Attended TechFutures 2025, learned about AI, VR, data protection, and more.

One morning over breakfast in Fiesta, my colleagues at Google asked about my ideal Industry to work. Without hesitation, I said: Hardware has always been my obsession. That surprised them — but I’ve realized it’s the same answer I’ve always given to past colleagues Pramodh Rao Katthala Anusha H Ujwala Ganji. When I was in PeopleLink Collaboration Inc., many asked: Why the AV industry? For me, the answer was clear — PeopleLink doesn’t just build hardware. They own the workspace platform (InstaVC) and pair it with powerful hardware components. That combination can truly shape the future of the workspace industry. Example: Competitor analysis, to me, isn’t filling a SWOT box. It’s about observing signals and forming strategic hypotheses. Take Microsoft Surface series — not just devices, but a strategy to own the workspace experience end-to-end. The future isn’t hardware vs. software. It’s how seamlessly they complement each other. 👉 Here’s my short video on why this hardware obsession matters for what comes next. #PeopleLink #InstaVC #ProductManagement #Meta #MetaGlasses #Microsoft #Surface #AVIndustry #CollaborationTechnology #UnifiedCommunications #WorkspaceInnovation #FutureOfWork #DigitalWorkplace #HardwareInnovation #SoftwareAndHardware #CompetitorAnalysis #BusinessStrategy #MarketTrends #TechStrategy #InnovationLeadership #AI #AIAssistants #AIHardware #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureTech #Leadership #Innovation #Technology #Entrepreneurship #Workplace

Excited for the launch of the Activate AI: Economic Opportunity Challenge by DataDotOrg! This initiative will drive AI-powered solutions for workforce development and climate resilience—unlocking real opportunities for local communities to thrive. Know an organization making a difference with AI? ➡️ https://data.org/activate/

Ever noticed how tech rollouts fall flat, even when the tools are brilliant? Most of us get stuck thinking one way. Our walnuts are clever but flawed. 🧠 Techies can be guilty too: brilliant with tech, but blind to the people actually using it. The fix? Start with the humans. Map the pain points. Work out the business outcomes you actually want. Then figure out the tech that will actually help. People first. Outcomes second. Tools follow. Smart IT balances empathy and logic, both sides of the walnut. 🧠 That's Intelligent Tech. Inspired by “The Faulty Walnut” (link in comments). #EmployeeExperience #IntelligentTech #FaultyWalnut #PeopleFirstTech #ITStrategy #TechLeadership #HumanCentricDesign

#Zoomtopia 2025 was an inspiring event. Though held remotely for analysts, it was just as engaging as an in-person gathering — proof of Zoom’s own platform delivering strong virtual experiences. The theme, “Zoom for People,” resonated through powerful stories. One that stood out was about a girl from Afghanistan who relied on Zoom-powered Khan Academy tutoring and earned admission to MIT without formal transcripts or certificates. For me, it was a vivid example of how technology can transform lives in ways that once did not seem possible. Upwork CEO Hayden Brown captured this spirit with her apt quote: people should not lower their ambitions — organizations must evolve to help people realize their full potential. Zoom’s innovations reflect this idea. The company showcased a digital twin demo, where Eric S. Yuan's avatar co-presented part of the keynote alongside him. With humour, Eric showed how time freed by AI could let him focus on basketball and he did a live demo of a perfect throw — underscoring how technology can give people space for what matters most. Zoom introduced AI Companion 3.0, an agentic AI with the ability to remember, analyse, take actions, and orchestrate tasks across functions. Built on a flexible framework supporting multiple LLMs and SLMs, it can personalize outputs, free calendar time, summarize meetings (from Zoom and beyond), and generate action points, plans and proposals — compressing hours of work into minutes. To see the value for myself, I asked AI Companion at the end of the sessions to summarize the talking points, which I dropped into IDC ChatGPT, and produced a publishable report in seconds. The proof is in the pudding. The bigger message: these tools don’t just change how we work — they push us to rethink how we learn, manage, and measure success in a world where AI can handle the routine. This transformation will ripple through society. Education systems, hiring practices, and management models will need to evolve. Zoom is helping by pledging $10 million to charitable initiatives to help expand AI access for the less privileged children. The next step is helping managers, teachers, and leaders to rethink what developing, managing and measuring talent and success should look like in the new era.

Is Technology Making Us Smarter or More Dependent? Technology has become inseparable from our daily lives, from how we commute to how we work. But here’s the bigger question: Is tech actually making us smarter, or is it making us more dependent? On one hand, access to AI tools, automation, and digital platforms helps us work faster, solve problems, and make better decisions. A single app can do what used to take hours of manual effort. That sounds like progress. But on the other hand, are we outsourcing too much of our thinking? If every answer is a click away, are we losing the ability to analyze, reason, and think critically on our own? In careers, this matters because companies don’t just want people who can “use” tools; they want professionals who can think beyond the tool. The real challenge isn’t about rejecting technology or embracing it blindly. It’s about finding the right balance, using tech as an enabler, while continuing to build core skills, judgment, and independent thinking. Now, I’d love to hear your thoughts: 👉 Do you feel technology has made you sharper, or more dependent? #TechnologyTrends #CriticalThinking #FutureOfWork #CareerGrowth #DigitalSkills #Xyliv

