Changing the world for the better while undergoing open heart surgery sounds like somewhat of a challenge. But hey, that is our zeitgeist and the least to be expected these days. Guess someone has to tackle it, so why not me? As we all know: What doesn’t kill me, makes me strong. Or might all of that be a misunderstanding? Should we possibly start to do open mind surgery instead and question the unquestionable? Science claims that in principle that approach could work. Let’s connect and create that better world together. Since failure is the seed for innovation, we have nothing to fear, right?

This keynote will touch topics like change, fear, innovation, mental health, perception, accountability and the human limitation behind eternity. I promise you will not learn anything you don’t already know. But maybe you will look at things differently afterwards.

Caution: An open mind is not an empty waste bin.

Client
Virginia Sea Grant, VA, USA
https://symposium.vaseagrant.org/keynote-speaker/

https://vaseagrant.org/

The Keynote at the Virginia Sea Grant Symposium 2024 was held on October 10th by Fabian Schmid at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront, VA. The title of the symposium was »Connecting in all Directions«, directed towards PHD students, alumni, educators, professionals and university partners.

Testimonial
Fabian Schmid, our 2024 Virginia Sea Grant keynote speaker, captivated us with a powerful blend of humor, insight, and honesty. The thought-provoking points about 'open mind surgery' and the value of failure as the seed for innovation offered a new lens for examining personal and professional growth. His ability to blend concepts like innovation, fear, and mental health into a deeply personal and universal narrative created an inspiring platform for us to learn together. He challenged us to rethink our limitations and embrace the discomfort of growth. His message — that by nature ‘common sense’ is rooted in a healthy human mind — left us feeling ready to take risks, learn, and continue to create a better world together. It was a truly energizing and enlightening experience.