In this compelling episode of the Smart Cities Council Podcast, recorded at the Smart Cities Summit North America in San Francisco, Fanni Melles, PhD, sits down with Michael Lake, President and CEO of Leading Cities, to discuss the evolving concept of smart cities and the challenges and opportunities they face.

Leading Cities, a global nonprofit headquartered in Boston, drives sustainability and resilience in communities worldwide. Mike shares his vision of smart cities as communities that foster thriving, equitable, and resilient environments, not just through technology but through holistic human-centered approaches. From the broken promise of technology to the need for new economic models, Mike addresses the inequities of wealth distribution and proposes innovative solutions like universal basic income and data dividends. He also highlights Leading Cities’ groundbreaking initiatives, including the AcceliCity Resilience Challenge and LC3, to scale impactful solutions.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about reimagining urban futures with creativity and purpose!

Key Takeaways
0:00 - Introduction: The Broken Promise of Technology
1:20 - Welcome to the Smart Cities Council Podcast!
1:50 - Introducing Michael Lake and Leading Cities
2:30 - What Does "Smart City" Mean to Michael?
4:00 - Resilience: Preparing and Bouncing Back Better
5:30 - The Proactive Nature of Resilience
6:00 - Anti-Fragility: Learning from Shocks to Improve
8:40 - Sustainability vs. Resilience: Enabling Longevity
11:30 - Biggest Challenges: Outdated Economic Models
14:20 - The Inequity of Wealth in the Tech Era
17:30 - Opportunities: Universal Basic Income and Data Dividends
20:00 - The Threat of Concentrated Wealth
22:40 - Technology as Advancement, Not Just Gadgets
25:20 - Balancing Technology with Human Connection
26:20 - Dubai’s Happiness Index: Measuring What Matters
28:20 - Takeaways from the Summit: A World of Solutions
30:20 - Leading Cities’ Projects: AcceliCity and LC3
33:30 - Closing Thoughts: Imagine and Create the Future

Learn More About Michael Lake and Leading Cities:

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