Gary Shapiro, President, and CEO at Consumer Technology Association
Gary Shapiro is the president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The association organizes CES, Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and other parts globally. It is one of the most influential tech events in the world.
Podcast
Overview
Vaccines for COVID were ready promptly owing to the rapid scientific developments in biotechnology. Other technological advancements aided in working the economy digitally. Thus, we survived the pandemic due to technological advancements.
With globalization and the rapidly changing world, innovation in every field becomes paramount. Today, we discuss the same with Gary Shapiro, the CEO of the Consumer Technology Association. They provide the platform for fresh ideas to meet with potential investors and gatekeepers for further development.
About Gary Shapiro
Gary Shapiro is the president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The association organizes CES, Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and other parts globally. It is one of the most influential tech events in the world.
Gary has also authored three bestselling books on the importance of innovation. He also contributes his thoughts to several international media publications.
Discussion
Gary recounts the numerous jobs he has done from a dishwasher to busboy to waiter to managing restaurants. The driving force in all his jibs has been the motivation for innovation. He talks about CTA, which is an NGO representing 1500 technology companies in America.
He then talks about the annual event, CES (Consumer Electronics Show) that gathers investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and media. It is a platform where people can share ideas.
He explains, “We want to make sure people can get together. It is our job to get them together.”
The CTA promotes innovation in several fields like food production, cybersecurity, transport mobility, and healthcare. The association also works towards good public policies and shares the views with European and Asian countries as well. It also engages in market research of new potential ideas.
Gary gives a brief background on the evolution of the association, which started almost 100 years ago. It started as a radio association, followed by becoming a Radio and TV association. As technology kept developing, it took various forms to be finally called the Consumer Technology Association.
Responsibility of Global Agenda
With an annual global event like that of CES, there is a huge influence on the global agenda on technological developments. It is a huge responsibility, which Gary mentions they tackle by engaging in healthy debates. He talks about inviting Ivanka Trump to one of the events where they discussed women’s entrepreneurship.
He adds, “The initial idea for success in the corporate world was working in vertical section and grow on to the c -suite. The need is other skills and ability to work cross-culturally, the ability to embrace diversity, embrace trade and new ideas and ability to partner to form something better.”
Gary also talks about the skills one needs to be a leader in the field like his. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks. He takes pride in the trust that the team has in the association. He shares the words of one of his early mentors, “Gary, you are doing amazingly well, but are going to fail, and I want you to let know we’ll be there for you when you fail as well.”
He says that trust like this enables him to take risks as a leader.
Thoughts on Metaverse
Gary feels that even if metaverse becomes the reality, the need for face-to-face interaction and human connection is going to stay. He says, “After doing things digitally in the pandemic, I am convinced that humans need each other. Pandemic has taught outright humanness.”
More About Gary
Gary shares his thoughts on the meaning of success, which he defines as leaving the world better than you found it. He also talks about organization’s SMART goals:
S: Sustainable
M: Measurable
A: Attainable
R: Realistic
T: With a timetable
He also shares a great deal of advice to the young generation which includes volunteering for different aspects of their job, being a problem solver, lifelong learner, and a smart risk-taker.
Gary also talks about the three books with a common thread, “You are the master of your destiny and how to innovate.”
Profile
Gary Shapiro is the president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The association organizes CES, Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and other parts globally.
It is one of the most influential tech events in the world. Gary has also authored three bestselling books on the importance of innovation. He also contributes his thoughts to several international media publications.
