If you had asked me a couple of years ago the first thing that came to mind when someone mentioned IBM, I would have said, “Little red mouse button and suit-jacket-wearing, old school company culture.” I knew at the time what IBM was doing, but “disruptive” and “innovative” didn’t even enter the picture. Those are characteristics I associate with startups, not the big enterprise companies I’ve worked for over the years, and especially not with companies the size of IBM.
As someone who believes in and embraces the power of technology, I know for certain that technology is ever-changing. But one thing that won’t change is people. We are often a hard-nosed bunch, and we can’t always see or fix our own problems related to technology use.
I consider myself a change evangelist. Over the last year I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with multiple IBM teams, had the honor of being included in a list of “Top 25 emerging Social Business Leaders,” attended the TED at IBM event, was selected as a VIP influencer for big data, cloud and mobile events, and also attended the first-ever Future of Work Experience, where over the course of three days in New York City, we set out to rethink, reimagine, and reinvent the future of work. That’s why, when I am giving a technology-related talk, I focus on the benefits of embracing change, as well as in helping brands build community and a culture that can be scaled and amplified by technology.
Futurist Insights to 2025 and Beyond
The Future of Work Experience was one of the highlights of my career. IBM and their digital agency PureMatter brought together influential futurists and thought leaders for a full-day Thinkathon. The Thinkathon was keynoted by Faith Popcorn, who authored the book “The Popcorn Report,” a true example of out-of-the-box thinking. But what truly made the event unforgettable for me was the ability to collaborate and brainstorm with other futurist thought leaders on what work will look like between 2015 and 2025. Our discussions covered a range of topics — you can read more in the Thinkathon eBook. The group’s overall passion around leading change by creating cultures built on trust and open collaboration, as well as their focus on leveraging technologies that embrace new philosophies to create NEW experiences was what I found most compelling.
The group was invited to join the advisory board, providing us with behind-the-scenes information on the new IBM Verse and a demonstration which illustrated how the product will shape and change the future. With my tech geek senses tingling, I recognized the first of many signs that IBM wanted to create a “New Way to Work.” Here is a company that is forward thinking enough to seek out insights and input from influencers, futurists, and thought leaders across all industries.
A New Way to Work: Re-Inventing EMAIL
#NewWayToWork is the IBM mantra and tagline for their new conversation enabling, social data infused, people centric, email transformation tool Verse
After witnessing the live unveiling in November, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in influencer preview webinars, attend multiple IBM conferences, and, just this past month at their interconnect event in Vegas, I received a hands-on demo of Verse’s latest update. IBM’s goal is to create a user-centric email solution that focuses on new experiences. While IBM Verse is marketed as a new email solution, the focus of the tool is to drive better collaboration, and dynamically create new and improved user experiences based on user behaviors. You can watch my initial take at the IBM event and see what I mean.
If Big Blue can Change, There’s no Excuse for us!
IBM’s focus on a “New Way to Work” extends far beyond a new approach to email. An unquestionable leader in social business and employee advocacy, they are breaking the influencer marketing mold with events like the ThinkaThon. In fact, you can join me for the IBM sponsored #SbizHour that I co-host with Rachel Miller, on Mondays at 4pm ET.
Designing a new work culture is no easy task, never mind changing an industry. Verse is a change maker. But will it work? What impact will IBM verse have on our approach to email? What does the future of work look like for IBM, beyond this newest technology? And ultimately, does IBM’s success or failure depend not on the quality of its technology or it’s forward-thinking attitudes, but on the user’s ability to embrace change? There is one question I can I answer for sure, and that is that IBM will continue to be an innovative, risk-taking leader and a technology powerhouse. These are just a few of the thought leaders who keep IBM moving forward:
IBM Thought Leaders You’ll Want to Learn From:
- Maria Bartolome Winans, CMO, IBM Commerce, Mobile and Social
- Jeff Schick, GM of Social Software at IBM
- Sandy Carter, General Manager, IBM Ecosystems and Social Business Evangelism at IBM
- Amber Armstrong, Program Director, Social Business Market Making and Evangelism at IBM
- Amy Tennison, Social Media Strategist at IBM
- Maria Huntalas, Sr. Marketing Manager, Strategy & Solutions
- Lisa (Seacat) DeLuca IBM Commerce, Experience One Omni-Channel Tech Strategist at IBM
- Ed Brill, Vice President, IT – Social Cloud Deployment and Adoption at IBM
- Samantha Klein, Marketing Manager, Influencer Relations
- Michela Stribling Global Director, Digital Content & Editorial Marketing at IBM
- Jim Clausseen, Social Business Digital Engagement Strategy at IBM
- Tariq Ahmad, Social Business Manager at IBM
- Michelle Killebrew, Global Marketing, IBM Social Business at IBM
I’ve taken a cue from IBM and encourage you to do the same. Focus on rethinking and reinventing yourself, your story, and your mission often. Focus on creating new experiences by adopting new philosophies that challenge the status quo, disrupt an industry, and ultimately embrace every aspect of CHANGE in…well… A New Way To Work!
Some of the activities mentioned in this post were brought to you by IBM Social Business and opinions are my own.
