1.9s
next 40 minutes or so on stage with the most sought after guest that I think we've ever had in this hall. Eileen, a warm welcome again and thank you for choosing to spend time here at SMU. I know you have many, many engagements and we're delighted, more than delighted that you've chosen to spend the time
4.8s
most sought after guest that I think
6.7s
we've ever had in this hall. Eileen, a
9.3s
warm welcome again and thank you for
11.4s
choosing to spend time here at SMU. I
14.1s
know you have many, many engagements and
16.0s
we're delighted, more than delighted
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that you've chosen to spend the time
19.3s
with us. Thank you. I believe that this is not your first time in Singapore, but you were perhaps a little bit younger when you were first here. And I know that the audience here would love to hear from you. So perhaps I could invite you to say something, say a few words to the audience before we begin.
22.6s
is not your first time in Singapore, but
24.7s
you were perhaps a little bit younger
26.7s
when you were first here. And I know
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that the audience here would love to
30.6s
hear from you. So perhaps I could invite
32.8s
you to say something, say a few words to
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the audience before we begin.
37.6s
Thank you so much for the kind words, Professor Kong, and thank you so much for having me. It's such a joy to be always in an academic institution. like you said in your opening remarks, I think that um schools are such a microcosm for human flourishing and it really is a place where our highest
39.2s
Professor Kong, and thank you so much
40.7s
for having me. It's such a joy to be
43.3s
always in an academic institution. like
46.0s
you said in your opening remarks, I
47.5s
think that um schools are such a
49.8s
microcosm for human flourishing and it
53.2s
really is a place where our highest
54.8s
values are realized and we have the opportunity and the options to become who we want to be to explore the places that we want to learn and and the directions we want to expand. So I always love speaking um at schools and and SMU in particular with its value on entrepreneurship and and being so
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opportunity and the options to become
58.3s
who we want to be to explore the places
61.0s
that we want to learn and and the
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directions we want to expand. So I
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always love speaking um at schools and
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and SMU in particular with its value on
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entrepreneurship and and being so
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future-looking I think particularly appeals to me. Singapore at large is such a future-looking place and so far in my short stay here this time it has been nothing short of incredible. I look forward to exploring many more times in the future. Um and I'm really looking forward to our conversation today. That's wonderful. Um you know there is
75.0s
appeals to me. Singapore at large is
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such a future-looking place and so far
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in my short stay here this time it has
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been nothing short of incredible. I look
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forward to exploring many more times in
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the future. Um and I'm really looking
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forward to our conversation today.
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That's wonderful. Um you know there is
93.7s
so much ground we can cover. Before the event we invited the audience to submit some questions and thoughts they may have and I will say that we were inundated. There were many many interesting and interested interesting questions and interested members of the audience. So I'll do what I can to capture some of it and apologies to
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event we invited the audience to submit
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some questions and thoughts they may
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have and I will say that we were
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inundated. There were many many
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interesting and interested interesting
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questions and interested members of the
109.0s
audience. So I'll do what I can to
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capture some of it and apologies to
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those of you whose questions may not be asked today. I thought we might structure the conversation by beginning with perhaps more macro questions and then I know that there is a lot of interest in you as an individual. So I hope you won't mind that we will progress the conversation towards perhaps more personal dimensions.
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asked today. I thought we might
117.5s
structure the conversation by beginning
119.6s
with perhaps more macro questions and
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then I know that there is a lot of
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interest in you as an individual. So I
125.7s
hope you won't mind that we will
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progress the conversation towards
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perhaps more personal dimensions.
131.4s
Um you know the university as I said in my opening remarks is an institution that cares about human potential that really spends the time trying to bring the best out of each individual. Now I think it's fair to say that as an individual you have really epitomized what the flourishing of human potential
134.1s
my opening remarks is an institution
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that cares about human potential that
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really spends the time trying to bring
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the best out of each individual. Now I
145.4s
think it's fair to say that as an
147.0s
individual you have really epitomized
150.2s
what the flourishing of human potential
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means and you've done that in so many different dimensions just to mention sport which we all know about. I watched the videos of you on the ski slopes and that's just so amazing. Um but you've also excelled in so many other dimensions including in university. In sport, we know what it means to train
155.4s
different dimensions just to mention
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sport which we all know about. I watched
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the videos of you on the ski slopes and
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that's just so amazing. Um but you've
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also excelled in so many other
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dimensions including in university.
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In sport, we know what it means to train
173.3s
oneself, to push oneself physically, but you've also talked about the possibility of training the mind. And you've talked about neuroplasticity and how we can better ourselves. Perhaps you could speak to this question because I know there's a lot of interest in the audience on this. What does that training of the mind stretching our
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you've also talked about the possibility
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of training the mind. And you've talked
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about neuroplasticity and how we can
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better ourselves.
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Perhaps you could speak to this question
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because I know there's a lot of interest
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in the audience on this. What does that
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training of the mind stretching our
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neuroplasticity look like in everyday life for any individual out here? Wow. Starting easy, huh? My laughter Wow. Starting easy, huh? My laughter goodness. Um, sure. I mean, I think that look, I'm no expert. I think for me personally, it just comes to observation. So, I I try to be humble when it comes to my own
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life for any individual out here?
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Wow. Starting easy, huh? My laughter
206.4s
Wow. Starting easy, huh? My laughter goodness.
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Um, sure. I mean, I think that look, I'm
211.8s
no expert. I think for me personally, it
214.1s
just comes to observation. So, I I try
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to be humble when it comes to my own
218.8s
mind and I don't pretend that I know all the answers because I don't and because I'm 23 and because I'm learning and pretty much everything that I'm doing is the first time that I'm experiencing it. Right? By definition, to progress in the sport of free skiing is to ask your body to do something that it's never done
221.1s
the answers because I don't and because
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I'm 23 and because I'm learning and
225.6s
pretty much everything that I'm doing is
228.2s
the first time that I'm experiencing it.
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Right? By definition, to progress in the
232.5s
sport of free skiing is to ask your body
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to do something that it's never done
236.1s
before, ever. Every new trick that I learn, I'm breaking a physical, mental, emotional boundary that had been set for me before or it's it's breaking new ground every time. And so, conceptually, I think that familiarizing yourself with discomfort and also knowing that almost every boundary is somewhat plastic. So, that there always is potential to
238.5s
learn, I'm breaking a physical, mental,
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emotional boundary that had been set for
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me before or it's it's breaking new
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ground every time. And so, conceptually,
251.0s
I think that familiarizing yourself with
253.4s
discomfort and also knowing that almost
256.1s
every boundary is somewhat plastic. So,
259.0s
that there always is potential to
260.6s
expand, that there always is potential to grow and change. And so, that just comes back to self-observation. So, how do I feel in a given moment? What does fear feel like? What does doubt feel like? What do nerves feel like? How are those three things different? What is pressure? What do I
262.2s
to grow and change. And so, that just
264.2s
comes back to self-observation.
266.5s
So, how do I feel in a given moment?
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What does fear feel like? What does
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doubt feel like? What do nerves feel
272.8s
like? How are those three things
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different? What is pressure? What do I
276.5s
care about? What are the things that can affect me? What is the direction I want to move in? And I think those are all kind of, you know, as with the scientific method, it's all just experimentation and it's figuring out who I am, what are the things I care about, and then what is the direction I
278.1s
affect me? What is the direction I want
280.2s
to move in? And I think those are all
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kind of, you know, as with the
283.8s
scientific method, it's all just
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experimentation and it's figuring out
287.1s
who I am, what are the things I care
288.7s
about, and then what is the direction I
291.0s
want to move in. And so to be neuroplastic, I think, is to be the master of your fate in so far as knowing that I can observe myself and that I can control the direction of my growth. That's amazing because very often I think for young people and not so young people sometimes we're carried by the
293.0s
neuroplastic, I think, is to be the
295.4s
master of your fate in so far as knowing
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that I can observe myself and that I can
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control the direction of my growth.
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That's amazing because very often I
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think for young people and not so young
308.6s
people sometimes we're carried by the
311.7s
trajectories. We're carried by the pathways that have been established and to be very intentional and conscious about asking ourselves who we are, what we want to do. um takes something of the we want to do. um takes something of the individual. There is no conversation today without two letters of the alphabet. And yes, I'm talking about AI.
