Interview with David Rowan - "in two years time, people will be working in jobs that haven't been invented yet"
In 2009, David Rowan launched Wired UK. It was the third country launch of the Wired magazine brand, following Wired Italia earlier that year and the original US Wired some two decades before. Initially there were doubts as to whether launching the UK version was a savvy business move or not, with some commentators questioning whether a technology, science and innovation themed-title could emulate its American cousin without having the same start-up culture and surrounding landscape that the latter possessed.
In the four years since, the decision has been more than vindicated. The entrepreneurial culture in the UK and throughout Europe has transformed in recent years. The ‘Tech City’/’Silicon Roundabout’ hub in East London is now home to more than a thousand companies – global leaders in their specific fields among them – and there is an ever expanding network of venture capital firms, innovation hubs, technical infrastructure and government support alongside it.
In the video below, David discusses the ways that companies must adapt in the digital economy, along with his thoughts on disruptive technologies like big data, mobile and 3D printing. “For any 16 year old today, there is a good chance that the job they will be doing when they reach working age has not been invented yet,” he contends. “Our own tablet designers are evidence of that – their skills did not exist two years ago.”
If you’d like to book David for a speaking opportunity, please email Alex Hickman.
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