Confessions of a Lifelong Learner

I was just thinking back on how I spent summers when I was growing up. Yes, there were family trips and as I got older I had summer jobs. But one thing that remained consistent from a very young age was my passion for reading books — I was (and still am) a voracious reader. I still read on average two to three books per month. True confession: I’m a lifelong seeker and learner. I don’t think that will ever change. Periodically I get grief from my close friends about not reading fiction, but there’s so much I want to learn in the real world that I lean non-fiction. I have an unending thirst for knowledge and there’s much I have to learn across a broad range of topics.

I’ve published several books over the years; I was early to the game — but over time, and more frequently, I find several of my peers have been publishing books as well. I share books I’ve read recently from two of them in this issue. Beyond reading, I find myself drawn to taking courses on an active and ongoing basis — whether within my primary career domain as a strategic trusted advisor, in terms of courses I’ve taken as I’ve moved into joining boards, and most recently in the AI realm.

Learning new things keeps your memory and focus sharp, and picking up more knowledge and new skills and insights helps keep you valuable to employers and clients as being at the cutting-edge of yoru profession. You also become a more effective problem solver as you train your brain with diverse topics that help to invoke creative ideas. Curiosity that results in taking on new challenges helps you steer clear of boredom and makes you a more capable and interesting person who can converse on a broad range of topics with anyone, which is invaluable.

What’s your take? Are you a lifelong learner like me? What do you do to sharpen the saw for yourself?

To your success,

Kelli

*Featured article(s):

Video Is AI’s Last Unstructured Frontier: Why the Next Infrastructure Battle Has Already Begun

We’ve spent the past 3 ½ years talking about AI models. I believe the next conversation will be about AI infrastructure.

After decades operating at the intersection of Silicon Valley and Hollywood, I’ve learned that the biggest technology shifts aren’t always driven by the most visible applications—they’re often enabled by the foundational layers operating quietly beneath them.

Today, I believe video has become AI’s last unstructured frontier. As AI agents become more capable, hyperscalers invest hundreds of billions in data centers, and enterprises demand personalized, trustworthy media experiences at global scale, a new question emerges: How do we make video itself programmable?

In my latest article, I explore why programmable video may become one of the most important infrastructure opportunities of the AI era, why data-center economics will increasingly matter, and why the next competitive advantage may not come from generating more video—but from making the world’s existing video infinitely more intelligent. Using ION Video as a case study, I examine why a technology that may have been years ahead of its time could now be arriving at precisely the right moment.

Leadership Resonance: A Powerful Leadership Skill That Virtually Nobody Talks About

Have you ever walked into a meeting and immediately sensed the energy in the room—before anyone had said a word?

That’s not just intuition. It’s a reminder that leadership is about far more than strategy, communication, or authority. Every leader creates an invisible ripple effect through their presence, behaviors, and emotional state.

In this article, I introduce a concept I call Leadership Resonance—the idea that the most influential leaders don’t simply direct organizations; they shape how people think, collaborate, innovate, and perform by the example they consistently set with their communications, their presence, and their behavior.

Drawing on insights from neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and real-world leadership examples, I explore why the most enduring influence isn’t what leaders say—it’s what others learn simply by watching them and observing coherence.

As AI transforms the future of work, our uniquely human capacity to inspire trust, curiosity, resilience, and courage may become the greatest competitive advantage of all.

*Media Recommendations:

Earth, Wind & Fire (documentary by Questlove)

For those of you who grew up with this band, this documentary will shed some light on things about this band that are likely to surprise you. Yes, the music is timeless and the talent is undeniable. Arguably, Maurice White was a visionary innovator and a genius. What he did in creating EWF was unique and he did it on a grand scale. However, I’m betting few readers (and fans) would know that the band racked up over $500k in debt after most of their tours — or that the band members were paid a dismal wage that made it difficult for them to get by. How could this work over time with 10 or more members in the band, with extravagant costumes, staging and lights. Very few bands of that size have ever been able to make it work financially, let alone over decades (sustainably). There’s a lot more to learn beyond the economics; for those who love the band and their music it’s worth a watch.

Song Sung Blue

This was an interesting film; at its surface, it looks like a film about a Neil Diamond tribute artist. But it’s really a love story about a couple who come together around a shared dream — to create a Neil Diamond “interpretive experience”, and manage to make it work against all odds. It stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, both of whom turn in powerful performances; I found myself falling into the story and liking it more than I thought I would. Though truth be told, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film that Focus Features has put out that I didn’t enjoy.

When We Are Seen: How to Come Into Your Power and Empower Others Along the Way
by Denise Young

This book’s author is an Apple alum; she rose through the ranks to become Apple’s chief of HR, the first VP of Inclusion & Diversity, and helped to build and shape the Apple Stores experience from the earliest days. Denise is also a black female leader — a rarity not just at Apple, but across the tech world, then and now. The book is a powerful story of her personal journey in tandem with the insights she gleaned along the line about being overlooked and marginalized as a minority leader. It’s a must-read not only for all tech leaders, but for progressive, growth-minded leaders across all business sectors. We’re well into the 21st century and need to start acting like it.

Digital Self-Defense in an AI World: How to Protect Yourself Online
by Jocelyn King

Written by a friend and colleague of mine, Jocelyn King (aka “The Queen of Online Safety”) shares her experience and knowledge of cybersecurity that we would all do well to learn more about in modern times when our personal safety has never been more at risk. The book provides a step-by-step action plan for what you need to do to protect yourself, your family, and your valuable data from the identity theft attacks that have grown increasingly rampant and show no signs of slowing down or going away. Consider this book an insurance policy to make yourself less vulnerable to what might otherwise appear to be random attacks that could create real havoc for you.

*People Say the Nicest Things:

“I have known Kelli for well over 20 years at this point. I consider her to be one of our generation’s greatest and most innovative technology leaders. Kelli is a visionary forward systems thinker who keeps us all motivated with her positive and ethical values and her out-of-the-box ideas. I’m proud to have maintained a healthy long term business relationship with her, and am honored to call her an advisor and a friend.”

Eren Niazi
Early AI Evangelist & Open Source Leader

Regular readers are likely aware of my decades-long experience of having had Steve Jobs as a mentor, but I have almost no photos of the two of us together. So a colleague recently created some AI photos of the two of us; here’s one from back in the day. it’s actually a pretty reasonable facsimile.