Reimagining fashion, billions illustrated, ChatGPT vs data privacy + cultivating awe
May 11th 2023
Hi!
I’m excited to tell you that I hosted a private screening of the documentary ‘Fashion Reimagined’ last night for a select few. If you don’t know what it’s about, it’s the sustainability quest undertaken by a young independent British designer at the helm of the brand Mother of Pearl. After writing about it here when it premiered during London Fashion Week and I missed it, I felt a bit annoyed that I wouldn't have a chance to see it for a while. Powered by my curiosity, I went back to the film’s webpage, and low and behold, there was a button at the top that read: host a screening. And ta-dah! Here we are.
I’m delighted to report back that the reception for the film was excellent. Many of my guests came and asked whether the film was available for streaming (not yet that I know of) and could they also perhaps host their own screening (a couple of parents wanted to share this with their teenagers, hoping that it would curb their Shein or fast fashion shopping addiction). It was great to plant the seed of change, kickstart a conversation, pull together a diverse group and make new connections.
My recommendation, if you come across the documentary, go watch it, or if you fancy doing what I did, contact MetFilm and host your own screening (and let me know what you think of the film). Why not get involved, right?
If you wonder what I’m hoping to do with this event, well, I’d say I am hoping to start a small community here, of people interested in conversations about sustainability, the future of work, and conscious entrepreneurship: all ideas worth spreading. Yes, that’s a hint at TED, because last night I gave a short talk to my Toastmasters group, a version of last week’s Looking
Forward post called Notes from TED. Indeed, I’m inspired to invite, explore, listen, and talk, not just about the stuff I’m passionate about, but also the things that may be concerning to us, like AI, Chat GPT making your work redundant, web3, and sure, the climate crisis.
Lastly, I have five spots for new individual coaching clients starting 1 June 2023. If you’re feeling stuck, perhaps between work and personal aspirations, that elusive work/life balance, you’re not the only one. And I’m happy to tell you that I’m in the business of making magic happen! So if that’s you, don’t be shy, and get in touch.
So with that said, I’ve got a short and punchy weekly digest for you, I hope you enjoy it. Drop me a line if you have any thoughts or recommendations you’d like to include in next week’s edition.
As always, thank you for reading me; I don’t take this for granted. And have a good one.
Much love,
Anne
LOOKING OUT
‘If you really want something you can figure out how to make it happen’. - Cher
BEZOS’ BILLIONS AND A PULITZER PRIZE
I’m not into long titles despite being into long-form writing. I’m not sure I won you over with the above, but stick with me: you have to check out this piece in the New York Times Magazine Money issue by data journalist Mona Chalabi. In it, she illustrates in the most insightful animated scroll the billions of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, because, let’s face it, the numbers are so huge, it’s hard to wrap our heads around. It’s particularly fun on mobile, FYI. And don’t think it’s just me who loves this piece; Ms Chalabi just won a Pulitzer prize for it! Congratulations to her! Discover here. Thank me later!
ANOTHER ORANGE BRAND
But that one is very much the opposite of Hermès. Have you heard of TEMU yet? Their tagline is so appealing: shop like a billionaire.
If you can’t quite picture it, imagine what would happen if Amazon and TikTok had a baby, a glorified gaming version of a shopping platform - via an app, of course. New York Magazine reports on the newcomer and wonders if Temu is the future of buying things…
Is it? Well, I was hoping we’d make a case against fast fashion; it seems we’re not there yet. Can someone please make a circular version of this ASAP? Watch their campaign here or read about them here.
YOUR DATA VS ChatGPT
I love Wired magazine. I’m even a subscriber. And I love GDPR, though it (and my conscience) forbid me to send my large database my first email newsletter, making this a significantly small community in comparison. I digress. Privacy, data, opting in. All important things to discuss!
What do we do with our data when these new large language models have all this information about each of us at their … fingertips? Here’s a fun question: what do we call an AI’s fingers? Anyway, here’s some good news, courtesy of the nice folks at Wired: given that ChatGPT may know personal details about you, (and if it doesn’t, they believe it could make things up, so not a great alternative), they report how data regulators have put pressure on Open AI to introduce a Personal Data Removal Request Form, allowing lucky Europeans (and Japanese) to have their information removed from Open AI’s systems.
I’m not sure whether ChatGPT has info about me, I’m scared of going out looking for it, but I will, bravely and will also report back. Meanwhile, read the full article here.
In case you’re not very caught up on ChatGPT, I suggest you have a look at the recent TED talk given by Open AI cofounder Greg Brockman, followed by his interview with Chris Anderson. Watch here.
Meanwhile, I’m kind of excited to try and use Google Docs’ new AI functionalities. Watch this video for a sense of what it could do for you too.
Looking In
AN AWESOME LIFE HACK
I’m not sure how you feel at the moment, but I know that I’ve had my ups and downs, maybe as I readjust post-pandemic. While in Vancouver attending an event, I occasionally felt a sense of isolation, despite being surrounded by a large and friendly crowd. This may sound weird, but I gather I am far from the only person that felt this way. After I wrote my last newsletter, which tracks my journey from imposter syndrome to finding my footing and my confidence, I came across this great opinion piece in the Guardian by a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley. And let me tell you that in light of that piece, I want to edit mine to include some of his findings.
It so happens that one of the things that can instantly take us out of our small self, imposter syndrome or a general feeling of isolation is a sense of awe.
Author and professor Dacher Keltner studied this with colleagues and noted that when we experience awe, it creates a feeling of being part of a greater whole. Suddenly, perhaps unexpectedly, we reconnect to the world and the people around us.
In his words:
“Feelings of awe shift attention away from the self toward what is around you – to being, in the words of Jane Goodall, ‘amazed at things outside the self’.
[…]
Awe reveals that we are not separate from others, but interdependent.”
It doesn’t take much, just stepping outside in nature, watching a beautiful sunset, and reading pieces of poetry or music; these are just some of the means for us to find awe in daily life. Sometimes, we can even find awe in the smallest things: a tiny spring flower can do it for me, when I really look at it.
Indeed, we are not separate from others. And we can all do with cultivating awe to remember how interconnected we truly are. Read here.
