What WPP learned from Stream this year David Sable, WPP Stream is different type of gathering created by WPP—full disclosure: my work home—where an eclectic group of leaders and rising stars of all types: art, music, technology, science, communications, movies, and sports (to name but a few) debate and inspire what happens next. The aim is to be as provocative as possible; to break the walls of the echo chamber; to encourage the synapse leaps that lead to eureka moments; to unclog our minds. To free our souls. While the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity roared on the mainland, Stream diverted to the quiet of an island where you entered "the Stream"—no longer was it rushing towards you…you were wading in it…surrounded by it…and together, with your fellow participants, you let yourself be carried to places unknown. Places where you were free to think, question, and ponder, so that when you emerged from the stream, you did so as a more free-thinking person, open to…well to whatever. We talked about the dynamics of the ad business (rather timely), where Facebook is going, how to recruit talent, effective news reporting, customer satisfaction, educating refugees, creativity born from sports, and new media coping with old problems and sensationalist journalism. While you listened and thought, you built and created your own mind links. As discussions developed and debates ensued, topics converged and new ones emerged in eureka flashes that might otherwise have been drowned out by the inundation of info that most conferences posit— conferences where a POV of consensus is too often the goal. Those of us who "stream" try to keep our toes in the water, every day, as a reminder to slow it down, to question, to listen, and most importantly, to understand that none of us have all or even most of the answers. Enlightenment comes with openness to all. Excuse me as I wade back in… 74