At the heart of the global COVID-19 crisis, we are living our moment and living our responsibility. At no other time in history have all the connective elements of our industry been so critical to survive, collaborate, progress, and overcome.

Technology is a cornerstone of how humanity will prevail and thrive. Our industry carries forth every “connection.” Individuals and organizations need to reimagine everything: how to virtually conduct business without disruption, how to collaborate to respond and research, and how to grow great through online collaboration, education, healthcare, commerce, and more, leveraging connections in ways never experienced before.

Technology keeps redefining humanity as we know it. While many might have been cynical pre-COVID-19 about technology’s impact on the next generation, more embrace and rely upon its ability to keep us connected. While this crisis may have humbled us, technology has lifted us.

We all, individuals and corporations, share responsibility to assess, plan, and continually analyze the impact of technology on social empowerment, climate change, education, mental health, and humanity at large.

Our industry is in a pivotal position to improve the lives of the next generations of users.

Putting research and science ahead of all we venture for is critical and should guide how we conduct business, evaluate growth, and reimagine the future.

Innovation is not an option; it is the imperative and the lifeblood of our future. Seeking uncharted territories – across AI, robotics, VR, space tech, life science, and more – comes with the responsibility to measure the impact of technology on behaviors, privacy, and market dynamics. Data science helps uncover, guide, and protect how we should apply innovation.

Tech organizations will continue to innovate by how their brands connect and communicate. Brands are muddled in a digital flood of over-communication, using the same tools, the same tactics, and often operating from the same script. New conversations will bring new ideas to reality.

PTC is a compass informing our strategists about what is to come in the information and communication technologies (ICT) world. Data and content accumulated during the Annual Conference are invaluable throughout the year. The diversity of insights and opinions shared enables us to map out how we picture the industry evolving, how technologies are shifting, and where we see the greatest opportunity for growth and innovation.

PTC is a non-profit with purpose-led values. While best known for its Annual Conference, the organization works year-round promoting the advancement of ICT in the Pacific Rim, through education, data gathering, and social empowerment projects.

PTC’s DNA is underappreciated. Every investment in membership and in the Annual Conference will touch a life, and enhance it through the organization’s actions. PTC’s daily impact is greater than its perception – and its Annual Conference.

Keep your mind open to change. Your career will be led by embracing change. Work so technology can enable the greater good and deepen human values. Technology – and innovation – is gender-free and prejudice-free. Never stop learning, experiencing, and sharing. Challenge how you can improve everything.

I wrote two bestsellers on Luxury Swiss Timepieces in my 30s, one with St. Martin’s Press and the other with Rizzoli International. That said, I am quite relaxed to confirm that I have no plan to write about technology. The PTC community does a much better job at it!