The indomitable Monisha Kaltenborn has had an impressive career so far: after studying law at the University of Vienna and the London School of Economics, she worked as a lawyer in Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. In 2000, she joined the legal department of the Sauber Formula 1 racing team, moving up to become, in 2012, the first female team manager at the highest level of motor sports.
Today, Monisha Kaltenborn focuses entirely on e-sports – a market that generates global turnover of almost one billion US dollars a year.
As CEO of the racing simulator start-up Racing Unleashed, Kaltenborn is currently in the process of setting up a global e-racing series. Her ambitious goal is to democratise racing, and the many advantages of this virtual version of the sport suggest she will achieve it. The races are more sustainable and less expensive, because teams and cars don't have to travel around the world. In addition, online racing is open to everyone, which certainly cannot be said of the real thing. All participants need is a powerful computer or simulator, rather than a high-performance, million-dollar race car and full support team. In the two e-sports leagues set up by Racing Unleashed, the best in the world can compete virtually on legendary racetracks, such as the Nürburgring, the Circuit de Spa or Monza.
In this video, Monisha Kaltenborn talks about fan engagement, fear of embarrassment and why e-sports must be taken seriously:
Future Meetups: How We'll Get Together From Now On
Zoom is so yesterday: these are the meeting providers of the future (part 2)
Zoom was just the beginning – companies around the world have long been working on developing the meeting solutions of the future. Here, the GDI highlights the most promising providers. The future of meetings was also discussed by international speakers at the GDI Trend Day on 10 March 2021.
Infographic: Meeting places of the future (part 1)
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely restricted our social lives. Any close contact is potentially dangerous. But what are the alternatives? New opportunities for meet-ups are emerging that are safe and cost little. A GDI infographic shows how we will meet in the future. The future of meet-ups was also the central topic at the GDI Trend Day on 10 March 2021.
Sarah Kenderdine: "We hope this will change the nature of museum-going forever"
Museums, theatres, concert halls: wherever people came together to enjoy culture, there is now a yawning emptiness. How can museum-going be revolutionised? Sarah Kenderdine, a professor at EPFL Lausanne, provides the tools for innovation.