Hello, everyone and welcome back. I hope you had really a great time during the networking and I saw the celebration room was full with inspirational stories to share personal stories, people cheering each other, celebrating success is truly inspiring. Awesome.And I'm here with Mary Spio CEO of CPR Deep Space. Mary is a deep space engineer and CC uh virtual reality founder. She has created technologies and content solutions for global titans such as Lucasfilms, Universal Music, Miami Children's Hospital, Facebook, Clear Challenge and Boeing Mary is one of the boards of Facebook's Oculus VR for Good. And Amazon's launch pad Spio is also a scientific reviewer for the United States Department of Defense. The topic of her talk, innovation is not a rocket science and here she is, please welcome and give her a virtual round of applause. Hi, Mary.

Hi. Hi. Thank you so much. It's such a pleasure to be here.

Super excited to have you with us and already lo in the common sense that you have an amazing profile and people are excited to hear you and I will leave the stage to you. We will be back for Q and A if you have some time, please enjoy.

Ok, thank you. Thank you so much, Anna and congratulations to everyone, you know, um congratulations for being part of the network of women and, you know, heading towards a million women in tech. Um Today I wanted to talk about innovation, but from a slightly different perspective, you know, from a perspective of the fact that innovation is not rocket science. And what I mean by that is often you see that uh when it comes to tech, particularly people tend to complicate things uh which then leaves uh makes a lot of people feel left out. So I wanted to share some of my stories, some of the things that I've learned along my journey and some of the things that have helped me continue to innovate, you know, for some of the companies that um Anna uh mentioned, but it's a significant time to be a woman today because our perspectives are so much needed, especially in the area of tech because that's how we're going to shape our future.

So thank you for, you know, joining today. So I'm, you know, the um governor uh Hello. So I'm the uh founder of uh Seek. And what is Seek Seek VR is a streaming platform for virtual events and experiences. And what's unique about what we do is the fact that we actually deliver um experiences via virtual reality headsets. Um You know, whether it's our own proprietary one that you see here or through, you know, things such as the ocular HT CV and so much more. And uh some of the content that we distribute includes uh music from everyone from Demi Lovato Rihanna, uh Bon Jovi. And the list goes on. We also have partnered with the likes of Dwayne Wade, um who is the NBA Hall of Famer to um allow uh people around the world, athletes around the world to be able to learn from the professionals. We've created VR for use in hospitals. Um And the list goes on pretty much what we're doing is developing all these different virtual worlds that we're connecting and what will ultimately be the metaverse, right? I don't know if anyone has uh read the book Ready player one. But when you talk about uh virtual reality, that's pretty much what's happening is we're all doing this migration, whether you're in business or you're in your personal life to ultimately being able to create this um virtual world and a parallel virtual world to what we have today and especially today with COVID.

Uh it couldn't be more apparent why we need, you know, such a virtual environment which is interactive. So the story you know of Sikh actually starts with a little girl uh in Ghana, West Africa and she was um inspired, you know, she was at a time of great unrest, but even through the chaos and turmoil, she would always uh lean on her imagination and dream of

all these amazing places uh that she could visit in her imagination. Um And, you know, saw this program on space exploration that uh led her to follow her curiosity to ultimately become a deep space scientist. And that girl is me. Um And through this uh journey, uh there is a lot that she learned. And now through the power of virtual reality, she wants to also make it possible for others to experience these amazing worlds. Uh you know, not just with their imagination, but really create these worlds that are beyond, you know, possibility. Um So uh my career started as a deep space scientist uh working for the likes of Intel Sat. Um And I came up with the, my first innovative technology was a way for movie studios to be able to transmit content through satellite to multiple theaters. So before when they created movies, they would have these reels. And if you needed to distribute movies to, let's say 30,000 theaters, you had to have 30,000 reels times the number of screens. So 100 and 50,000 of these shipped around the world, not very environmentally friendly and then also very, very expensive. It could cost you as much as $30 million. So by creating this technology where now you could just do a simple broadcast to movie theaters, it was a substantial cost savings and it was very innovative, completely transformed the movie industry. Um Actually this is me here.

