1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,637 It is my great pleasure to spend the next 40 minutes or so on stage with a 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:09,157 most sought-after guest that I think we've ever had in this hall. I need a 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,997 warm welcome again and thank you for choosing to spend time here at SMU. I 4 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,997 know you have many, many engagements and we're delighted, more than delighted, 5 00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:21,037 that you've chosen to spend the time with us. Thank you. 6 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:25,517 I believe that this is not your first time in Singapore, but you were perhaps 7 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,837 a little bit younger when you were first here. And I know that the audience here 8 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:34,237 would love to hear from you. So perhaps I could invite you to say something, say 9 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,477 a few words to the audience before we begin. 10 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,717 >> Thank you so much for the kind words, Professor Kong, and thank you so much 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:45,997 for having me. It's such a joy to be always in an academic institution. Like 12 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,837 you said in your opening remarks, I think that 13 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,037 schools are such a microcosm for human 14 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:56,157 flourishing and it really is a place where our highest values are realized 15 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,597 and we have the opportunity and the options to become who we want to be, to 16 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,077 explore the places that we want to learn 17 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:03,277 and and the directions we want to 18 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,877 expand. So I always love speaking at 19 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:09,637 schools and and SMU in particular with 20 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:11,877 its value [snorts] on entrepreneurship 21 00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:13,957 and and being so future-looking. I think 22 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,837 particularly appeals to me. Singapore at 23 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,757 large is such a future-looking place and 24 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:24,077 so far in my short stay here this time, it has been nothing short of incredible. 25 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,757 I look forward to exploring many more times in the future 26 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,557 and I'm really looking forward to our conversation today. 27 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,877 >> That's wonderful. You know, there is so much ground we can 28 00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:39,797 cover. Before the event, we invited the audience to submit some questions and 29 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,157 thoughts they may have and I will say that we were inundated. There were many, 30 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,277 many interesting and interested interesting questions and interested 31 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,077 members of the audience. So I'll do what I can to capture some of it and 32 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:56,877 apologies to those of you whose questions may not be asked today. I 33 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,277 thought we might structure the conversation by beginning with perhaps 34 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,397 more macro questions, and then I know that there is a lot of interest in you 35 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,677 as an individual, so I hope you won't mind that we will progress the 36 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,437 conversation towards perhaps more personal dimensions. 37 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:13,997 Um you know, the university, as I said in 38 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,757 my opening remarks, is an institution 39 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,437 that cares about human potential, that 40 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:24,237 really spends the time trying to bring the best out of each individual. 41 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,837 I I think it's fair to say that as an 42 00:02:26,920 --> 00:02:30,157 individual, you have really epitomized 43 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,917 what the flourishing of human potential 44 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,557 means, and you've done that in so many different dimensions. Just to mention 45 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:41,357 sport, which we all know about. I watched the videos of you on the ski 46 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:46,237 slopes, and that's just so amazing. Um but you've also excelled in so many 47 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:50,277 other dimensions, including in university. 48 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,237 In sport, we know what it means to train 49 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,357 oneself, to push oneself physically. 50 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,117 But you've also talked about the 51 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,117 possibility of training the mind. And 52 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,157 you talked about neuroplasticity and how 53 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,477 we can better ourselves. Perhaps you could speak to this 54 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,277 question, because I know there's a lot of interest in the audience on this. 55 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,237 What does that training of the mind, 56 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,477 stretching our neuroplasticity, look 57 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:23,640 like in everyday life for any individual out here? 58 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,277 >> Wow, starting easy, huh? My [laughter] 59 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,317 goodness. 60 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:33,357 Um sure. I mean, I think that Look, I'm no expert. I think for me 61 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:37,677 personally, it just comes to observation. So, I I try to be humble 62 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:41,157 when it comes to my own mind, and I don't pretend that I know all the 63 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,317 answers, because I don't, and because 64 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:48,197 I'm 23, and because I'm learning, and pretty much everything that I'm doing is 65 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,357 the first time that I'm experiencing it, right? By definition, to progress in the 66 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:56,037 sport of free skiing is to ask your body to do something that it's never done 67 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,317 before, ever. Every new trick that I 68 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,277 learn, I'm breaking a physical, mental, 69 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,157 emotional boundary that had been set for me 70 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:09,557 before. Or it's it's breaking new ground every time. 71 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:14,037 And so, conceptually, I think that familiarizing yourself with discomfort 72 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:19,277 and also knowing that almost every boundary is somewhat plastic. So, that 73 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,957 there always is potential to expand, that there always is potential to grow 74 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,637 and change. And so, that just comes back to self-observation. So, how do I feel 75 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:32,077 in a given moment? What does fear feel like? What does doubt feel like? What do 76 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,157 nerves feel like? How are those three things different? What is pressure? What 77 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,037 do I care about? What are the things I can affect me? What is the direction I 78 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,717 want to move in? And I think those are all kind of, you know, as with the 79 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,197 scientific method, it's all just experimentation and it's figuring out 80 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:50,877 who I am, what are the things I care about, and then what is the direction I 81 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:55,237 want to move in. And so, to be neuroplastic, I think it's to be the 82 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,837 master of your fate in so far as 83 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,397 knowing that I can observe myself and that I can control the direction of my 84 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,317 growth. >> That's amazing because very often I 85 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,517 think for young people and not so young 86 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,557 people, sometimes we are carried by the 87 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,677 trajectories, we are carried by the pathways that have been established. And 88 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,077 to be very intentional and conscious 89 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,037 about asking ourselves who we are, what 90 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:25,957 we want to do, um takes something of the individual. 