Is Technology Making Us Smarter or More Dependent? Technology has become inseparable from our daily lives, from how we commute to how we work. But here’s the bigger question: Is tech actually making us smarter, or is it making us more dependent? On one hand, access to AI tools, automation, and digital platforms helps us work faster, solve problems, and make better decisions. A single app can do what used to take hours of manual effort. That sounds like progress. But on the other hand, are we outsourcing too much of our thinking? If every answer is a click away, are we losing the ability to analyze, reason, and think critically on our own? In careers, this matters because companies don’t just want people who can “use” tools; they want professionals who can think beyond the tool. The real challenge isn’t about rejecting technology or embracing it blindly. It’s about finding the right balance, using tech as an enabler, while continuing to build core skills, judgment, and independent thinking. Now, I’d love to hear your thoughts: 👉 Do you feel technology has made you sharper, or more dependent? #TechnologyTrends #CriticalThinking #FutureOfWork #CareerGrowth #DigitalSkills #Xyliv

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲!💃 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆.... What a week it’s been! One that was filled with powerful insights, bold conversations, and practical takeaways for leaders driving transformation with Microsoft solutions. Before we wrap up the week, here are some key highlights worth reflecting on: ➡️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚, it’s about choosing the right #technology for your business. Our client thought they needed #DynamicsAX, but through free consulting, we guided them to a better-fit solution - #Dynamics365 Business Central. ➡️ 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑪𝒂𝒏... ✔️ Host immersive 3D virtual events on #MicrosoftTeams ✔️ Enable transcription & intelligent recap for multilingual meetings with Teams Premium + Copilot 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲-𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁! 📢 𝑼𝒑𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕 𝑨𝑰 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒓 – 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒐, 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒅𝒂 Reliance Infosystems will be live at the Microsoft AI Tour, helping organizations cut through the noise, gain clarity, and accelerate their #AI journey. 👉 Save the date and visit us at the Microsoft AI Tour in Toronto. Click this link for more details >> https://lnkd.in/d2VxgqgQ 👉 𝑫𝒐 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝑯𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒐: DM me with your #M365 License questions or book a free session, we’ll help you optimize costs and unlock hidden value! You can catch up on any of my posts from this week using these links: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d-kJH6yD ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dAaSZEpP ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dg7Pprmt ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dh4Wa-JV ➡️ https://lnkd.in/duY9DU6s At Reliance Infosystems, we’re proud to be your trusted 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿, helping you scale with confidence. 𝐿𝑒𝑡’𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙, 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔.🤝 #TGIF #DigitalTransformation #MicrosoftAI

Really though… you say a word, a name, mention you’re thinking about buying something—and boom 💥 every ad on Facebook and Instagram suddenly knows your business. 👀 That’s not coincidence! It’s data-driven personalization powered by machine learning, algorithms, and predictive analytics. Our devices are constantly learning our habits to anticipate what we want next. 💭 Now imagine if each contributor strived to harness that same concept at work — using insights, patterns, and digital tools to anticipate team needs, predict project risks, and personalize customer experiences before anyone even asks. ‼️It’s the same technology, just redirected from selling to serving. 💡When used with integrity, data can help us lead smarter, work faster, and create experiences that actually meet people where they are. —————- #TechForGood #DigitalLeadership #DataDrivenDecisions #InnovationAtWork #AIethics #FutureOfWork #womenintech #womeninstem #randomthoughts #teeleads #inspiration #aspiration #motivation #projectleadership #IntentionalTech #careers

Yesterday, we loved spending the day with so many of our partners who joined us for our first Partner Pulse of FY26.     Partner Pulse started as a small idea between us at Oaka Studio and our friends at Seer 365, and two years on, it’s become something I genuinely look forward to every quarter. The conversations, the partnerships, the willingness to share and learn together – it’s what makes this community genuinely so special.    A huge thank you to our brilliant sponsors, Cognitive Group | Part of the Focus Cloud Group and Arrow ECS United Kingdom, for backing the series and helping us bring it all together.    There were some standout moments today: • A powerful keynote from Tatiana Arventi, UKI AI Workforce Functional Lead at Microsoft, on how partners can turn Microsoft’s AI vision into real transformation.  • An honest, thought-provoking AI use case panel with Chris Huntingford and Faiz Muhammad from Mazik Global Inc.  • A programme overview. Covering not just the Copilot Studio specialisation (led by us at Oaka Studio) but also the findings and incentives to maximise your opportunity. And finally, Sam Dharmasiri and Keith Delarge took us through how to discover more AI and agentic wins for customers and how to approach building AI offerings (led by Seer 365).    If you haven’t joined a #PartnerPulse yet, the first one for 2026 is already in the diary for 28 January. They’re not just events - they’re a space to connect, challenge ideas, and keep learning together as part of the #MicrosoftPartner community.    #MSPartner #PartnersMakeMorePossible #MicrosoftCommunity #Agentic #Copilot    Sam Dharmasiri | Sara Cheaveau | Richard Hughes | K Delarge | Rufus Lunn | Rose M.| Adam Palmer | Lucy Bourne | Lee Baker | Lynda Hazoume | Joel Abbott | Oliver Harvey-Jones | Megan Hunter | James Delderfield | Chris Snowdon

💡 5 Insights About Google Workspace You Should Know 💡 In today’s fast-moving world, efficiency and teamwork matter more than ever. That’s where Google Workspace steps in – not just as a set of tools, but as a smarter way of working. Here’s what makes it stand out: 🔹 One platform, many tools Email, storage, documents, presentations, meetings, and scheduling – all connected under a single roof to keep everything organised. 🔹 Work together, live Team members can update, comment, and edit at the same time without confusion or delays. 🔹 Always accessible, always protected Because it’s cloud-based, your work follows you everywhere, with strong safeguards to keep your data safe. 🔹 AI that makes life easier Built-in intelligence helps with writing, analysing, and managing tasks, giving you more time to focus on what matters. 🔹 Trusted by millions From universities and startups to governments and enterprises, people worldwide depend on it every day. 🚀 Google Workspace isn’t just about technology – it’s about enabling people to do their best work, together. #GoogleWorkspace #FutureOfWork #Collaboration #AI #Productivity