[Music] [Applause]
thank you very much and I feel very
thank you very much and I feel very honored to be around amazing speakers
honored to be around amazing speakers
honored to be around amazing speakers today I think we’ve all had a incredible
today I think we’ve all had a incredible
today I think we’ve all had a incredible time together and I surely will walk
time together and I surely will walk
time together and I surely will walk away from this conference a different
away from this conference a different
away from this conference a different person with new ideas my name is Paula
person with new ideas my name is Paula
person with new ideas my name is Paula Schwartz I’m half Greek and half German
Schwartz I’m half Greek and half German
Schwartz I’m half Greek and half German and a couple of things happen to me that
and a couple of things happen to me that
and a couple of things happen to me that have dared me to think differently and
have dared me to think differently and
have dared me to think differently and it’s important to me to be here today to
it’s important to me to be here today to
it’s important to me to be here today to maybe share some of these experiences
maybe share some of these experiences
maybe share some of these experiences because I think I started off just like
because I think I started off just like
because I think I started off just like many girls in this in this surrounding
many girls in this in this surrounding
many girls in this in this surrounding of ours wanting to be a model bonding to
of ours wanting to be a model bonding to
of ours wanting to be a model bonding to be out there and actually you know be in
be out there and actually you know be in
be out there and actually you know be in the public eye quite a lot and so I did
the public eye quite a lot and so I did
the public eye quite a lot and so I did that and then I had quite quite a couple
that and then I had quite quite a couple
that and then I had quite quite a couple of jobs with that but I realized that it
of jobs with that but I realized that it
of jobs with that but I realized that it didn’t really make me happy and at that
didn’t really make me happy and at that
didn’t really make me happy and at that point then I went into the startup field
point then I went into the startup field
point then I went into the startup field and thought okay now I’m gonna do
and thought okay now I’m gonna do
and thought okay now I’m gonna do something that’s a little bit more of
something that’s a little bit more of
something that’s a little bit more of value and I actually wanted to start a
value and I actually wanted to start a
value and I actually wanted to start a startup because I felt as though it was
startup because I felt as though it was
startup because I felt as though it was something that many people wanted to do
something that many people wanted to do
something that many people wanted to do it became a hype and I built a team
it became a hype and I built a team
it became a hype and I built a team around me and I bought a very
around me and I bought a very
around me and I bought a very traditional structure I founded a
traditional structure I founded a
traditional structure I founded a company very early on and I had a proven
company very early on and I had a proven
company very early on and I had a proven business model and I had a huge team so
business model and I had a huge team so
business model and I had a huge team so it was it was like in a textbook and
it was it was like in a textbook and
it was it was like in a textbook and then life actually asked me to think
then life actually asked me to think
then life actually asked me to think differently because obviously the
differently because obviously the
differently because obviously the startup did not go so well and I I then
startup did not go so well and I I then
startup did not go so well and I I then set out to a personal journey that
set out to a personal journey that
set out to a personal journey that actually brought me first to Africa
actually brought me first to Africa
actually brought me first to Africa because I wanted to take some time away
because I wanted to take some time away
because I wanted to take some time away I didn’t want to go into university
I didn’t want to go into university
I didn’t want to go into university anymore I didn’t want to have structure
anymore I didn’t want to have structure
anymore I didn’t want to have structure I just wanted to see the world and
I just wanted to see the world and
I just wanted to see the world and really build away from things that were
really build away from things that were
really build away from things that were given to me I’m based on things that I
given to me I’m based on things that I
given to me I’m based on things that I thought I should have been doing and so
thought I should have been doing and so
thought I should have been doing and so I went to Africa and we went to the
I went to Africa and we went to the
I went to Africa and we went to the startup bus
startup bus
startup bus and I met this amazing team started
and I met this amazing team started
and I met this amazing team started mentoring them and luckily we won the
mentoring them and luckily we won the
mentoring them and luckily we won the converting competition so we went from
converting competition so we went from
converting competition so we went from from Tanzania to Uganda to Kenya to
from Tanzania to Uganda to Kenya to
from Tanzania to Uganda to Kenya to Rhonda and the Congo and we build a
Rhonda and the Congo and we build a
Rhonda and the Congo and we build a platform for four cars a sharing
platform for four cars a sharing
platform for four cars a sharing platform for cars that’s called Jambo
platform for cars that’s called Jambo
platform for cars that’s called Jambo car that’s still doing wonderfully today
car that’s still doing wonderfully today
car that’s still doing wonderfully today and for me this was the first moment
and for me this was the first moment
and for me this was the first moment where I realized like okay I can