91 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,357 There is no conversation today without 92 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,837 two letters of the alphabet. And yes, 93 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:35,557 I'm talking about AI. Um 94 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:40,437 when you think about that intentionality, that cultivation of self, 95 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,637 and you think about what's available through AI, where what we do is type a 96 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:48,197 question, send the prompt, and the answers come 97 00:05:48,280 --> 00:05:49,237 back. 98 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:52,637 Is there a danger that that is doing 99 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,237 something to our neuroplasticity? 100 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,957 Is there a danger that that is 101 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,037 sort of reshaping 102 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,837 our ability to think for ourselves and 103 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:08,397 to forge our paths? I wonder what you think about that. 104 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:12,917 >> I'm going to go ahead and take the opportunity that we are in a university 105 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,637 to be my truest, nerdiest self today, so I hope you guys will forgive me for 106 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,077 that. Um so I trust that people are 107 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:20,957 probably familiar with the Descartes 108 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,917 aphorism of cogito ergo sum, like I 109 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,997 think therefore I am, but the the kind of phrase that comes before that is I 110 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,757 doubt, therefore I think, and I think therefore I am, and I think there's 111 00:06:31,840 --> 00:06:34,477 something really prescient about that. 112 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,517 Um in order to, I guess to your point about 113 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:40,557 prompting AI, 114 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,717 you have to make a judgment decision at 115 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:47,797 any point, right? And so in order to write a good prompt or to make a good 116 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:49,197 decision from the information that you 117 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:51,997 gather from the prompt or to direct an 118 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:55,557 agent, you have to have the ability to 119 00:06:55,640 --> 00:07:00,517 start from doubt and to start from self-informed thinking. And so if 120 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:02,437 anything, I think 121 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,237 learning to work or learning to produce 122 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,797 through the form of asking questions is 123 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,277 actually encouraging human agency 124 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,837 because that is the Socratic method. 125 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,957 That is the scientific method. That is 126 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,557 kind of what we think about as human learning, is it not? To ask a question, 127 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:25,797 to think about how to structure a question. What is first principles 128 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:30,317 thinking? To kind of go back and see what matters and then move from there. 129 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:34,917 And then also to kind of make informed decisions and what you do from there. So 130 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:39,437 I guess I'm kind of cautious about the whole like delegating your life to AI 131 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:45,037 premise just because um to use kind of like metaphor in skiing, 132 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,677 I guess, we recently have a new technology called 133 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,677 an airbag, which is like a giant bouncy 134 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:56,357 castle. So, it's like this If you imagine it's like a ski slope, um, but 135 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,397 the landing is like literally plastic 136 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:03,437 material and they spray water on it. And you jump off of this like plastic ramp, 137 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,917 you fly in the air, you do your trick, you land, and it's plastic, and you 138 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,317 slide, okay? And initially people were like, "This is 139 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,917 crazy. This is not even skiing." And then you realize that because this is 140 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:19,037 much safer as a technology, suddenly people are doing much bigger tricks and 141 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:23,597 the sport is progressing so much more rapidly, and people are kind of doing 142 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,237 things that they never thought would have been possible. And the what ended 143 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,277 up happening is not that we reached some kind of capped human potential and we 144 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,157 were like taken over. Instead, it was that 145 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,797 the women in sport started really, 146 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,517 really progressing and the the kind of 147 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:44,437 level all over started rising and we had the freedom to explore tricks that had 148 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,397 never been possible before and new axes. 149 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,637 We could try things and work with human physics, 150 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,477 um, in ways that we never thought was possible. So, I I think that it is the 151 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:57,277 human condition to be curious and I think it is the human condition to 152 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,277 progress and improve, and I think that 153 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,237 the methodology of asking questions to 154 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,037 do that is fundamentally a positive one. 155 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,797 >> Indeed. Um, so, you know, I have had 156 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,237 colleagues who have rejected AI saying, 157 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,877 "We've taught the Socratic method for 158 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,077 centuries and, um, why are we, you know, 159 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:18,557 dropping that?" But I think your 160 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:24,517 response suggests to us that actually with the use of AI, you can actually, 161 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,037 um, um, 162 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:28,877 strengthen, hone that questioning 163 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:33,957 ability. Um, in today's language it would be writing better prompts. 164 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:37,477 Um, I wanted to nevertheless, um, 165 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:42,477 pursue this line of conversation around neuroplasticity a little bit more and 166 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:45,957 then I'd really like to come back to technology and sport which, um, is a 167 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,877 good segue from your comments, um, a moment ago. 168 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,517 You talked about, um, training your own 169 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,077 mind very deliberately and you do that 170 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,357 through things like journaling, um, you 171 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,917 know, reframing fear, visualization and so forth. 172 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,717 Do you see a time when that can be delegated to a machine? 173 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,720 For example. 174 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,677 >> I think the frameworks, maybe. I think that there are ways that you can 175 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:19,157 optimize and that you can maybe get more data, that you can be better informed. 