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pathways that have been established and
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to be very intentional and conscious
318.1s
about asking ourselves who we are, what
320.2s
we want to do. um takes something of the
323.2s
we want to do. um takes something of the individual.
325.9s
There is no conversation today without
328.3s
two letters of the alphabet. And yes,
330.9s
I'm talking about AI.
333.6s
I'm talking about AI. Um when you think about that intentionality, that cultivation of self, and you think about what's available through AI, where what we do is type a question, send a prompt, and the answers come back. Is there a danger that that is doing something to our that that is doing something to our neuroplasticity?
335.5s
when you think about that
337.0s
intentionality, that cultivation of
339.2s
self, and you think about what's
341.5s
available through AI, where what we do
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is type a question, send a prompt, and
347.4s
the answers come back. Is there a danger
350.7s
that that is doing something to our
353.4s
that that is doing something to our neuroplasticity?
355.2s
Is there a danger that that is um sort of reshaping our ability to think for ourselves and to forge our paths? I wonder what you think about that. I'm going to go ahead and take the opportunity that we are in a university to be my truest, nerdiest self today. So, I hope you guys will forgive me for
358.2s
of reshaping our ability to think for
361.4s
ourselves and to forge our paths? I
365.1s
wonder what you think about that.
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I'm going to go ahead and take the
369.8s
opportunity that we are in a university
372.9s
to be my truest, nerdiest self today.
375.2s
So, I hope you guys will forgive me for
376.8s
that. Um, so I trust that people are probably familiar with the daycart apherism of kito eroggo sum like I think therefore I am but the the kind of phrase that comes before that is I doubt therefore I think and I think therefore I am and I think there's something really preient about that um in order to
379.2s
probably familiar with the daycart
381.0s
apherism of kito eroggo sum like I think
384.2s
therefore I am but the the kind of
386.6s
phrase that comes before that is I doubt
388.9s
therefore I think and I think therefore
391.0s
I am and I think there's something
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really preient about that um in order to
396.9s
I guess to your point about prompting AI you have to make a judgment decision at any point right and so in order to write a good prompt or to make a good decision from the information that you gather from the prompt or to direct an agent, you have to have the ability to start
400.6s
you have to make a judgment decision at
403.8s
any point right and so in order to write
406.4s
a good prompt or to make a good decision
408.2s
from the information that you gather
409.5s
from the prompt or to direct an agent,
412.4s
you have to have the ability to start
415.9s
from doubt and to start from self-informed thinking. And so if anything I think learning to work or learning to produce through the form of asking questions is actually encouraging human agency because that is the Socratic method. That is the scientific method. That is kind of what we think about as human learning. Is it not to
418.6s
self-informed thinking. And so if
420.6s
anything I think learning to work or
424.7s
learning to produce through the form of
427.0s
asking questions is actually encouraging
430.0s
human agency because that is the
432.9s
Socratic method. That is the scientific
435.5s
method. That is kind of what we think
438.3s
about as human learning. Is it not to
440.2s
ask a question to think about how to structure a question? What is first principles thinking? to kind of go back and see what matters and then move from there and then also to kind of make informed decisions and what you do from there. So I guess I'm kind of cautious about the whole like delegating your
443.5s
structure a question? What is first
445.4s
principles thinking? to kind of go back
447.4s
and see what matters and then move from
449.8s
there and then also to kind of make
451.6s
informed decisions and what you do from
454.2s
there. So I guess I'm kind of cautious
456.3s
about the whole like delegating your
458.4s
life to AI premise just because um to use kind of like a metaphor in skiing I guess we recently have a new technology called an airbag which is like a giant bouncy castle. So it's like this if you imagine it's like a ski slope. Um, but the landing is like literally plastic
462.8s
use kind of like a metaphor in skiing I
465.3s
guess we recently have a new technology
468.5s
called an airbag which is like a giant
471.3s
bouncy castle. So it's like this if you
474.0s
imagine it's like a ski slope. Um, but
476.4s
the landing is like literally plastic
478.4s
material and they spray water on it and you jump off of this like plastic ramp, you fly in the air, you do your trick, you land and it's plastic and you slide. Okay. And initially people were like this is crazy. This is not even skiing. And then you realize that because this
480.8s
you jump off of this like plastic ramp,
483.4s
you fly in the air, you do your trick,
485.2s
you land and it's plastic and you slide.
487.4s
Okay. And initially people were like
490.0s
this is crazy. This is not even skiing.
493.0s
And then you realize that because this
494.9s
is much safer as a technology, suddenly people are doing much bigger tricks and the sport is progressing so much more rapidly and people are kind of doing things that they never thought would have been possible. And the what ended up happening is not that we reached some kind of capped human potential and we
497.3s
people are doing much bigger tricks and
499.1s
the sport is progressing so much more
501.5s
rapidly and people are kind of doing
503.7s
things that they never thought would
504.9s
have been possible. And the what ended
507.3s
up happening is not that we reached some
509.2s
kind of capped human potential and we
511.4s
were like taken over. Instead, it was that the women in sport started really really progressing and the the kind of level all over started rising and we had the freedom to explore tricks that had never been possible before, new axes. We could try things and work with human physics um in ways that we'd never
513.2s
that the women in sport started really
516.8s
really progressing and the the kind of
519.6s
level all over started rising and we had
522.3s
the freedom to explore tricks that had
524.6s
never been possible before, new axes. We
526.6s
could try things and work with human
528.6s
physics um in ways that we'd never
530.9s
thought was possible. So I I think that it is the human condition to be curious and I think it is the human condition to progress and improve and I think that the methodology of asking questions to do that is fundamentally a positive one indeed. Um so you know I have had colleagues who have rejected AI saying
533.0s
it is the human condition to be curious
535.0s
and I think it is the human condition to
537.4s
progress and improve and I think that
540.2s
the methodology of asking questions to
542.3s
do that is fundamentally a positive one
545.0s
indeed. Um so you know I have had
547.8s
colleagues who have rejected AI saying
551.3s
we've taught the Socratic method for centuries and um why are we you know dropping that but I think your response suggests to us that actually with the use of AI you can actually um um strengthen hone that questioning ability. Um in today's language it would be writing better prompts. Um I wanted
553.9s
centuries and um why are we you know
557.2s
dropping that but I think your response
559.1s
suggests to us that actually with the
561.5s
use of AI you can actually um um
566.2s
strengthen hone that questioning
569.0s
ability. Um in today's language it would
572.1s
be writing better prompts. Um I wanted
575.4s
to nevertheless um pursue this line of conversation around neuroplasticity a little bit more and then I'd really like to come back to technology and sport which um is a good segue from your comments um a moment ago. You talked about um training your own mind very deliberately and you do that through things like journaling
579.0s
conversation around neuroplasticity a
581.3s
little bit more and then I'd really like
583.2s
to come back to technology and sport
585.0s
which um is a good segue from your
587.0s
comments um a moment ago. You talked
590.6s
about um training your own mind very
593.7s
deliberately and you do that through
595.9s
things like journaling
597.9s
um you know reframing clears throat fear visualization and so forth. Do you see a time when that can be delegated to a machine for example? that there are ways that you can optimize and that you can maybe get more data that you can be better informed. Fundamentally the work of getting to
599.3s
fear visualization and so forth. Do you
603.3s
see a time when that can be delegated to
605.4s
a machine for example?
613.4s
that there are ways that you can
614.8s
optimize and that you can maybe get more
617.0s
data that you can be better informed.
619.2s
Fundamentally the work of getting to
621.3s
know oneself will always remain your own and the choice to become the person you want to be has to be yours and I think in any other way it would be contrived and corrupted. Um and and so in some ways yes like maybe if if you want to be directed in a certain way you can kind
624.5s
and the choice to become the person you
627.1s
want to be has to be yours and I think
630.6s
in any other way it would be contrived
632.9s
and corrupted. Um and and so in some
636.4s
ways yes like maybe if if you want to be
639.7s
directed in a certain way you can kind
641.5s
of um find ways to structure actions that help lead to an outcome of your choosing. But I think at at a large scale I don't I don't think that that is something that can be replaced. No. And and that I think suggests you know if if we can't replace certain things
644.7s
that help lead to an outcome of your
647.2s
choosing. But I think at at a large
650.5s
scale I don't I don't think that that is
652.6s
something that can be replaced. No.
