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Bridging Worlds: How Technology Connects — or Divides — Our Communities | Guest: Lawrence Eta | Redefining Society And Technology Podcast With Marco Ciappelli
Episode 2432
⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technology
https://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com
Title: Bridging Worlds: How Technology Connects — or Divides — Our Communities
Guest: Lawrence Eta
Global Digital AI Thought Leader | #1 International Best Selling Author | Keynote Speaker | TEDx Speaker | Multi-Sector Executive | Community & Smart Cities Advocate | Pioneering AI for Societal Advancement
WebSite: https://lawrenceeta.com
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-eta-9b11139/
Host: Marco Ciappelli
Co-Founder & CMO @ITSPmagazine | Master Degree in Political Science - Sociology of Communication l Branding & Marketing Consultant | Journalist | Writer | Podcasts: Technology, Cybersecurity, Society, and Storytelling.
WebSite: https://marcociappelli.com
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-ciappelli/
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This Episode’s Sponsors
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⸻ Podcast Summary ⸻
In this episode of Redefining Society and Technology, I sit down with Lawrence Eta — global technology leader, former CTO of the City of Toronto, and author of Bridging Worlds. We explore how technology, done right, can serve society, reduce inequality, and connect communities. From public broadband projects to building smart — sorry, connected — cities, Lawrence shares lessons from Toronto to Riyadh, and why tech is only as good as the values guiding it.
⸻ Article ⸻
As much as I love shiny gadgets, blinking lights, and funny noises from AI — we both know technology isn’t just about cool toys. It’s about people. It’s about society. It’s about building a better, more connected world. That’s exactly what we explore in my latest conversation on Redefining Society and Technology, where I had the pleasure of speaking with Lawrence Eta.
If you don’t know Lawrence yet — let me tell you, this guy has lived the tech-for-good mission. Former Chief Technology Officer for the City of Toronto, current Head of Digital and Analytics for one of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 mega projects, global tech consultant, public servant, author… basically, someone who’s been around the block when it comes to tech, society, and the messy, complicated intersection where they collide.
We talked about everything from bridging the digital divide in one of North America’s most diverse cities to building entirely new digital infrastructure from scratch in Riyadh. But what stuck with me most is his belief — and mine — that technology is neutral. It’s how we use it that makes the difference.
Lawrence shared his experience launching Toronto’s Municipal Broadband Network — a project that brought affordable, high-speed internet to underserved communities. For him, success wasn’t measured by quarterly profits (a refreshing concept, right?) but by whether kids could attend virtual classes, families could access healthcare online, or small businesses could thrive from home.
We also got into the “smart city” conversation — and
Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago