Digital Shift

  In 2020, remote work was not permanent. It was something people adjusted to. Now, in 2025, remote working is our new normal. When we think of our work culture, we think of shared coffee corners. When we think of workplace culture, we think of a shared physical place. We think of meeting in a boardroom. Transitioning duties to online boardrooms via Zoom was not the hardest part of working remotely. The challenge - embracing work culture without physical proximity. I learned that culture does not rest in coffee corners; it lives within communication, long-held traditions, and trust. The world of the workplace tradition can be transposed to the virtual world of Zoom. In 2020, I held virtual Friday group check-ins with my team and "donut chats" with colleagues I would likely never meet in person. I learned how to build connection intentionally and not accidentally. We may not be in the same office, but we share a common purpose, and that's enough to build culture anywhere.

What began as a weekend endeavor designing planners for friends turned into something larger than I could have ever envisioned. I built a Shopify store on a whim. Those two orders now turned into 20. I had stock to manage, customer emails to answer, and my tiny “hobby” turned into me managing the thing I was doing on the side from my 9-5. So, when did it take off? When I stopped calling it a side hustle and started treating it like one. My movement to digital wasn't overnight. But it was intentional. I leaned into the tools online, automated as much as I could, and learned how to scale without burning out. Now what I once thought was my creative outlet, is the focus of my career, and the biggest risk I have ever taken.

Not only did technology enhance in 2025, but it fundamentally altered my way of life. Here are ten observations that have shaped my experience: AI Assistants: I utilized an AI Assistant for everything, from coordinating my calendar to help with studying - it became my second brain Wearable Wellness: My smart ring tracked my sleep, stress levels, motivated me to breathe - really anything that could help improve wellness Remote Lifestyle: I shopped for groceries online, booked online doctor visits, attended online therapy sessions - all without setting foot in a queue. Digital IDs: I arrived at the airport, scanned my face for check-in, I unlocked my car and opened my front door with my phone. Content Customization: Algorithms now recommend content in all aspects of my life - they are suggesting recipes, workouts, and outfits to wear - all very spookily precise. The future did not come with flying cars - it came with an all-encompassing convenience, and we are only at the beginning of wh...