it’s a warm September evening in 1988 I’m surrounded by more people that I’ve
I’m surrounded by more people that I’ve
I’m surrounded by more people that I’ve ever seen I’m five years old but I can
ever seen I’m five years old but I can
ever seen I’m five years old but I can see far sitting on my father’s shoulders
see far sitting on my father’s shoulders
see far sitting on my father’s shoulders wearing Talon the capital of Estonia and
wearing Talon the capital of Estonia and
wearing Talon the capital of Estonia and I’m excited because we drove all the way
I’m excited because we drove all the way
I’m excited because we drove all the way to Tel in from my little hometown on the
to Tel in from my little hometown on the
to Tel in from my little hometown on the other side of the country but there’s
other side of the country but there’s
other side of the country but there’s more my mom and dad are really excited
more my mom and dad are really excited
more my mom and dad are really excited about something people are singing I’m
about something people are singing I’m
about something people are singing I’m singing to my mom he’s holding my little
singing to my mom he’s holding my little
singing to my mom he’s holding my little brother but she’s crying but I don’t
brother but she’s crying but I don’t
brother but she’s crying but I don’t mind because I have a flag that flag has
mind because I have a flag that flag has
mind because I have a flag that flag has been always hidden in the closet like a
been always hidden in the closet like a
been always hidden in the closet like a big secret and cutting me into trouble
big secret and cutting me into trouble
big secret and cutting me into trouble every time I tried to play with it no
every time I tried to play with it no
every time I tried to play with it no trouble today it seems and I can stay up
trouble today it seems and I can stay up
trouble today it seems and I can stay up late best night ever
my father year old self doesn’t know it
my father year old self doesn’t know it but I’m witnessing one of the most
but I’m witnessing one of the most
but I’m witnessing one of the most remarkable events in the history of my
remarkable events in the history of my
remarkable events in the history of my home country the singing revolution more
home country the singing revolution more
home country the singing revolution more than three hundred thousand people have
than three hundred thousand people have
than three hundred thousand people have gathered to tell in on that evening to
gathered to tell in on that evening to
gathered to tell in on that evening to literally sing their way to freedom from
literally sing their way to freedom from
literally sing their way to freedom from the Soviet occupation the singing
the Soviet occupation the singing
the Soviet occupation the singing revolution has been named one of the
revolution has been named one of the
revolution has been named one of the most peaceful revolutions in the human
most peaceful revolutions in the human
most peaceful revolutions in the human history the singing revolution took down
history the singing revolution took down
history the singing revolution took down the Iron Curtain three years after that
the Iron Curtain three years after that
the Iron Curtain three years after that evening 27 years later the same country
evening 27 years later the same country
evening 27 years later the same country is one of the most digitally advanced
is one of the most digitally advanced
is one of the most digitally advanced societies in our world and a pioneer for
societies in our world and a pioneer for
societies in our world and a pioneer for a democracy and governance since my
a democracy and governance since my
a democracy and governance since my childhood I’ve done many things that my
childhood I’ve done many things that my
childhood I’ve done many things that my parents didn’t even dare to dream of
parents didn’t even dare to dream of
parents didn’t even dare to dream of behind the Iron Curtain
behind the Iron Curtain
behind the Iron Curtain I started my first company when I was 16
I started my first company when I was 16
I started my first company when I was 16 and it was my late father
and it was my late father
and it was my late father and who grew up in the Soviet Union who
and who grew up in the Soviet Union who
and who grew up in the Soviet Union who encouraged me that my idea deserves a
encouraged me that my idea deserves a
encouraged me that my idea deserves a journey to the Patent Office his
journey to the Patent Office his
journey to the Patent Office his encouragement helped me to step beyond
encouragement helped me to step beyond
encouragement helped me to step beyond my personal borders you know the feeling
my personal borders you know the feeling
my personal borders you know the feeling like you could do anything well that’s
like you could do anything well that’s
like you could do anything well that’s exactly how my dad made me feel by just
exactly how my dad made me feel by just
exactly how my dad made me feel by just believing in me but of the many things
believing in me but of the many things
believing in me but of the many things that my parents couldn’t do that I have
that my parents couldn’t do that I have
that my parents couldn’t do that I have enjoyed the most has been traveling I
enjoyed the most has been traveling I
enjoyed the most has been traveling I have traveled to more than 40 countries
have traveled to more than 40 countries
have traveled to more than 40 countries and lived shorter or longer stints in
and lived shorter or longer stints in
