Up Next in Tech with Ariba Jahan Ariba Jahan, Product Experience and Innovation Leader

Have you ever thought about having a digital twin?

In this episode of Up Next in Tech, I sit down with Jessica Berger, SVP of Innovation at Publicis Media. Admirably known for her insight and understanding of cutting-edge technology, Jessica shares her expertise on trends like web3, AI, extended reality, and gaming. In this conversation, we focused on 4 emerging trends that Jessica's team highlighted in their recent trends report called, Future Forward. The report included topics like instant content to commerce, immersive digital ecosystems, AI's impact on identity and social life, and the revolutionary implications of gaming's evolution on brands. The episode also sheds light on Jessica's personal definition of innovation and how she nurtures her curiosity, opening up interesting questions around the adoption of virtual try-on technologies and the possibility of using a digital twin.

So if any of these trends interest you, be sure to check out the episode and let me know what you think about virtual try on technologies or any of the trends we mentioned! 

Also, check out the glossary that breaks down a lot of the new words that come up on this episode. It’s a new thing we’re trying, so let us know if you like it.

Follow along:

01:39 Jessica’s definition of Innovation 

04:00 Nurturing Curiosity and Innovator's Mindset

13:58 Personal Use of Generative AI

19:27 Identifying Trends and Directions

24:49 Ethical Considerations in the Digital Age

32:59 The Potential of Virtual Try-Ons

35:01 The Role of Blockchain in Authenticity and Equity

42:34 Nurturing Mental Health and Curiosity

Speaker Bio: 

Jessica Berger leads innovation and strategy at Publicis Media by harnessing the power of emerging technologies and insights. With an industry reputation for her unwavering enthusiasm and profound understanding of cutting-edge tech, such as web3, AI, and AR/VR, Berger has become a sought-after speaker, judge, and host at industry events. Her expertise lies in deciphering the future of media and brand experiences, enabling her clients to capitalize on the potential of breakthrough innovations.

Moreover, her dedication to mentorship and advocacy for diverse voices in organizations like the Adweek Executive Mentorship program and Girls In Tech exemplifies her commitment to empowering the next generation of marketers and thinkers. Prior to joining Publicis, Berger worked at agency powerhouses Weber Shandwick and Publicis’ MSL where she strategized and implemented campaigns and digital innovation efforts for clients in the luxury goods, CPG and tech sectors. Her over a decade-long experience is informed by working for agencies and companies across Germany, Japan, and North America – giving her a unique global edge valued by many clients and industry peers. 

For the full show notes with transcript, glossary of terms and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/jessica-berger



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🔗 CONNECT WITH JESSICA BERGER 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaberger1/



🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aribajahan



📱 LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION 

You can also send me a DM on instagram @ariba.jahan or email podcast@aribajahan.com. 

Post a screenshot and what you loved and tag me on instagram, linkedin, or twitter. 



CREDITS:

Podcast art by Emma Johnston.

Podcast edited by The Sunshine Collective.

Site by RR Digital Media.

In this episode, I sit down with Cathy Hackl to discuss her journey and inspiration from being a journalist to becoming a futurist and the godmother of the metaverse. 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.



Throughout our chat, Cathy and I shared personal stories as women and moms in the industry, valuable insights that pave the way for a deeper understanding of the tech landscape, and much more. 



What questions come up for you? Let us know so we can have a future episode breaking concepts down and answering your questions. 



Follow along:


2:10 - Cathy's Journey from Journalism to Tech


3:45 - Importance of Strategic Decision Making and Mindset


4:40 - Challenging Gender Norms and Embracing Success


9:52 - Understanding Generation Alpha and How to Engage with Them


18:19 - Exploring Spatial Computing and its Potential Applications 


26:12 - Challenges and Ethical Considerations of Spatial Computing 


32:41 - Why You Need to Stay Informed and Adapt to Technological Changes


35:36 - Cathy's Reflections and Personal Experiences in the Tech Industry





Bio: 

Cathy Hackl is a leading business executive, tech futurist, and media personality. She’s a leading authority in emerging tech and leads Journey’s Virtual Studio helping companies and governments with gaming, AR, AI, spatial computing and virtual world strategies and strategic foresight. Brands like Nike, Walmart, Louis Vuittion, and Clinique have trusted her to guide them into new virtual spaces. She was recently named one of Ad Age’s Leading Women of 2023 and on the Vogue Business 100 Innovators list. She’s a member of the prestigious Ad Council Board of Directors and the host of an award winning Adweek podcast. She’s popularly known in tech circles as the Godmother of the Metaverse and has been a fixture in the world of immersive technology for almost a decade with many media appearances in CNBC’s Squawk Box, 60 Minutes+, CNN, Good Morning America, GQ, Time, The Economist, Bloomberg, and more.