Uh there, there was a satellite in that rocket that I was about to uh send to states. But anyway, it was completely um innovative and transformative for the industry. You know, after Boeing digital Cinema, I was also able to create several technologies for some of these companies that uh you see here. And so a lot of times people ask me, well, how do you innovate, what is innovation about? And to me, innovation is about five things, right? The first one being problems um you know, as a kid growing up in Ghana, I remember I would always ask my dad about, you know why we're going back, you know, to Ghana because he had studied in the US. And I felt it would have been a much easier path, you know, if he had only just stayed. Um And so one day he shared with me that, you know, life is about solving problems, you know, he said that in the final analysis, we will be remembered for one of two things. One is the problems that we create and the other is the problems that we solve and that our world is full of problems. And so find some really good ones to solve, right?

And he had returned to Ghana because he wanted to be part of the solution of a better future, creating the world that he wanted to live in. And that's what innovation is about. The first uh pillar of innovation is finding good problems to solve. For me. When I first experienced virtual reality, uh this is what it looked like where you had to connect all these different wires. And then, you know, this was the notion of mobile VR where you had to strap a $6000 computer to your back and, you know, uh make sure that you didn't get, you know, strangled to death by these cords and, and what have you. And I knew that there had to be a better solution and because I was passionate about uh being able to experience so many things, education and attainment. Um and you know, what have you healthcare with VR, I set out to create a much, much more simpler solution, which was uh figuring out a way to do VR through mobile. This was actually done way before any of the mobile VR headsets that we have now. And so that, you know, was my contribution to uh the world of virtual reality.

So created uh an app uh that you could download, um you would, you know, and then also uh a VR headset that you would simply insert your phone into and then you'd be able to experience the content. Um And I did this also because a lot of the early VR headsets used to make me really sick and a lot of women would complain about it making them sick as well. Well, it turns out most of the VR headsets that were in the marketplace had only been, had been created by men tested on men, hadn't been tested on women, hadn't been tested on Children. And so, for example, the inter puppey distance, which is your eye distance, which is very different for men than it is for women uh because it had never been tested on women. Um It was, is not, you know, uh suitable for a lot of women. And so I created the first VR headset that actually allowed you to adjust the eye distance. And then also um found out that even the focal lens, the focal distance for depth and um presence within VR uh for women was also different. So there were so many considerations that had not gone into creating a lot of the VR headsets that were available that I made sure that in creating a VR headset that I put those into consideration to create something that's comfortable, easy to use.

And then, you know, that will be able to uh meet a huge market, right? Someone once said to me at a AVR conference that it's amazing that, you know, we look at the world and 50% of the world, you know, almost 50% of the world are women. And yet that entire demographic had been skipped by not being able to test um you know, the products. Another thing that I realized, you know, when I would do VR um which you know, um is super, super exciting. But I would notice that a lot of the audio that was available, like I would be inside of a 360 environment and things would be happening around me, but I could only hear them at ear level. And so I created the very first um headphone 360 headphones uh for virtual reality, even though it was created for virtual reality, turns out because of the vibration and your ability to hear above and below that, it gives additional perspective. And today is used by a lot of elite athletes. Actually, this is uh one of the players for uh Real Madrid that has it on now. But we have all kinds of elite athletes that use it today. And then also even for music. Um you know, so it's great uh uh present is also great holiday present for Christmas in case anyone wants uh some ideas and gifts. But the notion of um innovation starts with first solving a problem, you know, innovation is not about selling products, it's about solving a problem.

