A lesson in presence at Stanford DEFCON
Hearing former President Tsai Ing-wen speak reminded me that I want to learn both the substance of an issue and how to hold a room while speaking about it.
I attended Stanford DEFCON on October 7. One moment has stayed with me more than any other: hearing former President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan speak.
I did not follow every policy detail. There is a lot of history and context I still need to learn. But I could feel her command of the room. She spoke with warmth and composure, and the audience stayed with her. I was struck by how much a speaker’s presence can carry a complicated conversation.
I left wanting to understand more of the issues she discussed. I also left with a personal ambition: to explain difficult ideas clearly enough that people want to listen, and to speak with even a fraction of that confidence and grace.
Thank you to the Stanford DEFCON team for bringing together people and perspectives I would not otherwise have encountered.