[00:41.480 --> 00:42.320]  Up
[00:55.500 --> 01:00.720]  next in basically a Jeopardy board, let's see who's paid next.
[01:03.260 --> 01:07.200]  So, the regional leader of importance is our next award.
[01:07.200 --> 01:09.720]  I'm extremely excited to share this with you.
[01:09.720 --> 01:12.900]  And let's get inspired with a little video first.
[01:17.210 --> 01:18.630]  Viridian Dynamics.
[01:18.630 --> 01:20.190]  Doing the right thing.
[01:20.190 --> 01:21.630]  It's important.
[01:21.730 --> 01:23.690]  What does it mean in business?
[01:24.170 --> 01:26.150]  We have no idea.
[01:26.150 --> 01:28.410]  We know what wrong is.
[01:28.410 --> 01:30.630]  Actually, no, we don't.
[01:30.630 --> 01:33.270]  Because we're a successful company.
[01:33.270 --> 01:36.150]  Not some boring ethics professor.
[01:36.810 --> 01:38.250]  Viridian Dynamics.
[01:38.250 --> 01:39.550]  Right and wrong.
[01:39.550 --> 01:41.150]  It means something.
[01:41.150 --> 01:43.350]  We just don't know what.
[01:45.990 --> 01:47.410]  We're working on it, though.
[01:47.410 --> 01:52.370]  We have scientists at Viridian Dynamics that are actually working on helping us understand what it is.
[01:52.370 --> 01:58.650]  Please join me in welcoming Susan Van Toskington, founder of Quantum Tasks, to the stage.
[01:58.650 --> 02:00.950]  I have a lot of text to read.
[02:01.550 --> 02:02.790]  Amazing.
[02:03.290 --> 02:09.350]  A self-made visionary who transformed a modest $5 million family loan into a tech empire.
[02:09.350 --> 02:11.690]  The force behind Quantum Tasks.
[02:11.690 --> 02:18.130]  She has revolutionized AI, blockchain, and has paid for me to read the rest of this phrasing.
[02:19.130 --> 02:26.110]  A thought leader in disruptive innovation known for keynoting conferences like this one.
[02:26.110 --> 02:28.830]  Delegating everything except credit.
[02:28.830 --> 02:35.870]  She believes success is 90% networking, 10% buzzwords, and 0% user feedback.
[02:35.870 --> 02:49.570]  When she's not optimizing synergies, she's enjoying collecting first-edition NTFs, sailing on her 7G-enabled yacht, and mentoring young entrepreneurs, reminding them that she had it way harder.
[02:50.010 --> 02:50.950]  Her motto?
[02:50.950 --> 02:53.050]  Pivot first, ask questions later.
[02:53.050 --> 02:54.930]  Welcome to the stage, Susan.
[02:55.130 --> 02:55.950]  Wow.
[02:56.190 --> 02:57.670]  Thank you.
[02:58.010 --> 03:03.550]  First of all, I just have to say what an honor it is to be here.
[03:03.650 --> 03:07.410]  And Chris, I mean, I felt the same way.
[03:07.410 --> 03:10.350]  It's about time.
[03:15.300 --> 03:17.050]  Thank you.
[03:17.050 --> 03:17.830]  Thank you.
[03:17.830 --> 03:28.250]  I'd also like to thank CypherCon, Michael, the Academy, my personal trainer, my chef, my chauffeur.
[03:28.250 --> 03:29.210]  Thank you.
[03:29.210 --> 03:33.290]  Without all of you, I wouldn't be who I am today.
[03:33.290 --> 03:38.330]  But that being said, I am a self-made woman.
[03:38.330 --> 03:51.310]  I built this empire from nothing, nothing but grit, determination, and that humble $5 million loan from my parents.
[03:51.310 --> 03:58.430]  Mom, Dad, I promise I'm going to pay that back as soon as I'm financially solvent.
[03:59.770 --> 04:02.910]  It's been a long journey to get here.
[04:02.950 --> 04:10.450]  From the garages in Appleton, the boardrooms in Green Bay, and then one co-working space in Sheboygan.
