Explore every episode of the podcast XR Industry Leaders
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| Michelle Rebaleati: Powering Nevada’s Statewide VR Career Training with 1,000 Devices Across 80 Locations | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:36:58 | |
In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, hosts Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable talk with Michelle Rebaleati, Multimedia Technologist and Career Navigator with the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). Michelle shares how GOED turned the tourism slowdown of 2020 into a statewide innovation success story with the launch of Project SANDI, a VR-driven workforce initiative that helps residents move from unemployment or underemployment to sustainable careers. What started as a recovery grant has evolved into a network of 1,000 VR devices across 80+ locations, giving Nevadans immersive access to in-demand careers in healthcare, skilled trades, IT, and advanced manufacturing. From high school students in tiny desert towns to unhoused adults in workforce centers, GOED’s program uses VR to let people “test drive” real careers by putting them in the shoes of an employee in life-like scenarios. Michelle discusses what it takes to deploy VR across one of the largest and most rural states in the U.S. as only a team of three, and how ArborXR makes it possible to manage and update every device remotely. She also shares measurable impact: participants have achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Career Readiness Certificate exam, proving VR isn’t just inspiring, it’s driving real change for Nevadans. Timestamps:
About Michelle Rebaleati: Michelle Rebaleati is a Multimedia Technologist and Career Navigator with the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). She leads statewide initiatives using VR for workforce development, managing over 1,000 devices across 80+ locations to help Nevadans explore, train for, and launch new careers in high-demand industries. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources: | |||
| Axon: Scaling One of the World’s Largest VR Training Programs for Public Safety | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:39:16 | |
In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Thi Luu, Vice President and General Manager of VR Training at Axon, to explore how immersive technology is transforming public safety training. Axon, known globally for the TASER energy weapon and body-worn cameras, has made VR a cornerstone of its mission to reduce gun-related deaths between police and the public by 50% over the next decade. Thi shares how Axon scaled from early pilots to one of the largest VR deployments in the world, helping officers train more often, more effectively, and more safely. From building muscle memory for high-stakes scenarios to using AI for verbal de-escalation, Thi offers a rare inside look at how Axon designs scalable, high-impact immersive training for thousands of agencies. She also explains how ArborXR helps Axon manage and scale headsets, enabling deployments across precincts, training academies, and field operations. Whether you’re leading training for a police department or an enterprise team, this episode offers a masterclass in building scalable, data-informed XR programs that drive measurable impact. Key Moments:
About the Guest: Thi Luu is the Vice President and General Manager of VR Training at Axon, where she leads product, design, and engineering teams developing immersive training solutions for public safety. With over 20 years in technology, Thi has driven Axon’s VR expansion from pilot to global scale, training thousands of officers worldwide. Her team’s work has earned national recognition for innovation in de-escalation and less-lethal training. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources: | |||
| Snap: Trailblazing the Next Era of XR | 11 Dec 2024 | 00:33:21 | |
In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, ArborXR is joined by Andrew Seleznov, Head of Production at Snap’s Arcadia Innovation AR Studio. Andrew shares his journey into augmented reality, inspired by a transformative 2016 YouTube video, and discusses his pivotal role at Snap, including leading projects for global brands like Nike, Disney, and Coca-Cola. Highlighting Arcadia’s mission, Andrew explains how the team delivers bespoke AR solutions, such as interactive festival maps, accessible AR vending machines and more. He reflects on the balance between innovation and usability, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in AR experiences. We also explore AR’s evolution, Snap’s Spectacles, and the potential of XR to transform daily life and well-being over the next decade. This episode is a deep dive into XR’s current impact and boundless future. If you’re an XR enthusiast, enterprise leader, or curious to learn more about the technology - tune in. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Andrew Seleznov is the Head of AR Production at Snap’s Arcadia Creative Studio, where he leads a team crafting cutting-edge AR experiences for global brands like Nike, Disney, and Coca-Cola. With eight years at Snap, Andrew combines technical expertise and creative leadership to pioneer innovative, accessible AR solutions that redefine industry standards. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Parker University: Advancing Chiropractic Training with VR | 26 Nov 2024 | 00:30:15 | |
