Nurturing an Innovator's Mindset, Virtual Fashion, Spatial Computing & 30 BIPOC Authors to Support

Dec 21, 2023

Hey it’s Ariba! I know it’s a strange time of the year- we’re setting up the OOO, spending time in reflection, easing in to rest, while maintaining the resilience to bear witness and use our voices where we must. So, I hope the year wraps up in the way that you need it the most.

This year was the year I bet on myself and my idea, and I had no idea that so much joy was waiting for me on the other side. So, thank you so much for tuning in to Up Next In Tech podcast, sending emails and DMs, sharing the podcast with others, leaving reviews and allowing us to join your day.

In this issue:

Catch up with the Pod: Three new episodes dropped since the last newsletter
25 BIPOC authors to support & learn from this holiday season

Expanding Digital Identity Through Community Driven Virtual Fashion with Nirmala Shome of the Fabricant

Nirmala Shome, Head of Marketing and Growth at The Fabricant joins us to share her journey from studying digital arts in Australia to working on a new fashion industry where everybody participates and profits. Nirmala also digs into the future of fashion labels and IPs, the difference in work cultures worldwide, the reality of explaining nascent industries while it’s still being built, and her outlook on both the potential opportunities and risks of our increasingly virtual world.

🎧 Check out the episode on: Spotify, Apple, Youtube & more

What does it take to work in the creative innovation industry? An insiders perspective with Chris Denson

Working in innovation varies depending on the industry, type of company and what era of technology we’re in. Conversations around innovation often focus on the outputs only, so Chris Denson and I focused this episode on everything else. Chris is a marketer, innovation coach, multimedia host, and bestselling author of the book “10 Essential Rules for Breaking Essential Rules”. We lifted the hood on the mindsets it takes, the internal conversations innovation leaders go through, the day-to-day challenges and so much more. Chris also touches on how his childhood and lived experiences played a role in how he shows up, approaches his innovation work and what advice he has for others.

🎧 Check out the episode on: Spotify, Apple, Youtube & more

Spatial Computing and Building for Gen Alpha with Chief Futurist, Cathy Hackl

The “Godmother of the Metaverse”, Cathy Hackl joins this episode to discuss her journey from being a journalist to becoming a futurist. We explored what brands should keep in mind when building for Generation Alpha - a group of tech natives who are rewiring the future. Cathy also explained the concept of spatial computing and its applications in various industries and how it may evolve over the next few years. We acknowledged the challenges, the need for ethical considerations in how this tech evolves and the potential of spatial computing in creating more immersive and engaging experiences through more integrations of physical and digital worlds and geopolitics in the metaverse.

🎧 Check out the episode on: Spotify, Apple, Youtube & more

30+ BIPOC Authors to support and learn from this holiday gift giving season

I’ve curated a list of books on ethical tech, inclusive design, emerging experiences, healing, community & leadership written by BIPOC authors. Grab a read for a friend and yourself, whether you want to dig into them this holiday season or in the new year!