where I realized like okay I can
where I realized like okay I can actually build stuff and that was very
actually build stuff and that was very
actually build stuff and that was very very interesting so this experience from
very interesting so this experience from
very interesting so this experience from the startup bus then led to me being on
the startup bus then led to me being on
the startup bus then led to me being on the road in a chickens bus we called it
the road in a chickens bus we called it
the road in a chickens bus we called it it was a terrible bus it was going up
it was a terrible bus it was going up
it was a terrible bus it was going up and down all the time we didn’t have
and down all the time we didn’t have
and down all the time we didn’t have internet but we were still coding and
internet but we were still coding and
internet but we were still coding and for me this experience is quite
for me this experience is quite
for me this experience is quite important because it was actually
important because it was actually
important because it was actually influenced very much from my childhood
influenced very much from my childhood
influenced very much from my childhood since after my first failure I went to
since after my first failure I went to
since after my first failure I went to this island which is Samos it’s at the
this island which is Samos it’s at the
this island which is Samos it’s at the border between Greece and Turkey I took
border between Greece and Turkey I took
border between Greece and Turkey I took some time off and I started building
some time off and I started building
some time off and I started building mobile with refugees who by then were
mobile with refugees who by then were
mobile with refugees who by then were coming from Afghanistan and Iraq so this
coming from Afghanistan and Iraq so this
coming from Afghanistan and Iraq so this was obviously before the whole migration
was obviously before the whole migration
was obviously before the whole migration topic and this is where I started to
topic and this is where I started to
topic and this is where I started to build tech for the first time really
build tech for the first time really
build tech for the first time really hands on even before the start of us in
hands on even before the start of us in
hands on even before the start of us in Africa and when the bus actually
Africa and when the bus actually
Africa and when the bus actually finished I had built the concept for the
finished I had built the concept for the
finished I had built the concept for the startup boat because I was on the way
startup boat because I was on the way
startup boat because I was on the way home for the summer time I wanted to
home for the summer time I wanted to
home for the summer time I wanted to take some time off you know it was super
take some time off you know it was super
take some time off you know it was super intense building and creating the team
intense building and creating the team
intense building and creating the team we were also between Europe and Africa a
we were also between Europe and Africa a
we were also between Europe and Africa a lot and then obviously as you all know
lot and then obviously as you all know
lot and then obviously as you all know this is by the way the team from the
this is by the way the team from the
this is by the way the team from the from the startup bus as you are now then
from the startup bus as you are now then
from the startup bus as you are now then the refugee crisis hit which is here and
the refugee crisis hit which is here and
the refugee crisis hit which is here and for me that was a very intense
for me that was a very intense
for me that was a very intense experience because I had invited 18
experience because I had invited 18
experience because I had invited 18 people at a time when there was a high
people at a time when there was a high
people at a time when there was a high time of the of the refugee crisis to
time of the of the refugee crisis to
time of the of the refugee crisis to actually come to the startup boat and I
actually come to the startup boat and I
actually come to the startup boat and I didn’t expect that it would unplug
didn’t expect that it would unplug
didn’t expect that it would unplug explored so much so it was actually in
explored so much so it was actually in
explored so much so it was actually in July 2015 when I pushed the button
July 2015 when I pushed the button
July 2015 when I pushed the button for the website to come up of the
for the website to come up of the
for the website to come up of the startup boat and a week later we had
startup boat and a week later we had
startup boat and a week later we had 10,000 cancellations of people who
10,000 cancellations of people who
10,000 cancellations of people who didn’t want to come to Greece anymore to
didn’t want to come to Greece anymore to
didn’t want to come to Greece anymore to do their vacations we had the first
do their vacations we had the first
do their vacations we had the first 50,000 people come in to to the islands
50,000 people come in to to the islands
50,000 people come in to to the islands and then you know I realized okay this
and then you know I realized okay this
and then you know I realized okay this is gonna get very interesting and we had
is gonna get very interesting and we had
is gonna get very interesting and we had the top 1% of McKinsey show up to the
the top 1% of McKinsey show up to the
the top 1% of McKinsey show up to the first boat we had Facebook we had Cisco
first boat we had Facebook we had Cisco
first boat we had Facebook we had Cisco we had Google we had strategists we had
we had Google we had strategists we had
we had Google we had strategists we had refugees also join us and we went on
refugees also join us and we went on
refugees also join us and we went on this first boat together at the island
this first boat together at the island
this first boat together at the island that I just showed you which is here and
that I just showed you which is here and