654.9s
And and that I think suggests you know
657.1s
if if we can't replace certain things
659.4s
and I think I I very much agree with you on that. It also means that the struggle that we go through in learning where we kind of get frustrated sometimes because we're not getting it just as as it is and so forth that struggle is what helps us to learn I think. And that's true
661.5s
on that. It also means that the struggle
664.2s
that we go through in learning where we
666.4s
kind of get frustrated sometimes because
668.6s
we're not getting it just as as it is
671.9s
and so forth that struggle is what helps
674.4s
us to learn I think. And that's true
676.8s
whether in sport or in the classroom and so forth. Is there a danger of us losing that struggle because things become too easy with AI?
679.0s
so forth. Is there a danger
683.3s
of us losing that struggle because
688.7s
things become too easy with AI?
699.7s
pace picks up, I I think it's more of a question of pace as opposed to kind of replacement, if that makes sense. So, it's like if we have this tool that enables us to be higher efficiency or or more capable, it means we're able to do more things. If anything, I feel like
701.8s
question of pace as opposed to kind of
705.2s
replacement, if that makes sense. So,
707.4s
it's like if we have this tool that
709.3s
enables us to be higher efficiency or or
711.8s
more capable, it means we're able to do
713.5s
more things. If anything, I feel like
715.3s
the struggle would probably increase in that situation. Um, a lot of people asked me, so I I graduated or I walked to graduation this year in June um, for Stanford and then after graduation, everyone was like, Wow, you must have so much free time now that you're, you know, out of school. And I find myself
717.1s
that situation. Um, a lot of people
719.1s
asked me, so I I graduated or I walked
721.5s
to graduation this year in June um, for
725.4s
Stanford and then after graduation,
726.9s
everyone was like, Wow, you must have
728.6s
so much free time now that you're, you
730.4s
know, out of school. And I find myself
732.7s
busier than ever. I find that I my my time is more consumed than ever. I am more applied than ever. And so it that concept of like the hydonic treadmill where we adapt to our circumstances be it through joy or be it through work or through a kind of like a temporal
735.2s
time is more consumed than ever. I am
737.6s
more applied than ever. And so it that
741.0s
concept of like the hydonic treadmill
742.8s
where we adapt to our circumstances be
745.0s
it through joy or be it through work or
747.2s
through a kind of like a temporal
748.6s
reckoning sense through all of that we adapt really quickly like much quicker than I think people expect. So, as far as like getting used to that pace, I think it's more of like a relative um like calibration and and less of a like do all or nothing and then I'm replaced
751.7s
adapt really quickly like much quicker
753.7s
than I think people expect. So, as far
757.1s
as like getting used to that pace, I
759.2s
think it's more of like a relative um
762.2s
like calibration and and less of a like
765.3s
do all or nothing and then I'm replaced
767.6s
and I have nothing to do. I think people will get used to it quickly and then move even faster than before. Wonderful. I'd like to pick up on the thread of your comments earlier about sport and technology and we know that sport is not shown of technology. You've given us examples. There's also the use of data
769.8s
will get used to it quickly and then
771.4s
move even faster than before. Wonderful.
774.6s
I'd like to pick up on the thread of
776.8s
your comments earlier about sport and
779.0s
technology and we know that sport is not
781.4s
shown of technology. You've given us
783.1s
examples. There's also the use of data
785.5s
analytics to improve performance and so forth, right? Um where do you think we draw the line between technology and human potential? Um what should remain a test of the athlete rather than the test of the athlete rather than the technology? I think split-second judgment decisions. I think intuition around fear um like to
788.3s
forth, right? Um where do you think we
791.0s
draw the line between technology and
794.7s
human potential? Um what should remain a
798.0s
test of the athlete rather than the
800.6s
test of the athlete rather than the technology?
802.7s
I think split-second judgment decisions.
805.4s
I think intuition around fear um like to
809.2s
push or not to push in a certain given moment. They're pretty much, I think, in the sport of free skiing because everything is so like the margins are so narrow between absolute success and massive failure that that judgment decision is absolutely critical. I can be at the top of a run and be just
811.5s
moment. They're pretty much, I think, in
813.8s
the sport of free skiing because
815.2s
everything is so like the margins are so
817.8s
narrow between absolute success and
821.4s
massive failure that that judgment
823.6s
decision is absolutely critical. I can
826.6s
be at the top of a run and be just
829.3s
feeling slightly off and every single data analytic could be telling me, Go, you slept great last night. Your heart rate looks good. We think your HRV looks fantastic. Like, you're ready to go. And at the end of the day, if I don't believe, if my subconscious is not bought in, the trick is not happening.
831.4s
data analytic could be telling me, Go,
833.6s
you slept great last night. Your heart
835.8s
rate looks good. We think your HRV looks
838.2s
fantastic. Like, you're ready to go.
840.2s
And at the end of the day, if I don't
842.9s
believe, if my subconscious is not
844.7s
bought in, the trick is not happening.
847.1s
And that's a self-reinforcing cycle. Like, if I don't believe it'll happen. There is so much of skiing that I think embodies this like you will it into reality. Like it only happens because you believe it. And if you don't believe it, it cannot happen. Um, and so that element I think is fundamentally
849.0s
Like, if I don't believe it'll happen.
851.0s
There is so much of skiing that I think
854.1s
embodies this like you will it into
856.6s
reality. Like it only happens because
859.0s
you believe it. And if you don't believe
860.3s
it, it cannot happen. Um, and so that
863.7s
element I think is fundamentally
865.4s
irreplaceable. So it's like this gut feeling. It's intuition. And more than anything, I think it's like familiarity and intimacy with the self. And you know, that's a great answer because I think it extends beyond sport as well. In all that we do in life, as well. In all that we do in life, sometimes
867.3s
feeling. It's intuition. And more than
869.6s
anything, I think it's like familiarity
871.8s
and intimacy with the self.
874.0s
And you know, that's a great answer
876.2s
because I think it extends beyond sport
878.3s
as well. In all that we do in life,
880.8s
as well. In all that we do in life, sometimes
882.5s
the necessity to make that decision in a split second that's going to just make that difference, that belief in yourself that's just going to make it happen where the data tells you it's not. Um so these are things I I I I believe extend beyond the ski slopes into merit dimensions of our lives. And so to that
885.3s
split second that's going to just make
887.3s
that difference, that belief in yourself
890.6s
that's just going to make it happen
892.5s
where the data tells you it's not. Um so
895.8s
these are things I I I I believe extend
898.9s
beyond the ski slopes into merit
901.4s
dimensions of our lives. And so to that
903.8s
extent I think what Eileen has done is actually to answer a question from one of our students Yen who was doing her DBA in technology and she had asked the question what do you think AI will never be able to replace about elite human performance and I think your response earlier speaks to that.
906.3s
actually to answer a question from one
908.3s
of our students Yen who was doing her
910.9s
DBA in technology and she had asked the
913.9s
question what do you think AI will never
915.9s
be able to replace about elite human
918.6s
performance and I think your response
921.8s
earlier speaks to that.
924.6s
There is another question from a colleague Christina Chi who asks what technology or innovation has had the biggest impact on your training and performance and how do you think athletes of the future will train athletes of the future will train differently? H besides airbags, which I mentioned earlier, honestly, video review is the
926.7s
colleague Christina Chi who asks what
929.9s
technology or innovation has had the
932.3s
biggest impact on your training and
934.2s
performance and how do you think
935.8s
athletes of the future will train
937.6s
athletes of the future will train differently?
940.4s
H besides airbags, which I mentioned
943.3s
earlier, honestly, video review is the
946.2s
biggest thing. Like being able to watch yourself in slow motion really captures um a lot of this kind of like micro um a lot of this kind of like micro neuromuscular movement um that that clears throat you otherwise wouldn't be able to feel. And then also a lot of the time how you
948.8s
yourself in slow motion really captures
952.7s
um a lot of this kind of like micro
956.3s
um a lot of this kind of like micro neuromuscular
958.0s
movement um that that clears throat
959.7s
you otherwise wouldn't be able to feel.
