Progress is still People

Having  attended some amazing global tech, fin-tech and data conferences recently, my mind is abuzz with possibility!

 I’ve often said that it’s never been a better time to work in tech and data and with AI, API’s, Azure, Block-chain and all the other A/B’s and acronyms you can throw in, that’s never been more true. 

Despite all the focus on change, speed and innovation, it’s also a reminder that some fundamentals still remain the same. With change always comes a level of fear of the unknown and I was recently asked at a conference where I was speaking at whether I thought all the new automation will result in job losses.  In my view, being in the midst of a technology revolution simply means new, better ways of solving problems.

Just as the industrial revolution saw the progression from horse and cart to the automobile, the world gradually changed and adapted and we saw new professions emerge such as mechanics and engineers as a result. The technology revolution will be no different and we will continue to grow and evolve our skills and expertise in new directions to solve problems. It's undeniable that today's new technology innovations are already having a big impact and revolutionising how we live our lives.

What doesn’t change, in my view though, is the fact that the problems we are trying to solve are, fundamentally, for people.  In a competitive world which often entails high expectations, hidden rules and a need to play the game, we can often lose sight of this.  But regardless of whether we’re client-side or vendor, enterprise, corporate or government, it’s still all comes down to being about people.

 It’s been a big month in New Zealand politics with a number of high profile changes, which is a further reminder that, regardless of what’s new and changing, age-old human values stay the same.  It’s about how we treat people, how we behave in society and the fundamental values we follow for how we live our lives and do what’s right. These things don’t change.  And regardless of what else happens, people are still the thing that matters most.