[04:10.470 --> 04:13.970]  You know, where everyone's pretending to work on their startup.
[04:15.430 --> 04:18.930]  But they asked if I would share some gems with you.
[04:19.070 --> 04:21.990]  Because you are the future.
[04:22.190 --> 04:26.130]  You are the tech leaders of the next generation.
[04:26.130 --> 04:31.630]  So allow me to share just a few of those hard-earned lessons that have come in my journey.
[04:32.310 --> 04:40.430]  First of all, the best ideas are the most vague.
[04:41.190 --> 04:42.730]  That's right.
[04:43.250 --> 04:45.090]  You don't have a product?
[04:45.090 --> 04:46.770]  No problem.
[04:47.210 --> 04:52.870]  The less people know about what you have to offer, the more they're going to invest.
[04:55.370 --> 04:58.770]  Second, embrace failure.
[04:58.770 --> 05:01.030]  People will tell you to fail fast.
[05:01.030 --> 05:04.670]  I say fail fast, but have an exit strategy.
[05:05.210 --> 05:10.490]  And I mean not the one where you have to update your LinkedIn with looking for new opportunities.
[05:10.950 --> 05:15.850]  I'm talking about that failure that lands you on the TED stage.
[05:17.750 --> 05:20.610]  Fail fast and embrace it.
[05:20.610 --> 05:25.850]  Lesson three, AI will solve everything.
[05:26.150 --> 05:30.850]  Or at least give you a really good excuse.
[05:31.510 --> 05:35.190]  You know, product didn't work?
[05:35.250 --> 05:36.470]  AI.
[05:38.370 --> 05:40.650]  Late for a deadline?
[05:40.810 --> 05:42.150]  AI.
[05:42.570 --> 05:46.790]  Accidentally set fire to the server room?
[05:46.790 --> 05:49.090]  AI, baby.
[05:51.190 --> 05:54.870]  Lesson four, your team matters.
[05:55.850 --> 05:59.930]  Hire great people, pay them something.
[06:00.830 --> 06:06.770]  But remember that your personal brand is still more important than all of that.
[06:07.710 --> 06:14.650]  That's why personally, every single day on all my social media, I make sure to post an inspirational quote.
[06:14.650 --> 06:22.710]  And my LinkedIn, my headline is simply visionary, followed by seven rocket emojis.
[06:23.010 --> 06:30.530]  Because even if your company fails, if your thought leadership is on point, you still win.
[06:32.270 --> 06:36.750]  Lesson five, work-life balance.
[06:36.950 --> 06:40.850]  People will tell you all day long that it's crucial.
[06:40.850 --> 06:49.290]  But I say, earn that company first, build it up, then worry about balance.
[06:49.350 --> 06:51.970]  Work 120 hours a week.
[06:51.970 --> 06:54.070]  Neglect your family.
[06:54.070 --> 06:56.170]  Work around the clock.
[06:56.170 --> 06:59.190]  Then when you've built your empire, sell it.
[06:59.190 --> 07:03.750]  Then you can go work from Bora Bora and advise startups.
[07:04.750 --> 07:18.190]  So to all the dreamers, the innovators, the tech disruptors in your $600 hoodies, you are the future.
[07:18.490 --> 07:22.210]  You drinking your Nos in your mom's basement.
[07:22.270 --> 07:31.030]  You getting the triple foam caramel macchiato with two shots of activated adaptogens and a side of existential dread.
[07:31.210 --> 07:33.310]  You are the tech future.
[07:33.310 --> 07:36.010]  So just remember, be vague.
[07:36.170 --> 07:37.570]  Embrace failure.
[07:37.890 --> 07:39.250]  Blame AI.
[07:39.250 --> 07:40.590]  Work around the clock.
[07:40.590 --> 07:44.070]  And you, too, can be a tech influencer.
[07:44.570 --> 07:46.030]  Thank you.
[07:53.340 --> 07:55.140]  Three sashes on stage.
[07:55.140 --> 07:56.720]  What more could you ask for?
[07:56.720 --> 07:57.860]  Thank you, Susan.
[07:57.860 --> 07:58.960]  Beautiful.