961.2s
And then also a lot of the time how you
963.1s
feel is different than what is true. And so kind of like bridging that gap from like an objective perspective through video review is enormously helpful. I would imagine that there's going to be a lot more like force analytic data in the future. So like force generation future. So like force generation asymmetry
965.4s
so kind of like bridging that gap from
967.4s
like an objective perspective through
969.0s
video review is enormously helpful. I
971.6s
would imagine that there's going to be a
973.7s
lot more like force analytic data in the
977.3s
future. So like force generation
979.6s
future. So like force generation asymmetry
981.2s
um kind of as far as like technical ability goes. Right now there's not a whole lot of that. But I'm also not really yearning for it. I feel like there's something kind of fun in just figuring it out. And so I'm relishing in the puzzle of all that is. And also
983.3s
ability goes. Right now there's not a
985.4s
whole lot of that. But I'm also not
987.4s
really yearning for it. I feel like
988.9s
there's something kind of fun in just
991.4s
figuring it out. And so I'm relishing in
994.2s
the puzzle of all that is. And also
997.0s
what's kind of fun about being at the cutting edge of of a sport is like every time you do something new, sometimes it's the first time that anyone ever has done something. And and so there's something really exciting about that and feeling like you're, you know, figuring it out as you go. That's wonderful. Um
998.6s
cutting edge of of a sport is like every
1001.3s
time you do something new, sometimes
1003.0s
it's the first time that anyone ever has
1005.4s
done something. And and so there's
1007.0s
something really exciting about that and
1009.4s
feeling like you're, you know, figuring
1011.0s
it out as you go. That's wonderful. Um
1015.4s
you know we started the conversation with human potential and and um that does rely on um talent realized. Realizing one's human potential is about realizing one's talent. I wanted to begin a conversation thread around whether you thought talent is innate or whether that's cultivated and developed and the relative balance of that.
1017.2s
with human potential and and um that
1021.2s
does rely on um talent realized.
1025.3s
Realizing one's human potential is about
1027.4s
realizing one's talent. I wanted to
1029.5s
begin a conversation thread around
1031.4s
whether you thought talent is innate or
1034.3s
whether that's cultivated and developed
1036.7s
and the relative balance of that.
1044.2s
very very very small portion particularly the older you get just because like the number of decisions that you make compounds exponentially over time and so maybe when you're 3 years old the talent you know you can see that difference a lot more than when you're 30. Um I don't know I'm not there
1046.2s
particularly the older you get just
1048.5s
because like the number of decisions
1050.7s
that you make compounds exponentially
1053.0s
over time and so maybe when you're 3
1055.7s
years old the talent you know you can
1058.0s
see that difference a lot more than when
1059.8s
you're 30. Um I don't know I'm not there
1063.1s
yet but I'll report back. Um, but the the kind of idea that I think between talent and and hard work is that if you tell yourself that you have a ceiling or you tell yourself that you have a floor, just be careful with the kind of premises that you believe. And I think what's more important about the
1066.2s
the kind of idea that I think between
1068.8s
talent and and hard work is that if you
1072.9s
tell yourself that you have a ceiling or
1075.6s
you tell yourself that you have a floor,
1078.6s
just be careful with the kind of
1080.0s
premises that you believe. And I think
1082.6s
what's more important about the
1084.0s
empirical reality of either those of those things is how it informs your decisions going forward because we are all just a collection of all the decisions we've ever made. And so if we make those decision decisions with an assumption that fundamentally limits us, then that is more detrimental than any
1085.8s
those things is how it informs your
1088.4s
decisions going forward because we are
1090.5s
all just a collection of all the
1091.8s
decisions we've ever made. And so if we
1094.1s
make those decision decisions with an
1096.1s
assumption that fundamentally limits us,
1099.1s
then that is more detrimental than any
1101.8s
lack of talent could ever be. Um, and so maybe this is kind of the the set of cards that I've been dealt. But if I spend the whole time looking at my hand and I never play them, then it doesn't matter what I'm holding. What matters is that you take a step and and one step
1105.4s
maybe this is kind of the the set of
1108.0s
cards that I've been dealt. But if I
1109.9s
spend the whole time looking at my hand
1111.5s
and I never play them, then it doesn't
1113.8s
matter what I'm holding. What matters is
1116.2s
that you take a step and and one step
1118.8s
leads to two. And as long as you keep moving and keep being better than who you were yesterday, then it's not really a question of what hands you had to begin with. It's it's about where you end up and who you end up becoming. And in that journey to you know whatever end
1121.6s
moving and keep being better than who
1123.1s
you were yesterday, then it's not really
1125.7s
a question of what hands you had to
1128.0s
begin with. It's it's about where you
1129.8s
end up and who you end up becoming. And
1132.5s
in that journey to you know whatever end
1136.6s
point it is that one identifies for oneself, it requires that we have building conditions. It requires that we have environment, supportive people and so forth. And so I have a question here um from Cheryl Lee who's an SMU alum from 2011 and she was curious to know how much of your excellence has been
1138.8s
oneself, it requires that we have
1141.2s
building conditions. It requires that we
1143.8s
have environment, supportive people and
1146.1s
so forth. And so I have a question here
1149.4s
um from Cheryl Lee who's an SMU alum
1152.6s
from 2011 and she was curious to know
1156.1s
how much of your excellence has been
1158.0s
shaped by um your mother in particular and the environment she created and how that um helped develop your intrinsic drive or perhaps the intrinsic drive was there um to start off. Yeah. So, my mom's the best for sure. Like, let's just get that off the table. Um, that's like no question. So, she's
1161.4s
and the environment she created and how
1164.7s
that um helped develop your intrinsic
1167.7s
drive or perhaps the intrinsic drive was
1170.0s
there um to start off.
1174.2s
Yeah. So, my mom's the best for sure.
1176.5s
Like, let's just get that off the table.
1178.9s
Um, that's like no question. So, she's
1181.9s
here. She looks great. She's in the front. Everyone tell her she looks pretty. Um, she's laughter
1183.4s
front. Everyone tell her she looks
1184.7s
pretty. Um, she's laughter
1196.5s
so she would always say that up until I was 13 I was her job and then after I turned 13 I was the job of the world and and that just means that like beyond a certain point you are more created by your peer group by your environment by
1198.9s
was 13 I was her job and then after I
1201.3s
turned 13 I was the job of the world and
1204.7s
and that just means that like beyond a
1207.0s
certain point you are more created by
1209.1s
your peer group by your environment by
1211.2s
the people who you look up to um by by the media you consume by the beliefs that you hold versus your home and family life directly um but I've been really lucky in so far that I've had this very unique partnership through the course of my life that has constantly evolved and we always have had kind of
1214.2s
the media you consume by the beliefs
1216.2s
that you hold versus your home and
1218.8s
family life directly um but I've been
1221.7s
really lucky in so far that I've had
1224.5s
this very unique partnership through the
1226.9s
course of my life that has constantly
1228.4s
evolved and we always have had kind of
1231.0s
different roles. So like obviously when I was three she was my mom so she was taking me to the playground and I think she really optimized for play and she optimized for optionality. So, she put me into everything. Like, I'm literally talking about everything like ballet, piano, archery, because I had an archery
1233.5s
I was three she was my mom so she was
1235.8s
taking me to the playground and I think
1237.4s
she really optimized for play and she
1239.5s
optimized for optionality. So, she put
1242.0s
me into everything. Like, I'm literally
1244.1s
talking about everything like ballet,
1247.4s
piano, archery, because I had an archery
1250.4s
phase because I was really into dystopian novels and I thought that this was going to be like a skill that I was really going to need. So, archery, basketball, soccer, cross country, skiing, I did math camp, I did science camp, I did singing lessons against my will. There were lots of things, right?
1251.7s
dystopian novels and I thought that this
1253.8s
was going to be like a skill that I was
1255.4s
really going to need. So, archery,
1257.8s
basketball, soccer, cross country,
1261.0s
skiing, I did math camp, I did science
1263.8s
camp, I did singing lessons against my
1266.3s
will. There were lots of things, right?
