Expert’s Corner: Digital Economy Q&A with George Chow
October 2nd, 2014
Expert’s Corner with George Chow: #DigitalEconomyCongress
In anticipation of the 2nd Annual Digital Economy Congress, Reboot is excited to present “Expert’s Corner”, a series of blog posts featuring outstanding digital economy leaders and professionals who will be speaking at the congress in October. Read on for a glimpse of what the #DigitalEconomyCongress is all about…
We had the opportunity to ask George Chow a few questions about his views and opinions on the digital economy leading up to the congress:
Q: As our world becomes increasingly digitized, how do you think the way we do business will change?
A: It’s trite to say it but it is very much ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’. When we talk of a ‘digital economy’, it suggests that this new economy is distinct from the old ‘analog economy’. Far from it! It’s clear to me that we’re in the ‘digitized economy’. As for the way that we do business, this new ‘digitized economy’ requires you to re-think completely what your business is and where you can take it. The best example of this rethink is to consider how Jeff Bezos created AWS from Amazon and thereby launched the public cloud industry. And he did this by turning Amazon’s own IT infrastructure into a business unit. This is the sort of rethink that every business needs today.
Q: What does the term “Digital Economy” mean to you? or How do you define the “Digital Economy”?
A: I tend to think of ‘digital economy’ as our current state where digital technology is a pervasive dimension of every transaction. It’s important to recognize that digital is only one added dimension. Some areas (such as finance, retail or shipping) are much farther along while others (such as government and healthcare) are still in a state of flux.
Q: How has the digital economy affected you from a work and/or personal perspective?
A: The trend towards increasing digitization cuts across both my professional and personal life. There is no boundary between the systems, techniques or tools that I use at work or home. So the same smartphone that I use for work email is also a gateway to my home entertainment system. The ISP and network appliances that I use when working from home also powers Netflix and the security system.
Q: If you could give consumers one piece of advice on how to thrive in the changing digital economy, what would it be?
A: My tip for thriving in the digital economy is to experiment and share with others. If you find something—a product or technology—that works for you, share and tell others about it. Pay attention to and examine how others are using it or solving a similar problem. Social media is the ideal tool for discovering and sharing what you’re learning. The present age is one of experimentation and ‘good enough’ so don’t wait for the perfect answer.
Q:What are you most looking forward to at the #DigitalEconomyCongress in Vancouver, BC in October?
A: I’m looking forward to hearing from other practitioners and thought leaders on what they’ve been doing in their space or thinking about doing.
This post is part of Reboot Communications’ “Expert’s Corner” series. The 2nd Annual Digital Economy Congress is happening on October 9-10, 2014, in Vancouver, BC. Find out how you can get involved here.
Expert’s Corner with George Chow: #DigitalEconomyCongress
In anticipation of the 2nd Annual Digital Economy Congress, Reboot is excited to present “Expert’s Corner”, a series of blog posts featuring outstanding digital economy leaders and professionals who will be speaking at the congress in October. Read on for a glimpse of what the #DigitalEconomyCongress is all about…
We had the opportunity to ask George Chow a few questions about his views and opinions on the digital economy leading up to the congress:
Q: As our world becomes increasingly digitized, how do you think the way we do business will change?
A: It’s trite to say it but it is very much ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’. When we talk of a ‘digital economy’, it suggests that this new economy is distinct from the old ‘analog economy’. Far from it! It’s clear to me that we’re in the ‘digitized economy’. As for the way that we do business, this new ‘digitized economy’ requires you to re-think completely what your business is and where you can take it. The best example of this rethink is to consider how Jeff Bezos created AWS from Amazon and thereby launched the public cloud industry. And he did this by turning Amazon’s own IT infrastructure into a business unit. This is the sort of rethink that every business needs today.
Q: What does the term “Digital Economy” mean to you? or How do you define the “Digital Economy”?
A: I tend to think of ‘digital economy’ as our current state where digital technology is a pervasive dimension of every transaction. It’s important to recognize that digital is only one added dimension. Some areas (such as finance, retail or shipping) are much farther along while others (such as government and healthcare) are still in a state of flux.
Q: How has the digital economy affected you from a work and/or personal perspective?
A: The trend towards increasing digitization cuts across both my professional and personal life. There is no boundary between the systems, techniques or tools that I use at work or home. So the same smartphone that I use for work email is also a gateway to my home entertainment system. The ISP and network appliances that I use when working from home also powers Netflix and the security system.
Q: If you could give consumers one piece of advice on how to thrive in the changing digital economy, what would it be?
A: My tip for thriving in the digital economy is to experiment and share with others. If you find something—a product or technology—that works for you, share and tell others about it. Pay attention to and examine how others are using it or solving a similar problem. Social media is the ideal tool for discovering and sharing what you’re learning. The present age is one of experimentation and ‘good enough’ so don’t wait for the perfect answer.
Q:What are you most looking forward to at the #DigitalEconomyCongress in Vancouver, BC in October?
A: I’m looking forward to hearing from other practitioners and thought leaders on what they’ve been doing in their space or thinking about doing.
This post is part of Reboot Communications’ “Expert’s Corner” series. The 2nd Annual Digital Economy Congress is happening on October 9-10, 2014, in Vancouver, BC. Find out how you can get involved here.