that I just showed you which is here and what you have to know about this island
what you have to know about this island
what you have to know about this island is that it’s actually a thousand meters
is that it’s actually a thousand meters
is that it’s actually a thousand meters from Turkey so we had a massive influx
from Turkey so we had a massive influx
from Turkey so we had a massive influx and for us that was there was a crazy
and for us that was there was a crazy
and for us that was there was a crazy experience because we had 14 boats an
experience because we had 14 boats an
experience because we had 14 boats an hour coming our way and then we built an
hour coming our way and then we built an
hour coming our way and then we built an information platform for refugees as the
information platform for refugees as the
information platform for refugees as the first tool and we actually saw that we
first tool and we actually saw that we
first tool and we actually saw that we were having incredible impact because
were having incredible impact because
were having incredible impact because this one platform had 2 million users in
this one platform had 2 million users in
this one platform had 2 million users in the last year and it was built on six
the last year and it was built on six
the last year and it was built on six euros right so based on this experience
euros right so based on this experience
euros right so based on this experience we went home we saw that there were so
we went home we saw that there were so
we went home we saw that there were so many people building other things and we
many people building other things and we
many people building other things and we opened the co-working space so we just
opened the co-working space so we just
opened the co-working space so we just dare to go into into an office of
dare to go into into an office of
dare to go into into an office of friends and ask them you know if we can
friends and ask them you know if we can
friends and ask them you know if we can use it just to unite people and then
use it just to unite people and then
use it just to unite people and then they self organized and they built a
they self organized and they built a
they self organized and they built a structure around it and now we have in
structure around it and now we have in
structure around it and now we have in seven cities around Europe we have these
seven cities around Europe we have these
seven cities around Europe we have these migration helps these co-working spaces
migration helps these co-working spaces
migration helps these co-working spaces where you can actually go to and the
where you can actually go to and the
where you can actually go to and the journey went actually on as you know
journey went actually on as you know
journey went actually on as you know because it’s a phenomenon that has
because it’s a phenomenon that has
because it’s a phenomenon that has really stuck with us for a while so we
really stuck with us for a while so we
really stuck with us for a while so we thought that we didn’t want to stop
thought that we didn’t want to stop
thought that we didn’t want to stop there we actually want to do it one boat
there we actually want to do it one boat
there we actually want to do it one boat a month and that was pretty intense
a month and that was pretty intense
a month and that was pretty intense because we were between the islands and
because we were between the islands and
because we were between the islands and the academia because we constantly kept
the academia because we constantly kept
the academia because we constantly kept sharing what we were seeing and we went
sharing what we were seeing and we went
sharing what we were seeing and we went to Berlin and to London to bring people
to Berlin and to London to bring people
to Berlin and to London to bring people together so it was all about stepping
together so it was all about stepping
together so it was all about stepping out and communicating what you’ve seen
out and communicating what you’ve seen
out and communicating what you’ve seen and I’m sure that many people around
and I’m sure that many people around
and I’m sure that many people around here
here
here so you know you do see things that are
so you know you do see things that are
so you know you do see things that are significant and I would like to
significant and I would like to
significant and I would like to encourage you to actually overcome these
encourage you to actually overcome these
encourage you to actually overcome these boundaries and share them and talk to
boundaries and share them and talk to
boundaries and share them and talk to people around it so for us this meant
people around it so for us this meant
people around it so for us this meant that we had a very theoretical approach
that we had a very theoretical approach
that we had a very theoretical approach to things that was based on design
to things that was based on design
to things that was based on design thinking with scientists involve
thinking with scientists involve
thinking with scientists involve politicians involved and media involved
politicians involved and media involved
politicians involved and media involved also but based on this whole theory so
also but based on this whole theory so
also but based on this whole theory so it was ground work and then really
it was ground work and then really
it was ground work and then really creating the first concept and then
creating the first concept and then
creating the first concept and then growing them into solutions with the
growing them into solutions with the
growing them into solutions with the partners we were also very much focused
partners we were also very much focused
partners we were also very much focused on sharing these experiences with
on sharing these experiences with
on sharing these experiences with students at universities and this for
students at universities and this for
students at universities and this for all of us was quite difficult because
all of us was quite difficult because
all of us was quite difficult because you know you’re a humanitarian worker on