1268.7s
And so the point being that when I was younger, she really gave me the full spread so that when I was older and when I knew myself better and when I was responsible to make those decisions, I could make an informed one having tried all the options. So when I was young,
1271.4s
younger, she really gave me the full
1274.2s
spread so that when I was older and when
1276.7s
I knew myself better and when I was
1278.3s
responsible to make those decisions, I
1280.3s
could make an informed one having tried
1282.5s
all the options. So when I was young,
1284.2s
she gave me the choices. And then when I was a little bit older, she gave me the freedom to make the choice. And I think that responsibility that she she really entrusted me with from a somewhat young age, I think that was critical and really fundamental. Um, a lot of people make the incorrect assumption that she's
1286.2s
was a little bit older, she gave me the
1287.8s
freedom to make the choice. And I think
1290.5s
that responsibility that she she really
1293.0s
entrusted me with from a somewhat young
1295.0s
age, I think that was critical and
1297.7s
really fundamental. Um, a lot of people
1299.9s
make the incorrect assumption that she's
1302.1s
a tiger mom. And I think the tiger mom definition is that, you know, it's like a helicopter parent that pilots you and like forces you to do various things. She was in many ways the opposite of that where she just vigorously provided me with freedom and agency and like enforced my freedom really intensely and
1304.2s
definition is that, you know, it's like
1305.7s
a helicopter parent that pilots you and
1307.8s
like forces you to do various things.
1309.7s
She was in many ways the opposite of
1311.3s
that where she just vigorously provided
1314.2s
me with freedom and agency and like
1316.2s
enforced my freedom really intensely and
1319.1s
that was like the effect of her tiger mom. So, so that was kind of like the parenting thesis. And then as I got older, I keep calling us co-founders because I really think that's like the best way to encapsulate our partnership. We travel together every day. We live together. We work together. We develop
1321.0s
mom. So, so that was kind of like the
1323.3s
parenting thesis. And then as I got
1325.1s
older, I keep calling us co-founders
1327.7s
because I really think that's like the
1329.2s
best way to encapsulate our partnership.
1331.8s
We travel together every day. We live
1333.8s
together. We work together. We develop
1336.3s
together. We change together. We evolve. and she is she has a science background. So neither of us really knows how to you know it's my first time living. She hasn't worked in these industries before and so we're both just figuring it out day by day. We come in with unique perspectives and most importantly a
1338.8s
and she is she has a science background.
1342.0s
So neither of us really knows how to you
1345.1s
know it's my first time living. She
1346.9s
hasn't worked in these industries before
1348.9s
and so we're both just figuring it out
1350.8s
day by day. We come in with unique
1352.6s
perspectives and most importantly a
1354.6s
respect for one another. We have dialogue that is respectful, that is critical, that is conducive, that is productive. And often times we will start from kind of two different points where we disagree and then we will debate debate debate debate converge debate debate debate and then end up on opposite ends. So like I will have the
1356.8s
dialogue that is respectful, that is
1359.3s
critical, that is conducive, that is
1361.2s
productive. And often times we will
1364.6s
start from kind of two different points
1366.2s
where we disagree and then we will
1368.8s
debate debate debate debate converge
1371.1s
debate debate debate and then end up on
1373.0s
opposite ends. So like I will have the
1375.4s
opinion that she started with and then she'll have the opinion that I started with and then we will have to repeat the process where we debate debate debate and go back to our original premises. So I think if anything that just illustrates um that she really gave me the freedom to find out who I am and to
1377.0s
she'll have the opinion that I started
1378.4s
with and then we will have to repeat the
1380.0s
process where we debate debate debate
1381.4s
and go back to our original premises. So
1383.9s
I think if anything that just
1385.5s
illustrates um that she really gave me
1388.2s
the freedom to find out who I am and to
1391.4s
really support me and to guide me in ways that make sense and at the same time to to grow beside me. She's also living for the first time. She is a unique person who um is more than just the role of mom. And so to kind of grow with her as we both come into adulthood
1394.2s
ways that make sense and at the same
1396.5s
time to to grow beside me. She's also
1399.5s
living for the first time. She is a
1401.7s
unique person who um is more than just
1404.6s
the role of mom. And so to kind of grow
1407.5s
with her as we both come into adulthood
1409.4s
or I guess as I am in adulthood and she continues in adulthood. Um but kind of like growing together and there's something really exciting and really fun about that and to do it with my mom who's someone who I you know trust entirely who's known me my whole life who um wants nothing but the best for
1412.3s
continues in adulthood. Um but kind of
1415.2s
like growing together and there's
1417.2s
something really exciting and really fun
1418.9s
about that and to do it with my mom
1421.0s
who's someone who I you know trust
1422.5s
entirely who's known me my whole life
1424.4s
who um wants nothing but the best for
1426.9s
me. I think that's a unique privilege that I'm really grateful to have. I want to say um yes please you have and madam bu I want to say how amazing a daughter you have. amazing a daughter you have. Um you know not not everybody finds themselves in such circumstances where
1428.6s
that I'm really grateful to have.
1431.3s
I want to say um yes please
1441.0s
you have and madam bu I want to say how
1443.5s
amazing a daughter you have.
1446.1s
amazing a daughter you have. Um
1447.6s
you know not not everybody finds
1451.0s
themselves in such circumstances where
1453.9s
there is a supportive parent who is able willing to give the time the care um or a coach of access to facilities which means that if somebody has the potential but doesn't have the building conditions it can be very difficult for the individual to find himself or herself. What advice or what insights might you
1458.3s
willing to give the time the care um or
1461.4s
a coach of access to facilities which
1464.4s
means that if somebody has the potential
1467.5s
but doesn't have the building conditions
1470.3s
it can be very difficult for the
1472.2s
individual to find himself or herself.
1475.5s
What advice or what insights might you
1478.0s
share with individuals who find themselves in these situations and how might you encourage them? Sure. Um, I'm not good at skiing because I'm good at doing double quirks. I'm good at skiing because I know how to learn and because I'm resilient in the face of failure and because in moments of doubt,
1480.1s
themselves in these situations and how
1482.0s
might you encourage them?
1484.7s
Sure. Um,
1487.4s
I'm not good at skiing because I'm good
1489.2s
at doing double quirks. I'm good at
1491.4s
skiing because I know how to learn and
1495.0s
because I'm resilient in the face of
1496.6s
failure and because in moments of doubt,
1501.3s
I know which threads to pull on and how to manipulate my own intuition to guide me in the direction that I want to go. My point is that skills are transferable. So many of us will often find ourselves in situations where it's our first time doing something. And it is not the hard skill that is
1504.2s
to manipulate my own intuition to guide
1506.8s
me in the direction that I want to go.
1509.9s
My point is that skills are
1511.7s
transferable. So many of us will often
1515.9s
find ourselves in situations where it's
1518.1s
our first time doing something. And it
1520.0s
is not the hard skill that is
1522.5s
necessarily the one that defines us. It's the ability and our intrinsic qualities and values and skill set that we bring into the situation that allows us to adapt and shape a situation to our will. Um, and so I think what's important to remember is like going into it, you know, I've never done this sport
1524.3s
It's the ability and our intrinsic
1527.3s
qualities and values and skill set that
1530.2s
we bring into the situation that allows
1532.3s
us to adapt and shape a situation to our
1536.3s
will. Um, and so I think what's
1538.8s
important to remember is like going into
1541.4s
it, you know, I've never done this sport
1544.4s
before or I've never raised my hand in class before or I've, you know, never sat next to this person at lunch before. Yeah, but have you talked to a person? Have you ever done something that made you nervous? Yes. So, these are all skills that you can apply to new situations. And so that's why I always
1547.1s
class before or I've, you know, never
1550.3s
sat next to this person at lunch before.
1552.6s
Yeah, but have you talked to a person?
