Blog | Innovation stories, Viva's talks

Nov 24, 2019
1 min

How can we know about an innovation if we don't know its story?

Every day, brainstormers come up with awe-inspiring ideas. These ideas are twisted and twirled, shaken and stirred. When the idea is ready, it is launched to the next phase. The idea may become an innovation. The innovation may change the way we do things. Or, the way we could do things. How will we know about an innovation if we don't know its story? Someone needs to find out about this new way of doing something. And that someone needs to tell about it in a fun and creative

Innovation stories with the Wisconsin State Assembly

Viva Sarah Press

Nov 19, 2019
1 min

Innovation stories with the Wisconsin State Assembly

Talking about innovation from my journalistic point of view means talking about crazy ideas before they become global solutions. Which company deserves “oddball news” status? Which entrepreneur is turning failure into success? Which company is taking one kind of technology and using it for a completely different purpose? What is education like in Israel today? I bring my kids into the conversation -- all three of them are studying in completely different tracks. One is in pub

Viva Sarah Press

Oct 29, 2019
1 min

Stories of A Startup Nation

I was invited to give a talk about whether Israel's reputation as 'a startup nation' represents truth or hype. So, I brought a cache of amazing stories and anecdotes and set them up alongside this country's shortcomings. There were wow-worthy stories and hilarious ones. I shared bits of what I'm currently writing about and why these talks are a personal mission for me. I truly love giving these talks! #Israeliinnovation #Israelspeaker #Jewishspeaker

“The” startup nation? Or, “a” startup nation?

Viva Sarah Press

Oct 22, 2019
1 min

“The” startup nation? Or, “a” startup nation?

Is Israel “the” startup nation or “a” startup nation? I’ve always preferred the term Innovation Nation to Startup Nation. But then, it doesn’t really matter what I prefer. Israel is known as the Startup Nation thanks to the 2009 book that turned the world’s attention to the phenomenal innovation happening here. So, I could argue the name but that’s not the point. The question is simple: is it correct to call Israel “the” startup nation? On the one hand, this country absolutel

Stories of this innovation nation: boastful vs. factual

Viva Sarah Press

Oct 15, 2019
1 min

Stories of this innovation nation: boastful vs. factual

At the end of this month, I’ve been asked to give a talk on Israel's reputation in the realm of innovation. Is this country’s moniker as a startup nation boastful hot-air or factual reality? This is the country out of which amazing innovations have changed –and are changing – the way we do things. The stories of Israeli entrepreneurship are remarkable! But the startup culture doesn’t spread to all parts of this tiny land. If 77% of the startups are located at the center (Tel

Viva Sarah Press

Sep 28, 2019
2 min

Documentary on World Education: Israel

Sometimes you need an outsider to show you what's happening in your neighborhood. Journalist and filmmaker Zhou Yijun dedicates an episode of her education series, Childhood Elsewhere, to what's happening in Israel. The documentary series, now showing on Youku, offers a fascinating look at the culture of education in Japan, Finland, India, the UK and Israel as compared to China. The Israel episode looks at this country’s views on education styles, innovation from a young age,

Viva Sarah Press

Sep 23, 2019
1 min

Ever see a clown on the UPnRIDE?

Twice a week, I work as an educational clown. The rest of the week, I work as an innovation journalist and give talks on the culture of innovation. So, this morning, when I went to the TV studio for an interview it could have been a typical outing. But today, I was being interviewed – and not the other way around. Moreover, I was dressed as Oshi, my educational clown alter ego. Upon walking into the waiting area of the studio, however, my eyes nearly popped out from excitemen

Viva Sarah Press

Sep 15, 2019
1 min

A side thought or a great idea?

I love finding out where a startup’s great idea has come from. Why didn’t someone else come up with the idea sooner? What made the founders of a startup think of this solution or that? Often, it is one idea that leads to a groundbreaking concept. I recently interviewed a company about a car-tech solution. A brilliantly simple solution. But not really that simple, if you think about it. Their idea was actually a side thought. This is a message I like to put to students: where

Inspiring (and being inspired by) university students

Viva Sarah Press

Jul 17, 2019
1 min

Inspiring (and being inspired by) university students

Every July, I get to speak to groups of American university students who come to Israel for internships. This year, I had the opportunity to speak to four groups. The first three events included speed talks on Israeli innovation: I had between eight to 13 minutes to highlight why the Israeli culture is so creative and how I cover it as a journalist and speaker. At the fourth event (coming up next week), I'll have a luxurious 45 minutes to talk about the wild ideas coming out

Viva Sarah Press

Jul 3, 2019
1 min

What can you do with $100 million?