and lived shorter or longer stints in several of them last year I spent
several of them last year I spent
several of them last year I spent hundred and forty three days abroad and
hundred and forty three days abroad and
hundred and forty three days abroad and my then three-year-old daughter had more
my then three-year-old daughter had more
my then three-year-old daughter had more flights in one month than I had within
flights in one month than I had within
flights in one month than I had within the first 20 years of my life many
the first 20 years of my life many
the first 20 years of my life many things have obviously changed during the
things have obviously changed during the
things have obviously changed during the past two decades for me but not only due
past two decades for me but not only due
past two decades for me but not only due to the circumstance of my location but
to the circumstance of my location but
to the circumstance of my location but because moving around is just so much
because moving around is just so much
because moving around is just so much easier for all of us humans in a way
easier for all of us humans in a way
easier for all of us humans in a way reflecting what Phil Knight said in his
reflecting what Phil Knight said in his
reflecting what Phil Knight said in his memoirs the world was much bigger in
memoirs the world was much bigger in
memoirs the world was much bigger in 1962
1962
1962 yes the world is much smaller now
William swing the director-general of
William swing the director-general of International Organization for Migration
International Organization for Migration
International Organization for Migration says that every seventh person on the
says that every seventh person on the
says that every seventh person on the planet is a migrant today we are living
planet is a migrant today we are living
planet is a migrant today we are living in the era of highest human mobility in
in the era of highest human mobility in
in the era of highest human mobility in the recorded history what is happening
the recorded history what is happening
the recorded history what is happening let’s look at one simple structure in
let’s look at one simple structure in
let’s look at one simple structure in our lives that has changed friendships
our lives that has changed friendships
our lives that has changed friendships once almost exclusively formed around
once almost exclusively formed around
once almost exclusively formed around our neighborhood of school our workplace
our neighborhood of school our workplace
our neighborhood of school our workplace our grocery store have suddenly expanded
our grocery store have suddenly expanded
our grocery store have suddenly expanded thanks to global networks suddenly
thanks to global networks suddenly
thanks to global networks suddenly instead of being connected because of
instead of being connected because of
instead of being connected because of our location we are connected in the
our location we are connected in the
our location we are connected in the verticals of interests my best friend
verticals of interests my best friend
verticals of interests my best friend can be sitting in Japan India or the
can be sitting in Japan India or the
can be sitting in Japan India or the United States and we are connected
United States and we are connected
United States and we are connected through a mutual interest I’ll come
through a mutual interest I’ll come
through a mutual interest I’ll come persons have expanded globally because
persons have expanded globally because
persons have expanded globally because our people are everywhere and we are
our people are everywhere and we are
our people are everywhere and we are more comfortable to be anywhere the
more comfortable to be anywhere the
more comfortable to be anywhere the world has become more fluid economist
world has become more fluid economist
world has become more fluid economist Michael Clements from the center of
Michael Clements from the center of
Michael Clements from the center of global development claims that there’s
global development claims that there’s
global development claims that there’s one simple policy that could make the
one simple policy that could make the
one simple policy that could make the world twice as rich as it is open
world twice as rich as it is open
world twice as rich as it is open borders his colleague has even gone
borders his colleague has even gone
borders his colleague has even gone further economics prying poplin and data
further economics prying poplin and data
further economics prying poplin and data scientists people might claim that the
scientists people might claim that the
scientists people might claim that the world of free movement would be 78
world of free movement would be 78
world of free movement would be 78 trillion-dollar richer it was the idea
trillion-dollar richer it was the idea
trillion-dollar richer it was the idea around the movement of people that
around the movement of people that
around the movement of people that sparked the inspiration for the company
sparked the inspiration for the company
sparked the inspiration for the company that I am building it was in Silicon
that I am building it was in Silicon
that I am building it was in Silicon Valley when I asked myself why is change
Valley when I asked myself why is change
Valley when I asked myself why is change happening here
happening here
happening here why aren’t Google and other gigantic
why aren’t Google and other gigantic
why aren’t Google and other gigantic powerhouses emerging from anywhere else
powerhouses emerging from anywhere else
powerhouses emerging from anywhere else on the planet the answer I realized was
