’s do a simple exercise let’s take a kid
do a simple exercise let’s take a kid
do a simple exercise let’s take a kid from San Francisco and then let’s take
from San Francisco and then let’s take
from San Francisco and then let’s take another kid from South Florida the equal
another kid from South Florida the equal
another kid from South Florida the equal wealth and intelligence which one is
wealth and intelligence which one is
wealth and intelligence which one is more likely to span their own startup
more likely to span their own startup
more likely to span their own startup which one is more likely to know someone
which one is more likely to know someone
which one is more likely to know someone in their network who has founded their
in their network who has founded their
in their network who has founded their own startup and then ask yourselves
own startup and then ask yourselves
own startup and then ask yourselves which one probably has a better football
which one probably has a better football
which one probably has a better football team at their high school and that is
team at their high school and that is
team at their high school and that is locational privileged in a nutshell it’s
locational privileged in a nutshell it’s
locational privileged in a nutshell it’s a simple theory that postulates that
a simple theory that postulates that
a simple theory that postulates that people who grow up in a certain city
people who grow up in a certain city
people who grow up in a certain city have an advantage over others it’s a
have an advantage over others it’s a
have an advantage over others it’s a component of Bo
component of Bo
component of Bo access to innovation and access to a
access to innovation and access to a
access to innovation and access to a network of people and out-of-the-box
network of people and out-of-the-box
network of people and out-of-the-box thinkers now it’s one component of the
thinkers now it’s one component of the
thinkers now it’s one component of the greater privilege discussion that we’ve
greater privilege discussion that we’ve
greater privilege discussion that we’ve been having and the other components are
been having and the other components are
been having and the other components are the socio-economic part how much money
the socio-economic part how much money
the socio-economic part how much money your family has and obviously the racial
your family has and obviously the racial
your family has and obviously the racial component of privilege as well now this
component of privilege as well now this
component of privilege as well now this has been a pretty decisive issue
has been a pretty decisive issue
has been a pretty decisive issue recently mostly because it’s centered
recently mostly because it’s centered
recently mostly because it’s centered around the racial topic which certainly
around the racial topic which certainly
around the racial topic which certainly is a factor but there are other topics
is a factor but there are other topics
is a factor but there are other topics that must be considered when thinking
that must be considered when thinking
that must be considered when thinking about the overarching idea of privilege
about the overarching idea of privilege
about the overarching idea of privilege and this idea was brought to me in this
and this idea was brought to me in this
and this idea was brought to me in this very room last year during one of the
very room last year during one of the
very room last year during one of the focused Friday’s that KGI puts on the
focused Friday’s that KGI puts on the
focused Friday’s that KGI puts on the keynote speaker at this event was a
keynote speaker at this event was a
keynote speaker at this event was a gentleman by the name of Nigel hooks and
gentleman by the name of Nigel hooks and
gentleman by the name of Nigel hooks and he’s a CEO of a data analytics company
he’s a CEO of a data analytics company
he’s a CEO of a data analytics company called data skill he’s also the captain
called data skill he’s also the captain
called data skill he’s also the captain and owner of his own offshore powerboat
and owner of his own offshore powerboat
and owner of his own offshore powerboat team so Nigel has a very eccentric
team so Nigel has a very eccentric
team so Nigel has a very eccentric Richard Branson British man aura about
Richard Branson British man aura about
Richard Branson British man aura about himself right so he spoke here at this
himself right so he spoke here at this
himself right so he spoke here at this very podium and told about how his
very podium and told about how his
very podium and told about how his childhood influenced what he did later
childhood influenced what he did later
childhood influenced what he did later on in his life so he grew up in
on in his life so he grew up in
on in his life so he grew up in Buckinghamshire England which is about
Buckinghamshire England which is about
Buckinghamshire England which is about 10 miles away from Bletchley Park this
10 miles away from Bletchley Park this
10 miles away from Bletchley Park this is where the famous code breakers
is where the famous code breakers
is where the famous code breakers assembled during World War two made
assembled during World War two made
assembled during World War two made famous by the movie imitation game and
famous by the movie imitation game and
famous by the movie imitation game and Nigel spoke of how as a kid he often
Nigel spoke of how as a kid he often
Nigel spoke of how as a kid he often visited Bletchley Park and how the feats
visited Bletchley Park and how the feats
visited Bletchley Park and how the feats of Alan Turing were taught in this
of Alan Turing were taught in this
of Alan Turing were taught in this school and how that grew his love and
school and how that grew his love and
school and how that grew his love and inspired him to go into computer science
inspired him to go into computer science
inspired him to go into computer science he also grow very close to the location
he also grow very close to the location
he also grow very close to the location the British Grand Prix and spoke of how
the British Grand Prix and spoke of how
the British Grand Prix and spoke of how the culture of Formula One racing had a
the culture of Formula One racing had a
the culture of Formula One racing had a big impact in his life as a child he has
big impact in his life as a child he has
big impact in his life as a child he has somehow been able to merge his two
somehow been able to merge his two
