This week, Lola Oyelayo-Pearson and Mamuna Oladipo skip the small talk and dive straight into Marc Andreessen’s “Techno-Optimist Manifesto.” We explore what it really means to be a techno-optimist, whether bold declarations like these help or harm the conversation, and how personal platforms can shift from self-expression to wielding real-world influence.

Continuing with the theme of amplified voices, we discuss how technology has reshaped the way information spreads—particularly in times of crisis. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has once again highlighted the polarized nature of the internet, where perspectives are shaped not just by facts, but by who holds the mic. How do influencers, tech leaders, and everyday people navigate their role in a world where speaking up—or staying silent—carries consequences?

📌 Inside This Episode:
🔹 Are you a Techno-Optimist?

• The manifesto’s take on innovation, progress, and the future of technology.
• The problem with extreme polarization—can we really reduce people to binary beliefs?
• The nuance of progress—who benefits and who gets left behind?

🔹 The Role of Personal Platforms in a Crisis

• The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how the internet amplifies divisiveness.
• How leaders and influencers choose to engage—or avoid—global issues.
• Lessons from 2020: leading through anti-Blackness, Indigenous genocide, and the expectation for companies to take a stance.

💡 We made this show for YOU! Got a tech challenge? Need career advice? Send your dilemmas to [email protected] or DM us on @LostInTechPodcast on Twitter.

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Show Notes:

• The Techno-Optimist Manfiesto - https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/
• The Bottom Billion - https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-bottom-billion-9780195311457?cc=us&lang=en&