Damon Shackelford
XR Mischief Maker
Damon Shackelford
What has been your business/work highlight of 2024 so far?
Successfully kicking off an AR proof of concept that seems to be overcoming the many, many, IT-sec hurdles within a large fortune 500 manufacturing company.
Who is your business hero and why?
Marcus Aurelius, former emperor of Rome. Because good business requires good leadership, and he is famous for his excellent leadership of the empire. My favorite quote from Marcus, “It is the responsibility of leadership to work intelligently with what is given…” so important to remember in business.
What’s the biggest business mistake you’ve made and what did you learn from it?
Lesson learned – All problems in business are actually human problems. Not technology problems. Technology problems can be solved. Sometimes human problems can only be outlived.
What’s the most inspirational book you’ve ever read and why?
Two books, actually, Meditations by Aurelius and Confessions by Augustine. Both authors understood humanity and the world we live in a deep way. They were able to convey observation in a clear, actionable, way. And because people have not changed? Their insight is timeless.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role in 2024?
Helping my peers and myself communicate to the C-suite why they should invest in XR and how XR implementation results in bottom line profit.
What technology will have the greatest impact on your business this year and why?
I would like to say XR” or even “the combination of XR with AI”. But in our current global environment of unrest, fundamental IT security technologies will make the biggest business impact. Any business that does not correctly address IT security today may not be here tomorrow to leverage any new technology.