For the full show notes with transcript and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/cathy-hackl



🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify! 

💾 DIVE INTO WEB3 

What is Web3? Is it still relevant?  If you’ve been wanting to dive in to learn more about Web3, check out this free guide I put together for you: https://www.aribajahan.com/get-web3-guide

💻SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and valuable resources delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here:  https://upnextwithariba.substack.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH CATHY HACKL

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cathyhackl

Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/CathyHackl

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@cathyhackl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyhackl/

🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aribajahan

📱 LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION 

You can also send me a DM on instagram @ariba.jahan or email podcast@aribajahan.com. 

Post a screenshot and what you loved and tag me on instagram, linkedin, or twitter. 



CREDITS:

Podcast art by Emma Johnston.

Podcast edited by The Sunshine Collective.

Site by RR Digital

In this episode, I had the chance to speak with my good friend, Chris Denson, who is a marketer, innovation coach, multimedia host, and bestselling author of the book- “10 Essential Rules for Breaking Essential Rules”. Conversations around innovation in the creative, advertising or media side often focuses only on the outputs, so we focused this episode on everything else. We lifted the hood on the mindsets it takes, the internal conversations and day-to-day challenges and so much more.



Chris shares insightful stories about how his childhood experiences shaped his curiosity and influenced his current work, and highlighted the  importance of maintaining relentless optimism even when things don’t work. We discuss a variety of topics related to innovation, the realities and challenges of bringing ideas to life, the significant role emotional intelligence plays in the field of innovation and so much more like: 



04:26 - Chris’s Origin Story: His shift from comedy to
innovation

13:08 - The role of curiosity and openness in innovation

25:49 – The skill of connecting and collecting dots in
innovation

30:39 - Emerging Tech Trends in innovation

33:19 - The key to balancing optimism and reality

35:37 - Dealing with daily struggles and taking mental
health breaks

39:43 - Understanding self-identity and the power of
self-talk

44:46 - The role of innovation in personal growth
50:11 - Things to look forward to in the world of tech and innovation


Bio: Chris Denson is marketer, innovation coach, multimedia host, and bestselling author. He has spent his career building better companies, launching new ideas, and giving rise to cultural tastemakers through awe-inspired experiences, content, and advisory. Echoing an award-winning career across entertainment, marketing, media and technology industries, Chris has valuable insights, practices, and resources to thrive in an always-evolving cultural and technological landscape. He has done this alongside The United Nations, Fast Company, Omnicom Media Group, MullenLowe, The Emmys, Cannes Lions, The Nyah Project, HubSpot, The Obama Administration, and authored the 2018 #1 bestselling book, "10 Essential Rules for Breaking Essential Rules".



For the full show notes with transcript and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/chris-denson



💾 DIVE INTO WEB3 

What is Web3? Is it still relevant?  If you’ve been wanting to dive in to learn more about Web3, check out this free guide I put together for you: https://www.aribajahan.com/get-web3-guide



🔗 CONNECT WITH CHRIS DENSON 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/densonology

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdenson/

Website: www.chrisdenson.co



🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aribajahan

 

💻SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and valuable resources delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here:  https://upnextwithariba.substack.com/



🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify! 



📱 LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION 

You can also send me a DM on instagram @ariba.jahan or email podcast@aribajahan.com. 

Post a screenshot and what you loved and tag me on instagram, linkedin, or twitter. 



CREDITS:

Podcast art by Emma Johnston.

Podcast edited by The Sunshine Collective.

Site by RR Digital Media.

The runway is going virtual, empowering new creators and breaking industry boundaries through community-driven digital fashion. 



In this episode, I chat with Nirmala Shome, the Head of Marketing and Growth at a digital fashion house, The Fabricant, to break down what that means, how they’re trying to build a new fashion industry where everybody participates and profits while leveraging blockchain and augmented reality, how creativity is transcending beyond physical apparel, and the role of fashion in gaming. 



