Tiffany Shlain's UC Berkeley Keynote Commencement Speech

UC Berkeley's 2010 Commencement speech calls for Moxie. Honored by Newsweek as one of the "Women Shaping the 21st Century," Tiffany Shlain is an acclaimed filmmaker, artist, founder of The Webby Awards, co-founder of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and a Henry Crown Fellow of The Aspen Institute.

Few people could appreciate the use of tweets and text messages more than keynote speaker Tiffany Shlain who addressed a sold-out audience of 11,500 people. Shlain noted that the World Wide Web was in its infancy when she graduated from UC Berkeley in 1992. Director Shlain urged graduates to take risks and tackle challenges in life with "moxie -- a mixture of being bold, fearless and a little outrageous," and recounted times in her career when she was able to get doors to open for her with such an approach. Sunday marked the first time that Commencement Convocation was held at the 11,500-seat Haas Pavilion. The event, traditionally held at the Greek Theatre, which seats 7,200, was relocated to accommodate a greater demand for tickets.

Keynote Speaker: Tiffany Shlain

[Beauregard]

This address was so beautiful and moving. I love her two themes: having moxie and interconnectedness. She was a perfect choice for these graduates, who all are ready to join the throngs of people who strive to make the world a better place.

[bajonesinsf]

Tiffany:

Thank you for forwarding the commencement speech. I listened in it's entirety and it brought tears to my eyes. Powerful and thought provoking... It should serve them well as they fly from the nest into the world-wide world. You are a truly amazing. Thanks again and all the best!

[MVTina]

I was there. Tiffany brought the house down. It was a magical day and the speech and crowd reaction was inspired.

[ShanestarVideoProductions]

such great local resource and artist!

[tnguyen]

Here is how The System should be. After students graduate they will work directly for the Government. They will go where they need to go.

A. Farming and Agriculture.

B. Health and Medicine.

C. Engineering and Technology.

[danielle-dlvx]

well done tiffany. ripple effect: you've done a good job.

[jittendroloin]

@ireppdorkk Well said! BTW, it's not a "hidden hegemony"...if you look past the popular media, it's pretty obvious. You hit it right on the nose when you referenced "levels of comfort." That applies to us all. Good on you for bringing up the issue; it's pushing the envelope of comfort for us all; otherwise the paradigm will never shift.

[prrolg]

After 4 minutes of listening it sounds like this woman hasn't learned anything since she was 18. She sounds like she's 18. She looks like she is trying to look 18. Don't misunderstand. It doesn't mean she doesn't have value

[ireppdorkk]

@jittendroloin oh of course, it is completely REAL, OBVIOUS, & PAINFUL for those of us who choose to see it. ignorance is bliss for those who refuse to see all the OBVIOUS OBVIOUS opportunities to be aware. thank you for making that clarification for others who may have not realized what i meant

[miketh]

Gosh I shouldn't have watched Steve Job's commencement before this one

[adocst]

It was her mother and grandfather that made it possible for her. Her father must have been a homeless bum then.

[tnguyen]

What is a commencement speech? Aren't all speeches at the commencement a speech?

[tnguyen]

I have no idea why she is saying what she is saying. What does it have to do with anything about graduation or the future of these students.

[WheresTheAnyKey]

what professor is Tiffany Schlain Married to?

[imcornholio]

Wow, all critical comments that were written 14-15 hours ago are removed now.
How about this for openness and tolerance, we will only publish these comments that we like.

[ireppdorkk]

@creatine64 no i am not. i'm educated and critical of the hidden hegemony of white supremacy in our world. i'm far from racist actually, if you knew me; i'm dissapointed in people who speak of being interconnected and want to get past differences but do not reach out beyond their own levels of comfort in their white privilege.

[creatine]

@ireppdorkk you are the reason racism is still here today.

[prrolg]

@tnguyen318 You have no idea why she is saying what she is saying. I don't know her motivations either. Except the ones she states such as making womens "space for new roles in society" a little wider and further etc. Listen again maybe?

[creatine]

@ireppdorkk u say that u are "far from racist" but the comment u 1st made says otherwise, it’s sad that u don't even see it. u are making an assumption of this person based off of what she is saying & assuming that she isn't reaching out beyond her own comfort level. I bet if u went to a school that was predominately black & had some1 giving a commencement speech it would involve a lot of quotes from black individuals that they look up to. please don't cut ur nose off to spite ur face.

[prrolg]

@tnguyen318 I think you need to grow up a bit. Then tell people how the "System should be".