UCT Upstarts Speech

UCT Upstarts is an annual, year-long initiative launched in 2015, that uses multiple pop-up platforms to develop the next generation of upstarts - influential, young game-changers who will become job-creators, instead of job-seekers. At the end of the program, teams submit their social innovation projects, and the top applicants will go on to the "Idea Auction", where thought-leaders, companies and organisations can "bid" to support them.

I was asked to talk at one of the events... This is my story.

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I used to go here. I graduated from UCT, and Tiger Tiger, in 2009.

So, when an email popped up one day with the subject, “UCT Upstarts – Speaker Invite” I did a little dance at my desk. Then I read further… “UCT Upstarts is a joint-initiative between the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Super Stage”… I love me some innovation, so this was looking good.

I scrolled a bit more… to the over-arching theme of the talk:

Well, Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Super Stage… Do I have a bone to pick with you.

Can anyone tell me what’s very, very wrong with this topic? Anyone?

The problem is that it’s trying to inspire change, innovation, creation and passion in young people – but just by virtue of those first four words – it’s limiting you and telling you that you that you can’t.

So, I’m changing the topic:

And centering it because it looks funny:

And underlining it because it’s important:

If I’d waited ‘til I was all grown up to try and change the world, then this would never have happened…

My name is Kayli Levitan, and on 14 January 2014, I, my colleague Max Pazak, and the advertising agency where we work, M&C Saatchi Abel - founded The Street Store. 

Ever since my entire perspective on the way I work and on human potential has shifted.

When you’re a kid, you think you can do anything. And slowly but surely your parents, teachers, and even lecturers convince you that you can’t and make even trying, seem like a bad idea. They may not mean to, but things like “be careful, you’re gonna hurt yourself”, “You can do that when you grow up”, “You’re not ready to learn that section”, and even “write an essay about so-and-so’s thoughts, not your own” – all leads to the belief that you aren’t ready for something – physically, emotionally, and mentally. And that if you were to just go for it, you’d come out 2^nd best.

I want to touch on three things that stop people from doing great things, but really shouldn’t.

When are you ever the right age to do something? When you’re a grown up? Well, when is that? Apparently I am a grown up, but I don’t feel like one. Just because you’re young, doesn’t mean that people won’t take you seriously. And if they don’t, they’re not worthy of your time. It’s not about age, it’s maturity. Being ready to take on a challenge and see it through. You may be that person at 12 years old, at 25, at 50, or never – but the only way you’ll find out is by trying. And if it doesn’t work – so what? At least you tried and hopefully learnt something from the experience. Which leads me to…

Really? I’m a copywriter and my co-founder is an art director. We work at ad agency. We come up with ideas. We make adverts. About beer and gyms, deodorant and insurance. What experience did we have in starting a charity that would help clothe the homeless in over 120 cities around the world? Zero. It was our inexperience that allowed us to innovate – because we had no idea what the norm was.

You don’t need experience to do something, you gain experience once you’ve started. You need to find an insight. We realised that bringing the haves and have-nots together in a dignified and meaningful way, would break through deep-set social stereotypes, and cause people to donate now and in the future. And that’s where it all began. Not through experience. Through research.

But research takes time, which leads on to...

If you have kids – maybe you are. But otherwise, busy is just an excuse. I’m busy. I work in advertising by day, and by night, I’m batman! Nope, bad joke. At night I run an online restaurant directory and blog. So, I know what busy is. But when you’re passionate enough about something, you’ll find the time to make it happen. You need to set aside time every day to go through the process of creation - thinking, brainstorming, working, making it happen. And it gets easier. Your brain, like any muscle, needs to be exercised to work at it’s best.

So stop making excuses. And stop letting people impose limitations on you. Be a kid again. A kid who really believes that they have the power to do what ever they want.  

The truth is, there is no such thing as being ready. But don’t think of that as a negative – all it does is set you free to go out there… and try.