1555.2s
Have you ever done something that made
1557.8s
you nervous? Yes. So, these are all
1560.0s
skills that you can apply to new
1561.7s
situations. And so that's why I always
1563.6s
come back to this point of it's so important to know who you are because that's your toolkit. Your toolkit is not the set of hard skills that you acquire over the course of your life. Although those are obviously very helpful and can you know continue to inform the conditions that make you who you are. Um
1565.4s
important to know who you are because
1567.0s
that's your toolkit. Your toolkit is not
1570.1s
the set of hard skills that you acquire
1573.5s
over the course of your life. Although
1575.0s
those are obviously very helpful and can
1577.2s
you know continue to inform the
1579.0s
conditions that make you who you are. Um
1581.8s
but to know what you come into a situation with because our strength is are the differences that we have and that's what makes any situation unique and interesting because everybody has a different perspective. Everybody has a different toolkit. So the better you know what you have the more you can actually provide value for any situation
1584.3s
situation with because our strength is
1588.0s
are the differences that we have and
1590.2s
that's what makes any situation unique
1592.5s
and interesting because everybody has a
1594.2s
different perspective. Everybody has a
1595.5s
different toolkit. So the better you
1597.1s
know what you have the more you can
1599.4s
actually provide value for any situation
1601.8s
that you're in. um because you want to provide you want to make something better and only you can do it because only you have those skills. So um yeah I think that everybody has inherent value irrespective of kind of the this you know bedrock or the foundations from which they rose.
1605.5s
provide you want to make something
1607.3s
better and only you can do it because
1609.3s
only you have those skills. So um yeah I
1612.8s
think that everybody has inherent value
1614.9s
irrespective of kind of the this you
1617.9s
know bedrock or the foundations from
1621.0s
which they rose.
1622.8s
Um it's a good segue. Um, you know, we've been talking about systems of support, um, but also discovering the oneself, one's skills, developing one's own toolkit and so forth. Um, but if if we can help design an ecosystem that is to support the next generation, what might that ecosystem look like? What are the elements of an ecosystem
1625.1s
we've been talking about systems of
1627.1s
support, um, but also discovering the
1629.6s
oneself, one's skills, developing one's
1631.8s
own toolkit and so forth. Um, but if if
1635.9s
we can help design an ecosystem that is
1639.8s
to support the next generation,
1642.6s
what might that ecosystem look like?
1645.3s
What are the elements of an ecosystem
1648.8s
um, can be designed to help other people um, can be designed to help other people succeed?
1652.8s
um, can be designed to help other people succeed?
1661.0s
respect. That's really really important for anything to succeed to and that extends beyond just like the right for someone to exist. But it's also like genuinely giving space for someone's input and perspective and not holding a value system for whose voice is louder than someone else, whose opinions are more important than someone else.
1663.0s
for anything to succeed to and that
1665.7s
extends beyond just like the right for
1668.2s
someone to exist. But it's also like
1670.6s
genuinely giving space for someone's
1672.8s
input and perspective and not holding a
1675.8s
value system for whose voice is louder
1677.6s
than someone else, whose opinions are
1680.0s
more important than someone else.
1681.9s
Everybody has something unique to say and to provide. And so I think bringing that student mentality into every interaction you have and really trying to say, okay, what can I learn from this encounter? I think that's really important. Um, secondly, I think curiosity is really important. So just always holding a microscope to to all
1683.8s
and to provide. And so I think bringing
1686.4s
that student mentality into every
1688.6s
interaction you have and really trying
1690.9s
to say, okay, what can I learn from this
1693.3s
encounter? I think that's really
1694.7s
important. Um, secondly, I think
1696.9s
curiosity is really important. So just
1699.4s
always holding a microscope to to all
1701.7s
the things in life. And coming back to the point in AI, like that's a great tool to have to enable curiosity and to really just, you know, superpower it. And and so I think that's super important. The third is probably resilience. And you know, no skill is objectively difficult because honest two
1703.5s
the point in AI, like that's a great
1705.6s
tool to have to enable curiosity and to
1708.3s
really just, you know, superpower it.
1710.6s
And and so I think that's super
1712.2s
important. The third is probably
1714.0s
resilience. And you know, no skill is
1717.7s
objectively difficult because honest two
1720.7s
different days I can be equally stressed about going to dinner and doing a trick that I've never done before. And it depends on probably how much sleep I got, how resilient I feel. It's more about how wellprepared I feel I can deal with any adversity. And so the higher our tolerance, our threshold, our
1722.4s
about going to dinner and doing a trick
1725.3s
that I've never done before. And it
1726.9s
depends on probably how much sleep I
1728.7s
got, how resilient I feel. It's more
1731.0s
about how wellprepared I feel I can deal
1734.6s
with any adversity. And so the higher
1737.2s
our tolerance, our threshold, our
1739.0s
resilience generally is, I think it's like our having a higher tolerance for life, I think is generally a good skill to have. Um, and then of course community and and community is more than just, you know, people who you like and who you feel, you know, care about you and who you care about, but it's also
1741.5s
like our having a higher tolerance for
1743.1s
life, I think is generally a good skill
1745.0s
to have. Um, and then of course
1748.2s
community and and community is more than
1750.2s
just, you know, people who you like and
1752.2s
who you feel, you know, care about you
1753.8s
and who you care about, but it's also
1756.6s
what helps you craft legacy because more than anything, your impact on the world is probably most profound on the people who are closest to you. And and so that I think is really important and I think about legacy as like an inflection point. So like you can map okay this is where this person happened and after
1759.2s
than anything, your impact on the world
1760.8s
is probably most profound on the people
1762.6s
who are closest to you. And and so that
1765.1s
I think is really important and I think
1767.0s
about legacy as like an inflection
1768.6s
point. So like you can map okay this is
1770.8s
where this person happened and after
1773.3s
that everything became easier or everything started moving faster or um after that you know the the people who followed or the people around them were positively affected in some way and everybody else was then able to become a better version of themsel. That is kind of like the general philosophy that I
1775.0s
everything started moving faster or um
1777.8s
after that you know the the people who
1780.0s
followed or the people around them were
1781.8s
positively affected in some way and
1783.7s
everybody else was then able to become a
1785.8s
better version of themsel. That is kind
1788.1s
of like the general philosophy that I
1789.9s
subscribe to. Um, so yeah, I think those would be kind of like my my founding would be kind of like my my founding principles. Great. Um, you know, this is the Kurim Family Foundation inspiring women leadership series. And in many conversations that I've had um pertaining to women leadership, one of the questions that's often asked is this
1792.4s
would be kind of like my my founding
1794.2s
would be kind of like my my founding principles.
1795.4s
Great. Um, you know, this is the Kurim
1798.4s
Family Foundation inspiring women
1800.3s
leadership series. And in many
1802.7s
conversations that I've had um
1805.0s
pertaining to women leadership, one of
1807.0s
the questions that's often asked is this
1808.8s
and I I will ask the question of you as well. And that is um very often we have someone in our lives who advocate for us, who open the doors for us, who help us um with our path. Sometimes we're fortunate enough to have more than that one person. Um we know your mother has
1811.1s
well. And that is um very often we have
1814.4s
someone in our lives who advocate for
1816.5s
us, who open the doors for us, who help
1819.4s
us um with our path. Sometimes we're
1821.9s
fortunate enough to have more than that
1823.7s
one person. Um we know your mother has
1827.0s
been fantastic and done so much for you. Is there anyone else who's advocated for you that you think has made a difference for you? And now that you're in a position perhaps to advocate for others, um what do you think you might do with um what do you think you might do with that?
1829.3s
Is there anyone else who's advocated for
1831.4s
you that you think has made a difference
1833.8s
for you? And now that you're in a
1836.1s
position perhaps to advocate for others,
1838.7s
um what do you think you might do with
1840.2s
um what do you think you might do with that?
1845.6s
have to reiterate that. laughter Can never reiterate that enough. I think I'll tell a little story and I think it's an it's a small anecdote, but it really captures the spirit of something that I believe strongly in. When I was seven or eight, I started in a ski team.
1848.6s
Can never reiterate that enough. I think
1851.4s
I'll tell a little story and I think
1852.8s
it's an it's a small anecdote, but it
1854.8s
really captures the spirit of something
1856.1s
that I believe strongly in. When I was
1858.9s
seven or eight, I started in a ski team.
