A version of this post titled “Brainstorm with me” originally appeared in Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily tech newsletter.
As I looked around the room at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech walk-up dinner Wednesday night, I saw about 10 Silicon Valley executives who could have been our keynote interview, the seat occupied by Steve Ballmer. In fact, many have been on our stage over the years. We pride ourselves on convening a unique group of like-minded people who have much to learn from each other and the humility to know that.
Indeed, curation is the name of the game these days. It was one of the favorite words of Steve Jobs, who saw himself as a curator of consumer-technology ideas, features, and concepts. Anyone can throw a dinner party. Not anyone can organize a meal with people who will mesh in a unique and wonderful way.
Thursday I reported to you some of my takeaways from my interview with Ballmer, the tech CEO turned sports-team owner. Like many of the Fortune staff, I spent my day traveling, so I’ll limit my further takeaway for this Friday to one more: Times may have peaked in Silicon Valley, but absolutely no one is ready to wave the white flag. The room I saw in San Francisco was a vibrant, A-list crowd hungry to do business, to justify their company’s valuations, to figure out the edge that will help them win.
Watch this interview with ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at a recent Brainstorm Tech dinner:
Our main Brainstorm Tech event, which will be held July 11-13 in Aspen, Colo., is by invitation only. While I can’t invite every reader of Data Sheet, you are welcome to apply. And even if you can’t come I’ll make the same request of you we made of our guests Wednesday night: Please send me your ideas for what we should brainstorm about in July: people, panels, themes, controversies, and so on. My colleagues and I absolutely will give your ideas careful consideration.
And perhaps I’ll see you in Aspen. Have a great weekend.