In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, we learn how Parker University is using VR to advance their chiropractic program. Mary Lee Carter, Immersive Teaching and Learning Specialist at Parker University, shares how the school embraced XR following a tornado in 2019 that disrupted campus facilities. The staff pivoted to VR to enhance accessibility and learning. The university’s “twin” metaverse, developed with VictoryXR, allows students to virtually explore campus and participate in classes remotely. We discuss ways students leverage VR content for anatomy education, communications training and beyond. Mary Lee highlights challenges like Wi-Fi limitations and creating chiropractic-specific scenarios with partners like SimX. Parker employs a mix of one-to-one and shared headset models, managed with ArborXR, to streamline deployment. Mary Lee explores the possibility of expanding VR across programs to advance immersive learning and human performance studies, underscoring its growing role in education. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Mary Lee Carter is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE™) dedicated to immersive teaching and learning. She specializes in VR/AR/MR simulations and standardized patient scenarios in higher education. With extensive experience in hospital-based and academic medical simulation programs, she works with one of the world’s largest Chiropractic cohorts. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Energy Safety Canada: Fueling the Future Workforce with XR | 06 Nov 2024 | 00:31:40 | |
In this episode, ArborXR co-founders Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable explore how Energy Safety Canada is using XR to address an anticipated job shortage in the country’s energy industry. Program Managers Kelly Johnson and Lisa Pollio lead an initiative that uses VR to engage and educate students about the careers in the energy industry. Since 2019, they’ve launched VR experiences that virtually transport users to drilling rigs, oil sands, and other worksites, offering immersive career exploration. You’ll learn how the organization uses “virtual field trips” to give students hands-on insights into the energy industry’s diverse roles, from engineering to environmental sustainability. Using ArborXR’s device management, Energy Safety Canada streamlines content and keeps devices updated, reaching over 3,000 students annually. With gamified VR content and relatable career options, they aim to reshape perceptions of energy careers, showing the sector as tech-driven and full of exciting opportunities. Timestamps:
About the Guests: Lisa Pollio has been at Energy Safety Canada for over 5 years. She is dedicated to engaging students with immersive VR experiences that highlight career opportunities in energy. Passionate about technology and education, she is a Program Manager leading initiatives that gamify industry roles, showing the diversity and dynamism of energy careers to future generations. Kelly Johnson is a Program Manager at Energy Safety Canada, where she leads innovative projects to inspire young talent in the energy industry. With a background in workforce development, she focuses on creating VR experiences that offer students an immersive look into energy careers, helping to bridge the gap between education and industry needs. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| USC: Virtual Reality & ADHD, PTSD and More | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:40:13 | |
In this episode of XR Industry Leaders, we meet with virtual reality visionary, Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo, Director of Medical Virtual Reality at the University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Rizzo shares his groundbreaking work in applying VR technology to clinical psychology and rehabilitation, showcasing the transformative power of immersive technologies in healthcare. This conversation explores Dr. Rizzo’s countless contributions to the field, including the development and widespread adoption of “Bravemind,” a VR-based exposure therapy program for PTSD treatment. We also dive into his research and innovative applications of VR in ADHD assessment, physical rehabilitation, and autism spectrum disorder support. Dr. Rizzo also shares his outlook on how VR will revolutionize clinical practices and improve patient outcomes. Key Highlights:
Timestamps:
About the Guest: Dr. Albert "Skip" Rizzo is a pioneer in the field of medical virtual reality. He is a clinical psychologist by training. As the Director of Medical Virtual Reality at the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies, he leads innovative research and development efforts that bridge the gap between clinical needs and technological solutions. He’s been at USC since 1995. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| SDSU: Expanding Rural Education with VR | 02 Oct 2024 | 00:38:00 | |
South Dakota State University strived to use XR to bring educational access to rural communities – starting with outreach and gradually expanding to classroom use. In this episode, we meet with Dr. Greg Heiberger to explore how they made that goal a reality. Today, SDSU integrates XR into various subjects across their curriculum, from nursing, to architecture and chemistry. They’ve also conducted research showing VR’s effectiveness in anatomy education when used before cadaver labs. We uncover how the university overcame challenges in scaling an XR program in a rural community, and explored how the technology prepares students for future workforce needs. Looking ahead, Greg sees XR as a catalyst for innovation at SDSU, and as a potential solution to address challenges in rural education and healthcare across the country. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Dr. Greg Heiberger is a quantitative researcher with 19 years of experience at South Dakota State University (SDSU). His research interests span from STEM education to the impact of social media. Dr. Heiberger was among the first to publish work demonstrating the positive relationship between Facebook use and increased student engagement among college students. He’s currently the Associate Dean for Academics and Student Success, and spearheads the university’s XR initiatives. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| RTC: The Future of Learning and XR’s Role in Education | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:27:57 | |
