Evolution’s Post

Music Business Association #NEXTGEN Summit at Belmont University: As I shared my thoughts on the challenges facing this generation of creatives and entrepreneurs in the music industry, one thing became clear: we're struggling with a crisis of motivation. With so many resources and opportunities readily available, it's easy to get complacent and rely on shortcuts rather than putting in the hard work. But I believe that's exactly what's holding us back from reaching our full potential. As Juma Ikangaa, a renowned long-distance runner and Boston Marathon favorite, once said: "The desire to win means nothing without the will to prepare." This quote resonates deeply with me, and I think it's a crucial reminder for all of us in the music industry. We can't just want to succeed - we have to be willing to put in the effort required to get there. That's why my motto is: STAY IN THE GYM. It's not just about physical fitness, but about mental toughness, resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. When we stay in the gym, we stay focused, driven, and prepared to take on whatever challenges come our way. This generation has the talent, the tech, and the innovative spirit... but are we willing to put in the work required to truly succeed? Samantha Saint-Germain, MPA, Universal Music Group, Joseph Barrett, Propel Center Lanei Joi Spight, Kelly King, East Iris Recording Studio #musicindustry #NEXTGEN #creativeentrepreneurship #STAYINTHEGYM

According to the Green Start-up Monitor, green start-ups are at the forefront of economic transformation. Almost one-third of start-ups in Germany are now successfully prioritising sustainability, and 39% of these companies can demonstrate their sustainability impact with solid data, up from 27% the previous year. This year's GREENTECH FESTIVAL in Berlin was a testament to this trend. Since 2019, GTF has been bringing together thousands of green changemakers and innovators, and this year's event was one for the books, especially with some of the new features in play. One of my highlights was the brand-new Start-Up Land! This dedicated exhibition area provided 50 selected green start-ups with an exciting platform to showcase their groundbreaking innovations. Another great addition that had people talking was the GTF Music program, which gave GTF a proper festival feel. Music always brings people together, and the fact that attendees wanted to spend more time networking because of the great vibe worked well. The main act, KAMRAD, alongside a live DJ and many acts in the GTF outside area. Speaking of bringing people together, sports also played a big role at the festival. In the spirit of the European Football Championships, various teams had the chance to compete in indoor football, and the DFB offered a special prize draw for tickets to the DFB Cup final, along with a chance to see the official trophy. It was a fantastic way to combine sportsmanship with sustainability. What would you like to see featured at the next GREENTECH FESTIVAL? Share your ideas in the comments below! #GTF2024 #GreenTech #Sustainability #Innovation

Uttrayan, also known as Makar Sankranti, marks the transition of the sun into the northern hemisphere, signifying the onset of longer days and the arrival of spring. Beyond the colorful kites dotting the sky, there are invaluable lessons to learn from this festival: Unity in Diversity: Uttrayan brings people from various backgrounds together to celebrate, emphasizing unity despite differences. #festivalofjoy Letting Go: Just as kites soar when the strings are released, the festival teaches us the art of letting go and embracing freedom from attachments. Resilience: Kite flying involves resilience – facing gusts of wind, maneuvering, and not giving up. It teaches the value of perseverance amidst challenges. Joy in Simplicity: Amidst the grandeur of the festival, simplicity lies in the joy of flying a kite, and relishing moments with family and friends. Harmony with Nature: The arrival of spring signifies harmony with nature, reminding us to respect and celebrate the environment. Uttrayan is more than just a festival; it's a celebration of life, togetherness, resilience, and the joy of embracing change. #festival #unityindiversity #lettinggo #resilience #harmonywithnature #celebrationoflife #embracechange #softwaredevelopment #itindustry #innovation

