#cgiu 2015

4 CGIU pens, 3 Clintons, 5 Panels, 2 Exchanges and many enterprising individuals later, it's official. I've participated in Clinton Global Initiative University of 2015 ✔ Knowing that, as soon as I set foot in the slush of New Jersey, I'll have to take haste in preparations for my Business Law II exam, I intend to play the escape-game for a few hours longer. In this time, I want to set the last 3 days in review and replay (Literally "replay" since select videos are conveniently available online). With this post, I'm going to put together some cohesive takeaways.

Fast Forward: Accelerating Opportunity for All This discussion can be summarized, I think, by one quote by President Bill Clinton "99% of our time is spent thinking about the 1/2% of us that's different." The bottom line: human rights. Humans are equal, we should show some semblance of that. Each speaker brought a different window of this message. America Ferrera brought immigration awareness, Paul Lorem brought refugee awareness, Vivek Murthy brought health awareness (I was particularly thankful he informed us of healthcare trends to take advantage of), and Tawakkol Karman brought democracy/peaceful rebellion awareness. They reminded us that our world is global  (Thank you Meena, for stating the obvious). The world is interdependent, the keyboard is our Floo Powder, and "all the walls look more like nets," as the President aptly derived. We can access the world. The purpose of this inaugural panel was to move us magnetically to a purpose of leveling the playing field. It told us why we should make changes for equality, and then, perhaps more notably, it told us that we can.

The Power of Big Data It's hard to listen to a discussion about big data when you haven't had a lot of access to, or experience manipulating information (I use the word "manipulate," in its most earnest sense). I will say, this discussion has me holding Information Technology with a much higher priority, as far as an applicable and mandatory tool to my business, is concerned. The bottom line here: data can be harnessed and mined for insight. A dominant concern is placing the fine line between accessible big data and privacy of the individuals whose data is being used. Where are the rights? This is a question I have yet to reckon with. On a side note, a challenge with particular relevance to my social venture was elicited by Diane Bryant when she posed that the health industry has been slowest to adopt data technology. I take this as a call to action; it's my job now to see how data can be applied.

The Future of Energy The mix of panelists for this discussion was diverse in just the right dose. With the cause of bettering energy and sustainable living, each of the panelist brought a different effect. Wanjira Mathai and Donnel Baird brought the effects on individuals and communities, M Sanjayan the effects on the environment, Jaimie Lerner the effects on architectural design. The theme here was more like an undercurrent, but I believe the bottom line was this: apply renewable energies because they remove the “complexity sellers,” as Jaimie Lerner coined them, for simpler solutions.  And deliver simple solutions worldwide, beginning maybe with impoverished and highly populated areas. Closing Conversation My one regret is not getting there earlier. For the other plenaries, I was either front or center - or both. For this one, I got gipped out of a good seat by the seat-savers. Anyway, this event began with the anticipated arrival of Secretary Clinton who, along with Chelsea presented their 20-year-long, data-intensive initiative called No Ceilings. The resultant report will officially be released tomorrow! After they spoke, the most varied panel of the event convened, followed by closing remarks and advice. The resounding theme was again, building towards a common humanity and making contributions, keeping in mind that we are global citizens. And the final comments were honest pairs for success: a mind and a heart, passion and perseverance, progress is not the same as success. But the quote I most adored, the words that spoke to me as I sat restless in my far seat wondering how to design and deliver what I've committed, were these - delivered straight from President William Jefferson Clinton to me. He said:

Tomorrow I will “hop on a plane at EWR with a dream and a cardigan.” Then I will hop off at Miami and immediately lose my cardigan. Yes, I’m going to Florida! And although it’s not destination: Disney World -  I am going “(some)where dreams come true.” I’m going to Clinton Global Initiative University - a meeting where my generation, the Millennial generation, can prove we’re not just entitled for no good reason. We’re the generation characterized by technological advancement, global- awareness, volunteerism and innovation and this year CGI U 2015 is our showcase, it’s our platform.

So without further ado, let me step up to the platform. Let me represent our generation for a shining moment. Hi, my name is Meena  and I’m an inventor (soon to graduate to an “entrepreneur”). I’ve put together a medical-testing process that will make the American healthcare system more accessible to its average citizen. It will allow this citizen to benchmark and understand her/his health with ease. If you ask me, it should be a human right to know more about our life expectancy and quality, rather than live in the dark like we do today. There’s no sense in waiting around for a surprise illness to arrive. My idea provides a relief from the destructive consequences that could come with a late diagnosis. It’s about taking a detective and proactive approach to healthcare. And….that’s the most I can tell you without losing that “air of mystery” I’d like to keep until the big event. Don’t you love a good cliffhanger?

As I prepare for this trip, I ready myself to meet some stunning individuals who will undoubtedly make me feel a mix of inadequate…and proud. Proud to be beside others who had the aptitude to find the areas our world falls short, and the courage to fill-in-the-blanks. I hope the camaraderie, and even the occasional, “sibling-rivalry,”we have with one another can help us all to success. There’s something selfless about what we’re all doing, and there’s something communal about doing it together.

I also prepare to meet people who have already met with success and given it a firm handshake. I’m ready to hear their stories, and their advice. I’ll try to relate their narratives to myself personally. AndI’ll hope that these enterprising individuals can meet me with that same firm handshake that once met success. It never hurt anyone to be a little superstitious.