DOHA, QATAR- Carnegie Mellon Qatar’s Distinguished Lecture Series welcomed Peter Brown, President and Founder of international public relations and consulting firm Brown Lloyd James, as their first lecturer of 2011. Brown addressed the audience and took questions on his time as The Beatles personal manager.
In his lecture titled “The Long and Winding Road: How Technology Brought Together Cultures Around the World,” Mr. Brown shared with students, academics, alumni and other VIP guests his personal experiences to show how modern communications and technology have played an important role in shaping cultures, as well as bringing them together. Mr. Brown recounted practical examples of technology defining culture through his experiences working with The Beatles, Andrew Lloyd Webber and other global political and entertainment figures.
“The world of entertainment, music and communications is so powerful that it has influenced every single aspect of our lives and continues to do so. The entertainment and communication business, which I am proud to be part of, has influenced people throughout the years and has played a great role in shaping lives,” Mr. Brown said.?
“Technology and entertainment form an ’empire’ and an ‘entity’ of their own. They are the means for change, inventions and unity, which are the factors that form better societies and deeper understanding within these societies.?
“The world is connected through the entertainment, communication and music industries, they are bridges that bring together countries and people from around the world. If one revisits our history, he/she would realize how great leaders and innovators were great communicators. Creativity and innovation are the products of the entertainment industry, which in its turn is the product of technology,” Mr. Brown added.
The Distinguished Lecture Series, which is hosted by Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, aims to bring leaders from around the world to the Doha campus to share their experiences and discuss their areas of expertise with university students and the community. More than 100 members of the Doha community attended Mr. Brown’s lecture.? ?
“What makes this year’s lecture different is the subject and the way it is presented; it is quite interesting to see how leaders in different fields can play a pivotal role in society,” said Dudley Reynolds, Ph.D., Teaching Professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.?
Reynolds went on to express Carnegie Mellon Qatar’s pleasure to host Peter Brown as one of the distinguished guest speakers.
“Mr. Brown is a well-known figure in the entertainment and communications industry, and his presence inspired the attendees to consider the global dimensions of this field today. We are honored to have him today with us on campus,” he added.
Students attending this lecture were eager to know more about the entertainment and communications industries and about Mr. Brown’s journey through this world.
“Attending Mr. Brown’s lecture made me realize than one can work and excel in two diverse and unrelated fields. Working in the music industry as the former manager of an extremely successful music band – The Beatles, and in the public relations industry as the founder and owner of Brown Lloyd James shows his true potential and expertise,” said Anas Halbawi, a second year computer science major from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.
“I learned a lot from his inspiring speech that had a personal influence on me,” he added.
Carnegie Mellon University is a leader in the arts and sciences. Hosting such events and speakers reinforces the university’s unique interdisciplinary approach to education and research, where technology, arts and culture intersect.
The Distinguished Lecture Series at Carnegie Mellon in Qatar was created in 2007 and features eminent individuals in social or political activities, in the arts and sciences, or in some other realm of contemporary significance to enrich the community. Peter Brown is President and Co-founder of Brown Lloyd James, a Doha, New York and London based communications agency.
