Thriving (and Connecting) in the Tech World
The irony isn't lost on me: a tech professional championing human connection. But my experience proves why it's essential, even for the most introverted among us.
I am a high introvert, a workaholic and a perfect stereotype of a tech professional. I hide behind my device, live in a hole and avoid people if given a choice. I am the classic example of youth in the AI world, except I don’t spend as much time with AI as I do with books. My brain is still not rotting as much as MIT claims is happening right now with youth in the AI world.
But even for someone content in their digital cave, I've learned that a lack of human interaction can lead to mental 'black holes,' which has been the case for a couple of weeks. That's precisely when my communities become my anchors last week.
The Harvard Network: I'm constantly reminded of the sheer power and beauty of this alumni group. A recent pre-LLX incubator, with just two days of meetings, conversations, and a few 1:1s, instantly reconnected me to a school that truly knows how to build the best global community. A mere 1-minute pitch quickly highlighted the immense work still to be done, yet a fellow alumnus simply said, "It will all happen; don't lose hope." This community doesn't just connect; it reminds you what's truly important for both work and life.
The Family: And then there's the most important community: family. A couple of recent days visiting my sister's family instantly put everything back into perspective. My sister's simple words resonated deeply: "What's the worst case? You come live with us and work with the people here." It's profoundly true, if you have family, you're fine.
While friends check in on you, it's these deeper communities that form the integral fabric of society. Family, of course, isn't chosen; it's simply there. But what about the rest? How do you find these other people? How do you form these vital communities?
These are the very questions we've been grappling with at VAll. We've built the tech platform, but our core idea is to empower people to disconnect from their screens and engage more deeply with humanity.
So, how do we genuinely foster these offline communities that connect people and incentivise them to engage long-term in their giving journeys with VAll? I've been sitting with this dilemma for days.
I need your ideas, your connections, whatever you have, so we can solve for it.
What strategies do you think could successfully bring people together, offline, for a shared purpose of giving and human connection? Share your insights and experiences below!