In this episode of XR Industry Leaders, we explore one of the largest XR deployments in the world of education with Louise Paepe, XR Coordinator for RTC Antwerpen. She shares how RTC Antwerpen is leading VR integration across nearly 700 schools in Flanders, Belgium, benefiting 150,000 students. We uncover the importance of strategic planning, from rigorous teacher training to carefully vetting educational content to align with curriculum goals. The initiative involves collaboration with over 100 partners and leverages ArborXR’s platform to streamline content management and headset deployment. RTC Antwerpen envisions VR becoming as essential in classrooms as laptops are today, reflecting their commitment to making VR a sustainable and valuable part of education. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Louise Paepe is the XR Coordinator at RTC Antwerpen, dedicated to enhancing education at the intersection of learning and the labor market. Louise oversees projects that bring innovative technologies into the classroom, ensuring they become sustainable educational tools. She helped spearhead the XR Action Plan, managing the deployment of VR headsets in schools across Flanders, Belgium. About RTC Antwerpen: RTC Antwerpen is a government organization in Flanders, Belgium, focused on bridging the gap between education and industry. For over 20 years, RTC has introduced innovations from the industrial sector to schools, particularly in technical and vocational education. They offer resources and organize specialized training programs for educators and students. Their projects include the XR action plan, deploying VR headsets across schools to enhance educational experiences. RTC plays a crucial role in ensuring that education aligns with labor market needs, fostering quality education through industry collaboration. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Qualcomm: Enabling the XR Industry | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:30:32 | |
In the episode, we discuss the past, present and future of XR technology in enterprise, and Qualcomm’s role in shaping the industry. Brian Vogelsang joined us from Qualcomm to uncover how the company is driving advancements in the world of XR. Brian highlights initial challenges in understanding and deploying XR at scale but emphasizes the technology's diverse applications and substantial ROI. He elaborated on how XR is revolutionizing learning and development by enhancing speed, retention, and accessibility. We dive into Qualcomm's advancements into machine learning and AI, which enhances XR devices' capabilities and user interfaces. We also touch on their key collaborations with Lenovo on the VRX standalone VR headset, and with Sony on a high-resolution mixed reality headset for enterprise and content creators. Learn about Qualcomm’s perspective on the future of XR over the next ten years, and why the company believes the technology will fundamentally change how enterprises operate. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Brian Vogelsang is the Senior Director of Product Management at Qualcomm. His 30 year career at Qualcomm began in IT before moving into the XR space about 7 years ago. He conceived, built, and launched Snapdragon Spaces, the first commercial, cross-OEM XR platform. With a deep expertise in product strategy and development, Brian led the multi-year roadmap for Snapdragon Spaces, securing C-level approval and scaling the team from 2 to over 300 professionals. He spearheaded the integration of key acquisitions. About Qualcomm: Qualcomm is a leader in the XR space. Their mission is to enable a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. Qualcomm powers products and technologies including 5G-enabled smartphones that double as pro-level cameras and gaming devices, smarter vehicles and cities, and more. Their Snapdragon® XR solutions include processors, software and perception technologies, reference designs and developer tools. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| HTC VIVE: Empowering Enterprise Use-Cases in XR | 22 Jul 2024 | 00:45:18 | |
Discover HTC’s VR Revolution - from mobile devices, to gaming and enterprise innovations. In this episode of XR Industry Leaders, our guest Daniel O'Brien reveals how HTC is pioneering VR and AR technology for a transformative future. Learn about the critical factors in choosing XR headsets for your business, the role of 5G in next-gen connectivity, and the positive impact of VR and AR in fields like mental health and senior care. The VIVE set new industry standards with its superior tracking and durability, featuring innovations like room-scale VR and 90 frames per second gameplay. Initially targeting gamers, HTC's open system design nurtured a thriving developer ecosystem, extending VR technology's reach into sectors like automotive and architecture. We delve into the importance of privacy, security, and ease of deployment while highlighting HTC's monumental partnerships in aerospace, defense, financial services, and healthcare. Tune in to see how HTC's mission of human-centered innovation is shaping the XR landscape. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Daniel O’Brien is a seasoned technology executive with over 24 years of experience in leading and managing the commercialization of emerging technologies, innovations, and solutions for consumers and professional customers. He is the HTC VIVE President for the Americas, overseeing the sales, marketing, product, and operations for the immersive and wireless divisions of HTC. As a humanity mission driven leader, Daniel is focused on delivering revenue growth, brand building, e-commerce strategies, business development, content creation, and strategic partnerships for HTC VIVE, the pioneer and global leader in virtual reality. He has a proven track record of defining and executing the channel strategy, marketing strategy, product management, supply chain, and public relations for HTC VIVE. About HTC: HTC designed some of the world's first touch and wireless hand-held devices. The company is now also a leader in VR technology, pioneering advancements in tracking, durability, and immersive experiences. At HTC, their mission is to connect the world through design that extends beyond gaming into sectors like automotive, architecture, and healthcare. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Delta Air Lines: Revolutionizing Airline Training with VR | 01 Jul 2024 | 00:36:43 | |
