Key Points

• Figuring out a solid approach is non-negotiable when tackling the metaverse. For Rafaella Camera, Head of Brands & Advertisers Solutions for Unreal Engines, taking a creator first approach has garnered massive success for the company. While a creator first approach isn’t for everyone, companies must figure out what works best in order to capitalize on their success.
• With such vast possibilities within the metaverse, companies must focus not on what they think or hope will attract consumers, but pay attention to what consumers actually want. Looking at successful virtual patterns over the years can greatly help steer companies in the right direction.

Key Points

• According to Anil Dash, CEO of Glitch and self-proclaimed tech optimist, the ability to check in with remote employees via different tools and platforms is liberating and productive for many, but there are differences. “Vulnerable people in your organization don’t experience surveillance as helpful,” he said.
• “We’re never going to solve this talent shortage if companies don’t address what’s happening at the entry level,” Simone Petrella, CEO of CyberVista told CNBC’s Jon Fortt. She said companies should put a bigger focus on evaluating the tech talent they have and then put in place upskilling programs to get them to the next level. Petrella added that the average cyber job takes six months to fill.

• The unrelenting frequency of cyber attacks on companies, hospital systems, schools and critical U.S. infrastructure has reached a boiling point, said Kevin Mandia, CEO of Mandiant, the company that discovered the SolarWinds attack nearly a year ago. “Everyone is tired of ransomware,” he told CNBC Senior Washington Correspondent Eamon Javers. But there are things companies can do. He urged TEC members to require two-factor authentication in their organizations and to make spear phishing training essential for all employees.
• “There’s just so much we don’t know about space yet,” said Jared Isaacman, Shift4 Payments founder and commander of the first all-civilian crew to orbit the Earth. He told TEC members that the role of the private sector in space exploration is a good thing, adding that capital can be deployed more efficiently than when it comes from the government.

Key Points

• According to Marvell Technology President & CEO Matt Murphy, “Due to the current ‘panic buy’ of semiconductors, there is a possibility of a surplus stock of semiconductors once the shortage is over."
• Managing Director & Sr. Policy Analyst at Longview Global Dewardric McNeal believes the different geopolitical perspectives of countries competing in the tech industry can lead to long-term tech allocation issues beyond the pandemic.

• “Rethinking your company’s supply chain can come with increased costs, however it can reduce your company’s risk from unknown factors that can significantly impact it, such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Mark Fields, former President & CEO of Ford Motor Company.

Key Points

• The next iteration of communication and collaboration tools includes smart galleries, AI-enabled meetings, and shareable virtual whiteboards that will help enable the “democratization of meetings” that emerged in the midst of the pandemic to continue.
• When considering a fully remote workplace, be willing to weather any of the downside of remote work in exchange for the opportunity to hire people anywhere in the world.

• NFT’s have gone mainstream and this is having an impact on the world of art and collectibles. These digital assets will likely impact the worlds of music, drawings, and video games in the years ahead.

Key Points

• According to Tyagarajan, CEO of Genpact and TEC member: "COVID-19 is not only a health problem but also a communication problem. One asymptomatic person can lead to a rapid spread of the virus, and this can be solved with rapid testing."
• Despite the efficiency and convenience of digital communication, solely interacting virtually can make it more difficult to empathize with coworkers.

• Working in the office should have an incentivizing factor that employees cannot replicate with remote work.