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Locational Privilege—The Importance of Where You Are From | Shan Ahmad | TEDxKGI


I see some familiar faces in here thank

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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