 Good morning. Good afternoon and good evening to wherever you are in the world. I'm Eniola Mafei I am the lead for 2030 vision on technology and sustainable development of the World Economic Forum and I have the distinct pleasure of moderating this session on an idea and insight with Marianne Croke and Lindyway Matladi This dialogue is between two inspirational women founders Innovators where they reveal new models of thinking that challenge our traditional mindsets and our approaches and It's no better time than this so in addition to the human and the health toll the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on all aspects Reminds us that business as usual just simply isn't an option and There isn't there there are need for us to tackle some of the issues with the pandemic and the longer-term social and economic and environmental challenges as well and Here's an opportunity for technology the fourth industrial revolution technologies can play a major role here and a report that we recently launched in January of 2020 identified that 70% of the 169 targets of the sustainable development goals could actually be enabled and achieved by our existing technologies so this is a unique opportunity to build back smarter better and stronger and more inclusive using the full breadth of expertise and Opportunities and different perspectives that innovators such as Marianne and Lindyway possess So at this point I want to introduce our phenomenal speakers Marianne Croke his vice president of engineering at Google and also vice president of site Reliability at YouTube and most notably part of the reason why we're here She's credited with developing the voice over IP So that is any conversation. We're having here is thanks to her. So, thank you and Lindyway Matladi She's chief executive officer at African Teen Geeks and also a recent recipient of the Schwab Foundation 2020 award So at this point I want to welcome my wonderful speakers who I've had the pleasure of Introducing and I want to start with one particular question that I think is really on our minds Around the opportunity that we see I'll start with you Marianne What is the biggest opportunity you see for change in our post pandemic world? Well, thank you so much for that lovely introduction and I'm very grateful for you to host this and for me to be here with Lindyway I'm Probably the most significant thing that I see that will cause things to change as we all hope that they will Is the fact that we have this increased awareness of the inequities in the world? I think COVID has made that abundantly clear for people We've had much more time to reflect and we've been given Insights that normally in our very busy distractive lives. We would not have so I think if we can zero in on on that Gift almost right that gift that we've been given to see what the what the world is truly like and where the gaps are Needed in the world. I think it would be so beneficial to address that that huge amount of inequity and I know it's just a follow-on question for your to this point I know that Lindyway has dropped off when we've lost connection with her But I wanted to call back to what you had mentioned Around the history and the context of this and why it's so important that we think about those From a historical context to bring us and learn from those from that to be able to kind of start thinking about the future and those You know, if you look at the the history of innovation in the world it often Comes in Burst, right? There's like scientific revolutions where people just have these amazing Maritime ship and then there's all this new invention around it and and the most interesting thing is that it typically happens periods of desperation and periods of great turmoil Where it's clear that no one wants to change I mean no one wants to stay the way that they are and everyone is very motivated for something new and something that will alleviate all the all the chaos I would say and until Even though it's a it's a quite a painful time for the world the fact that it's global the fact that we're all in this I think is it will be a stimulus for us to move ahead in a very Invigorating way, I would say because we'll be highly motivated to do so and I know even in my own personal life Most of what I've done that I feel that has been significant in terms of its impact on others it's typically during times of stress and difficulty for me, so Even though as I said, you know, we've lamented that this is a is a Horrible time in history. I think we can benefit from it as well, and I think we will see that I mean, I'm really fascinated by the By the work that's been done eating in vaccinations and how quickly that has been accomplished And I'm sure there's many more things to come. We'll never want to experience this again and I think in in terms of we've talked about this around the Opportunity and what could we see as being one of those levers that could be able to do that? You mentioned the vaccine and and great strides that have been taken even over the past couple of weeks and everyone's with bated breath of when there's an opportunity to to Really delve into this new normal in ways that allow for greater mobility and and connection, right? Yeah, and you've done that in your in your work and in technology you've created Literally a connection point Through voice over IP and are there some things you've learned from from inventing you are the holder of about 200 patents from what I understand and learning through Failing and learning through Research and development and decision-making are there some things that you can draw from your experience that would be valuable to those who are even listening today and thinking about Joining this quest to kind of frame the future better. Yes. Yes. Yeah, that's it. That's