176 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,237 Fundamentally, the work of getting to 177 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,397 know oneself will always remain your own 178 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,997 and the choice to become the person you 179 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,677 want to be has to be yours and I think 180 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:32,877 in any other way it would be contrived 181 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,397 and corrupted. Um, and and so in some 182 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,437 ways, yes. Like, maybe if if you want to 183 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:41,157 be directed in a certain way, you can 184 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,237 kind of, um, find ways to structure 185 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,877 actions that help lead to an outcome of 186 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:50,357 your choosing, but I think at at a large 187 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:54,837 scale, I don't I don't think that that is something that can be replaced, no. 188 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,157 >> And and that I think suggests, you know, 189 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,437 if if we can't replace certain things 190 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:04,317 and I think I I very much agree with you on that, it also means that the struggle 191 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,277 that we go through in learning, where we 192 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,557 kind of get frustrated sometimes because 193 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,957 we're not getting it just as as it is 194 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:16,437 and so forth, that struggle is what helps us to learn, I think. And that's 195 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,517 true whether in sport or in the classroom and so forth. 196 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,237 Is there a danger 197 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:24,477 of 198 00:11:24,560 --> 00:11:28,637 us losing that struggle because 199 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:33,840 things become too easy with AI. 200 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,957 I think not. Um I I think that 201 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:41,357 as the pace picks up I I I think it's 202 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,077 more of a question of pace as opposed to 203 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:48,837 kind of replacement, if that makes sense. So, it's like if we have this 204 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,757 tool that enables us to be higher efficiency or or more capable, it means 205 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,877 we're able to do more things. If anything, I feel like the struggle would 206 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,597 probably increase in that situation. Um 207 00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:01,157 a lot of people ask me, so I I graduated 208 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,917 or I walked graduation this year in 209 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:08,197 June, um for Stanford. And then after graduation, everyone was like, "Wow, you 210 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,757 must have so much free time now that you're, you know, out of school." And I 211 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,077 find myself busier than ever. I find 212 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:19,317 that I my my time is more consumed than ever. I am more applied than ever. And 213 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:23,677 so, it it the concept of like the hedonic treadmill, where we adapt to our 214 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,797 circumstances, be it through joy or be it through work or through a kind of 215 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:32,557 like a temporal reckoning sense, through all of that, we adapt really 216 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:37,797 quickly, like much quicker than I think people expect. So, as far as like 217 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:39,397 getting used to that pace, I think it's 218 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,277 more of like a relative um 219 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,237 like calibration and and less of a like 220 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:49,877 do all or nothing and then I'm replaced and I have nothing to do. I think people 221 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,837 will get used to it quickly and then move even faster than before. 222 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:55,797 >> Wonderful. I'd like to pick up on the 223 00:12:55,880 --> 00:13:00,877 thread of your comments earlier about sport and technology. And we know that 224 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,957 sport is not shorn of technology. You've given us examples. There's also the use 225 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:09,997 of data analytics to improve performance and so forth, right? Um 226 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,557 where do you think we draw the line between technology 227 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,317 and human potential? 228 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,637 Um what should remain a test of the 229 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,757 athlete rather than the technology? 230 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,277 >> I think split-second judgment decisions. 231 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:29,117 I think intuition around fear, um like 232 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:33,557 to push or not to push in a certain given moment. They're pretty much I 233 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,357 think in the sport of free skiing because everything is so like the 234 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:40,117 margins are so narrow between absolute 235 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:43,077 success and massive failure that that 236 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,477 judgment decision is absolutely 237 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:50,677 critical. I can be at the top of a run and be just feeling slightly off and 238 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:54,797 every single data analytic could be telling me go. You slept great last 239 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,917 night. Your heart rate looks good. We think your HRV looks fantastic. Like 240 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,397 you're ready to go. And at the end of 241 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,957 the day, if I don't believe, if my subconscious is not bought in, the trick 242 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,637 is not happening. And that's a self-reinforcing cycle. Like if I don't 243 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,037 believe it'll happen, there is so much 244 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,757 of skiing that I think embodies this 245 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:19,677 like you will it into reality. Like it only happens because you believe it and 246 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,677 if you don't believe it, it cannot happen. 247 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:26,437 And so that element I think is fundamentally irreplaceable. So it's 248 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:28,957 like this gut feeling, it's intuition 249 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,117 and more than anything I think it's like 250 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,957 familiarity and intimacy with the self. 251 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:38,277 >> And you know, that's a great answer because I think it extends beyond sport 252 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:42,557 as well. In all that we do in life, sometimes 253 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:45,197 the necessity to make that decision in a 254 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:49,677 split second that's going to just make that difference. That believe in 255 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,757 yourself that's just going to make it 256 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,037 happen where the data tells you it's 257 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,757 not. Um so these are things I I I I 258 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:00,277 believe extend beyond the ski slopes 259 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,157 into merit dimensions of our lives. And 260 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,317 so to that extent I think what Eileen has done is actually to answer a 261 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:12,117 question from one of our students, Yen-Ren, who is doing her DBA in 262 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,477 technology and she had asked the question, what do you think AI will 263 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,117 never be able to replace about elite 264 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,717 human performance. And I I your response 265 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,597 earlier speaks to that. 266 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:26,597 There is another question from a 267 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,877 colleague, Christina Chee, who asks what 268 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,997 technology or innovation has had the biggest impact on your training and 269 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:40,357 performance, and how do you think athletes of the future will train differently? 