And once you find a good problem to solve, you can always start small. Uh because I wanted to create something that I could use, something that I was passionate about, something that I also knew, could uh solve a problem for others. And then, you know, it expands globally. So you always, you find that problem, you start small and then, you know, but you apply that uh prob um that solution globally. So today, you know, with COVID, of course, a lot of the um uses of VR especially for touring, you know, has really blossomed for us and it's just really fueled, you know, the growth of our business. The next uh thing about innovation is you have to find your place, right? Um ee especially for me as a woman and also as a black woman in tech, there were a lot of places and a lot of times that I felt that, you know, people didn't feel like I belonged, right? But in life in general, you have to find your place. It doesn't matter or what.

I, I remember when I first had my son, like, you know, I went to my mom who I felt did a great job raising six of us to ask about what advice she had. And her advice to me was that as a parent, your job really is to make sure that your kids are healthy and happy, right? And then when they're adults, their responsibility then is to find their place. I thought this was tremendous to find your place in the world. Um And innovation is also about finding your place, you know. Um I remember being at uh one of the conferences, I'm not gonna, you know, tell you which I would happen to be the only woman in the room at the time and they were talking showing people about how to use the, you know, the V particularly VR headset with a gaming controller and so on and so forth.

And I raised my hand to ask about, well, what about people that don't want to use a gaming controller? Don't know how to use a gaming controller. And everyone turned around and, you know, a lot of the guys started to laugh and the lead engineer, uh said, who doesn't know how to use a gaming controller? I knew then, and then that that particular place was in my place, but I knew my place was in music because everyone that I was talking to from universal music to Disney. And the list goes on, all these companies were saying to me, we need a solution that does not include our uh you know, fans of music, for example, having to use a gaming controller just to move around, right? And so that's when I created um a controller for mobile that allows people that don't wanna, you know, have to carry around a gaming controller just to enjoy music in VR. Uh And, and the funny thing is today, every single VR company has created also uh a gaming controller.

And when you look at the patent for uh their gaming controllers, every single one of them references uh the very first gaming controller that I created, you know, so I say that to say you don't belong everywhere but you belong somewhere. So find that place. So if there is somewhere that, you know, uh where you don't, you know, feel comfortable being, it could really be pointing you in the direction of, you know, a solution that you should be bringing up, that will also allow other people who are having that same problem to be able, you know, to be able to address uh that problem for them.

So, you know, find your place in the world. Um And you know, uh part of our place is uh ensuring that um you know, music fans um can access uh virtual reality uh content. Um And the other aspect of innovation is purpose, right? It's the mission, what is the purpose? Um I, you read somewhere before that when you solve a problem for yourself, right? You, you're just solving a problem, but when you solve a problem for others, you're creating a movement. My mission has always been about empowering others, right?

When I created the digital cinema technology that was about in, you know, empowering major studios. Um And then from there, I created an online video platform which um allowed independent movie maker to be able to get their content um out there. And today at seek, our mission is to empower creators with the tools they need uh to be able to create sustainable careers. So it's always about others, which is also why, you know, it's about service and, and our purpose is making sure that we can create this balance in the world that includes everyone. Um and, you know, by providing tools and innovation that's, you know, very inclusive. And then also when you are purposeful, when you have a mission, right, which my mission is one of um you know, equity making sure that we have a balanced world, a fair and equitable world in which uh content creators can get paid for their artistry for their work. It's also about making sure that it doesn't matter if I'm an urban artist or a pop artist that I can still reach my fence and I can still make a living that whether I live in Peru or Ghana or anywhere else that I could still have direct access uh to the tools that I need to be able to monetize, you know, my work.

Um and, and, and so when you're purpose driven during those times of doubt, during those times of fear and oh, should I be doing? This is too difficult? The mission is what's going to allow you to keep going because you know that it's so much bigger than yourself. So, and you know, by empowering other artists. Now, we're able to uh pa partner with the likes of universal music and you know, so many people recently for the 75th anniversary celebration of Bob Marley Universal teamed with us um to create a VR experience which is, you know, phenomenal. I encourage you to check it out, go to see.com. Um But this is now the number one live stream on Facebook, we had over 9.4 million streams uh within the 1st 24 hours and, you know, continues, uh to be viewed. Um And so these are all things that when you are thinking about the people that you're solving the problem for, ultimately, you know, it ends up being something that can be used, not just by yourself but by everyone else. And I see that I should be wrapping it up. So I'm gonna um share the final two thoughts on innovation, its people and its persistence, right?