1861.3s
I was the only girl on my team. And it's important to note that I was also attending an all girls school at this time. So from age 4 to 13 I was at an all girls institution. So Monday to Friday I was only with girls and then on the weekends I was only with boys. So it
1864.2s
important to note that I was also
1866.8s
attending an all girls school at this
1868.6s
time. So from age 4 to 13 I was at an
1872.6s
all girls institution. So Monday to
1874.5s
Friday I was only with girls and then on
1876.6s
the weekends I was only with boys. So it
1878.8s
was like this alien environment. I had no idea what was going on. I it was like I I wanted to fit in was the most important thing. I wanted to have friends and I wanted to build community. That was like intuitively what I wanted to do but I didn't know how to do it.
1880.8s
no idea what was going on. I it was like
1883.4s
I I wanted to fit in was the most
1885.3s
important thing. I wanted to have
1886.6s
friends and I wanted to build community.
1888.3s
That was like intuitively what I wanted
1889.9s
to do but I didn't know how to do it.
1891.0s
It's like this alien species. What's going on? Um, and so my coach at the going on? Um, and so my coach at the time, he would set up these games in skiing and it would be little things, you know, who can slide this rail and if you slide the rail, you get a pack of gummy bears
1892.5s
going on? Um, and so my coach at the
1895.8s
going on? Um, and so my coach at the time,
1897.3s
he would set up these games in skiing
1901.3s
and it would be little things, you know,
1902.8s
who can slide this rail and if you slide
1904.7s
the rail, you get a pack of gummy bears
1906.8s
or a sticker or a dollar. And through the power of sport, you start, you know, punching each other on the shoulder and you're like, Oh, okay. Well, I did it last week, so you have to go first this time. Or, um, no, watch me. I got it. Like, this is, you know, my time. And
1909.6s
the power of sport, you start, you know,
1912.2s
punching each other on the shoulder and
1913.7s
you're like, Oh, okay. Well, I did it
1915.2s
last week, so you have to go first this
1916.9s
time. Or, um, no, watch me. I got it.
1919.8s
Like, this is, you know, my time. And
1921.4s
then everyone would line up next to the rail. And I remember so specifically the very first time that anybody on our ski team slid a rail. We were we were all like lined up next to the rail and they were like, Okay. The coach said, Okay, who wants to go first? You get a
1922.7s
rail. And I remember so specifically the
1925.0s
very first time that anybody on our ski
1927.4s
team slid a rail. We were we were all
1929.2s
like lined up next to the rail and they
1930.8s
were like, Okay. The coach said,
1932.2s
Okay, who wants to go first? You get a
1934.4s
sticker. And I remember in that moment I was like, I will go first. It will be me. And everyone's like, you know, gosh. And so I I hike up to the top of the rail. Everyone's holding their breaths. And I literally remember it like it was yesterday. I go and I slide
1937.5s
I was like, I will go first. It will be
1939.4s
me. And everyone's like, you know,
1941.8s
gosh. And so I I hike up to the top of
1943.8s
the rail. Everyone's holding their
1945.5s
breaths. And I literally remember it
1947.3s
like it was yesterday. I go and I slide
1949.0s
the rail. It was good. Everyone's just ecstatic, okay? Everyone's clapping. They're cheering. We're like a massive little huddle of just, you know, eight-year-old bodies wearing hoodies that are way too big for us, you know, past our knees. And in that moment, I was like, Wow, this is what it feels like to to be included, to belong,
1951.4s
ecstatic, okay? Everyone's clapping.
1953.4s
They're cheering. We're like a massive
1955.4s
little huddle of just, you know,
1956.7s
eight-year-old bodies wearing hoodies
1958.3s
that are way too big for us, you know,
1959.8s
past our knees. And in that moment, I
1962.6s
was like, Wow, this is what it feels
1965.2s
like to to be included, to belong,
1968.1s
because I am being uplifted by people who I care about and respect, but who are also my peer group, and we are improving together, because by the end of the day, everyone, of course, has slid the rail. But what's important, I think, from that is that competition is about pushing each other to be better.
1970.5s
who I care about and respect, but who
1972.1s
are also my peer group, and we are
1974.5s
improving together, because by the end
1976.7s
of the day, everyone, of course, has
1978.3s
slid the rail. But what's important, I
1980.4s
think, from that is that competition is
1982.8s
about pushing each other to be better.
1985.0s
And it's about feeling empowered to try. And so much of it is about not being afraid to be the first, not being afraid to fail, and being willing to celebrate when other people also achieve success. So it's uplifting other people alongside you and using competition through you know through my example it's sport but
1988.7s
And so much of it is about not being
1991.4s
afraid to be the first, not being afraid
1993.8s
to fail, and being willing to celebrate
1996.9s
when other people also achieve success.
1999.4s
So it's uplifting other people alongside
2001.6s
you and using competition through you
2003.8s
know through my example it's sport but
2005.3s
it could be any avenue in life to uplift yourself and to bring other people with you and to celebrate when people surpass you because it means that there's more opportunity and more excitement and more engagement and more opportunity for you to rise up even more so um it's really important I think to take this idea of
2007.9s
yourself and to bring other people with
2009.8s
you and to celebrate when people surpass
2011.9s
you because it means that there's more
2013.7s
opportunity and more excitement and more
2015.5s
engagement and more opportunity for you
2017.2s
to rise up even more so um it's really
2020.7s
important I think to take this idea of
2022.3s
like sportsmanship with you. Um, you know, as you were speaking, it struck me that um it it takes a particular kind of confidence, if you will, to um want to be in a competition and to be better than someone else or to better to be better than yourself. And on this question of building confidence,
2025.4s
Um, you know, as you were speaking, it
2027.7s
struck me that um it it takes a
2031.7s
particular kind of confidence, if you
2034.4s
will, to um want to be in a competition
2038.6s
and to be better than someone else or to
2040.6s
better to be better than yourself. And
2043.6s
on this question of building confidence,
2045.8s
you've you've talked about how um creating your own pond rather than competing in crowded ones is uh that there is a wisdom to that. I wonder if you'd elaborate on that and share your thoughts with the audience. Sure. Yeah. I think to my point on like the anecdote, you sometimes need someone
2049.3s
creating your own pond rather than
2051.8s
competing in crowded ones is uh that
2055.2s
there is a wisdom to that. I wonder if
2057.6s
you'd elaborate on that and share your
2060.2s
thoughts with the audience.
2063.2s
Sure. Yeah. I think to my point on like
2066.2s
the anecdote, you sometimes need someone
2068.2s
to give you the platform or the confidence to try um to say, Hey, how about you? Or, you know, I'm giving you the opportunity to rise up. So, so that's one. But I think as far as creating your own pond, what I meant by that is I'm going to take kind of like a
2069.8s
confidence to try um to say, Hey, how
2072.3s
about you? Or, you know, I'm giving you
2074.4s
the opportunity to rise up. So, so
2076.9s
that's one. But I think as far as
2079.0s
creating your own pond, what I meant by
2080.6s
that is I'm going to take kind of like a
2083.0s
woman's angle here because given it's also we're that's kind of one of our themes for for the discussion today. I think that now is a really interesting time to be a young woman because we have more career opportunities, more educational opportunities, more family opportunities, more support than any time in history. And what that means is
2084.8s
also we're that's kind of one of our
2086.2s
themes for for the discussion today. I
2088.8s
think that now is a really interesting
2091.6s
time to be a young woman because we have
2094.9s
more career opportunities, more
2096.5s
educational opportunities, more family
2098.4s
opportunities, more support than any
2101.2s
time in history. And what that means is
2104.1s
that there is more space for us in places that have historically felt maybe a little competitive. And what I I think that's interesting because you hear this phenomenon a lot of like there's one woman in the boardroom meeting or there's, you know, one woman on the ski team. And what that breeds is this sense
2107.4s
places that have historically felt maybe
2109.4s
a little competitive. And what I I think
2111.8s
that's interesting because you hear this
2114.0s
phenomenon a lot of like there's one
2115.6s
woman in the boardroom meeting or
2117.4s
there's, you know, one woman on the ski
2119.0s
team. And what that breeds is this sense
2121.5s
of like, okay, there's only space for one of us. And so by default, my competition is all women ever. But I want to reverse that and and think about there's actually more seats in the room than one. And so the competition is very rarely other people. The competition is just yourself to be good enough to earn
2123.5s
one of us. And so by default, my
2125.6s
competition is all women ever. But I
2128.0s
want to reverse that and and think about
2130.1s
there's actually more seats in the room
2133.0s
than one. And so the competition is very
2135.8s
rarely other people. The competition is
2138.3s
just yourself to be good enough to earn
2140.8s
and to provide value and to earn that seat to to be good enough to be there. But it's not about beating other people. It's about uplifting the entire community so that every single person ends up being better in the way that a rising tide raises all ships. And so I want to think about kind of healthy
2143.6s
seat to to be good enough to be there.
