Mark van Rijmenam
Future Tech Strategist
Dr Mark van Rijmenam is The Digital Speaker. He is a future tech strategist who thinks about how technology changes organisations, society and the metaverse. Dr Mark van Rijmenam is an international keynote speaker, 4x author and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Datafloq and the author of the book on the metaverse: Step into the Metaverse: How the Immersive Internet Will Unlock a Trillion-Dollar Social Economy detailing what the metaverse is and how organizations and consumers can benefit from the immersive internet.
How did you get to become an expert in your key topics?
I have been a keynote speaker, author and entrepreneur for over a decade. Starting with Datafloq in 2012, I took an interest in emerging technologies and over the years, I have progressed from big data, to blockchain and AI to now the metaverse. I am a future tech strategist with a deep expertise on how emerging technologies are changing organizations and societies.
What sub-topics are you most passionate about?
Anything related to emerging technologies has my interest, but especially the metaverse as it is a convergence of all the different technologies I have been involved in since 2012. The metaverse is the future version of the internet and it will define our lives in the coming decade. It will be a wild ride!
Who influences you on these topics?
I do a lot of research to understand how these technologies change organizations. For example, for my latest book – Step into the Metaverse – I did 100 in-depth interviews and another 150 long surveys with the stakeholders building the open metaverse; the investors, the developers, the artists, the gamers, the collectors, etc.
What challenges are brands facing in this space?
Brands that want to step into the metaverse have an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, associate themselves with innovation, and tap into new communities and channels, especially if they display authentic behaviour and closely align their immersive experience with the community they intend to reach. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are the creator generations. They are ready to participate and generate content with you, so you should create such opportunities as a brand. The immersive internet requires a different perspective when reaching your target group. Brands would need to rethink how to create content, how people can interact with that content, and the capabilities and utility of that content. From promoting artistic creativity to community building, we can expect a broad range of marketing innovations in the coming decade as we move from social media marketing to metaverse marketing and brands learn new ways to engage and enlighten consumers. The challenges that brands are facing are significant. Not only when stepping into the metaverse, but also ensuring a responsible use of technology.
What do you think the future holds in this space?
The future is exponential, which means that technologies are changing faster than ever before, requiring brands to be adaptive and gain a deep understanding of emerging technologies. In the coming decade, the world will significantly change as the metaverse takes shape and organizations need to be aware of these changes to remain competitive in the decades ahead.
What brands are leading the way in this space?
There are so many brands who already stepped into the metaverse, both from a marketing perspective to an enterprise perspective. The well-known examples in the marketing space are companies like Forever21, Gucci, Balenziaga, etc. who have experimented with marketing campaigns in the metaverse, but from an enterprise perspective, Volvo has really embraced digital twins to improve collaboration and benefit from the metaverse.
If a brand wanted to work with you, which activities would you be most interested in collaborating on?
I collaborate in a variety of ways with brands and enterprises, but my main approach is helping organizations understand emerging technologies using keynotes, webinars or workshops. I am always open to doing interviews and even coaching sessions with CEOs.
What are your passions outside of work?
My passions are traveling and exploring the world, a round of golf and enjoying good food, good wine and good friendships.
What would be the best way for a brand to contact you?
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