270 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:43,237 >> Hmm. Besides airbags, which I mentioned 271 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,117 earlier, honestly, video review is the 272 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,677 biggest thing. Like being able to watch 273 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,637 yourself in slow motion really captures 274 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,237 um a lot of this kind of like 275 00:15:55,320 --> 00:16:00,237 micro neuromuscular movement um that that you otherwise 276 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,477 wouldn't be able to feel. And then also, a lot of the time how you feel is 277 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:07,637 different than what is true. And so kind of like bridging that gap from like an 278 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:11,637 objective perspective through video review is enormously helpful. I would 279 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:13,837 imagine that there's going to be a lot 280 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,117 more like force analytic data in the 281 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:21,637 future. So like force generation, asymmetry um 282 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,677 kind of as far as like technical ability goes. Right now there's not a whole lot 283 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:29,037 of that. But I'm also not really yearning for it. I feel like there's 284 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:30,477 something kind of 285 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,477 fun in just figuring it out. And so I'm 286 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,237 relishing in the puzzle of all that is. 287 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,237 And also what's kind of fun about being at the cutting edge of of a sport is 288 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:44,477 like every time you do something new, sometimes it's the first time that 289 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:48,117 anyone ever has done something. And and so there's something really exciting 290 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:52,237 about that and feeling like you're you know, figuring it out 291 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,477 as you go. >> That's wonderful. Um 292 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:57,277 you know, we started the conversation 293 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:01,077 with human potential and and um that 294 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:05,277 does rely on um talent realized. 295 00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:09,437 Realizing one's human potential is about realizing one's talent. I wanted to 296 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:11,397 begin a conversation thread around 297 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,237 whether you thought talent is innate or 298 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:20,680 whether that's cultivated and developed and the relative balance of that. 299 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:26,077 >> I'm going to say that talent stands a very, very, very small portion, 300 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:30,837 particularly the older you get, just because like the number of decisions 301 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:32,957 that you make compounds exponentially 302 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:37,917 over time. And so maybe when you're 3 years old, the talent, you know, you can 303 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,237 see that difference a lot more than when you're 30. 304 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:45,597 Um I don't know, I'm not there yet, but I'll report back. 305 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:47,797 Um but the the kind of idea that I think 306 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:52,437 between talent and and hard work is that 307 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:56,877 if you tell yourself that you have a ceiling, or you tell yourself that you 308 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,917 have a floor, just be careful with the kind of 309 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,957 premises that you believe. And I think what's more important about the 310 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:08,237 empirical reality of either those of those things is how it informs your 311 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,677 decisions going forward, because we are all just a collection of all the 312 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:13,997 decisions we've ever made. And so if we 313 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:15,997 make those decisions decisions with an 314 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,037 assumption that fundamentally limits us, 315 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:21,797 then that is more detrimental than any 316 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:23,837 lack of talent could ever be. 317 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,597 Um and so maybe this is kind of the the 318 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:31,197 set of cards that I've been dealt, but if I spend the whole time looking at my 319 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,397 hand, and I never play them, then it 320 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:35,597 doesn't matter what I'm holding. What 321 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,277 matters is that you take a step, and and 322 00:18:38,360 --> 00:18:42,637 one step leads to two, and as long as you keep moving and keep being better 323 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:47,477 than who you were yesterday, then it's not really a question of what hands you 324 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:49,557 had to begin with. It's it's about where 325 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,077 you end up and who you end up becoming. 326 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,757 >> And in that journey to, you know, 327 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:57,877 whatever end point it is that one 328 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,677 identifies for oneself, it requires that 329 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,397 we have building conditions. It requires 330 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:07,717 that we have environments, supportive people, and so forth. And so I have a 331 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:12,677 question here, um from Sheryl Lee, who's an SMU alum 332 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:16,837 from 2011, and she was curious to know how much of 333 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:19,637 your excellence has been shaped by um 334 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,797 your mother in particular and the 335 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,797 environment she created and how that um 336 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,477 helped develop your intrinsic drive or 337 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:34,237 perhaps the intrinsic drive was there um to start off. 338 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,517 >> Yeah, so my mom's the best, for sure. 339 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,197 Like let's just get that off the table. 340 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:43,397 Um that's like no question. So she's here. She looks great. She's in the 341 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,797 front. Everyone tell her she looks pretty. 342 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:50,860 Um she's >> [laughter] [applause] 343 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,517 >> Um so yeah, absolutely. I think that So 344 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:58,757 So she would always say that up until I 345 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:03,557 was 13, I was her job. And then after I turned 13, I was 346 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,557 the job of the world. And And that just means that like beyond a certain point, 347 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,677 you are more created by your peer group, by your environment, by the people who 348 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:15,677 you look up to, um by by the media you consume, by the 349 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,597 beliefs that you hold versus your home 350 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,517 and family life directly. Um but I've 351 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:26,677 been really lucky in so far that I've had this very unique partnership through 352 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:30,317 the course of my life that has constantly evolved and we always have 353 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:34,637 had kind of different roles. So like obviously when I was three, she was my 354 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,757 mom. So she was taking me to the playground and I think she really 355 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:42,597 optimized for play and she optimized for optionality. So she put me into 356 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,837 everything. Like I'm literally talking about everything. 