With over 15 years of experience across digital agencies, e-commerce platforms, and immersive startups, Nirmala has honed her expertise as a digital producer, community builder, and storytelling marketer for emerging technologies, having worked in advertising and digital production in both Melbourne and New York.



Learn why major luxury brands are now investing in digital-only clothing and products tailored for virtual worlds and metaverse environments. Gain strategic insights on co-creation, authenticity, and digital ownership from a leader guiding a fashion startup through rapid technological shifts.



We dive into:



2:00 Nirmala's Career Journey and Transition into Digital Fashion

05:00 Exploring the Potential of Digital Technology in Fashion

09:00: The Shift from Traditional Marketing to Digital Marketing

12:08 The Journey from Australia to New York and Europe and their different work environments 

16:08: The Impact of Digital Technology on Fashion Industry

20:04: The Role of Community in Web 3.0

23:06: The Influence of Different Work Cultures on Career

27:02: The Evolution and Future of Digital Fashion

30:40: The Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Fashion

33:50: The Role of Gaming in the Future of Digital Fashion

38:00: The Impact of Digital Fashion on Consumer Behavior

41:50: The Intersection of Fashion, Culture, and Community

44:08: The Role of Blockchain in Digital Fashion

48:00: The Ethical Considerations in Digital Fashion

50:08: The Transition from Community to Marketing and Growth

54:50: The Future of Metaverse and Digital Fashion



Bio:

Nirmala Shome joined The Fabricant in 2020 and has worked across product and production. She is now heading up the Marketing and Growth pillar to focus on The Fabricant's mission to grow and nurture the new digital-only fashion ecosystem. She started off in advertising and digital production, working across Melbourne and New York, and is now based in Amsterdam.



For the full show notes with transcript and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/nirmala-shome

💾 DIVE INTO WEB3 

If you’ve been wanting to dive in to learn more about Web3, check out this free guide I put together for you: https://www.aribajahan.com/get-web3-guide

🔗 CONNECT WITH NIRMALA SHOME

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nirmala_shome

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nirmalashome/

Newsletter: https://ok.substack.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aribajahan

 

💻SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and valuable resources delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here:  https://upnextwithariba.substack.com/

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify! 

📱 LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION 

Send me a DM on Instagram @ariba.jahan or email podcast@aribajahan.com. 

Post a screenshot and what you loved, and tag me on instagram, linkedin, or twitter. 

CREDITS:

Podcast art by Emma Johnston

Podcast edited by The Sunshine Collective

Site by RR Digital Media

When a machine is super intelligent, can we even reason with it? Can we even tell it what to do? Can we understand it at all? 



In this episode, I sit down with Naimul Huq, former SVP of Operations at Vayner3 and now CEO of Dr. Studio to dig into these questions about AI, and the tech evolution from the first iteration of social media to where we’re headed next.  



With a wealth of experience spanning over 15 years in digital culture, marketing analytics, and consumer insights, he has become a sought-after translator, bridging the realms of brands, blockchain, and the metaverse. In our conversation, Naimul and I delve into our respective immigrant journeys from Bangladesh, his upbringing in the American Midwest, his diverse career in healthcare innovation and political data science, and his strategic insights into exponential technologies like AI, VR, and blockchain. Throughout our discussion, we explored more topics including:



00:26 - How it’s like to keep up and stay ahead with emerging technology 

01:49 - How his cultural, spiritual, and family tradition influenced his life and career choices 

11:15 - What it took to shift from Med School to Web 3 

15:18 - His experience with helping traditional businesses (health insurance companies) leverage the use of technology

19:43 - How the narrative of big data started to emerge and statisticians started learning computer science

23:50 - What Web3 really means and the evolution of the Internet   

29:25 - The potential of where we’re going vs. where we are today 

34:49 - The possibility of AI being smarter than humans and the risk that comes along with it 

43:00 - (Rapid fire questions with Naimul) Why it’s important to build your credit score as early as possible, why you need to set aside time to meditate, and how a 49-inch monitor helps him get his life together 

45:00 - What’s next for web3 and what are the possibilities when technology becomes more available for more people?

51:00 - Who’s up next for Naimul? 



This episode was recorded in May 2023.