on the planet the answer I realized was
on the planet the answer I realized was knowledgeable people who are drawn to
knowledgeable people who are drawn to
knowledgeable people who are drawn to this location so in this more fluid
this location so in this more fluid
this location so in this more fluid world what if we take a person with
world what if we take a person with
world what if we take a person with knowledge and expertise to place lacking
knowledge and expertise to place lacking
knowledge and expertise to place lacking that knowledge and expertise could that
that knowledge and expertise could that
that knowledge and expertise could that be the start of an actual change even
be the start of an actual change even
be the start of an actual change even Google was built by human beings so
Google was built by human beings so
Google was built by human beings so potentially moving around knowledgeable
potentially moving around knowledgeable
potentially moving around knowledgeable people could help us build Silicon
people could help us build Silicon
people could help us build Silicon Valley’s from anywhere in the world in
Valley’s from anywhere in the world in
Valley’s from anywhere in the world in 2014 I started to work on that idea and
2014 I started to work on that idea and
2014 I started to work on that idea and thus sabbatical with a mission to
thus sabbatical with a mission to
thus sabbatical with a mission to distribute knowledge to the far-flung
distribute knowledge to the far-flung
distribute knowledge to the far-flung cities of the world was born three years
cities of the world was born three years
cities of the world was born three years later we’re connecting talent from all
later we’re connecting talent from all
later we’re connecting talent from all over the world to organizations in 49
over the world to organizations in 49
over the world to organizations in 49 countries but since the beginning of
countries but since the beginning of
countries but since the beginning of Tibet achill one of the most commonly
Tibet achill one of the most commonly
Tibet achill one of the most commonly asked questions I have got this what
asked questions I have got this what
asked questions I have got this what about immigration because yes talent is
about immigration because yes talent is
about immigration because yes talent is more open to move around for a career
more open to move around for a career
more open to move around for a career and yes talent shortage is a problem
and yes talent shortage is a problem
and yes talent shortage is a problem growingly for businesses all over the
growingly for businesses all over the
growingly for businesses all over the world and yes we could potentially solve
world and yes we could potentially solve
world and yes we could potentially solve that problem by just taking people to
that problem by just taking people to
that problem by just taking people to the places where the skills are needed
the places where the skills are needed
the places where the skills are needed but the rules and regulations will not
but the rules and regulations will not
but the rules and regulations will not allow it for a long time I
allow it for a long time I
allow it for a long time I thought that policy is a problem created
thought that policy is a problem created
thought that policy is a problem created by politicians and bureaucrats I thought
by politicians and bureaucrats I thought
by politicians and bureaucrats I thought that when an employer in Estonia wants
that when an employer in Estonia wants
that when an employer in Estonia wants to hire highly skilled specialists and
to hire highly skilled specialists and
to hire highly skilled specialists and can get a work permit within 24 hours
can get a work permit within 24 hours
can get a work permit within 24 hours but a company in Greece has to wait one
but a company in Greece has to wait one
but a company in Greece has to wait one year and even then most probably will
year and even then most probably will
year and even then most probably will not get the permit then it’s because the
not get the permit then it’s because the
not get the permit then it’s because the policy makers and politicians in Estonia
policy makers and politicians in Estonia
policy makers and politicians in Estonia have made better decisions that’s what I
have made better decisions that’s what I
have made better decisions that’s what I thought until one evening in February a
thought until one evening in February a
thought until one evening in February a year ago I’m in warm and humid Kuala
year ago I’m in warm and humid Kuala
year ago I’m in warm and humid Kuala Lumpur my my colleagues and I we are in
Lumpur my my colleagues and I we are in
Lumpur my my colleagues and I we are in our very favorite restaurant in the
our very favorite restaurant in the
our very favorite restaurant in the yellow and a lower area this time my
yellow and a lower area this time my
yellow and a lower area this time my little three-year-old daughter is with
little three-year-old daughter is with
little three-year-old daughter is with us and we love this place because they
us and we love this place because they
us and we love this place because they have probably the best chicken wings on
have probably the best chicken wings on
have probably the best chicken wings on planet Earth those chicken wings alone
planet Earth those chicken wings alone
planet Earth those chicken wings alone are a reason to fly to kuala lumpur
are a reason to fly to kuala lumpur
are a reason to fly to kuala lumpur simply a notice that my colleagues are
