CHIEF PRODUCTIVITY OFFICER BECOMES A THING In 2023, we introduced a new role at our company: chief productivity officer. It sounded like just a fancier name for HR back then, but today, they’re some of the most influential executives in every organization. Our CPOs have proven their worth. They drive efficiency at every level of the organization. Their strategies and recommendations improve workflow and employee productivity metrics. Separating this role from HR had a lot of benefits that were only realized later. One realization was that fastchanging tech needed regular interpretation for the benefit of business leaders, who needed to course-correct regularly. Today, several studies have been conducted on the importance of having such an executive in your organization. As a result, almost every large company or corporation now has a whole department just for productivity-related strategies. Basheer Alebdy, founder, DaBash Deals REPLACE WHAT YOUUSE Back in the early 2000s, my organization took the initiative to go green. It wasn’t the easiest route at first, but I have a clothing brand — and since the fashion industry was a significant producer of greenhouse gases — I took a step toward change. Many others within the sector followed my lead after seeing the cost-saving benefits. Some of my changes included sustainable packaging. For example, my company began using recycled cardboard and paper to pack our products and used organic cotton in our clothing range. This switch used 62% less energy and 88% less water than conventional cotton and directly affected my production bills. We also decided to plant a tree with every purchase of our garments. Now, 10 years later, my company has planted almost 2 million trees. We’re replacing what we take from the Earth and have built a loyal customer base that rewards us for being mindful. Andrew Johnson, CEO, Prime Seamless FUTURE 2030 UNDERSTANDING THEMICROSCOPIC SECRETS HIDDENON SURFACES Every surface on Earth carries hidden information that will prove essential for avoiding pandemic-related crises, both now and in the future. The built environment, where humans spend 90% of their lives, is laden with naturally occurring microbiomes comprised of bacterial, fungal, and viral ecosystems. In 2030, technology that accelerates our ability to rapidly sample, digitalize, and interpret microbiome data has transformed our understanding of how pathogens spread. Exposing this invisible microbiome data layer identified genetic signatures that predict when and where people and groups are shedding pathogens, which surfaces and environments present the highest transmission risk, and how these risks are impacted by our actions and change over time. We are just scratching the surface of what microbiome data insights offer, and this has accelerated over the next five years. These insights not only help us avoid and respond to pandemics but also influence how we design, operate, and clean environments like buildings, cars, subways, and planes, in addition to how we support economic activity without sacrificing public health. Jessica Green, CEO, Phylagen
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