Mind-blowing reality: By the 1990s, Amsterdam had become the biking, walking, eco-capital of the world — all without AI, blockchain, surveillance tech, big data, and other techno-solutionist silver bullets. How did Amsterdam do it before big tech "saviors"? Community groups formed and courageously organized. More citizens became civic activists. They elected wiser politicians. They didn't build their city around car technology (the shiny big tech of its day.) Today urban "innovation" is full of hasty unexamined hype following the endless next "big things" in tech. The irony is that experts in one domain (urbanism, development) are deeply uncritical of the critical issues in other domains (digital tech, media studies) resulting in regulatory capture, ideological capture, and cognitive capture... which often undermine the core of their missions in sustainability, human rights, and social equity. All technology is political. Does your organization thoroughly understand the politics of the tech you are using and funding? The tech we choose has profound effects on path dependency, democracy, and cultural politics. There are wiser directions in tech that aren't repeating the same anti-human modernism of Le Corbusier or Robert Moses. What can be done? Bring in practitioners with a critical understanding across many domains. I can help you with this (product strategy, design & consulting) and connect you to research and other fantastic, critical, wiser voices — reach out any time. Great video summarizing how Amsterdam became Amsterdam, all without tech: https://lnkd.in/ek-ak7Am #modeshift #climatetransition #mobility #transportation #digitalplacemaking #wisecities #leavenoonebehind #sdgs #urbaninnovation

"I had not only completed the race, I had done it with a sense of true freedom" Technology has the potential to change lives for good. One such example is the story of Fatmir Seremeti PLY, a Paralympic goalball athlete and advocate for the visually impaired. He recently completed the Stockholm Half Marathon with a groundbreaking assist from Google's #ProjectGuideline. This innovative technology uses on-device #machinelearning to provide audio cues that helped him navigate the course independently, without the need for physical guidance. Fatmir, who lost his sight as a teenager, has always embraced new possibilities. From excelling in goalball to inspiring others through his advocacy work, he constantly seeks ways to overcome challenges. Project Guideline offered him a new level of freedom in his running journey. Simply using a phone and headphones, Fatmir followed a sighted guide with the help of audio signals that alerted him to his position on the course. This allowed him to experience the joy of running untethered and unrestricted. Fatmir's accomplishment highlights the transformative potential of accessible technology. His participation in the Stockholm Half Marathon is a testament to his determination and a powerful example of how AI can create a more inclusive world. Now imagine the possibilities, imagine the potential and the most wonderful world that could ever exist. I highly recommend you all to watch the video. #accessibility #AI #innovation #ProjectGuideline #StockholmHalfMarathon

🎸 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 🎸 In case you’re not a Metal head, Kirk Hammett is arguably one of the most successful guitarists ever. While watching another amazing video by Rick Beato, I realized how applicable Kirk’s approach is to continuous professional development. Inspiration often strikes when you least expect it. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 & 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Never stop seeking out new things to learn. Whether it’s mastering a new technique or diving into a side project that excites you, continuous learning keeps you sharp and engaged. 📚 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱: Let your surroundings inspire you. You might discover new passions or skills that you never would have explored otherwise. This mindset not only expands your skill set but also fosters creativity. 🌟 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂: Find work that not only interests you but also excites you. Passion fuels productivity, and when you love what you do, you’ll never want to stop improving. 💪 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗲: Growth happens when you push your boundaries. Make it a habit to try something new, even if it’s daunting. Staying true to the fundamentals while experimenting with new ideas leads to personal and professional evolution. 🚀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁: Study the masters in your field. Their experiences and insights can provide valuable lessons that fast-track your growth. 👑 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁: Dedicate time every day to honing your skills. Whether it’s your day job or a side hustle, continually refining your craft keeps you at the top of your game. 🎨 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: Don’t be afraid to show the world your other talents. Your day job is just one part of who you are. Break the ice and dive into those projects you’ve been putting off—now’s the time to let your creativity shine. 🌈 If you’ve made it this far, I hope you found these insights as useful as I did. 🔥 #Leadership #ContinuousLearning #Inspiration #RicBeato #Metallica

Day13 Horizon #inktober #inktoberhorizon #inktober2024horizon #inktober2024 #inktoberchallenge #inktober52