simply a notice that my colleagues are
simply a notice that my colleagues are looking at something behind me then i
looking at something behind me then i
looking at something behind me then i realized that everybody else in the
realized that everybody else in the
realized that everybody else in the restaurant is looking in that direction
restaurant is looking in that direction
restaurant is looking in that direction too
too
too i turn around and what I see is my
i turn around and what I see is my
i turn around and what I see is my daughter hugging a little Muslim girl
daughter hugging a little Muslim girl
daughter hugging a little Muslim girl they just stand there what seemed like
they just stand there what seemed like
they just stand there what seemed like forever holding each other no borders no
forever holding each other no borders no
forever holding each other no borders no fear of cultural difference just two
fear of cultural difference just two
fear of cultural difference just two little humans finding joy in each other
little humans finding joy in each other
little humans finding joy in each other Here I am in Malaysia five thousand
Here I am in Malaysia five thousand
Here I am in Malaysia five thousand miles from home and I realized that
miles from home and I realized that
miles from home and I realized that borders and policy are not not about
borders and policy are not not about
borders and policy are not not about politicians they are their reflection of
politicians they are their reflection of
politicians they are their reflection of the borders in our heads those are the
the borders in our heads those are the
the borders in our heads those are the borders that keep us from pursuing our
borders that keep us from pursuing our
borders that keep us from pursuing our dreams because we are afraid we’re not
dreams because we are afraid we’re not
dreams because we are afraid we’re not good enough it is the fear that somebody
good enough it is the fear that somebody
good enough it is the fear that somebody who is good enough it’ll take away
who is good enough it’ll take away
who is good enough it’ll take away what’s ours I realized that policy is
what’s ours I realized that policy is
what’s ours I realized that policy is just a mirror of self doubt of its
just a mirror of self doubt of its
just a mirror of self doubt of its citizens in my childhood hi I have
citizens in my childhood hi I have
citizens in my childhood hi I have witnessed how one peaceful revolution
witnessed how one peaceful revolution
witnessed how one peaceful revolution can change the world and lives of people
can change the world and lives of people
can change the world and lives of people how taking down isolation borders can
how taking down isolation borders can
how taking down isolation borders can bring the society from desperation and
bring the society from desperation and
bring the society from desperation and suffering to innovation and success now
suffering to innovation and success now
suffering to innovation and success now it is time for another peaceful
it is time for another peaceful
it is time for another peaceful revolution and it is the revolution to
revolution and it is the revolution to
revolution and it is the revolution to take down our personal borders those are
take down our personal borders those are
take down our personal borders those are the borders that keep us from pursuing
the borders that keep us from pursuing
the borders that keep us from pursuing our dreams and as a consequence we limit
our dreams and as a consequence we limit
our dreams and as a consequence we limit others to pursue theirs those are the
others to pursue theirs those are the
others to pursue theirs those are the borders that are fueled by our
borders that are fueled by our
borders that are fueled by our self-doubt and fed by hate and Sena
self-doubt and fed by hate and Sena
self-doubt and fed by hate and Sena phobia taking down our personal borders
phobia taking down our personal borders
phobia taking down our personal borders would be the most powerful policy change
would be the most powerful policy change
would be the most powerful policy change towards a collaborative and richer world
just like me as a five year old about to
just like me as a five year old about to witness the change I ask you tonight
witness the change I ask you tonight
witness the change I ask you tonight when you go home and you’re thinking
when you go home and you’re thinking
when you go home and you’re thinking about a day acknowledged that you me us
about a day acknowledged that you me us
about a day acknowledged that you me us we are the border guards of our lives
we are the border guards of our lives
we are the border guards of our lives and we are in control of a peaceful
and we are in control of a peaceful
and we are in control of a peaceful revolution towards a better world and
revolution towards a better world and
revolution towards a better world and you can start that by just sitting down
you can start that by just sitting down
you can start that by just sitting down for a coffee with a person that with
for a coffee with a person that with
for a coffee with a person that with whom you usually disagree or plan a trip
whom you usually disagree or plan a trip
whom you usually disagree or plan a trip to a country that is uncomfortably to
to a country that is uncomfortably to
to a country that is uncomfortably to foreign this could be the start of your
foreign this could be the start of your
foreign this could be the start of your revolution
revolution
revolution [Applause]
”
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