a great question. Thank you so much what I would say to that is Almost all my inventions stemmed from failure And it could be the case that it was a failure of like what just happened to linduway in in terms of dropping off You know, we can think of ways where we could maybe automatically Through the network connect her back in So it's like you you have to have this mindset when you look at problems in the world that they are Solvable right and all they're waiting for is for someone to come along and fix that and realize that you just don't have to be a victim of Trouble and problems that you can actually rise above them and fix them and then In the journey to fix them right it also involves a lot of failure. It's it's not the case that Typically, I don't know of any case, but I'm sure it must exist where it's like love it first sight You know, it's like no things evolve and you have to keep experimenting and perfecting things You know when voice over IP first came into being it was a total failure and many many people believe That putting voice over the internet was was ridiculous and it would be it was like a toy And and there were many many skeptics and they were right. They were right for that time They were right but with a lot of work and a lot, you know, a lot of testing a lot of experimentation You see what we've accomplished today and it's very ubiquitous and it's in white use and and Thank goodness that you know people had the for to to keep going despite it seeming to be impossible and Kind of a silly venture to go a path to go down So, you know, I'm sure from today's viewpoint. It looks like You know, we're in it in the state of of where we are and we'll be here and you know we'll just keep waiting for something to change and We don't we don't realize how much power we have to make that change come to be and I I just think we have to believe and Realize that inventors are just humans and they're very much like us and anyone can have You know an innovative idea And we have to share those ideas Collaborate with each other so that they can be realized. It's it's not something that That inventors are very esoteric people that you find in history books and that are odd and strange They're just everyday common people truly Thank you so much for that and especially the the failing forward Concept, but you know inventors are getting younger and younger these days. You probably at Google you probably see those who are creating and and You know who are under the age of 30 and much of the world and those who we're speaking to you today maybe very young and Trying to make sense of the world but also shape the world in the future And I know with our conversation with Lindy way as well was she works very much with young people With the skills provide with the skills and the opportunities to be able to shape the future to disrupt it To be inspirational to use all of those energies towards that and also as a as a woman Marianne you are have mentioned before about the unique perspective of coming in as an outsider And into this space for technology and I I guess my question is what do you believe would be? some of the qualities that women and women of color Have to bring to tech and innovation, especially in these times where it's very uncertain And they may be uniquely placed to address these challenges And I know I'll also bring in Lindy way to that question as well about the unique place for women and women of color all over the world to To be part of this. Yes before we Discuss that I'd like to go back to what you first said about children, right? and I find and I want anyone who's young to realize that children have like a very very rich Imaginations and that's what you need to have for invention is it's almost to be childlike in your understanding of the world, which is a little naive, but also Not inhibited by what's possible I Love working with children because they're so creative and they they're just bursting with new ideas and Linda way I think you know in the work that you do it's so inspiring Because I do believe that that the technologies and the innovations that we will see Ten twenty years from now are stemming from the very minds that you're working with Can you talk a little bit about your work? Yeah, I mean for me I actually agree with you because I love working with children for exactly the same reasoning because When they are passionate, but they also still hopeful about the future and they don't You know look at things as this may not work for them Everything is possible and I'm with the work that we've done with the kids I mean a lot of the children, you know, I want to be a waitress I want to be a driver because that's what they've seen But at the end of the projects when you've started showing them what is possible and start asking them at the end of the program What do you want to become then they tell you I want to be an innovator I want to build the next Google And that's really what you want the kids to have that and that imagination and the passion for them to achieve their dreams Imagination passion and energy and bringing that to especially what we need now Thank you Sorry, I was going to address your your the last part of your statement about what you know with women and particularly women of color Often we say we want to seat at the table. We want to fit in we want to be part of whatever is We see a significant and many times I have felt, you know It's really to our advantage that we don't fit in that we don't have that seat at the table Even though we may be sitting at the table We may we may not be we're never going to be you know part of the club in the way that someone who looks Exactly like the other members of that club will be but that to me again is is often a benefit because it allows us to step back