somehow been able to merge his two passions of computer science and formula
passions of computer science and formula
passions of computer science and formula and racing later on his life we have to
and racing later on his life we have to
and racing later on his life we have to ask ourselves if it was not for where he
ask ourselves if it was not for where he
ask ourselves if it was not for where he grew up and being exposed to that early
grew up and being exposed to that early
grew up and being exposed to that early on in his life what he even had been
on in his life what he even had been
on in his life what he even had been able to believe that these were
able to believe that these were
able to believe that these were attainable feats to achieve more
attainable feats to achieve more
attainable feats to achieve more prominent example of locational
prominent example of locational
prominent example of locational privilege is that of Bill Gates so
privilege is that of Bill Gates so
privilege is that of Bill Gates so here’s a very interesting story he
here’s a very interesting story he
here’s a very interesting story he actually grew up in the 60s in Seattle
actually grew up in the 60s in Seattle
actually grew up in the 60s in Seattle right before the computer revolution hit
right before the computer revolution hit
right before the computer revolution hit and he attended a private school called
and he attended a private school called
and he attended a private school called Lakeside
Lakeside
Lakeside now lakeside in 1968 purchase this
now lakeside in 1968 purchase this
now lakeside in 1968 purchase this brand-new technology called a timeshare
brand-new technology called a timeshare
brand-new technology called a timeshare computer terminal which really made
computer terminal which really made
computer terminal which really made programming far more user-friendly and
programming far more user-friendly and
programming far more user-friendly and easier now just to imagine very few
easier now just to imagine very few
easier now just to imagine very few colleges at this time had access to this
colleges at this time had access to this
colleges at this time had access to this technology but as an eighth grader
technology but as an eighth grader
technology but as an eighth grader Bill Gates had access to this very
Bill Gates had access to this very
Bill Gates had access to this very innovative technology and that’s what
innovative technology and that’s what
innovative technology and that’s what really grew his love for computer
really grew his love for computer
really grew his love for computer science and programming not only that he
science and programming not only that he
science and programming not only that he also lived walking distance away from
also lived walking distance away from
also lived walking distance away from the University of Washington where in
the University of Washington where in
the University of Washington where in his high school days he spent his days
his high school days he spent his days
his high school days he spent his days and nights countless hours programming
and nights countless hours programming
and nights countless hours programming really honing his craft due to his
really honing his craft due to his
really honing his craft due to his location he had access these amazing
location he had access these amazing
location he had access these amazing technologies and allowed him to achieve
technologies and allowed him to achieve
technologies and allowed him to achieve the feats that he did later on in his
the feats that he did later on in his
the feats that he did later on in his life now obviously there’s other
life now obviously there’s other
life now obviously there’s other components that have to be considered
components that have to be considered
components that have to be considered here when talking about Bill Gates he
here when talking about Bill Gates he
here when talking about Bill Gates he really is the perfect example of all
really is the perfect example of all
really is the perfect example of all three forms of privilege in one person
three forms of privilege in one person
three forms of privilege in one person right so you talk about his location
right so you talk about his location
right so you talk about his location grew up in Seattle had access to all
grew up in Seattle had access to all
grew up in Seattle had access to all these computers amazing technology but
these computers amazing technology but
these computers amazing technology but the socio-economic factor has to be
the socio-economic factor has to be
the socio-economic factor has to be taken account to he was able to go to
taken account to he was able to go to
taken account to he was able to go to this private school his dad being a law
this private school his dad being a law
this private school his dad being a law firm partner at his own firm and his
firm partner at his own firm and his
firm partner at his own firm and his mother coming from a long line of very
mother coming from a long line of very
mother coming from a long line of very successful bankers and obviously his
successful bankers and obviously his
successful bankers and obviously his racial component as well so I hope that
racial component as well so I hope that
racial component as well so I hope that you know I’ve kind of set the stage for
you know I’ve kind of set the stage for
you know I’ve kind of set the stage for how important locational privilege is
how important locational privilege is
how important locational privilege is now I’m in no way complaining about
now I’m in no way complaining about
now I’m in no way complaining about being from South Florida I feel like the
being from South Florida I feel like the
being from South Florida I feel like the access to different cultures and people
access to different cultures and people
access to different cultures and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds
from different socioeconomic backgrounds
from different socioeconomic backgrounds is an asset to me and really shapes the
is an asset to me and really shapes the
is an asset to me and really shapes the way I view the world but it’s definitely
way I view the world but it’s definitely
way I view the world but it’s definitely something that has to be considered just
something that has to be considered just
something that has to be considered just talk to someone from New York or talk to
talk to someone from New York or talk to
