Monkton inspired by lecture from OM Chris Anderson, curator of TED

December 11th 2019

Guests at Monkton’s annual Knight Lecture were left in awe and amazement at the spirit and ‘radical generosity’ of Old Monktonian Chris Anderson, the curator of TED, who returned to the school to give a talk on ‘Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Generosity – Top tips for survival in the world of tomorrow.’

Chris spoke passionately about his incredible vision for radical generosity and his belief that the more you give away, the more you will get back. He said:

“We should be celebrating the fact that the connected future we’re moving into is tilting us all towards greater alliance so that my decision to act in your long term interest is also in my long term interest. By celebrating that amazing fact we will boost the number of acts that are a net benefit to the public good instead of acts that destroy it.”

Chris didn’t stop at just talking to the pupils and guests about this vision, he decided to show them with what he described as an experiment he hadn’t tried before. In an act demonstrating his own generosity, he stunned everyone by gifting 12 pupils £1,000 each, with no formal or legal contract, and invited them to spend it on their own acts of radical generosity. All he asked of the pupils was for them to be ready to be amazed by what comes back to them and that at the end of January they write to him so that he could more widely share the results.

Chris also took the time to give the pupils some words of advice and encouragement:

“Compared to 99.9% of the wider population you have won the lottery to receive such a great education at one of the best schools in the world. Most of you won’t yet know when you leave Monkton what your passion will be. When you are ready, I would urge you to consider choosing something bigger than yourself and dedicate yourself to that. That is really where radical generosity kicks in. The most radical thing you can give is yourself; your skills, your energy, your future; and if you do that what you get back might amaze you.”

Pupil Anna Charles was impressed with what she had heard:

“It was thought-provoking to think about the balance of ambition and radical generosity, and I know we will all keep it in mind as we move into the world of work. His experiment was a shock, but so exciting, as it is the perfect opportunity to put into practice all he was encouraging us to do."

Head of English and Director of Strategic Partnerships, Mr Wolverson, was moved by the powerful message of Chris' speech:

"There can be no doubt that Chris Anderson's address was inspiring for many gathered in the Chapel, and that most of the audience were conscious that what they were experiencing was both profound and potentially life altering. An hour in which my own perception of my place in the world was changed profoundly, and where beliefs long held were questioned under a new light of radical generosity. This year's Knight lecture left me immensely grateful to have heard Chris' address, but also to be a part of a school community that helps to nurture and produce individuals of Chris' immense kindness and generosity of spirit."

The lecture concluded firstly with a vote of thanks from pupil Archie Griffiths who told Chris how proud and honoured the pupils are to call him an OM, before the Principal made an unusual presentation. Chris had previously said, and also mentioned in his speech, how when he left Monkton he ‘dreamed of being a Physics teacher and had pictured himself sat in a leather arm chair, smoking a pipe and pontificating to a group of adoring students’. This dream became a reality as the Principal presented him with a Physics textbook, pipe, slippers and an armchair as pupils gathered around him.