The Stories We Tell Panel Discussion

Panel Context & Introductions

• Host Tracy Woon (UBS) introduces panelists Frank Vassiliadis, Drew Shindler, and Jay, emphasizing the panel's focus on storytelling through new lenses and the intersection of diverse mediums.
• Drew highlights his role as an artist and technologist and notes his personal connection to the topic through his three artistic children (woodworker, tattoo artist, and IT professional).
• Jay notes his 3 years of monastic experience and meditation practice, contrasting it with Woon's more theoretical approach to mindfulness after starting at age 58.

Cross-Cultural Communication & Universal Values

• Frank argues that while basic issues vary by culture, values and principles (such as education for Chinese mothers vs. happiness for American mothers) transcend language, generation, and politics.
• Frank provides a statistical observation that these differing priorities result in "American kids who are happy and dumb" versus "Chinese kids who are brilliant and unhappy," a generalization he admits does not fit every individual but fits many.
• Frank warns against adopting the divisive narrative lexicon emerging from US politics, urging global leaders to stand against damaging language even if it risks professional repercussions in the US.

Art, Technology, and the Anti-"Fake News" Mission

• Drew defines "fake news" as the propagation of fabricated facts to make people comfortable and stop thinking, positioning art as the antithesis because it raises questions, induces discomfort, and forces critical engagement.
• Drew advocates for a shift from STEM to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), citing Steve Jobs' original Macintosh team as a model of "hybrid thinkers" who combined left-brain and right-brain skills.
• Jay contends that internal honesty and self-awareness are prerequisites for external honesty, noting that without inner fulfillment, no external art or message can be truly honest.
• Jay cites a study showing 30% of women and 60% of men chose to receive an electric shock over 15 minutes of solitude with their thoughts, illustrating the modern discomfort with introspection.

Defining Social Impact and Aesthetics

• Drew distinguishes art that drives specific social movements (e.g., "Touch Our Future" on infant mortality) from philosophical works that influence perception and thinking on a broader, harder-to-measure scale.
• Drew asserts that aesthetics alone are insufficient; art requires meaning to be considered true art and to avoid being merely decorative.
• Jay suggests that the "root" of youth depression and social media disconnect is a failure to teach children how to be alone, arguing that social media merely amplifies pre-existing human deficiencies like greed and envy.

Corporate Communication & Leadership Advice

• Frank advises women in finance to stop saying "I am listening" and instead use "I get it" to demonstrate comprehension.
• Frank recommends replacing the promise of "security" (which implies a threat exists) with the delivery of "peace of mind," which implies no problem is present.
• Frank suggests replacing the question "What is your goal?" with "Imagine life at perfection: Where are you? Who are you with? What are you doing?" to build deeper client relationships.
• Frank shares a personal anecdote of confronting parents using phones at dinner to illustrate the necessity of parental modeling in regulating children's device usage.

Social Media Dynamics & The "Influencer" Definition

• Jay argues that the imbalance between consuming and creating online content is a primary driver of toxic social media relationships, urging the creation of technology that fosters creativity rather than passive consumption.
• Jay asserts that children mimic parental behavior regarding phone usage, noting that if parents are constantly on devices, children view it as the norm.
• Frank critiques the term "influencer" when applied to anyone with a following selling products, defining a true influencer as someone in the top 3% who consumes daily news, engages with public policy, and possesses high-level education or wisdom.
• Frank notes the disconnect between "influencers/elites" and the general public, citing the Brexit vote where influencers failed to predict a "Leave" victory.
• Jay and Frank agree that corporations hold the responsibility to select influencers who align with positive societal values rather than those who merely drive sales.

Closing Mindfulness Session

• The session concludes with a 5-minute guided meditation led by Jay, focusing on physical comfort, natural breathing patterns, and gentle neck and head movements to reduce stress.
• Jay instructs the audience to acknowledge distractions without frustration, gently returning focus to the breath and sensations of "calm, balance, ease, stillness, and peace."