357 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,557 Like ballet, piano, archery because I 358 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:53,477 had an archery phase cuz I was really into dystopian novels and I thought that 359 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:55,117 this was going to be like a skill that I 360 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,797 was really going to need. So archery, 361 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,797 basketball, soccer, cross-country 362 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,717 skiing. I did math camp. I did science 363 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,277 camp. I did singing lessons against my 364 00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:08,717 will. There were lots of things, right? 365 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,477 And so, the point being that when I was 366 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:16,797 younger, she really gave me the full spread so that when I was older and when 367 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,317 I knew myself better and when I was responsible to make those decisions, I 368 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:24,237 could make an informed one having tried all the options. So, when I was young, 369 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,637 she gave me the choices. And then when I was a little bit older, she gave me the 370 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,477 freedom to make the choice. And I think 371 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:32,917 that responsibility that she she really 372 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:37,637 entrusted me with from a somewhat young age, I think that was critical and 373 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:41,397 really fundamental. Um a lot of people make the incorrect 374 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:45,277 assumption that she's a tiger mom and I think the tiger mom definition is that, 375 00:21:45,360 --> 00:21:48,597 you know, it's like a helicopter parent that pilots you and like forces you to 376 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,757 do various things. She was in many ways the opposite of that where she just 377 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:54,957 vigorously provided me with freedom and 378 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,917 agency and like enforced my freedom 379 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,597 really intensely and that was like the effect of her tiger mom. So, so that was 380 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:06,957 kind of like the parenting thesis and then as I got older, I keep calling us 381 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:10,717 co-founders cuz I really think that's like the best way to encapsulate our 382 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:15,477 partnership. We travel together every day. We live together. We work together. 383 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,677 We develop together. We change together. 384 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,677 We evolve. And 385 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:22,397 she is she has a science background. So, 386 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,877 neither of us really knows how to, you know, it's my first time living. She 387 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,557 hasn't worked in these industries before. And so, we're both just figuring 388 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,477 it out day by day. We come in with unique perspectives and most importantly 389 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:39,237 a respect for one another. We have dialogue that is respectful, that is 390 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:44,437 critical, that is conducive, that is productive. And often times we will 391 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:47,637 start from kind of two different points where we disagree. 392 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,637 And then we will debate debate debate 393 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:54,757 debate converge debate debate debate and then end up on opposite ends. So, like I 394 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,677 will have the opinion that she started with and then she'll have the opinion 395 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,797 that I started with. And then we will have to repeat the the where we debate 396 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,557 debate debate and go back to our original premises. So, I think if 397 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:06,957 anything, that just illustrates um that 398 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,077 she really gave me the freedom to find 399 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,797 out who I am and to really support me 400 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,597 and to guide me in ways that make sense. 401 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,117 And at the same time to to grow beside 402 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,437 me. She's also living for the first 403 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,837 time. She is a unique person who um is 404 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,357 more than just the role of mom. And so, 405 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:30,957 to kind of grow with her as we both come into adulthood or I guess as I am in 406 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:34,437 adulthood and she continues in adulthood. Um 407 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:38,397 but kind of like growing together and there's something really exciting and 408 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:42,037 really fun about that. And to do it with my mom, who's someone who I, you know, 409 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:45,677 trust entirely, who's known me my whole life, who um 410 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,877 wants nothing but the best for me, I think that's a unique privilege that I'm 411 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:53,077 really grateful to have. >> I want to say of 412 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:56,490 yes, please. >> [applause] 413 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:00,997 >> I just want to say how amazing a mother 414 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:06,077 you have. And Madam Blue, I want to say how amazing a daughter you have. 415 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,837 Um you know, 416 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,957 not not everybody finds themselves in 417 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:14,397 such circumstances where there is a 418 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:19,717 supportive parent who is able, willing to give the time, 419 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:24,117 the care, or a coach of access to facilities, 420 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:26,477 which means that if somebody has the 421 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,917 potential, but doesn't have the building 422 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:33,877 conditions, it can be very difficult for the individual to find himself or 423 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,877 herself. What advice or what insights might you 424 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,917 share with individuals who find themselves in these situations and how 425 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,637 might you encourage them? 426 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:49,237 >> Sure. Um I'm not good at skiing because I'm good 427 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:52,437 at doing double corks. I'm good at skiing 428 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,357 because I know how to learn. And because 429 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,637 I'm resilient in the face of failure, 430 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,837 and because in moments of doubt, I know 431 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,517 which threads to pull on and how to 432 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,997 manipulate my own intuition to guide me 433 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:09,957 in the direction that I want to go. 434 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:11,557 My point is that skills are 435 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:15,877 transferable. So, many of us will often 436 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,917 find ourselves in situations where it's our first time doing something, and it 437 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,397 is not the hard skill that is 438 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:24,237 necessarily the one that defines us. 439 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,237 It's the ability and our intrinsic 440 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,237 qualities and values and skill set that 441 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:32,317 we bring into the situation that allows 442 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:37,357 us to adapt and shape a situation to our will. 443 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,917 Um, and so I think what's important to remember is like 444 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:45,197 going into it, you know, I've never done this sport before, or 445 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,357 I've never raised my hand in class 446 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:50,557 before, or I've, you know, never sat 447 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:52,637 next to this person at lunch before. 