Member's Opinions: Web Summit 2024

Many of the IPBN's members participated in the Web Summit last week, so we reached out to them and asked if they could share their impressions of the event. We asked them what they learned, what surprised them, and what they will take away from the Web Summit to apply to their business practices. Here's what we found out.

Patricia Casaburi from Global Citizen Solutions shared some of her impressions with the IPBN saying, “Attending the Web Summit has been an eye-opening experience, not only as a first-time exhibitor but also as an active participant in discussions shaping the future of technology and innovation. I’ve learned just how deeply global mobility resonates with startup founders who are seeking ways to connect talent across borders. The conversations at our packed stand emphasized that entrepreneurs are thinking about solutions for remote work, compliance, and cultural integration.I was surprised by this great interest in global mobility. While we anticipated some level of engagement, the extent to which founders and decision-makers sought out advice and solutions in this space was unexpected - a very pleasant surprise.”

She continued, “I also have discovered a growing emphasis on human-centric technologies. Innovations in mental health and women’s health tech really stood out. This shift signals a change in priorities across industries—placing greater value on supporting employees and end users holistically.

The conversations I engaged in also highlighted the importance of aligning our services with the growing need for mental health support. Recognizing and prioritizing the well-being of teams—no matter where they are—will further define the success of companies. I'll also be exploring more partnerships and collaborations with other leaders who are also transforming the landscape of global work.”

Carlos Justino told the IPBN, “The event went really well, especially from a networking perspective—it was a great opportunity to connect with others. This year, some of the big names like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft weren’t there, but there were still plenty of impressive companies showcasing a lot of innovation. A big part of the event focused on AI. From the presentations to the startups, it’s clear that AI is becoming a major trend, with solutions popping up for all kinds of businesses.”

Paulo Sousa learned a lot about the future of AI. He told the IPBN “AI is everywhere and will revolutionize the world, opportunities and also threats, but let’s stay positive and believe it will be used in a constructive and conscious way.” Aside from that he said the summit provided great opportunities to meet interesting people and to hear inspiring talks, but he recommends preparing yourself in advance by using the app to make appointments and set time aside for the talks that have the most value for you to attend. “The absence of bigger companies, like Amazon, Google and Apple…[was surprising],… but the quality of the talks and the open-mindedness of everyone to talk about business opportunities of partnerships was fantastic.”

Lee Bristow spoke about his interest in the conversations about the necessity of AI governance and risk compliance in this video with IPBN board member Sharon Dehmel, who shared her impressions on how the AI focus of the summit plays a role in leadership. Lee shared that the web summit is easily one of the best events he has attended, and he highly recommend it. He told the IPBN “The unofficial theme was probably "AI - It can do it all." He also found that the networking from start-ups to investors to exciting and interesting people was unforgettable, and “the fact that the event attracted such high-profile speakers, authors, and politicians is quite special.”

Sharon also shared some more impressions in this LinkedIn post where she wrote, “Gone are the days when we could hide behind ‘being busy doing stuff’ Today, the focus is on stepping into the strategic and influential roles that drive transformation.

On that same note, IPBN board member Mari Gago posted on his feed, “The event placed a strong emphasis on the rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence and the incredible pace at which this technology is evolving. From groundbreaking solutions to thought-provoking discussions on AI’s impact, it was clear that technology is transforming the world faster than ever.”

Meanwhile, Shane Moran posted a standout talk he experienced, saying, “We might still be a few years away from Knight Rider-style cars, it was fascinating to learn about the role of digital twins and addressing data gaps before a successful GTM strategy can take shape.”

Catia from Cravo do Mato shared exciting news about an application for creating content and optimizing SEO that she discovered while at the summit.

The IPBN is delighted to have more to offer on the subject of AI as a hot-button topic. We are doing a special session around AI for SMEs on November 28th and we highly recommend you register to join the conversation between Carlos Justino and Loren B. Jenkins. Click here to read more and register, and keep in mind this event is limited to 15 participants!