Blog | Innovation stories, Viva's talks

Jul 16, 2020
1 min

Staying optimistic in the Israeli Covid-19 balagan

Israel has lost control of Covid-19 infections, according to news reports. And while the government is threatening to shut down the country for a second time, doctors are saying the new lockdown measures are political and have no epidemiology backing. So, how can we stay optimistic in this Covid-19 chaos? The social initiatives taking place around Israel are encouraging. Social hackathons are reassuring. Tech startups tackling Covid-19 challenges are fun to write about. Persp

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

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

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

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 Sarah Press

Feb 25, 2019
2 min

So much to talk about

I love giving talks. I love giving talks about Israel. Specifically, about modern day Israel. And, never about politics! I gives talks about contemporary Israel because I feel it is important to share these stories with as many people as possible. I speak about the culture of creativity and innovation here, in Israel. This country’s amazing achievements belie its size. How does an idea become a global solution? I have oodles of examples of the chutzpah (in the best sense of t

Viva Sarah Press

Feb 3, 2019
2 min

When my personal blog met my life

For over 20 years, I’ve been penning articles, blogs and scripts for an array of media. When I launched my new website, I debated whether to include a personal blog. On the one hand, as a freelancer, I need to constantly promote myself. On the other hand, I wondered whether anyone would actually read my posts. My personal blog has now been live for 10 months. I’m flattered that people from 30+ countries have read my thoughts and writings. Of course, this blog has become muc

Viva Sarah Press

Dec 23, 2018
2 min

A talk on creativity for ages 8-100

The eight-year-old was the youngest attendee at a talk I gave today. There were also a bunch of tweens and teenagers in the audience, as well as their parents and grandparents. These mixed generation audiences are always fun and distinctive. After all, many of the groups that invite me to speak are uniform in age or profession. Earlier this month, I spoke to a synagogue group from Santa Barbara (ages 50-80). Last month, I addressed a group of business folks. The inter-generat

Viva Sarah Press

Jul 12, 2018
1 min

Cannabis, cars and collaboration

I gave two talks this week to college students from the US (now visiting Israel). The first talk was an abridged version of why Israel is known as the Startup Nation. The second talk looked at why Israel could actually be dubbed the Adaptive Nation. My talks are never about the specific technologies or algorithms being created. Instead, I love sharing the behind-the-scenes stories of how something came about. I connect the dots and show how one innovation leads to another;

Interpreting Israel with Gettysburg College

Viva Sarah Press

May 29, 2018
1 min

Interpreting Israel with Gettysburg College

Very excited to be taking part in a panel titled "Interpreting Israel: Finding the stories that matter and retelling them for a wider audience.” The panel is part of a Gettysburg College year-long academic course known as Inside the Middle East. The Gettysburg students are in town on a 10-day tour to understand the contemporary Middle East. Read more about their program, here. As I wrote in my last post, it is one thing for people to read an article or hear a report on the ra

Viva Sarah Press

May 28, 2018
1 min

On a mission to spread oral journalism

I have created something I like to call, ‘oral journalism.’ It is a mashup of speaking and journalism. It is one thing for people to read an article or hear a report on the radio. It is a completely different experience to hear the bigger picture, understand the context, and have a meaningful discussion. I love sharing my knowledge with others. I equally love learning about new topics. So far, I have been very fortunate to give talks and meet with groups in Israel, Canada and

Viva Sarah Press

May 17, 2018
1 min

I'm speaking in Toronto!

I'm excited to give a Post Kiddush Talk about Israeli Creativity & Innovation at the First Narayever Congregation on May 19. My talks always include stories about why a tiny country, easy to miss on the map, is making enormous strides in innovation and creativity every single day. Real-time navigation, cars that can see, 3D sensors for breast cancer, glasses that help the blind see... this is a talk about these and other Israeli solutions now changing lives around the world.

VIVA PRESS

Not Another Zoom Talk

Staying optimistic in the Israeli Covid-19 balagan

Stories of A Startup Nation

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

What can you do with $100 million?

Israel at 71: Interview on chutzpah, innovation and creativity

Sharing today's stories from Israel

What role do women play in Israeli innovation?

So much to talk about

When my personal blog met my life

A talk on creativity for ages 8-100

Cannabis, cars and collaboration

Interpreting Israel with Gettysburg College

On a mission to spread oral journalism

I'm speaking in Toronto!