Issue 60: Work from Anywhere
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about remote work and whether the office as we know it has died – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
Work from Anywhere
Over the last two months, the technology world embraced remote work. Facebook and Google are allowing staff to work from home for the rest of the year. Twitter said employees don’t ever have to come back to the office (if they don’t want to). Once the home of lavish offices complete with cold brew on tap and yoga classes in the afternoon, Silicon Valley has been quick to realize the power of remote work. Should a similar approach unfold closer to home?
Digital spaces: Since early March, Xische has been working remotely in the UAE and with our partners across the globe. We have also been sharing our tips and tricks for a smooth transition from the physical to the digital office. Deploy extra empathy and make sure to create a space for some fun (virtual) office banter. Our approach to remote work is not new and wasn’t directly connected to the Covid-19 crisis. With Dubai as our home base, we’ve been roaming the globe in search of the best talent for years.
Efficiency: Our focus on quality talent and love of technology allowed us to create a virtual office capable of nimbly getting projects out the door. This is exactly what Silicon Valley is seeing as a result fo Covid-19. Executives at top companies interviewed by The Wall Street Journal last week noted that the crisis is allowing their companies to look for talent beyond the narrow confines of California. With a remote work approach in place, these companies are set for a profound shift in productivity and quality.
Opportunity at home: What if this strategy was employed on a national level? Consider the UAE. We are certainly not immune from the shifts taking place in the global economy and that will mean significant change in our workforce. With one of the best digital infrastructures anywhere in the world and a developed aviation sector that can quickly and easily connect Dubai with the world, we are ideally positioned to be a remote working hotspot. Local companies in search of the best talent can look anywhere they wish to fulfill these needs. If Silicon Valley can pivot like this, there’s no reason why the UAE can’t. Thinking outside of the box in these subtle ways is going to be key to finding the real opportunities that exist in the Covid-19 marketplace.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
This week, we’re looking for remote work tips from you: What’s your go-to remote work playlist? Get in touch across our social media channels @xische with your thoughts, feelings, and answers. Or drop us a line and just say hello.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Good tests kill flawed theories, we remain alive to guess again."
– Karl Popper, philosopher
COVID19 STORIES
We are passionate about telling human stories. Now more than ever, those stories involve you. Covid19 Stories is a showcase of words, photos, and videos of our global community designed to celebrate shared experiences from this time of isolation. Powered by Empowering through, this exhibition is a dynamic and living testament to the historic moment we’re living through. Visit Covid19 Stories to share your story today.
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
A vision for storytelling: Xische recently partnered with Empowering through™, a non-profit venture based in Jordan that expands the power of storytelling to overlooked communities through digital and traditional means. By creating a platform for minority communities such as refugees, youth, and women, the sheer power of storytelling is harnessed to create positive change. This week, we outlined the partnership and our vision for storytelling in the post-Covid landscape.
The future of digital culture: Writing in The National, Xische’s director of strategy, Mary Ames, addressed the question of digital culture. We’ve all experienced the power of technology from Zoom calls to the ability to stream millions of hours of content during the crisis. We’ve also read about the myriad privacy issues surrounding platforms like Zoom. The challenge is striking the right balance between innovative technology and data privacy, and the perfect time is now.
A MESSAGE FROM SPIDERSILK
Practical cybersecurity: In today’s online world, cybersecurity is a critical line of defence for any business. Enter SpiderSilk, a Dubai-based cybersecurity firm specializing in simulating the most advanced cyber offences on your technology so you can build your best security defenses. Mitigating risk and protecting digital infrastructure can be achieved through the most advanced adversarial simulations and advisory services.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
Creative grants: The Covid-19 crisis has affected every sector of the economy and just as we’re considering ways to help all manners of business, we must also pay attention to helping our creatives. The UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development under the leadership of Minister Noura Al Kaabi has led efforts to get special grants to creatives who need them. The Government just released the rules for applicants. We’re deeply encouraged by this news because creatives have a vital role to play in contextualizing the present and reimagining how society will function in the future. The final day to submit an application is May 24th.
Perspective on a pandemic: There’s certainly no shortage of material about dealing with Covid-19. What we’ve noticed in the last few weeks are more stories about older people who’ve lived through wars, other pandemics, and now Covid-19. This piece on Elemental has particularly great insights from people who’ve lived a long time and how they yearn to keep going. Let’s never forget to lean on the wisdom of our elders.
QUICK HITS
Google is trying to get a slice of the video conferencing action with its platform Meet. Gmail users can even use Meet from right inside their email.
This pandemic is going to change the way we all live but storytelling will remain the glue that keeps us together.
Covid-19 is bigger than anything we’ve faced. Some philosophers think we can’t comprehend the gravity of this moment.
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