you know you’re a humanitarian worker on
you know you’re a humanitarian worker on the one hand and then on the other hand
the one hand and then on the other hand
the one hand and then on the other hand you have to communicate the results but
you have to communicate the results but
you have to communicate the results but I think from that you can also grow and
I think from that you can also grow and
I think from that you can also grow and you can grow an amazing vibe and what
you can grow an amazing vibe and what
you can grow an amazing vibe and what this meant for us is that you know we
this meant for us is that you know we
this meant for us is that you know we became more interested in what we were
became more interested in what we were
became more interested in what we were actually able to achieve so we started
actually able to achieve so we started
actually able to achieve so we started focusing on this one refugee camp on
focusing on this one refugee camp on
focusing on this one refugee camp on Samos and we started implementing all
Samos and we started implementing all
Samos and we started implementing all the devices that we were actually
the devices that we were actually
the devices that we were actually creating or that we were looking at
creating or that we were looking at
creating or that we were looking at because we thought it was important to
because we thought it was important to
because we thought it was important to have one best-case example and this is a
have one best-case example and this is a
have one best-case example and this is a container medical container from Cisco
container medical container from Cisco
container medical container from Cisco that you know I was talking about to the
that you know I was talking about to the
that you know I was talking about to the whole island and no one would believe me
whole island and no one would believe me
whole island and no one would believe me so I was the crazy person always talking
so I was the crazy person always talking
so I was the crazy person always talking about a container and then we actually
about a container and then we actually
about a container and then we actually flew these containers in and we
flew these containers in and we
flew these containers in and we implemented Wi-Fi in the camp together
implemented Wi-Fi in the camp together
implemented Wi-Fi in the camp together with Facebook and that gave us a little
with Facebook and that gave us a little
with Facebook and that gave us a little bit of hope so you know we’re now
bit of hope so you know we’re now
bit of hope so you know we’re now building this ecosystem so we have a
building this ecosystem so we have a
building this ecosystem so we have a migration hub on the island that is run
migration hub on the island that is run
migration hub on the island that is run by a local together with with us as a
by a local together with with us as a
by a local together with with us as a support group and then we have a coding
support group and then we have a coding
support group and then we have a coding school that’s in an old Museum that we
school that’s in an old Museum that we
school that’s in an old Museum that we won over because we just used logical
won over because we just used logical
won over because we just used logical thinking to explain to people that you
thinking to explain to people that you
thinking to explain to people that you need change and you need it massively
need change and you need it massively
need change and you need it massively when you’ve had a crisis in the economy
when you’ve had a crisis in the economy
when you’ve had a crisis in the economy for nine years it’s just extremely
for nine years it’s just extremely
for nine years it’s just extremely important and then the government caught
important and then the government caught
important and then the government caught the German government
the German government
the German government hey you know what you guys are doing is
hey you know what you guys are doing is
hey you know what you guys are doing is awesome don’t you want to run more boats
awesome don’t you want to run more boats
awesome don’t you want to run more boats and more regions because refugee crisis
and more regions because refugee crisis
and more regions because refugee crisis yes it’s very important but it’s also
yes it’s very important but it’s also
yes it’s very important but it’s also important to bring together people in
important to bring together people in
important to bring together people in other regions and connect the
other regions and connect the
other regions and connect the politicians to the UN for example the
politicians to the UN for example the
politicians to the UN for example the things and resolutions to the startup
things and resolutions to the startup
things and resolutions to the startup sector that think in tools and don’t you
sector that think in tools and don’t you
sector that think in tools and don’t you want to try and bring this design
want to try and bring this design
want to try and bring this design thinking approach into the world so I
thinking approach into the world so I
thinking approach into the world so I was you know a little bit hesitant with
was you know a little bit hesitant with
was you know a little bit hesitant with that because they wanted us to go to
that because they wanted us to go to
that because they wanted us to go to Manila to Jakarta and to Bangalore first
Manila to Jakarta and to Bangalore first
Manila to Jakarta and to Bangalore first and to find partners there and we
and to find partners there and we
and to find partners there and we actually managed that so we found
actually managed that so we found
actually managed that so we found amazing teams and you know I reached out
amazing teams and you know I reached out
amazing teams and you know I reached out to two people who I liked and they said
to two people who I liked and they said
to two people who I liked and they said yes they can use the structure and they
yes they can use the structure and they
