The opening keynote is from Angel Gambino. I have heard loads about her over the years from different people, and met her for the first time for a wonderful dim sum lunch last week. She lives up to her reputation. She is bright, kick ass and a pleasure to spend time with. On a side note, I can’t tell you how chuffed I am that we have managed to find not one, but two, women who have agreed to deliver this year’s keynotes. I showed Eddie Berg the beginnings of the skeleton programme a month or two ago and he was horrified. ” Katz” he said” You of all people!” “What?” says I, not a little confused. ” There are no women” he said “I’m surprised at you.” I was surprised too. Sometimes, you get so involved in a project that you can’t see the wood for the trees. I hadn’t even thought about it. We’ve certainly redressed the balance since this revelation. Cheers Eddie.

Angel has called her opening keynote ” Strategic Serendipity” and the intro goes something like this:
“Creating change has been a thread that’s woven throughout my massively varied career

I launched my first webcast in 1997, while running massive environmental conferences (and between suing the US government). The webcast enabled activists and others from everywhere to engage with discussions I felt were crucial

Realizing the creative and communication potentials of the Internet, I decided that working in media and technology might be the most effective route to effect change

By chance, while playing volleyball with a bunch of rocket scientists on Capital Hill (where i was practicing law) I met some entrepreneurs. We began working together to explore how these new possibilities could be used to transform the industrial landscape

I started concentrating on electronic payment systems believing that one day, commerce would move online. After helping two of America’s largest banks create online banking services I moved over to media businesses. I worked with pioneers to create what become Europe’s’ largest online multi player gaming and ecommerce service before being headhunted by the BBC to lead their product and business development department. My task was to develop new partnerships across syndication broadband, mobile and emerging platforms. I effected similar changes at Viacom…launching mobile TV, WAP, MMS to screen, flux, etc.

Were these career shifts strategy or serendipity?

My experience has shown me that it is at the intersection between the two that powerful things happen. It is in these brief periods that we can successfully contribute to changing the world. Across career, business, technology, I think that recognizing and grasping serendipitous opportunity is the key to achieving success”

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