Most of my LinkedIn contacts are IT, but I am learning more each and every day the #banfieldlife at Banfield Pet Hospital. The company’s vision “making a better world for pets” is an important lesson about caring in life. So let me say this. The technology and science of 0s and 1s metamorphosed into the AI, mobile, web, robots, and anything digital we take for granted each day. Everyone knows that, but, at Banfield and I am specifically calling out IT here, the digital work that we do each and every day with those binary 0s and 1s help support the lives and well being for everyone and every living thing we care about. The heart of our digital transformation and AI innovation in the workplace is about lives that matter. I am becoming 45 years old soon, health and well being is very important to me at this point, but my technology passion is even much stronger than ever before. More importantly, my lifelong journey with computers has matured from loving the computers of 0s and 1s since childhood to caring and helping save lives through innovation, team collaboration love, and continued help by the digital 0s and 1s. I truly respect Mars and Banfield pet care mission and admire its leadership.

To succeed with innovation in today’s digital word, one need to absorb up all histories of past computer technology accomplishments. One can go back as far as possible in time and space and will always pick something new to learn about such as technology life lessons, disruptions, transformations, failures, successes, sacrifices, and more. I just picked this book up from a brick and mortar library, and so far I cannot let it down except when I am writing this digital post. #technology

Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania is hosting an extremely valuable exhibition titled “Access+Ability”. The exhibit showcases technical innovation breakthroughs that help people with audiovisual, cognitive, or physical disability. I saw it yesterday and was fascinated by what the human race can do to address all sorts of limitations that those with disabilities endures. It is difficult for those without disabilities to experience what living with disabilities can be, which, in my opinion, ultimately leads to a much slower development of innovation in the field when compared to the current overall progression of the AI or the IT industry in the general. Supporting those with disabilities using new and existing technologies should stop being an afterthought. It should be at forefront of all innovation development by everyone because we should be all equally sharing what technology can do to make us all live better regardless of our organic or technologically-adjusted five senses. hashtag#technologyhashtag#innovationhashtag#ai Link to the exhibit: https://lnkd.in/eZ-qSAD

My published article on Natural Language Processing technologies in Startup City Insider Magazine: “NLP: Then, Now, and What I Hope is Coming” at https://nlp.startupcity.com/startup-insider/nlp-then-now-and-what-i-hope-is-coming-nwid-1105.html

If past governments could not turn Lebanon into a non-sectarian non-religious-divided society, mobile services apps such as Uber and Airbnb might do that. Lebanon is divided between Moslem and Christian areas. Peaceful during the most times, but you would sense the awkwardness if you are a person of one religion hanging out or living in the opposite side. You are easily called out by uttering your name or mentioning where you are originally from. The situation does not usually escalate, but it is an uneasy situation to say the least. It has been the case for years, but, nowadays, thanks to apps like Uber and Airbnb, people of any religion can move around or lodge in all areas without such a problem. Such apps do not discriminate, and no app consumer or service provider wants bad publicity online. This is perfect because 1) all Lebanese people need to live happily with their neighbors regardless of sect or religion and 2) service-based mobile apps help boost individuals’ income in ways where Lebanese governments could not do because of the political divisions. When I was recently in Lebanon, I enjoyed Airbnb and Uber wherever we were and felt that we are in new age of unity and prosperity.

One essential characteristic in management and leadership is problem solving. It is coming to see IT professionals saying how they solved customer issues or a business problem. But how often do you hear an IT guy or gal saying “I am a handy man and have been relatively successful in solving my own household issues such as electrical or plumbing or hard and heavy work landscaping or fixing anything broken anywhere in the house – small or big”. Not because it is about being cost effective compared to hiring a professional. Instead, it is about analyzing, designing, strategizing, and believing in your self and your guilt feeling. That’s exactly what I was doing these past two weeks with my house and everything around it. Feels good. Sometimes you fail, but you rationalize what has happened and learn from it. Hard work accompanied with continuous learning is a precious asset. It’s worth taking such risk with what you own, because your experience will transcend across every part of your professional and personal life. Make sure to clean after you work, otherwise you will have unforeseen problems in the house!