Randi Zuckerberg
From social media pioneer to Web3 advocate
As marketing director, she was instrumental in the early days of Facebook and is the creator of Facebook Live. Today, she operates as one of the leading voices for women in crypto and NFTs, advocating for the financial opportunities that Web3 can offer women. Better Together forms the foundation of her HUG-academy and is the mission of Zuckerberg Media. In her keynote, she will provide accessible insights into the latest, greatest, and most exciting trends in technology, business, and entrepreneurship.
Randi Zuckerberg is the kind of woman whose career cannot be summed up in just one, two, or three endeavors. "I'm actually in a kind of third or fourth chapter of my career," she says about herself. First and foremost, Randi is a tech guru. She spent years at the marketing helm of Facebook alongside her brother Mark, the founder of the social media platform that changed our world. Today, she is the CEO of Zuckerberg Media, which produces digital content for organisations like the UN, Cirque du Soleil, and Condé Nast. She is also a successful artist who has won three Tony Awards for Broadway productions, a Harvard alumna, and the host of a weekly business radio show. Randi is a bestselling author of two business books and one children's book, the editor-in-chief of the digital and lifestyle website DOT complicated, a mother of three, an avid runner, and an exceptional singer. She is also a notable NFT collector. This last passion led to her latest venture: HUG.
"I have an entrepreneurial mind and an artistic heart."
Art and entrepreneurship
HUG is an organisation that helps NFT artists and collectors connect to a community and network on Web3, the latest generation of the worldwide web powered by cryptocurrencies. Its goal is clear: to be an incubator for growing the next billion-dollar crypto companies, led by women. A small side note: within two weeks of its founding, HUG received over a hundred applications and Randi raised $5 million for her first NFT projects.
"I have an entrepreneurial mind and an artistic heart," she says about herself. "For years, I didn't fit into any world. I was too artistic for Silicon Valley and supposedly too tech-focused to be a 'real' artist. On Web3, I've found the perfect blend where art and technological innovation propel each other forward. HUG is a platform where artists and collectors are in direct contact with their audience without middlemen, obstacles to finding funding, or building a community. The NFT portfolios we support and invest in are a form of activism. By consciously choosing projects led by women, people of color, or from the LGBTQ+ community, we are indeed effecting change. We are building a supportive community. This is much more complex but also more sustainable than just reaching an audience. Our job is to create an enthusiastic community, build anticipation, and only then launch innovations that we've worked hard on. That is the path to success today."
Fund me maybe
For those not familiar with tech, NFTs, or Web3 vocabulary, enter Randi. As knowledgeable as she is in her niche, she translates her insights about women in business and entrepreneurship into broader and accessible terms for the public. Randi is known as the CEO who injects a layer of self-deprecation into the tech and business world, typically dominated by serious and weighty language, through humorous singing videos. A highlight was her rendition of "Call Me Maybe," which she upgraded on stage with a live band to "So my idea is crazy, so here's my number, fund me maybe." The video, unsurprisingly, went viral. This showcases how an entrepreneurial mind and artistic heart lead to success.
Keynote in three themes
At the conference, her first time speaking in Belgium, Randi will address three major themes: being a woman at the top in tech, lessons from a social media pioneer, and our new world with corresponding rules.
New reality = new rules
After the launch of the iPhone and the success of Facebook, the world changed. From Silicon Valley, Randi witnessed how companies had to adapt to survive, how strategies needed to be adjusted faster than ever, and how consumer behaviour drastically evolved. Randi predicts the careers of the future and changes in consumer behaviour for the next 12-18 months, providing concrete tips to be prepared.
At the top in tech
After a decade working in the tech industry, Randi shares her experiences as a woman at the top. She candidly discusses the challenges of being one of the few women in a male-dominated world at the time. Randi reflects on the past, present, and future to invest in women's careers through her own media companies. Her investment strategy is clear: she only invests in companies led by women. "Think about your 'why'. The future is always uncertain," says Randi. "If your 'why' is clear, then an investment can never be reduced to zero." According to Randi, the future is for sure female.
Lessons from a social media pioneer
Randi delves into the latest trends in technology, business, and entrepreneurship. Her key lesson: with every opportunity comes a hidden challenge. Flexibility is key in a rapidly changing and dynamic world. Social media presents both dangers and opportunities. She shares tips from her two bestsellers on social media and time management, tailored for both children and adults.
Randi to the (tech)rescue
Web3.
Also referred to as the "wild west of the web," it's a place where individuals can fully immerse themselves in the digital world and have complete control over personal data, as well as the use of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.
NFT: Non-Fungible Token
A digital key linked to a unique (digital) item, primarily used for art, documents, or virtual items within a metaverse or the gaming world. Easily tradable and highly secure.
Blockchain
A digital bank that records and verifies all transactions involving NFTs, making NFTs unique, irreplaceable, and traceable.
HUG
Founded by Randi Zuckerberg, HUG is a global inclusive community of over 10.000 artists and collectors spread across more than 130 countries. HUG stands for Better Together because it facilitates introductions and validations within and across various networks to support each other's progress.