and really be able to observe in Quite an objective way as to where the gaps are and what's needed for change if you're very included and Need to feel like you're part of a group a lot of times that kind of spoils your perspective Because there's this temptation to think like the group and to conform to the group Whereas invention and innovation Requires you to think out of the box to be unique to to be different and just by our very nature And the way that society has constructed things. We are different. When do we have you in encountered that in your life as well? Yeah, I mean even now with a lot of the work that I've done you would think that you know when I work in the room There's some she would be she knows why she's doing but I still have to sell myself all all the time You know my qualification that I'm educated But for me it's also if you think about the work that you have done Mary Anne And you know being the reason that we having this session today is because of the innovations of the work that you have done if you think about it in during the The pandemic business was gonna stop if it doesn't because of everything that you have done over the years So you would think that with somebody like you sitting where you are as a woman of color It will be easy for someone like me to work in because now there's there's somebody who's Who's paved the way so instead of assuming I can't do it like you know There's a person's already done it, but it's not like that and so we still have to fight to be included We still have to prove, you know, I was telling My kids that sometimes some people they're working and they're assumed to be competent But for if you are a black and you are a woman you have to prove that you know It's not always your degree. It's not even always how well you've done at school But for me, I really feel like moving forward There are ways in which we can change that but I also feel like making sure that people like yourself are Visible and the work that you have done, you know, you get the credit that you deserve It will make it. I hope fully well eventually make it easy for somebody like me if I say, you know At my role model is Marianne hopefully just mentioning your name would be like oh, she must be good if she looks up to Marianne, you know Yeah, yes, I mean I think Probably many people Like you and I have been a bit in a position where we're the only one of our kind or We have that, you know, very unique identity and It's not the most comfortable feeling in the world But I do agree with you that if we can serve others by the position that we're in and open the door for others Then it's it's it's a benefit and you know, it's fine and Stressful, I guess to be the only one but you don't want to remain in that position You want others to come along and and hopefully by looking at someone hearing their voice seeing that they're Human and that they know some people can look one way or the other way But they kind of look a little bit like me. Hopefully that does help to Cause people to know to develop the confidence that they too will be here So I definitely agree Yeah, no, exactly. I think if you think about if we're looking at if you want to change diversity in stand um visibility of Of women like yourself, but also for me I mean I keep telling everywhere goes your way. I tell people about you all the time and that's also because of um the humility that you have is that if somebody the first time when I spoke to you I was just Just gobsmocked about how approachable how kind and how gracious you you you are And and and also the willingness to send down the ladder for somebody like me to be able to climb and the accessibility that you have Me being in South Africa and you leading one of the the biggest engineering I mean engineering companies in in in the world really as a black woman It's just inspiring and it also, you know for me It inspires me to make sure that I can also do what you are doing for me What you've done and making sure that the ladder always is always behind me and everybody You know that the generation coming after me can climb as well Well, um, thank you so much for your kind words But I am inspired by you and I want to congratulate you on your award And the the tremendous work that you're doing. Can you share a bit more about that? Yeah, no, thank you. I'm I'm actually one of the the 2020 sharp sharp foundation social innovator of the year So that has been really a great surprise and and a great alcoholic for me that I feel like is also You know have helping to open doors But also making sure that I am visible to a lot of the girls that you know that Growing up exactly the way, you know, I grew up and Making them believe that if they work hard if they commit one day also, you know, the world can open up for them So that has really been I'm I'm really grateful for that. But I still I'm still more grateful for you know, having you in my life Yes, you know and as women and and people of color I think especially during this time of covet. I think the impact of covet has been much stronger on you know our demographic and As as you know tying it back to the conversation that we had in the beginning about Change and innovation coming from distress I think we as as fitting into that group understand How profoundly impacted Women and especially women of color have been both in terms of the disease itself but also Due to the fact of what's happened with child care And I don't want to call it a burden because children are blessings not burdens, but it definitely has disrupted careers and and the the ability to contribute to the workforce And if that may take quite a long time to heal And given that, you know, I think it's incumbent upon many of us who have not been yet impacted in that way to really try to Figure out