Mr Michael Furdyk

Michael Furdyk is the Co-founder and Director of Technology for TakingITGlobal.org, a global online community for young people, engaging hundreds of thousands of youth in over 200 countries and territories. Along with managing the technology team at TakingITGlobal, Michael is involved with the TIGed education program, and has spoken to over 50,000 educators about the importance of engaging students and integrating technology and global perspectives into the classroom.

In the past, he has turned his interest in technology into a series of successful online companies, co-founding MyDesktop.com (later sold to Internet.com) and BuyBuddy.com (which raised $4.5-million of venture capital). Over the last few years, Michael has consulted for many Fortune 500 companies, including a 6-month engagement developing youth strategy with Microsoft in Seattle, Washington.

As one of Teen People's "20 teens that will change the world" and Contribute Magazine's "top 10 global innovators in the non-profit space", Michael has shared his opinions about Youth Engagement and experiences as a member of the Net Generation by speaking at dozens of events, including the World Congress on IT, the US Government's National Youth Summit, and Microsoft's Anytime, Anywhere Learning Summits. He has made numerous media appearances including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Time Magazine, Fast Company, BusinessWeek, CNN, and MSNBC. He is a board member and advisor to numerous groups including Pollution Probe, Microsoft, the Anytime, Anywhere Learning Foundation, and several other national and global organizations.

"Digital Kids are Changing the World"

Download Presentation Slides Here

Michael Furdyk will use his own story as a powerful example to provide us with an in-depth look at the "Net Generation" and how their use of technology is influencing many aspects of society. Recently named by Contribute Magazine as one of the top 10 global innovators in the non-profit space, Michael will take us on a tour of his work with TakingITGlobal, a global network of socially-engaged youth, and their efforts to develop engaging tools & activities for schools around the world, helping to get students more engaged in global issues.