When it comes to people, in order to build innovative solutions, you have to make sure that you have diverse people at the table. I remember um an astronaut, I, I went through flight training a long time ago and there was an astronaut that I met. Uh you know, who was telling me that he had been part of the um some of the very, very early missions. And uh one of the problems that they were trying to solve was uh using a pen, ink pen in space. And because of, you know, the lack of gravity, uh they had a, the ink had a hard time flowing and they couldn't write with it. And so they were going through all these different um you know, sessions, technical sessions trying to come up with a pen that would actually write in space and she said that one of the secretaries that they had in there, you know, there was, there's a black um woman that was in there who was one of the secretaries and one during one of the sessions, she looked up to them and said, well, why don't we just use a pencil?

Why don't we just use a pencil? Right? Um And sometimes the, the solution is so clear to others, right? And it's the same as when you have a light coming through a straw or through a very small aperture, the more people you can have around you, the more uh of a solu you know, more diverse solution you can create, right? Arthur Schen Hower, who I quote a lot says that talent hits a mark that only, you know, talent hits, but genius hits a mark that only few people can see. So it's genius, it's not about, you know, getting all straight A's in school and, you know, being this gender or going to that school, genius is about insight is about being close to the problem, being close to the purpose. It's about having this unique perspective that you can contribute to the world. You know, when I went to Boeing at Digital Cinema, there was some phenomenal engineers that had been there for a very, very long time, but I was able to come up with a solution because I just had a different perspective and our perspective has not been represented Right.

If you look at the last 10 years, the trillions of investments that has gone into uh tech very, you know, a few years ago, it was just 2%. I was 3%. So we've got 3% you've got 97% of the world's innovations that are being created and supported by just one group of people that I think is the greatest failing of Silicon Valley and greatest failing of our generation. And we need to fix that. You know, we need to make sure that innovation is inclusive and that we're funding more women, we're funding more people of color so that we can contribute these innovations that are going to change and uh shape the world. Um And, and I think a lot of times people think that by bringing more people into the circle, uh the pie gets smaller, the pie gets bigger. I was in Mongolia one time and I saw something that I'll never forget. It was a single monk with a light candle and lit the one next to him. And then they kept lighting and lighting and lighting. And before you knew the whole place was lit up, when you share your light, you live in a brighter world, you don't live in a darker world by bringing more people in. And my last one is persistence. Be persistent since, be persistent.

A lot of times, you know, people go on social media and they'll see um you know some of these postings, uh somebody's day 30 right? And compare it to somebody else's year 30 thinking that they're an overnight success. There is no such things. So don't make excuses, don't think that, you know, you're not gonna get there. Um And when you plant a tree, you don't uproot it to see if it growing, just believe in the outcome and persist. Um And so that is, you know what I believe? Some of those are the five pillars that have been extremely useful when it comes to uh you know, innovating that I share with you. And so the last thing I'm gonna uh share with you um is something that, you know, was shared with me as I was coming to the US. And that was about keeping my sense of wonder and always making magic where I point my focus. So I share the same thing with all of you. Please keep your sense of wonder, believe in the outcome and make magic, you know. Thank

you. Thank you. Thank you for creating this magic at our conference. It was really, really inspiring to have you and everything which you shared totally resonates with me. I think you're a role model, a change maker and love what you're doing. Keep it up and inspire the rest of our community, other communities to join tech to do incredible things just like you do. Thank you, Mary. Thanks a lot. Thank you. It was really a pleasure to have you with us and stay with us for some sessions or networking.

All right. Thank

you. Congratulations everyone. Congratulations Anna.

Thanks Mary.