yes they can use the structure and they can scale it and we dare to go that step
can scale it and we dare to go that step
can scale it and we dare to go that step and again again think outside the box
and again again think outside the box
and again again think outside the box and it was absolutely not what anyone
and it was absolutely not what anyone
and it was absolutely not what anyone expected and was also in the beginning
expected and was also in the beginning
expected and was also in the beginning hoping to do but it’s just something
hoping to do but it’s just something
hoping to do but it’s just something that developed over time because it made
that developed over time because it made
that developed over time because it made sense and so um you know to go with the
sense and so um you know to go with the
sense and so um you know to go with the flow is most of the time a very good
flow is most of the time a very good
flow is most of the time a very good thing and I’m very grateful for this
thing and I’m very grateful for this
thing and I’m very grateful for this step that we actually took so this is my
step that we actually took so this is my
step that we actually took so this is my team now and yeah we are we’re still
team now and yeah we are we’re still
team now and yeah we are we’re still together I think what’s important even
together I think what’s important even
together I think what’s important even though you try to dare to overcome the
though you try to dare to overcome the
though you try to dare to overcome the boundaries and you dare to think
boundaries and you dare to think
boundaries and you dare to think differently it’s very important also as
differently it’s very important also as
differently it’s very important also as an entrepreneur to take informed
an entrepreneur to take informed
an entrepreneur to take informed decisions and by now I’m not a very big
decisions and by now I’m not a very big
decisions and by now I’m not a very big fan of going too fast too quickly
fan of going too fast too quickly
fan of going too fast too quickly because in a time where you know you
because in a time where you know you
because in a time where you know you have viral social media and
have viral social media and
have viral social media and communications Trust is the most
communications Trust is the most
communications Trust is the most important thing and Trust is something
important thing and Trust is something
important thing and Trust is something that’s also the base for a stable team
that’s also the base for a stable team
that’s also the base for a stable team and if you as an entrepreneur you know
and if you as an entrepreneur you know
and if you as an entrepreneur you know if you dare to do things and and your
if you dare to do things and and your
if you dare to do things and and your team doesn’t go with you then you’re
team doesn’t go with you then you’re
team doesn’t go with you then you’re wrong and then you have to own up to
wrong and then you have to own up to
wrong and then you have to own up to that and also explain yourself so I
that and also explain yourself so I
that and also explain yourself so I think you know management of
think you know management of
think you know management of relationships is the most important
relationships is the most important
relationships is the most important thing and if you dare to do one thing
thing and if you dare to do one thing
thing and if you dare to do one thing it’s to believe in yourself
it’s to believe in yourself
it’s to believe in yourself even what you do believe in the mess a
even what you do believe in the mess a
even what you do believe in the mess a message that you’re trying to bring
message that you’re trying to bring
message that you’re trying to bring across and inspire others with it and
across and inspire others with it and
across and inspire others with it and that isn’t truly scalable and that’s
that isn’t truly scalable and that’s
that isn’t truly scalable and that’s something that will remain as a
something that will remain as a
something that will remain as a fundament so yeah I think also the last
fundament so yeah I think also the last
fundament so yeah I think also the last thing that I would like to say is that
thing that I would like to say is that
thing that I would like to say is that on your way you will come across very
on your way you will come across very
on your way you will come across very many different also negative experiences
many different also negative experiences
many different also negative experiences and as entrepreneurs you need to have a
and as entrepreneurs you need to have a
and as entrepreneurs you need to have a sort of a way to turn the negative into
sort of a way to turn the negative into
sort of a way to turn the negative into a positive so with the things that I’ve
a positive so with the things that I’ve
a positive so with the things that I’ve seen it’s been of course a challenge to
seen it’s been of course a challenge to
seen it’s been of course a challenge to keep the balance but at some point you
keep the balance but at some point you
keep the balance but at some point you become very good at reenergize in
become very good at reenergize in
become very good at reenergize in yourself and only that can give you the
yourself and only that can give you the
yourself and only that can give you the real energy to also dare to think
real energy to also dare to think
real energy to also dare to think differently again and again because the
differently again and again because the
differently again and again because the most important resource is yourself
most important resource is yourself
most important resource is yourself and so yeah I encourage you to take the
and so yeah I encourage you to take the
and so yeah I encourage you to take the steps and go your way and Trust in your
steps and go your way and Trust in your
steps and go your way and Trust in your gut thank you very much
gut thank you very much
gut thank you very much [Applause]
”
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