Keen to be part of Bad Ischl- Salzkammergut 2024 European Capital of Culture Opening Weekend. Activities start today and culminate tomorrow (Saturday 20th), exploring the notion of 'Salt for Europe'. Bad Ischl and the Salzkammergut region present themselves as the first European Capital of Culture taking place entirely on a rural setting and argue that the future of Europe relies on the capacity for places to reposition themselves ("geopolitically, climatically, economically, socially"). Rural areas, in particular, must reinvent themselves, and this ECoC project intends to offer tools, spaces and provocations to enable such reinvention. Back in November 2023, the three ECoCs 2024 hosted a special event at the European Parliament. I had the pleasure of moderating a panel of political representatives to discuss the value and impact of the ECoC title to advance international cultural cooperation. The angle from Bad Ischl was as follows: "Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024, the first ECoC within an inner-alpine region, aims for new visions and ideas through regional and international artistic positions, cultural measures, networking, discursive performance. 23 municipalities in the Salzkammergut region are joining forces. A focus lies on exploring rural areas as a space of opportunity and presenting the Salzkammergut region as an exemplary region/a laboratory for the future of Europe, on an equal, if not more important, footing alongside urban developments. Sustainable strategies will be explored." I posed the following questions:   -      How broad may be the ECoC’s international agenda? In exploring the programme’s European Dimension, how much is it about intra-European relations, how much is about Europe looking outwards / beyond the continent?   ●     How may an ECoC help advance the case for culture to help tackle other international agendas – eg. climate change, mental health challenges?   ●     How do ECoC projects help relate city agendas with regional agendas? Can an ECoC make regions better connected internationally? And to the representatives from Bad Ischl, specifically, I asked: ●     What is your perspective on the importance of (cultural) infrastructure in the rural area? What can you do to improve it? Christopher Drexler (Head of Federal State of Styria) and Thomas Stelzer (Head of Federal State of Upper Austria) answered my questions from the Austrian perspective, alongside representatives from Bodø (Norway) and Tartu (Estonia), who will be celebrating their openings over the next two weekends. You can find more information about the programme in the link attached. I will be reporting observations and gathering evidence of cultural impacts throughout the year. https://lnkd.in/ezrFZXw6  

NLoM! is happy to be part in the Move at Work project‼️   Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission, Move at Work is a 3️⃣-year project intended to contribute to physical activity and #sport in the working environment.👩💻   To develop and promote company sport, we recently organised a conference in conjunction with the RunforDiv project, also showing the importance of eco-responsibility in professional sports events.  👉Key take-aways from our conference here👉 https://lnkd.in/eSPSKy4q   The main goal of the M@W project is to encourage companies and their teams to adopt active lifestyles, through several actions: 📊 Consolidate, clarify constraints, breaks and needs based on end-users’ analysis 🛠️ Create tools for support, popularization, education 👔 Promote & communicate to private and public decision-makers a support in their approach to integrating physical activity into their work environment 📚 Major Move at Work production will be an online platform and a digital educational program (MOOC) to educate, train and democratize the implementation of company sport. #moveatwork #maw #vitaliteit

After grooving at a Coldplay concert, it hit me: Coldplay and Saksoft are on the same sustainability wavelength! 🌱 Both have hit the big leagues by achieving carbon-neutral status! Who knew rockstars and tech wizards could moonlight as environmental superheroes? 🦸♂️🌍 Just like Coldplay's ingenious moves with recycled wristbands and pedal-powered concerts (Seriously, stationary cycling for power? Genius!), Saksoft gets it too: Digital Transformation isn't just about ones and zeroes— it's about curbing our tech's hunger for energy. Because let's face it, software development and data storage can be real energy hogs. From coding to energy savings, we're on a green-tech mission! 🚀Join us on this ride to a brighter, cleaner digital future! 🚀♻️ #SaksoftGoesGreen #Coldplay #CarbonNeutral Saksoft 360logica Software Testing Services Acuma Solutions Forum Coldplay