448 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,157 Yeah, but have you talked to a person? 449 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,957 Have you ever done something that made you nervous? Yes. So, these are all 450 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,517 skills that you can apply to new situations, and so that's why I always 451 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,997 come back to this point of it's so important to know who you are, because 452 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:10,077 that's your toolkit. Your toolkit is not 453 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:14,877 the set of hard skills that you acquire over the course of your life, although 454 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:18,837 those are obviously very helpful and can, you know, continue to inform the 455 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:21,797 conditions that make you who you are. 456 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:25,957 Um, but to know what you come into a situation with, because 457 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:30,077 our strength is are the differences that we have, and 458 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:34,037 that's what makes any situation unique and interesting, because everybody has a 459 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:36,997 different perspective, everybody has a different toolkit. So, the better you 460 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:41,917 know what you have, the more you can actually provide value for any situation 461 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:46,717 that you're in. Um, because you want to provide, you want to 462 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:50,237 make something better, and only you can do it, because only you have those 463 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,677 skills. So, um, yeah, I think that everybody has 464 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,877 inherent value irrespective of kind of 465 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:01,157 the the you know, bedrock or the foundations from which 466 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:05,157 they rose. >> Um, it's a good segue. Um, you know, 467 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:09,597 we've been talking about systems of support, um, but also discovering the 468 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:13,837 oneself, one's skills, developing one's own toolkit, and so forth. 469 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:14,797 Um, 470 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,997 but if if we can help design an 471 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,877 ecosystem that is to support the next 472 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:22,557 generation, 473 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:25,237 what might that ecosystem look like? 474 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,637 What are the elements of an ecosystem 475 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:35,480 um, can be designed to help other people succeed? 476 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:38,877 >> A few things. Um, 477 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,157 I think one is mutual respect. That's 478 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:46,797 really, really important for anything to succeed. Two, and that extends beyond 479 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:51,117 just like the right for someone to exist, but it's also like genuinely 480 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:55,997 giving space for someone's input and perspective, and not holding a value 481 00:27:56,080 --> 00:28:00,157 system for whose voice is louder than someone else, whose opinions are more 482 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:04,117 important than someone else. Everybody has something unique to say and to 483 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:06,797 provide, and so I think bringing that 484 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:11,277 student mentality into every interaction you have, and really trying to say, 485 00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:14,597 "Okay, what can I learn from this encounter?" I think that's really 486 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:16,877 important. Um, secondly, I think 487 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:21,637 curiosity is really important. So, just always holding a microscope to to all 488 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,597 the things in life, and coming back to the point in AI, like that's a great 489 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:30,597 tool to have to enable curiosity, and to really just, you know, superpower it. 490 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,877 And and so I think that's super important. The third is probably 491 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:37,597 resilience, and, you know, no skill is 492 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:40,637 objectively difficult because on a two 493 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:44,837 different days, I can be equally stressed about going to dinner and doing 494 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:48,717 a trick that I've never done before. And it depends on probably how much sleep I 495 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:50,997 got, how resilient I feel. It's more 496 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:54,397 about how well prepared I feel I can 497 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:58,837 deal with any adversity. And so the higher our tolerance, our threshold, our 498 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:02,877 resilience generally is, I think that it's like our having a higher tolerance 499 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:06,237 for life, I think is generally a good skill to have. 500 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:11,037 Um and then of course community. And and community is more than just, you know, 501 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:14,237 people who you like and who you feel, you know, care about you and who you 502 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:17,277 care about. But it's also what helps you 503 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:21,357 craft legacy because more than anything your impact on the world is probably 504 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:25,477 most profound on the people who are closest to you. And and so that I think 505 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:28,997 is really important. And I think about legacy as like an inflection point. So 506 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:33,557 like you can map, okay, this is where this person happened and after that 507 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:37,717 everything became easier or everything started moving faster or um 508 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:41,757 after that, you know, the the people who followed or the people around them were 509 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:45,717 positively affected in some way and everybody else was then able to become a 510 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:49,757 better version of themselves. That is kind of like the general philosophy that 511 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:53,757 I subscribe to. Um so yeah, I think those would be kind of like my my 512 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:58,277 founding principles. >> Great. Um you know, this is the Karim 513 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:02,597 Family Foundation Inspiring Women Leadership Series and in many 514 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:06,917 conversations that I've had um pertaining to women leadership, one of 515 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:08,837 the questions that's often asked is this 516 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,037 and I I will ask the question of you as 517 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:16,397 well. And that is um very often we have someone in our lives who advocate for 518 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:20,037 us, who open the doors for us, who help us 519 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:23,597 um with our path. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to have more than that 520 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:27,077 one person. Um we know your mother has been 521 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:31,397 fantastic and done so much for you. Is there anyone else who's advocated for 522 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:33,877 you that you think has made a difference 523 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:38,637 for you? And now that you're in a position perhaps to advocate for others, 524 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:42,720 um what do you think you might do with that? 525 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:48,347 Okay, definitely my mom. I'm just going to have to reiterate that. 526 00:30:48,430 --> 00:30:50,837 >> [laughter] >> Can never reiterate that enough. 