Will Smith Takes the Stage at Web Summit Qatar Today Alongside Jay Shetty

Web Summit, the world’s largest global technology event series, has confirmed that Oscar-winning Hollywood superstar Will Smith will be speaking today at the second edition of Web Summit Qatar, held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) from February 23-26, 2025.
Smith will be joined by global bestselling author and podcast host Jay Shetty for an exclusive session titled "Redefining Success in Hollywood and Beyond", taking place today from 4:20 pm to 4:45 pm on Centre Stage.
From The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to King Richard, Will Smith has redefined what it means to be a global superstar, blending creativity, resilience, and authenticity. In this highly anticipated conversation, Smith will share the lessons he’s learned throughout his career, the challenges he has overcome, and how he continues to push boundaries in entertainment, business, and life. Together with Shetty, he will explore the deeper meaning of success—both on and off the screen.
Web Summit Qatar is set to gather over 25,000 technology and business leaders, founders, 600 world-leading investors, 600 media, and a record-breaking 1,500+ startups from 90 countries for its highly anticipated return.
Beyond his onscreen stardom, Smith is also a business founder and entrepreneur. In 2019, he and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith co-founded Westbrook, an entertainment venture company dedicated to helping emerging and established talent realize their creative aspirations across film, television, documentaries, new media, and consumer goods.
Smith joins an impressive lineup of speakers at Web Summit Qatar, including tech and VC leaders such as Alexis Ohanian, founder of Seven Seven Six and Reddit co-founder; Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook and B Capital; best-selling authors and podcast stars Malcolm Gladwell and Jay Shetty; Laura Chambers, CEO of Mozilla Corporation; Brian Robbins, CEO of Paramount Pictures, and many more.
This year’s Web Summit Qatar will also see a significant increase in startup participation, with 1,500 of the world’s most promising early-stage startups exhibiting across the show floor and engaging in the event’s Startup Programme. A remarkable 46% of these startups are women-founded, and 85% have a global presence, reflecting both Qatar’s growing tech ecosystem and Web Summit’s reputation as a global showcase for innovation.
The event also brings together over 600 investors from around the world, including industry leaders such as Global Ventures Managing Partner Noor Sweid, Greycroft Partner Kevin Gasque, Altimeter Partner Vivek Goyal, Cherry Ventures Founding Partner Christian Meermann, and Qatar Investment Authority Head of TMT Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hardan.
With a career spanning over three decades, Will Smith has earned critical acclaim as an actor, musician, and cultural icon. He has won four Grammy Awards as a rapper, starred in blockbuster films like Bad Boys, Men in Black, and Independence Day, and secured three Academy Award nominations, winning Best Actor in 2022 for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard.
His journey from a Grammy-winning rapper with DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince to a Hollywood superstar in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and beyond is a testament to his resilience and ability to evolve with time.
Attendees at Web Summit Qatar will get an exclusive opportunity to hear firsthand from one of the most influential figures of our time. Don’t miss the conversation between Will Smith and Jay Shetty today at 4:20 pm on Centre Stage, where they will redefine what success truly means in Hollywood and beyond.