Yesterday, I attended a truly inspiring conference hosted at the New York Times Building where people with real ambition and drive to make the world a better place gathered to share ideas and resources. Matthew Bishop of The Economist spoke about Philanthrocapitalism and how we can all get involved in giving back. Joshua Viertel from Slow Food USA raised our awareness on how the line from the poor and hungry and the poor and obese is so very thin. Ken Banks demonstrated how mobile technology can change the lives of those in countries still without the internet through a software for mobile devices that he created.

The truth is, the entire panel was very well chosen and represented initiatives that are helping make the world better tomorrow by what we do today. The important message that was reiterated by the founders of the Feast Conference, Mike Karnjanaprakorn and Jerri Chou, was how we must collaborate and support one another in our efforts to change the world for the better through innovation. So, in that vein, I wanted to pass along a tool we can all exercise to be a part of this movement and build a stronger community with a network of support.

Here is what I propose: Open your minds and then your address books. Think of two people you can connect and how their knowing each other would be mutually beneficial. Be the instigator for bringing great minds and resources together. This is how it starts. No matter the industry, no matter the position- when constructive connections are made and energy flows forward, we can have an impact on change.

And don’t stop with my singular request. Keep it going. Ask the people around you or involved in your request to do the same. This is how the support system grows. I will close this post with a statement Uffe Elbaek made, “It is not about being the best in the world, but rather the best for the world.”