Jared Cohen

In the 21st century, statecraft – the art of leading a country, organizations, and companies – will be as much about relationship-building as it is negotiating. Drawing on his experience both in the government and in the private sector, Jared Cohen makes the compelling argument that governments and corporations must partner in order to develop fresh new solutions to traditional problems. This collaboration and exchange of ideas between the private and public sectors provides new and innovative ways to go about solving challenges, and opens up both parties to opportunities not available without the other. As the world changes rapidly around us, the communication and sharing of ideas between private and public has never been more vital. Throughout this keynote, Cohen shares successful examples and explores the vast possibilities that these collaborations can bring about in the future.

Jared Cohen pioneered the use of technology in America's foreign policy. Using anecdotes and insights gleaned from his years in the State Department, Cohen explains that the technological revolution is not just about new technologies: it is about how individuals use them. For example, it was Cohen who successfully led the charge from the State Department to urge the postponement of the routine scheduled maintenance of Twitter.com during the Iranian election protests in the summer of 2009, recognizing Twitter as the Iranians' only outlet for voicing what was truly happening in their country. It was also Cohen who led dozens of tech CEOs from Silicon Valley into the most turbulent parts of the world in efforts to connect the industry and foreign policy. In this fascinating keynote, Cohen will use stories such as these to broaden your grasp of what technology is capable of, deepening your understanding of how it can be used creatively and strategically to put you – and your business – on the cutting edge.

Did you know that over 60 percent of the world's population is under the age of 30? Jared Cohen does, and understands that this generation is the most savvy in connection technology yet, making it also the most individually-empowered generation in the world's history. Yet governments seem to ignore the size and potential influence of this demographic, perhaps failing to understand that the future of the world depends on what happens as this global youth bulge enters adulthood.

Today, young people in democratic societies take full advantage of new technologies, finding it increasingly easy to connect to the new diplomats and change-makers of the 21st century. And where autocracy dominates, the youth of these nations will become the de facto opposition. Cohen deftly articulates this phenomenon, while outlining a path for these young people – from the world's most democratic to its most autocratic societies.

According to Jared Cohen, the 21st century will be all about surprises. The relationships that exist between governments, corporations, and citizens are changing in fundamental ways that are both altering the international system and giving rise to a new world order. The conventional lines of communication that we have known for years have changed right before our eyes. The new centers of power are empowered communities, existing in every corner of the globe – from emerging markets to cyberspace. With experience in and out of government, Cohen has watched these new power dynamics unfold in emerging markets throughout the world. In this riveting presentation, Cohen introduces audiences to this fascinating phenomenon, and helps them navigate through a new world in which individual voices can carry more weight than the traditional influencers of the past.

Across the world, corporations, industry associations, economic development councils, chambers of commerce, and more are spending tremendous amounts of resources – from goodwill trips and partnership development to lobbying and good old-fashioned money – in developing global economic relationships. Yet we are entering into a dynamic new time, with new tools, new practices, and new behaviors that are already changing world diplomacy and redefining the rules for global business relationships. Join Jared Cohen as he explores the radically evolving nature of modern economic statesmanship as seen through his experiences in changing global diplomacy, both in the State Department and as Director of Google Ideas.

The increasing ubiquity of technology means that in the next decade everyone will be connected. Given that technology has an empowerment bias—for good and for ill—we must think about its longer term impact, says Jared Cohen, Director of Google Ideas. According to Cohen, technology is part of every challenge in the world and should also be part of every solution; this means technology touches every challenge, even where the linkage is less obvious. The solution, he says, is for societies to find ways to cut across different sectors and seek innovative ways to maximize the positive impact that these tools can have on the future of our world.