Don’t miss these speakers on Day 2 of Web Summit

Day 2 of Web Summit promises to be as exciting and action-packed as Day 1, with F1’s Toto Wolff, TV personality Cristina Ferreira, Microsoft president Brad Smith and many more.

There are more than 600 talks taking place over three days at Web Summit 2022, encompassing deep tech, digital marketing, the creator economy, politics and society, climate change, the state of journalism and so much more. Here are some Day 2 talks you won’t want to miss.

Brick by brick: Building Lego love and relevance after 90 years

There are many reasons that Lego has remained popular for so many decades. It’s durable, it can withstand a lot of wear and tear, and it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Ultimately, though, Lego is a versatile toy that can be used to build just about anything imaginable.

As chief product and marketing officer at the Lego Group, Julia Goldin has been playing a role in breathing new life into the classic toy, pushing creative boundaries and innovation. The Danish toy has become well known for big brand tie-ins with franchises including Star Wars, DC, Jurassic Park and Nintendo.

Giving F1 a tech edge

Unsurprisingly, this is one of the most popular talks at Web Summit this year – perhaps because Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team principal and CEO Toto Wolff is one of the most successful and respected figures in Formula 1.

Toto started out as a racing driver, competing in Formula Three and other lower-level championships. The CEO then switched to working in motorsport management, and was instrumental in helping then-unknown driver Lewis Hamilton secure a contract with McLaren in 2007.

Now, as Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS team principal, Toto is sure to have a lot to say about the sport, and the future of this team.

The New Conspiracist

Now in its third season, podcast The New Conspiracist continues to poke around in the world of bizarre and entertaining conspiracy theories. Subjects tackled include whether the pyramids were built by aliens, and whether Greta Thunberg is a time traveller.

Strap yourselves in for a lively podcast experience as co-hosts Jolyon Rubinstein – a BAFTA-winning writer and actor – and Bureau of Investigative Journalism global editor James Ball talk about their popular podcast, and about how they treat the topics and subjects of each episode.

Innovating our way out of the carbon crisis

Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith – always a popular choice with Web Summit attendees – will be talking about the carbon crisis, and how we can innovate our way out of it through new technologies and practices.

The carbon crisis is a major threat to the environment and human health. It’s causing the Earth’s temperature to rise, leading to more extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes, floods and droughts. How can technology tackle this?

Expect the Microsoft president to talk about clean, renewable sources of energy, including solar, wind and hydro, as well as innovations in energy efficiency, such as developing more energy-efficient appliances.

Protecting those who protect us

The importance of whistleblowers is undeniable. They help to hold organisations and individuals accountable, to expose wrongdoing, and to bring about change. The act of whistleblowing, however, is extremely risky. These individuals sometimes face retaliation for speaking out.

Libby Liu is CEO of Whistleblower Aid, the organisation that aided Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen (who spoke at Web Summit 2021). Libby will be in conversation with James Ball, global editor of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, discussing the vital relationship between whistleblowers and journalists, and, crucially, how to protect both while ensuring truth is brought to light.

The dawn of no-death meat in Europe, and the science behind it

Lab grown meat offers us a world in which we get to have our steak and eat it – a way to eat real meat without the need to slaughter animals. The process involves taking a small sample of animal cells and growing them in a lab setting until they mature into muscle tissue. This tissue is then used to create meat products such as burgers or chicken nuggets.

One such company working on this is Dutch biotech startup Meatable. CTO Daan Luining was one of the scientists behind the world’s first lab-grown hamburger. Daan will be joined on stage by Juicy Marbles co-founder and CEO Tilen Travnik to talk about the possibilities of a meatless future, whether through lab-grown meat or – in Juicy Marble’s case – convincing plant-based alternatives.

Cristina Ferreira: Leading by example

Cristina Ferreira is one of Portugal’s best known TV hosts and businesspeople, but also one of its main voices when it comes to setting the tone – sometimes controversially – on other pressing issues in society. This talk promises to cover leadership, the importance of leading by example, and leaving a mark on others and on the world we want to build.

Cristina started out as a model before moving into television, hosting a number of shows on Portuguese television, including The X Factor and Big Brother. Cristina is also known for charity work, and has been involved in a number of fundraising campaigns.

Check out the full schedule for Day 2.

Main image of Brad Smith, Cristina Ferreira, Toto Wolff and Libby Liu: Web Summit