$100 million. That’s about how much the Beresheet spacecraft mission cost to put Israel in Lunar Orbit. It’s also the sum an international consortium is set to invest in Israeli food tech and agritech initiatives, in Kiryat Shmona. What else can you do with $100 million? A whole lot. Obviously. And when we’re talking about innovation – and a country of innovators – there are oodles of wild ideas just waiting to be converted into global solutions via collaboration or investmen

Beresheet is the purple splotch on the Moon Map

Viva Sarah Press

Jun 25, 2019
1 min

Beresheet is the purple splotch on the Moon Map

This is so cool! Beresheet is on the official National Geographic Moon Map. National Geographic just published a new Moon Map with a list of all the probes and landers on the lunar surface, “the legacy of human efforts to explore it.” Beresheet is there. It is the purple splotch. Yes! An Israeli craft is on the Moon! And that is awesome. The Beresheet story is one of inspiration. My kids grew up with it – I’ve been reporting on it since Kfir, Yonatan and Yariv decided to shoo

Why did a Chinese film crew follow educational clowns around an Israeli primary school?

Viva Sarah Press

Jun 3, 2019
3 min

Why did a Chinese film crew follow educational clowns around an Israeli primary school?

Educational clowning is still making its mark in Israel. Of the thousands of schools in the country today, 11 have taken part in piloting educational clowns in schools. So, how did a Chinese documentary film crew even know the initiative to create a more joyful, colorful and happier school setting is underway? Backtrack to May 15. An email arrived in my inbox from Ryanne Hsu, a Hong Kong-based content coordinator for Childhood Elsewhere, a six-part documentary series on educa

Israel at 71: Interview on chutzpah, innovation and creativity

Viva Sarah Press

May 8, 2019
1 min

Israel at 71: Interview on chutzpah, innovation and creativity

In honor of Israel's Independence Day, I was asked some questions about the country's phenomenal innovation and creative culture. Speaking to groups about Israeli ingenuity is a mission I've set for myself: To share modern day stories of this country and its people. The innovation in Israel really is great. But you need to know about the people who live here to understand why this is so. Please follow this link to the interview I gave. #Jewishspeaker #journalistspeaker #Is

Speaking to Medill School of Journalism students

Viva Sarah Press

Mar 30, 2019
2 min

Speaking to Medill School of Journalism students

I love speaking to students. This week, I met with Medill School of Journalism students and teachers, who were in Israel to learn first-hand about this country’s challenges and opportunities. They had already met political leaders and pundits galore. I spoke about Israel’s creative and innovative side. It was a Q&A style talk, and the students asked some very insightful questions. Among other things, we spoke about the change in the news cycle and how, today, tech stories are

Viva Sarah Press

Mar 20, 2019
1 min

Sharing today's stories from Israel

This week, I made my debut as a speaker with the JNF USA. I spoke about women, innovation, business and Israeli innovation at the 2019 Annual Women For Israel Luncheon in Boca Raton, Florida. The audience was knowledgeable, well-versed in Israel, and full of smart and successful women. When I was researching and writing the talk, I made sure to bring stories with great impact. Fortunately, Israel is brimming with such stories. I love giving these talks. I love the interaction

What role do women play in Israeli innovation?

Viva Sarah Press

Mar 3, 2019
2 min

What role do women play in Israeli innovation?

I am a speaker on the culture of innovation and creativity in Israel. I also happen to be a woman, who speaks on these issues. And so in February 2018, when the JFNA National Women’s Philanthropy requested a talk with women at its focus, I jumped on the opportunity. What fun to talk about the amazing women making a difference in Israel’s business and innovation areas. Every talk I give is unique and tailor-made for the group that has invited me. I looked through the hundreds

VIVA PRESS

How can we know about an innovation if we don't know its story?

Innovation stories with the Wisconsin State Assembly

Women in Innovation: Stories

Stories of A Startup Nation

“The” startup nation? Or, “a” startup nation?

Stories of this innovation nation: boastful vs. factual

Documentary on World Education: Israel

Ever see a clown on the UPnRIDE?

A side thought or a great idea?

Inspiring (and being inspired by) university students

What can you do with $100 million?

Beresheet is the purple splotch on the Moon Map

Why did a Chinese film crew follow educational clowns around an Israeli primary school?

Israel at 71: Interview on chutzpah, innovation and creativity

Speaking to Medill School of Journalism students

Sharing today's stories from Israel

What role do women play in Israeli innovation?