Smarter Faster Revolution: Howard University

On Wednesday, Howard University students spent their snow day getting smarter faster with Axios and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Axios' Mike Allen explored how diversity & inclusion, tech & innovation, media, and privacy will affect the future of work for soon-to-be college graduates. He dove in with:

• Mr. Ali Velshi, Co-Host "Velshi & Ruhle", MSNBC
• Mr. Steve Case, Chairman and CEO, Revolution/Co-Founder, America Online
• Mr. Baratunde Thurston, Futurist comedian, Writer & Activist
• Mr. Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Diversity & Inclusion

The importance of inclusive innovation, according to Case: ""Even though this is a great entrepreneurial nation, it does matter where you live, what you look like, who you know...we’re trying to figure out ways to level that playing field."

Dimon on JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s inclusion efforts: "We started entrepreneurs of color funds based on the fact that people of color aren't afforded the same amount of opportunities. We're looking to make a difference."

Tech & Innovation

What Baratunde Thurston learned during his social media cleanse: “We have made a linguistic choice to describe what we do with technology as ‘connectivity,’ but we have lost so much human connection."

We should focus on pushing innovation in cities that tend to be left behind [like] DC, Detroit, New Orleans.

The Media

"It used to be that there was shame preventing you from lying to a reporter...it doesn’t matter that you’ll be found out now, what matters is that you get to tell people that you fought the good fight. Everyone has their own truth.

On privacy

Jamie Dimon's thought bubble: "This privacy issue is a a big deal. I don’t buy this idea that millennials don’t care. Millennials don’t know. We took out all the contracts, laid them out…every time you push that 'I agree,' you have know idea what you agree to."

“We co-signed to the largest information gathering system in exchange for birthday reminders."

Why it matters: Dimon and Thurston's comments came on the heels of the Facebook data scandal that revealed Cambridge Analytica, which did work for the Trump campaign, gathered the data on millions of Facebook users.

Other Highlights

Jazmin Goodwin, who is the Editor-in-Chief of Howard University's student newspaper (and an Axios intern!), discusses her career ambitions and what Howard has meant to her. "Howard chose me, and the great gift that it has given me is identity," she said.

Two more pieces of inspiration/advice from our Smarter Faster thought leaders:

“It always seems impossible until it happens. For me it was the internet. For you, it could be healthcare. If you do persevere, you have the opportunity to change the world.

"Take care of yourself. Your mind, body, spirit and soul. Take care of your friends and your family because companies cannot do that for you."

Thank you to the Howard students who joined us!

Our next stop is the Ohio State University, with Mark Cuban and Governor John Kasich. See you there.