European authorities have emerged as the world's most assertive watchdog of the technology industry, and many wanted a chance to publicly grill the chief executive after revelations in March that a British political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, had improperly obtained and used the information of millions of Facebook members.
In America, this was underlined by a shift from smokestack industries and into high-tech ones, and by firms' efforts to adapt themselves to new information technology and more assertive investors.
More important, it plays down national pride, the prestige (and ego) of scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and politicians; not to mention the demands of an increasingly assertive military for cutting-edge technology.
This comprehensive effort included interventions ranging from "assertive hand-raising classes" to technology widgets to help professors take gender bias out of grading systems.
NATO allies will also be critical in a battle of technology, as the West competes with a more assertive China in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology.
That involves relaying proper etiquette of using the technology, talking over limits with your children, and emboldening your community to be assertive when necessary.
"Putin is a bit like Peter the Great, opening to the West for capital and technology but at the same time recentralizing Russia and reinforcing authoritarian rule, while exercising a more assertive foreign policy in the areas where he can".
Practice being assertive, but considerate.
And they are quite assertive.
Be assertive,' " said Kushner.
