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This week, Barcelona was the place to be for GenY’ers who want to make it in the mobile and digital industry. They could either exhibit or visit 4yfn, a startup event devoted to innovation in the mobile and digital ecosystem. Visitors could join this business platform focused on building ideas and lasting relationships for international startups, investors and corporations. The event was part of GSMA Mobile World Congress, the premier event for the global mobile industry, with 85,000+ attendees, 4,500 CEOs and 1,800 exhibitors.
Keywords at this event where: Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Everything (IoE), startups, app development, entrepreneurship and funding. Lots of GenY’ers where there to find funding for their business ideas. I visited a few of the sessions but one of them stood out for me, so that’s the one I want to share with you. It was by the keynote speaker Manjula Talreja, Vice President of Cisco. This particular event was hosted by the Women in Business Congress, a congress that took place within the 4yfn programme, aimed at corporate and business women, entrepreneurs and young talent with an international view.
During a 40-minute speech, Manjula Talreja discussed the “The Internet of Everything (IoE): Seizing the Opportunities”. She provided her insights into what it takes to be successful and meet today’s rapidly changing customer demands and new revenue streams fuelled by the cloud, big data, mobile, social, and analytics. She had a specific message for young talent…
Overall IoE opportunities are estimated to represent a staggering 19 trillion dollar value-at-stake. As the world becomes increasingly connected, every company must be a digital company. For workers at all levels, this means developing digital skills to grow the economy and be successful. Leading, managing and selling in the digital economy requires collaboration, continual learning, virtual teaming, agility, a focus on business outcomes, and a commitment and willingness to innovate. Thinking about what skills you want to further sharpen, she advised us to ask ourselves: “What is the role that I want to play in this world of huge change”. And we should also keep in mind that this new economy needs more leaders than followers to succeed.
“In order to be successful you have to be bold and take risks”, she said. “You might fail first. You are not necessarily successful at first try. Because everything is changing, the economy, the environment and the business world.”
