MCI-Livetalk panel discussion of six top-class guests with strong innovation skills, moderated by Brigitte Mohn, Member of the Executive Board of Bertelsmann Foundation and MCI Rector Andreas Altmann.
How can we succeed in shaping a better and sustainable future? This is the question addressed by countless innovative minds around the world. At MCI Live Talk presented by Brigitte Mohn, six entrepreneurs with creative spirit and vision come together to discuss perspectives and jointly define the essential systemic approaches for the path to an equal, just and livable future.
Brigitte Mohn knows: "this systemic approach runs through all areas of life. We need to work in networks with a collective orientation, break away from old structures and build an ecosystem for new ideas and solutions." The Bertelsmann Stiftung, of which she is a board member, facilitates such important networking among innovators. Also forward-looking are the corporate objects and visions of the discussants, who bring their ideas for a sustainable future down to several common denominators: a focus on change, networking innovations, new value definitions, perspectives for young entrepreneurs and real initiatives to reduce CO2.
Brigitte Mohn | Bertelsmann Foundation: as a social impact investor, supports startups in social innovation for sustainability.
"My wish is that youth and young entrepreneurs ask the right questions and reflect on their actions; to put it in the words of American systems theorist and inventor R. Buckminster Fuller: we should be architects of the future, not victims."
Panelists:
Sebastian Borek | Founders Foundation, Berlin: as a non-profit organization, connects companies in a sustainable B2B startup ecosystem, promoting the digital future.
"I strongly believe that entrepreneurship is important to change the world. If you give people the right tools, they can develop good thinking - an educational approach to empower people and a good way to leverage all the wonderful smart minds in this world. Our attitude needs to be: Yes, we can do it."
Marcel Huber | Syncraft Eco Powerplants, Schwaz & Osaka: generates zero-emission bioenergy with wood-fired power plants and removes CO2 from the atmosphere by reusing the simultaneously generated biochar in a variety of ways.
"The big vision is to generate energy from local resources while giving something back to nature. Given the goals we need to achieve, there is currently no competition. I am also convinced that CO2 taxation is necessary. The affected areas will become more resilient and transporting everything around the world will then become weird on its own."
Amit Pradhan | Rainfall Inc, San Francisco: enables data sovereignty for individuals all over the world to earn income from their self-determined digital existence via AI data marketplaces.
"Focusing on change allows us to profoundly alter the way talent and privilege are used, and thereby positively impacting the planet. Time is the greatest asset to change the climate, beyond that, decentralizing capital will allow people to invest in their values."
Peter Schelstraete | Ubuntoo, Atlanta & Amsterdam: has created a platform for environmental solutions where a global community of experts can work together on sustainability innovation.
"The massive gap between all the innovative entrepreneurs needs to be closed, because even after great inventions, nothing will happen without networking. Moreover, the current global system, in terms of taxation, is not effective enough. We need a system that provides social and financial well-being for young people who want to do sustainable business."
Philipp von der Wippel | Project Together, Berlin: as a nonprofit organization, provides innovation platforms to solve societal challenges, where ideas from civil society meet the implementation power of institutions and companies.
"Everyone can be the change and make a difference, but only if you finally start doing it. Just thinking about change will not be enough. For the transformation ahead, we need to rethink the role of citizens, government and business as well as our existing value definitions and operationalize them toward the idea of a mission-driven society."