527 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:54,557 I think I'll tell a little story and I think it's an it's a small anecdote, but 528 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:57,797 it really captures the spirit of something that I believe strongly in. 529 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:00,717 When I was 7 or 8, I started in a ski 530 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,637 team. I was the only girl on my team. 531 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:06,397 And it's important to note that I was 532 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:08,317 also attending an all-girls school at 533 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:12,317 this time. So, from age 4 to 13, I was 534 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:16,437 at an all-girls institution. So, Monday to Friday, I was only with girls. And 535 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:19,837 then on the weekends, I was only with boys. So, it was like this alien 536 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:24,237 environment. I had no idea what was going on. I It was like I I wanted to 537 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:27,517 fit in was the most important thing. I wanted to have friends and I wanted to 538 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:30,357 build community. That was like intuitively what I wanted to do, but I 539 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:33,357 didn't know how to do it. It's like this alien species. What's going on? 540 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:37,197 Um and so, my coach at the time, 541 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:41,357 he would set up these games in skiing. 542 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:44,477 And it would be little things, you know, who can slide this rail? And if you 543 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:48,637 slide the rail, you get a pack of gummy bears or a sticker or a dollar. 544 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:53,037 And through the power of sport, you start, you know, punching each other on 545 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:54,717 the shoulder and you're like, "Oh, okay. 546 00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:58,917 Well, I did it last week, so you have to go first this time." Or um "No, watch 547 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:02,317 me. I got it. Like this is, you know, my time." And then everyone would line up 548 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:06,557 next to the rail. And I remember so specifically the very first time that 549 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:10,237 anybody on our ski team slid a rail, we were we were all like lined up next to 550 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:13,157 the rail and they were like, "Okay." The coach said, "Okay, who wants to go 551 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:17,677 first? You get a sticker." And I remember in that moment I was 552 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:20,077 like, "I will go first. It will be me." 553 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:23,157 And everyone's like, "Ah." You know, "Oh my gosh." And so, I I hike 554 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:26,837 up to the top of the rail. Everyone's holding their breath and I literally 555 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:30,477 remember it like it was yesterday. I go and I slide the rail. It was good. 556 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:32,557 Everyone's just ecstatic, okay? 557 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:34,357 Everyone's clapping, they're cheering. 558 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:37,637 We're like a massive little huddle of just, you know, eight-year-old bodies 559 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:41,917 wearing hoodies that are way too big for us, you know, past our knees. And in 560 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:44,477 that moment I was like, "Wow, this is 561 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:47,117 what it feels like to to be included, to 562 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:50,197 belong." Because I'm being uplifted by 563 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:54,477 people who I care about and respect, but who are also my peer group, and we are 564 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:58,357 improving together. Because by the end of the day, everyone, of course, had 565 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:02,717 slid the rail. But what's important, I think, from that is that competition is 566 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:04,877 about pushing each other to be better, 567 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:08,597 and it's about feeling empowered to try. 568 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:11,437 And so much of it is about not being 569 00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:13,717 afraid to be the first, not being afraid 570 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:16,917 to fail, and being willing to celebrate 571 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,437 when other people also achieve success. 572 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:23,197 So, it's uplifting other people alongside you and using competition 573 00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:26,117 through, you know, through my example, it's sport, but it could be any avenue 574 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:30,917 in life, to uplift yourself and to bring other people with you, and to celebrate 575 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,477 when people surpass you, because it means that there's more opportunity and 576 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:37,957 more excitement and more engagement and more opportunity for you to rise up even 577 00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:41,117 more. So, um the it's really important, 578 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:45,317 I think, to take this idea of like sportsmanship with you. 579 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:49,757 >> Um you know, as you were speaking, it struck me that um 580 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:50,837 it 581 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:52,957 it takes a particular kind of 582 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:56,837 confidence, if you will, to um 583 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:58,957 want to be in a competition and to be 584 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,157 better than someone else, or to better 585 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:03,997 to be better than yourself. And on this 586 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:08,237 question of building confidence, you've you've talked about how 587 00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:11,637 um creating your own pond, rather than 588 00:34:11,720 --> 00:34:15,237 competing in crowded ones, is uh that 589 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:17,557 there is a wisdom to that. I wonder if 590 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:20,077 you'd elaborate on that and share your 591 00:34:20,160 --> 00:34:23,117 thoughts with your audience. 592 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:28,317 >> Sure, yeah. I think to my point on like the anecdote, you sometimes need someone 593 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:31,237 to give you the platform or the confidence to try, 594 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:33,757 um to say, "Hey, how about you or you 595 00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:38,397 know, I'm giving you the opportunity to rise up. So so that's one but I think as 596 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:41,997 far as creating your own pond what I meant by that is 597 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:45,277 I'm going to take kind of like a woman's angle here because given it's also where 598 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:47,037 that's kind of one of our themes for for 599 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:50,357 the discussion today. I think that now 600 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:55,517 is a really interesting time to be a young woman because we have more career 601 00:34:55,600 --> 00:34:58,357 opportunities, more educational opportunities, more family 602 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,357 opportunities, more support than anytime 603 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:04,677 in history. And what that means is that 604 00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:07,837 there is more space for us in places 605 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:11,757 that have historically felt maybe a little competitive. And what I think 606 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,557 that's interesting because you hear this phenomenon a lot of like there's one 607 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:18,917 woman in the boardroom meeting or there's you know, one woman on the ski 608 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,517 team and what that breeds is this sense 609 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:23,637 of like okay, there's only space for one 610 00:35:23,720 --> 00:35:28,637 of us and so by default my competition is all women ever but I want to reverse 611 00:35:28,720 --> 00:35:30,317 that and and think about there's 612 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:33,837 actually more seats in the room than one 613 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:36,397 and so the competition is very rarely 614 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:38,557 other people. The competition is just 615 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:40,997 yourself to be good enough to earn and 616 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:44,197 to provide value and to earn that seat 617 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:48,277 to to be good enough to be there but it's not about beating other people. 