talk to someone from New York or talk to a kid from San Francisco they’re
a kid from San Francisco they’re
a kid from San Francisco they’re bursting with ideas because there’s so
bursting with ideas because there’s so
bursting with ideas because there’s so much activity going on around them they
much activity going on around them they
much activity going on around them they see that there’s so much in this world
see that there’s so much in this world
see that there’s so much in this world that they can achieve and this impacts
that they can achieve and this impacts
that they can achieve and this impacts every facet of life from musical
every facet of life from musical
every facet of life from musical preference to culinary palate to even
preference to culinary palate to even
preference to culinary palate to even things as simple as where am I going to
things as simple as where am I going to
things as simple as where am I going to go on vacation this year but most
go on vacation this year but most
go on vacation this year but most importantly it broadens the view of what
importantly it broadens the view of what
importantly it broadens the view of what an individual believes they can achieve
an individual believes they can achieve
an individual believes they can achieve in their life but there is good news
in their life but there is good news
in their life but there is good news location of privilege can be overcome
location of privilege can be overcome
location of privilege can be overcome simply by moving to a new place you can
simply by moving to a new place you can
simply by moving to a new place you can internalize some of the advantages that
internalize some of the advantages that
internalize some of the advantages that that location has to offer and we’ve
that location has to offer and we’ve
that location has to offer and we’ve seen many examples of this so in the
seen many examples of this so in the
seen many examples of this so in the story of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg moves
story of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg moves
story of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg moves to San Francisco internalizing the
to San Francisco internalizing the
to San Francisco internalizing the advantages that that location has to
advantages that that location has to
advantages that that location has to offer building his business and seeking
offer building his business and seeking
offer building his business and seeking from the talent pool that isn’t Silicon
from the talent pool that isn’t Silicon
from the talent pool that isn’t Silicon Valley my favorite example is that of
Valley my favorite example is that of
Valley my favorite example is that of Kevin Durant so I’m a big basketball fan
Kevin Durant so I’m a big basketball fan
Kevin Durant so I’m a big basketball fan and last season
and last season
and last season Durant moved from Oklahoma City to the
Durant moved from Oklahoma City to the
Durant moved from Oklahoma City to the Golden State Warriors and he was berated
Golden State Warriors and he was berated
Golden State Warriors and he was berated in the media for doing so but it was
in the media for doing so but it was
in the media for doing so but it was really the smart decision on his part
really the smart decision on his part
really the smart decision on his part and he definitely considered locational
and he definitely considered locational
and he definitely considered locational privilege to be a component of that the
privilege to be a component of that the
privilege to be a component of that the advantages that the Bay Area offers
advantages that the Bay Area offers
advantages that the Bay Area offers simply wouldn’t be able to be had in
simply wouldn’t be able to be had in
simply wouldn’t be able to be had in Oklahoma City so in his spare time now
Oklahoma City so in his spare time now
Oklahoma City so in his spare time now he takes pitches from tech startups and
he takes pitches from tech startups and
he takes pitches from tech startups and works as an angel investor really being
works as an angel investor really being
works as an angel investor really being able to grow his legacy beyond that of
able to grow his legacy beyond that of
able to grow his legacy beyond that of just a basketball player so in
just a basketball player so in
just a basketball player so in conclusion I hope I’ve kind of shown you
conclusion I hope I’ve kind of shown you
conclusion I hope I’ve kind of shown you how important locational privileges and
how important locational privileges and
how important locational privileges and it’s some of the considerations you can
it’s some of the considerations you can
it’s some of the considerations you can make in your own life as a early career
make in your own life as a early career
make in your own life as a early career professional I have to think you know
professional I have to think you know
professional I have to think you know what location can I go to that I can
what location can I go to that I can
what location can I go to that I can internalize those advantages and
internalize those advantages and
internalize those advantages and cultivate my career and if you are from
cultivate my career and if you are from
cultivate my career and if you are from a locationally disadvantaged area and I
a locationally disadvantaged area and I
a locationally disadvantaged area and I urge you go back to your community be
urge you go back to your community be
urge you go back to your community be the example that the kids can look to to
the example that the kids can look to to
the example that the kids can look to to say look I don’t just have to be an
say look I don’t just have to be an
say look I don’t just have to be an athlete I just don’t have to be a
athlete I just don’t have to be a
athlete I just don’t have to be a musician there’s more ways in this world
musician there’s more ways in this world
musician there’s more ways in this world that can make a difference and have a
that can make a difference and have a
that can make a difference and have a purposeful life be the example day look
purposeful life be the example day look
purposeful life be the example day look – we are the one who inspires them and
– we are the one who inspires them and
– we are the one who inspires them and in doing so you can shape the future
in doing so you can shape the future
in doing so you can shape the future thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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