2146.4s
But it's not about beating other people.
2148.3s
It's about uplifting the entire
2150.2s
community so that every single person
2152.6s
ends up being better in the way that a
2154.6s
rising tide raises all ships. And so I
2158.2s
want to think about kind of healthy
2160.5s
competition and in many ways no competition at all because there's only one of you and only one person has the perspective and history and skill set that I mentioned earlier. Um, and that's you. And every single person has unique value. And so the question is, how can you be the best version of yourself so
2162.6s
competition at all because there's only
2165.1s
one of you and only one person has the
2168.2s
perspective and history and skill set
2170.1s
that I mentioned earlier. Um, and that's
2172.4s
you. And every single person has unique
2175.2s
value. And so the question is, how can
2177.7s
you be the best version of yourself so
2179.9s
that you can provide the most value and help the most people and tell the most interesting and relevant stories to to inflect that legacy point. And so in a lot of ways, the whole pond metaphor of like am I a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond, stop looking
2182.0s
help the most people and tell the most
2184.2s
interesting and relevant stories to to
2188.2s
inflect that legacy point. And so in a
2191.3s
lot of ways, the whole pond metaphor of
2193.7s
like am I a big fish in a small pond or
2195.6s
a small fish in a big pond, stop looking
2197.6s
at the other fish. It doesn't matter. Are there other fish or not? are like, do fish even exist? Right? Like we don't care. Be your own fish and you can be a pretty fish, you can be a shiny fish, you can be a little fish, you can be a vegetarian fish, you can be a whatever
2199.4s
Are there other fish or not? are like,
2201.0s
do fish even exist? Right? Like we don't
2203.1s
care. Be your own fish and you can be a
2205.8s
pretty fish, you can be a shiny fish,
2207.4s
you can be a little fish, you can be a
2209.0s
vegetarian fish, you can be a whatever
2211.3s
kind of fish you want to be, right? So, I think that's a much more interesting and productive conversation than looking around and seeing what other fish are in the pond with you. You know, um there are just so many questions that I could ask, but I am mindful of the time. So, I'm going to
2213.4s
I think that's a much more interesting
2215.4s
and productive conversation than looking
2217.2s
around and seeing what other fish are in
2218.8s
the pond with you.
2220.2s
You know, um there are just so many
2222.1s
questions that I could ask, but I am
2223.8s
mindful of the time. So, I'm going to
2225.9s
give this last question to one of our students. Um, and this is Whisin Sito who is uh the class of 2027 BBM and she says, If you could ask yourself, sorry, if you could ask one question to your future self, what question would it be?
2228.0s
students. Um, and this is Whisin Sito
2233.0s
who is uh the class of 2027 BBM and she
2238.1s
says, If you could ask yourself, sorry,
2240.8s
if you could ask one question to your
2242.6s
future self, what question would it be?
2263.0s
inputs or what things did you observe that you felt were the most productive in finding the path that you cared about most? So I think a lot of the time it's easy to follow direction or momentum. Actually working working hard is hard but working hard is not as hard as finding the right direction. So you can
2267.0s
that you felt were the most productive
2270.3s
in finding the path that you cared about
2274.1s
most? So I think a lot of the time it's
2277.2s
easy to follow direction or momentum.
2279.9s
Actually working working hard is hard
2282.2s
but working hard is not as hard as
2284.2s
finding the right direction. So you can
2286.4s
like work really hard and bang on a wall and that does very little whereas learning what the route is so you can walk around the wall is much more productive. So I want to learn the direction and then work hard in that direction. So I already trust in my ability to work intensely um and
2289.1s
and that does very little whereas
2291.2s
learning what the route is so you can
2293.4s
walk around the wall is much more
2295.4s
productive. So I want to learn the
2298.3s
direction and then work hard in that
2300.6s
direction. So I already trust in my
2302.7s
ability to work intensely um and
2306.2s
rigorously and so I think what's probably more productive for me is knowing what to observe and what inputs to give value to so that I can move in the right direction. That's wonderful. Um ladies and gentlemen, we have covered so much ground in a short time. um you know testimony to Eileen's intellect as well
2308.6s
probably more productive for me is
2311.4s
knowing what to observe and what inputs
2313.5s
to give value to so that I can move in
2316.0s
the right direction.
2317.8s
That's wonderful. Um ladies and
2320.0s
gentlemen, we have covered so much
2322.0s
ground in a short time. um you know
2324.8s
testimony to Eileen's intellect as well
2327.3s
as her experience in life despite being 23 years old. We've covered you know everything from how we can train oneself both physically as well as intellectually training the mind and the body. We've talked about how AI actually can be a positive rather than um something to fear. We've talked about the importance of mutual respect, of
2330.5s
23 years old. We've covered you know
2333.8s
everything from how we can train oneself
2336.4s
both physically as well as
2337.9s
intellectually training the mind and the
2340.3s
body. We've talked about how AI actually
2342.9s
can be a positive rather than um
2345.9s
something to fear. We've talked about
2348.3s
the importance of mutual respect, of
2350.6s
curiosity, of resilience, of community, and the sense of inclusion and belonging in our journeys in life. And we've talked about how competition is not necessarily that ugly thing where we're out at each other's throats, but that it is about feeling empowered to try. It is about pushing each other to
2354.7s
and the sense of inclusion and belonging
2356.9s
in our journeys in life. And we've
2359.6s
talked about how competition
2362.0s
is not necessarily that ugly thing where
2365.8s
we're out at each other's throats, but
2368.7s
that it is about feeling empowered to
2372.0s
try. It is about pushing each other to
2374.8s
be better. so that as a community we are better and it is perhaps uplifting for the entire community where a rising tide as to use Eileen's words can raise all boats and the one thing I've learned there is such a thing as a vegetarian fish laughter yes you're right actually maybe all fish
2377.4s
better and it is perhaps uplifting for
2381.8s
the entire community where a rising tide
2385.0s
as to use Eileen's words can raise all
2387.5s
boats and the one thing I've learned
2391.4s
there is such a thing as a vegetarian
2393.6s
fish laughter
2398.8s
yes you're right actually maybe all fish
2402.2s
are veget I I don't know okay they're not all vegetarian not all vegetarian laughter Um, wonderful. I would like to invite the audience in this hall that has been a tremendously attentive audience to join me in thanking Eileen in this wonderful thanking Eileen in this wonderful conversation.
2404.1s
not all vegetarian
2405.2s
not all vegetarian laughter
2407.0s
Um, wonderful. I would like to invite
2410.5s
the audience in this hall that has been
2412.6s
a tremendously
2414.5s
attentive audience to join me in
2417.0s
thanking Eileen in this wonderful
2419.0s
thanking Eileen in this wonderful conversation.
2431.1s
You've got a little fan there. The little girl stand up again and wave. Eileen's going to wave at you. Hi, cutie pie. Wonderful. Thank you once again for spending the time with us. We're very grateful for the time that you've given to us and the, you know, many thoughts that you've shared very candidly with
2434.1s
The little girl stand up again and wave.
2436.0s
Eileen's going to wave at you.
2437.4s
Hi, cutie pie.
2439.0s
Wonderful. Thank you once again for
2441.1s
spending the time with us. We're very
2442.7s
grateful for the time that you've given
2444.2s
to us and the, you know, many thoughts
2446.4s
that you've shared very candidly with
2448.1s
us. I'm going to hand back to Jasmine who will um lead us through the next who will um lead us through the next segment. Thank you so much Eileen and Professor Kong. Can we please give them another round of applause?
2451.3s
who will um lead us through the next
2453.7s
who will um lead us through the next segment.
2454.5s
Thank you so much Eileen and Professor
2456.2s
Kong. Can we please give them another
2457.4s
round of applause?