618 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:52,557 It's about uplifting the entire community so that every single person 619 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:54,517 ends up being better in the way that a 620 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:58,037 rising tide raises all ships and so I 621 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:00,477 want to think about kind of healthy 622 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:02,597 competition and in many ways no 623 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,157 competition at all because there's only 624 00:36:05,240 --> 00:36:08,237 one of you and only one person has the 625 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:12,317 perspective and history and skillset that I mentioned earlier. And that's 626 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:15,077 you. And every single person has unique 627 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:17,877 value and so the question is how can you 628 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:22,277 be the best version of yourself so that you can provide the most value and help 629 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:24,117 the most people and tell the most 630 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:28,117 interesting and relevant stories to to 631 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:31,157 inflict that legacy point. And so in a 632 00:36:31,240 --> 00:36:35,637 lot of ways, the whole pond metaphor of like, am I a big fish in a small pond or 633 00:36:35,720 --> 00:36:39,517 a small fish in a big pond? Stop looking at the other fish. It doesn't matter are 634 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:42,877 there other fish or not? Are they like the fish even exist, right? Like we 635 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:47,197 don't care. Be your own fish and you can be a pretty fish. You can be a shiny 636 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:50,717 fish. You can be a little fish. You can be a vegetarian fish. You can be a 637 00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:54,957 whatever kind of fish you want to be, right? So I think that's a much more 638 00:36:55,040 --> 00:36:58,157 interesting and productive conversation than looking around and seeing what 639 00:36:58,240 --> 00:37:00,157 other fish are in the pond with you. 640 00:37:00,240 --> 00:37:03,757 >> You know, um there are just so many questions that I could ask, but I am 641 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:07,877 mindful of the time. So I'm going to give this last question to one of our 642 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:09,437 students. 643 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:14,397 Um and this is Weixin Seto, who is uh 644 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:17,517 the class of 2027 BBM. 645 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:20,557 And she says, if you could ask yourself, 646 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:24,957 sorry, if you could ask one question to your future self, what question would it 647 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:29,640 be? >> Ooh. 648 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:34,680 Only one? 649 00:37:35,850 --> 00:37:37,870 >> [sighs and gasps] 650 00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:42,957 >> What 651 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:47,117 inputs or what things did you observe 652 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,357 that you felt were the most productive 653 00:37:50,440 --> 00:37:52,997 in finding the path 654 00:37:53,080 --> 00:37:57,517 that you cared about most? So I think a lot of the time it's easy 655 00:37:57,600 --> 00:37:59,877 to follow direction or momentum. 656 00:37:59,960 --> 00:38:04,237 Actually working working hard is hard, but working hard is not as hard as 657 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:09,317 finding the right direction. So you can like work really hard and bang on a wall 658 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:13,357 and that does very little, whereas learning what the route is so you can 659 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:15,397 walk around the wall is much more 660 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:18,197 productive. So I want to learn the 661 00:38:18,280 --> 00:38:20,517 direction and then work hard in that 662 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:22,637 direction. So I already trust in my 663 00:38:22,720 --> 00:38:26,277 ability to work intensely um and 664 00:38:26,360 --> 00:38:28,477 rigorously. And so, I think what's 665 00:38:28,560 --> 00:38:31,317 probably more productive for me is 666 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:35,917 knowing what to observe and what inputs to give value to so that I can move in 667 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,877 the right direction. >> That's wonderful. Um ladies and 668 00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:41,997 gentlemen, we have covered so much 669 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:44,757 ground in a short time. Um you know, 670 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,317 testimony to Eileen's intellect as well 671 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,397 as her experience in life despite being 672 00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:53,717 23 years old. We've covered, you know, 673 00:38:53,800 --> 00:38:57,877 everything from how we can train oneself both physically as well as 674 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:00,117 intellectually, training the mind and 675 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,357 the body. We've talked about how AI 676 00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:05,597 actually can be a positive rather than 677 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:08,517 um something to fear. We've talked about 678 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:10,557 the importance of mutual respect, of 679 00:39:10,640 --> 00:39:14,917 curiosity, of resilience, of community, 680 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:17,077 and the sense of inclusion and belonging 681 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:19,317 in our journeys in life. 682 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:22,077 And we've talked about how competition 683 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:25,917 is not necessarily that ugly thing where 684 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,837 we're out at each other's throats, but 685 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,957 that it is about feeling empowered to 686 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:37,397 try. It is about pushing each other to be better so that as a community, we are 687 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:38,677 better. 688 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:41,997 And it is perhaps uplifting for the 689 00:39:42,080 --> 00:39:47,477 entire community where a rising tide as to use Eileen's words can raise all 690 00:39:47,560 --> 00:39:50,117 boats. And 691 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:54,627 the one thing I've learned, there is such a thing as a vegetarian fish. 692 00:39:54,710 --> 00:39:56,730 >> [laughter] 693 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:02,157 >> Algae. Right? >> Yes. You're right. Actually, maybe all fish 694 00:40:02,240 --> 00:40:05,077 are vegeta- I don't know. Okay, they're not all vegetarian. 695 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:06,997 >> Not all [laughter] fish. 696 00:40:07,080 --> 00:40:10,797 >> Um wonderful. I would like to invite the 697 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:14,397 audience in this hall that has been a tremendously 698 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:18,957 attentive audience to join me in thanking Eileen in this wonderful 699 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:22,930 conversation. >> [applause] 700 00:40:27,460 --> 00:40:29,480 [applause] 701 00:40:31,360 --> 00:40:34,117 >> You've got a little fan there. 702 00:40:34,200 --> 00:40:36,197 The little girl stand up again and wave. 703 00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:37,557 Eileen's going to wave at you. 704 00:40:37,640 --> 00:40:41,157 >> Hi cutiepie. >> Wonderful. Thank you once again for 705 00:40:41,240 --> 00:40:44,357 spending the time with us. We're very grateful for the time that you've given 706 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:46,517 to us and the you know many thoughts 707 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:48,717 that you shared very candidly with us. 708 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:52,917 I'm going to hand back to Jasmine who will 709 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:54,557 lead us through the next segment. 710 00:40:54,640 --> 00:40:57,517 >> Thank you so much Eileen and Professor Cong Claire. Please give them another 711 00:40:57,600 --> 00:41:00,720 round of applause.