how to as quickly as possible Correct that situation And I And I know that there is space for more more faces that can provide the solutions and the solving of problems Because I think to your point Marianne. There's a proximity to those problems You're able to understand it because you you understand the issues and can therefore solve for it in a way that is That has the same kind of intent and and interest and I I wonder if You know, we have many people listening here who are also inventors Innovators who are disruptors in their own circles and spaces Is what advice would you give and and Lindy way? What advice that do you give the the the young women and and and And men that you work with as well. What advice would you give them in this point in? You know with 20 where what date is it in november of of 2020 and looking forward to the future What advice would you give them? I think um, you need to ask I mean for any career that you are passionate about You study and make sure that you know The people that have paved the way but but also understand what they have been through because Most of the time you saw focus on you know on on on the arrival Like now you can see Marianne being where she is but the journey is just as important Because you know to make sure that you don't have the the kind of unrealistic expectations of what is there But also, I mean of what it takes to get there But you know when you have somebody that you look up to Maybe sometimes you just have to reach out to them and say, you know, I like I've done like, you know With marion and say, you know, I look up to see all the work that you're doing You know, um, I would like to get to know you and and you know, most of the time actually you'll find that They will say yes. I mean the first messenger sent to her. She said yes So I think we um ask but work, you know, you need to study you need to study those people be good You have to be good at what you at what you want to become, you know, you have to um I always say the only way to get doors open for you. You just have to be impressive So work so hard that you can't be ignored Work so hard that you can't be ignored. That's powerful Marianne any advice? I'm sure you have lots, but what would you Advice when we said it Beautifully, but what I would also say too is that um, a lot of invention kind of happens You know outside in the world and you're collaborating with others But the mindset for it is internal to you And despite whether or not you're accepted or how difficult your life may be Kind of go inside of yourself And and find that childlike Hope and imagination and just keep that Growing and nurture that throughout your life Um, and don't let that die off as you as you grow older because that's where I think your source of Change is going to be Oh, that's phenomenal. So With the The advice around asking around stepping into that greatness um And also asking the right questions and don't be and be bold in your ask I think that's lindi way you were talking about being extremely bold with your ask and stepping in there And also to keep that childlike Intrigue interest In many ways As you walk through and uh, you know, it's december 31st 2020 And you're looking forward to the to the next year What gives you hope and what gives you um, yeah strength To invent and to keep that childlike Hope alive I'll start with you mariana and we may use that as our closing I would like to hear from you rather than hearing from me Yeah, I I feel like When you look at the amount of need there is in the world and and you Forget about your own circumstances, but you get in touch with where the pain points are in the world That that's what gives me Both the motivation to keep going and and thinking of of new things that can help um But also the the concern to keep going and the necessity of that especially pulling other people along so that You leave a pathway Once you're, you know, once you leave the earth that other people Can step into your place Thank you for that Lindy way as you are Looking forward with your also with your With african teen geeks What are you hopeful for what gives you the motivation? Um, I think for me being in education and obviously in africa is um Just knowing that there's small change no matter how small, you know The the contributions are making it makes a difference And so even if it just helps one child One day to you know end up having the opportunities that I've had, you know And that all came through education, you know, there was no trust fund There was there was really nothing except just working hard and staying in in in education So for me, that's really what I want to I want to try and do and make sure that as many children as possible They also will get Education and so that they can also break the cycle of poverty and disadvantage Not just for themselves for their families too Great, um, I think we've got so much to learn from all of you and um, I want to thank you Thank you, Marianne and thank you, Lindy way For in our in yoruba We usually talk about sorosoke and you've probably seen that quite a lot which is to speak up And I thank you so much for speaking up and speaking such wisdom over the past couple of minutes and um at this point It's we know this um summit is the pioneers of change And I'm so honored to have you as as pioneers of change joining me in this important discussion And we have um, and this is also a time for thinking around the social entrepreneurship And why it's so critical to tie that into some of the problem solving and the solving of of our biggest wickedest issues In the world and thank you both for joining me for this for this conversation Thank you all um wherever you are in the world for joining us And we hope that you have um notebooks filled with with good advice Thank you