Moderating a Panel Discussion for Digital Capital Week 2010

In November 2011, I organized and moderated a panel discussion during Digital Capital Week, an annual technology festival in Washington, DC. I proposed the event as a way of promoting the British Council’s Transatlantic Network 2020, a diverse group of young professionals who are emerging leaders in their fields, as well as the British Council’s pioneering work in using new media to expand the reach of the performing arts.

The event was held at the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute. Here’s what we discussed:

In a networked world, weak social ties, not close relationships, are the ones that often lead to new opportunities and spark innovative ideas. Social media and other technologies help bridge geographic and cultural boundaries more easily than ever, but being connected alone is not enough.

How can we use the connections afforded by technology to build trust among diverse audiences? Across sectors, today’s young leaders are using online platforms to strengthen offline communities. During Digital Capital Week (DC Week) in November 2011, TN2020 hosted a lively conversation at the New America Foundation in Washington, DC, about the potential for technology to bridge online and offline communities. We were joined by panelists from the performing arts, government and local media, including one of TN2020’s own.