Spatial Computing and Building for Gen Alpha with Chief Futurist, Cathy Hackl | S01E08 Up Next in Tech with Ariba Jahan

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



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CREDITS:

Podcast art by Emma Johnston.

Podcast edited by The Sunshine Collective.

Site by RR Digital