November 15 & 16, 2023 - Asia Society Northern California hosted its Long Conversation Event at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in San Francisco. The Long Conversation features leaders from a variety of fields conducting 15-minute rolling interviews on a single topic. The theme on Day 1, November 15, was Resiliency. The theme on Day 2, November 16, was Entrepreneurship.
“The Long Conversation: A Marathon of big thinkers and ideas on Resiliency," Nov 15
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We heard insights on Resiliency from the perspectives of environmental sustainability; AAPI leadership; geopolitics; security; diplomacy; tech & artificial intelligence; education; and personal perseverance.
Hafimi Abdul Haadi, Chair of the ABAC Inclusion Task Force, shared Brunei’s progress in adopting renewable energy, and the resilience demonstrated by the country during COVID.
Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to California’s Governor, spoke about the growth of California’s economy, and highlighted the diverse nature of the state, which has enabled billion-dollar industries such as Hollywood to prosper.
Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, 31st United States Ambassador to Japan, discussed the political aspects of being an ambassador, national security issues concerning Japan, and the country’s utilization of renewable energy.
Ian Bremmer, President of Eurasia Group, shared his compelling insights on conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and their impact on the Indo-Pacific.
Ambassador Hoesung Lee, Special Ambassador for Carbon-Free Energy, discussed carbon consumption patterns and attempts to reduce Carbon emissions.
Eunice Kim, Netflix’s Chief Product Officer, talked about her role at Netflix and the increased diversification of Netflix’s portfolio.
Andrew Ng, Founder of DeepLearning.AI and Co-founder and Chairman of Coursera, emphasized the importance of AI and the need for a reduction in burdensome regulations concerning AI.
Gary Rieschel, Chairman of the Asia Society Northern California & Seattle, shared his insights on U.S.-China relations by highlighting the need for dialogue between the two countries for global stability.
Read more about our speakers here. View more photos from Nov 15th here and our video here!
“The Long Conversation: A Marathon of big thinkers and ideas on Entrepreneurship," Nov 16
We heard insights on Entrepreneurship from the perspectives of disability and accessibility; technological innovation; artificial intelligence; clean energy; investment; international business; global policy; and equity and inclusion for gender and race.
Sara Minkara, Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Bureau at the U.S. Department of State, underscored the crucial need to incorporate the perspectives of individuals with disabilities in societal discussions.
James Higa, Founder and Managing Partner of Offline Ventures, prompted reflection on the exploration of new fundamental technologies for global decentralization and collaboration.
Tammy Ma, an expert from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory advocated for broader participation, open discussions, and collaborative efforts to foster development of the nuclear fusion industry.
Peter Schwartz, Chief Future Officer at Salesforce, emphasized the importance of support networks, diverse inputs, and curiosity in entrepreneurial pursuits.
Mike Yeh, Vice President of Corporate External and Legal Affairs at Microsoft Asia, identified innovation and a forward-thinking mindset as crucial elements for maintaining an entrepreneurial environment within established corporations.
Camille Dawson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, stressed the significance of policymakers effectively communicating with the public to ensure their voices are heard.
Cooper Abbott, Chief Executive Officer of Matthews Asia, shared insights from his Fulbright experience in Samoa, highlighting the importance of learning from diverse practices and finding common ground for collaboration.
Ken Wilcox, Chairman Emeritus of Silicon Valley Bank and Honorary Chair of Asia Society Northern California identified the exploration of others’ needs and the pursuit of financial success as driving forces for entrepreneurs.
Read more about our speakers here. View more photos from Nov 16th here.