Bio: Naimul Huq, formerly served as the SVP and Head of Operations for Vayner3, an innovation consultancy founded by Gary Vaynerchuk, and now the CEO of Doctor Studios (⁠doctorstudios.co⁠) a digital content studio that helps doctors grow their personal brands, and the EVP of Innovation at /prompt. Naimul was born down the road in Lexington and started his career in Louisville. A TEDx speaker, analyst, and blockchain believer, he specializes in Web3 strategies, NFTs, crypto, data, analytics, AI and digital marketing. He’s an award-winning strategic consultant for Fortune 500 companies, startups, B2B and B2C organizations. He has worked on Federal elections, global non-profits, and the world's most innovative brands. Before all that he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Naimul lives in New York City.



For the full show notes with transcript and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/naimul-huq



🔗 CONNECT WITH NAIMAL HUQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/naimul

🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aribajahan

 

💻SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and valuable resources delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here:  https://upnextwithariba.substack.com/

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify! 

📱 LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION 

You can also send me a DM on instagram @ariba.jahan or email podcast@aribajahan.com. 

Post a screenshot and what you loved and tag me on instagram, linkedin, or twitter. 

CREDITS:

Podcast art by Emma Johnston.

Podcast edited

What’s the art of the possible when you blend technologies like AI, augmented reality (AR), and blockchain with play? Turns out, ownable digital companions that you can talk to and interact with, called OnlyBots. It's a new era of Tamagotchis, y’all.🤖



In this episode I sit down with Alex Herrity, who is a cofounder of Anima, a gaming and interactive technology company and has spent his career building consumer products that people use every day, including Fortnite, the Epic Games Store, HBO’s streaming apps, and his last startup Ultravisual that was acquired in 2014 by Flipboard. We touched on a wide range of topics such as: 


0:10 - Balancing time between personal life, being a parent and being a co-founder


1:04 - How Alex went from working for a theme park to building digital consumer products


3:40 - How his hobby interest in emerging technology became an exciting career journey 


5:19 - Finding the joy in creating technology that users love, admire, and use every day 


7:03 - How his ability to dive into unknowns were nurtured by his parents and the role having privilege played in his entrepreneurial journey


11:47 - OnlyBots, Anima, the future of companionship, and the possibility of building a healthy and fun relationship with a digital companion


22:36 - Their vision of enabling a way for people to create based on their imagination and the generation of builders on Roblox and Fortnite


25:30 - Ethical considerations that we need to take into account 


29:42 - His favorite examples of AR


33:40 - How AI is impacting the way we teach in schools and the repercussions when AI or AR disconnects you from reality? 


39:36 - The importance of redefining engagement metrics as new technologies emerge



Alex believes we need to thoughtfully shape how our physical and digital environments keep blending, instead of letting it evolve unchecked and keeping innovation grounded on bringing people together. He also sees a major role for emerging creators in building this future. 



What are your thoughts on Alex's perspective on digital companions? How do you see our physical-digital worlds evolving in the next 5-10 years? Bio: 

Alex Herrity (he/him) is cofounder of Anima, a gaming and interactive technology company. He has spent his career building consumer products that people use every day, including Fortnite, the Epic Games Store, HBO’s streaming apps, and his last startup Ultravisual that was acquired in 2014 by Flipboard.

Alex founded Anima with his long-time collaborator Neil Voss, with a mission to use emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented reality to make previously impossible games and toys. Their current flagship game is Onlybots, AI-powered companions that live with and talk to you. Onlybots is in beta and releasing widely early next year.

For the full show notes with transcript and resources, visit https://www.aribajahan.com/upnextintech/alex-herrity-anima

🔗 CONNECT WITH ALEX HERRITY

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexherrity

Site: https://anima.supply/

🔗 CONNECT WITH ARIBA JAHAN

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aribajahan

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aribajahan/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61NDFgqsM02-wtE1PrZOsw

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aribajahan

 

💻SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and valuable resources delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe here:  https://upnextwithariba.substack.com/

🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and a 5-star rating on Spotify! 

📱 LET’S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION 

You can also send me a DM on instagram @ariba.jahan or email podcast@aribajahan.com. 

Post a screenshot and what you loved and tag me on instagram, linkedin, or twitter. 

CREDITS:

Podcast art by Emma Johnston.

Podcast edited by The Sunshine Collec