GOAT TALES #12
Simone Clow - Co-Founder & CEO at Zebrar, Creator of Virtual Worlds, Founding Member of Australian Metaverse Advisory Council
18 OCTOBER 2024, WRITTEN BY JACKIE BARON
In the spirit of Neon Goat's vibrant energy, could you share a moment when your teen son brought an unexpected splash of colour into your life or business?
Like me, Ben has an entrepreneurial spirit, and he has come up with some very smart ideas over the years (at university his professor wanted him to pitch one of his ideas to the faculty to fund - I won’t write it here because he may still develop it!).
Where I combine storytelling and technology, Ben combines science and technology. We exchange ideas often and it is very inspiring. I cannot wait to see what he will do out in the world.
The Teenage Perspective: Living with a teenager can be like riding a roller coaster in the dark. What's one challenge you've faced while living with your teen son, and how did you turn it into a positive experience?
Ben has been complaining about my cooking since he could speak (actually before he could speak he would spit it out). I don’t love to cook, and when I was a single mother coming home from a full day at work to cook dinner only to have the kids complain about it, drove me nuts .Finally when he was around 14 I told him he could cook for himself, thinking it would last a week. Actually it became a passion. Since then he has become the chef in the house! After living in Paris he had a new repertoire, and again after living in Madrid. When he and his friends go away to their various holiday homes, Ben always cooks for the group. It has become a life skill.
Laugh Out Loud: Share a hilarious or face-palm moment you've had with your teen son that still makes you chuckle or shake your head in disbelief. That typical teen-moment or habit!
During Covid lockdown we were in the house together, and during his study breaks we would watch “The Tiger King” and totally crack up.
Time-Travel Tips: If you could step into a time machine and visit your teenage self, what cheeky piece of advice would you give yourself about navigating the future, especially knowing what you do now about business and life?
Speak less and listen more. Often the smartest person in the room is the quietest (and it is never me!!).
Navigating the Teen Terrain: Teens are known for their mood swings and monosyllabic responses. What's your secret to getting your teen son to open up and engage in meaningful conversations, especially about life and your business?
I found that the school run - the trip to school not home from school - was when I would glean the most about his life. Ben is 22 now, and he is still living with me while finishing uni. They grow out of that monosyllabic phase and become grown ups with their own experience and point of view. It is so rewarding.
As co-founder and award-winning CEO of creative technology company Zebrar, Simone has been on a mission since 2017 to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Simone and her Team at Zebrar build purposeful technology which merges art and interactive design to create user experiences that elevate global brands and captivate audiences.
@zebrarmedia
GOAT TALES #12: SIMONE CLOW
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