We are going
to mix up the order a little bit here and actually pivot into the upper Oh, we're stuck.
Hold on.
We'll get there.
Here we are.
This is the up-and-coming CommerUpper, a super chat-level sponsor.
Very excited to take you into this award.
But before we hand that over, let's get some inspiration from Viridian Dynamics, our sponsor.
Viridian Dynamics.
Friendship.
It's so important.
But it's different at work.
Time spent with friends at work robs your employer of productivity.
And robbing people is wrong.
Viridian Dynamics.
Friendship.
It's the same as stealing.
I like that clip for the up-and-comer award, because it reminds us.
They're up-and-coming, but they're on their own.
We can't help them.
Let's invite Chris Merkle to the stage, Senior Director, Cybersecurity Ops.
Thanks, everybody, for being here.
I'll tell you what, this is long overdue.
I've been an up-and-comer for the past 20 years.
You probably saw me on the Forbes 30 Under 30.
Me, Elizabeth Holmes, someday.
Cellmates, besties, I hope.
The thing about being up-and-coming is all you olds think that I'm up here delivering special insights that are derived from my youth, my cutting-edge education, my vitality.
And you're absolutely right.
So I need you all to listen very carefully.
Hearing aids up.
Because I'm going to tell you what the future brings.
The future brings AI.
Now, I deliver keynote addresses.
So when I'm talking about AI, and I use a stance like this, this means I'm making an important point that you need to listen to.
The thing about AI is I really don't have to prep.
I've heard a lot about vibe coding.
This is vibe keynoting.
So what I'm here to share are my most critical insights into how to vibe keynote.
Because with the right amount of money to get yourself on the cover of an industry magazine and a little bit of chat GPT, you too can be a thought leader like me.
So in order to do this, the first thing you have to understand is expertise is overrated.
Confidence is the new currency, the new capital.
If you don't have confidence, you've got nothing.
The second thing is that you need to have the ability to freestyle ideas on the fly.
Because if you can't do that, you're just going to be the kind of person who is looking at bullet points, who is taking thoughts that are well-constructed, that have some logical coherence, and walking through them to a conclusion.
Dear God, I've almost already fallen asleep here talking about it.
No.
I'm here to inspire.
I'm here to motivate.
And when you walk out of here, you're going to think to yourself, my God, that man was inspiring.
There's a certain value in having patsies in the audience.
Not to be understated here.
So, in conclusion, I just want to say that you're welcome for this award given to me from you, but because I'm good.
Thank you.
We just did that.
Thank you, Chris.
That was amazing.
Thank you.