In this episode, we explore how Delta Air Lines is revolutionizing employee training by using VR. We met with Kevin Marcum, VR/AR Program Manager at Delta Air Lines, to discuss the project’s success, which has increased necessary employee proficiency checks for deicing airplanes from about 5 to 150 per day - almost a 5,000% increase. VR training for this process saves Delta significant time and money in the long term. We uncover Delta’s journey with VR - from Kevin’s first experience with the technology, to building a robust VR training program that continues to grow. We discuss the benefits of VR training in simulating real-world plane operations at Delta, and how XR can revolutionize training practices, enhance safety, and drive efficiency in the aviation industry. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Kevin joined Delta Air Lines 28 years ago as a ramp agent and began his role as VR/AR Program Manager in 2018. His expertise is in Operations Management with a strong background in customer service and safety. Kevin’s focus is innovation and process improvement amidst the constantly changing industry. About Delta Air Lines: Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, employs over 100,000 global employees. They operate over 4,000 daily flights to more than 290 destinations across six continents. Delta served over 190 million customers in 2023, maintaining its reputation as North America's most on-time airline. The company prioritizes safety, sustainability, and inclusivity. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Territory Studio: Designing XR for Marvel and Enterprise | 22 May 2024 | 00:31:12 | |
Designing extended reality (XR) in films like Iron man, The Martian, and Prometheus created the foundation that pulled Territory Studios into the real world practice of developing extended reality for enterprise. Marti Romances (Co-Founder and Creative Director) discusses how Territory Studio has created AR for Marvel and other Hollywood studios by imagining the exciting potential and practicality of XR. Their concepts for visual effects soon became feasible in the real world as the hardware and software capability of VR improved from their early days. Marti and his team are now at the forefront of design across multiple markets within the XR landscape. In this interview, Marti anticipates how as immersive technology improves over the next few years, use-cases will become even more impactful. He highlights with XR you need to “learn by doing” – often there is a practicality of learning through failure. Imagine the future, today, with Territory Studio’s Marti Romances as he dives into the world of extended reality (XR) within cinema, electric vehicles, health care, and more. Tune into the latest episode of XR Industry Leaders to learn how “design by doing” has kept Marti and Territory studio on the forefront of XR design to serve clients by anticipating tomorrow’s technology. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Creative Director and Co-Founder at Territory Studio in San Francisco, Marti draws from a range of disciplines to design breakout content for memorable gaming experiences. A motion graphic designer and multi-media artist by trade, Marti articulates stories in a most captivating way, blending creativity with technology to realize innovative future-facing interfaces. Marti’s technical virtuosity is on display in fantasy, futuristic, and commercial projects, including visual and experiential narratives that define the future of film. His work on The Martian, Avengers: Endgame, Ex Machina, Blade Runner 2049, and Guardians of the Galaxy has also attracted brands such as GM, Fisker, Land Rover, and Volvo, all seeking his design influence for use in real-world technology. Marti’s continued willingness to experiment with bold ideas in new and exciting ways is proven with his extensive gaming work with partners at Activision, Nintendo, EA, 2K Games, and Microsoft. Beyond impactful visual effects and digital experiences created for his clients, Marti serves as an inspirational speaker, sharing his thoughts on design and creativity at global events such as Siggraph, MWC, Nike Immersion Labs, XDS and OFFF. In 2019 he was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| XREAL: 600,000 AR Glasses Shipped and Now Aiming at Enterprise | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:39:47 | |
In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, hosts Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with XREAL’s Ralph Jodice, General Manager of North America, and Amir Khorram, Global Head of Enterprise, to unpack how AR is maturing from novelty to enterprise necessity. Ralph and Amir share how XREAL has become the global leader in AR glasses with over 600,000 units shipped, leveraging a split-compute architecture that keeps devices light and enables longer sessions. They discuss how AR is transforming everyday work, from remote assistance in the field to productivity gains for “desk jockeys” who need multi-screen setups anywhere they go. The conversation dives into the current AR hardware landscape, XREAL’s partnerships with Google and Qualcomm, and their upcoming Project Aura, built on Android XR. The team unpacks why AR adoption is taking off, how comfort and affordability are unlocking one-to-one device ratios for enterprise, and what the next generation of spatial displays means for the future of work. Whether you’re exploring AR for remote support, immersive training, or productivity, this episode offers a grounded look at what’s possible today—and a peek at what’s just around the corner. Key Moments: • XREAL’s journey to 600,000 AR glasses and the shift to enterprise (3:28) • How lightweight wearables enable new spaces for enterprise XR (7:10) • Everyday use cases and remote assistance (10:10) • Ralph’s real-world take on productivity in AR (11:40) • Adoption of XR within enterprise companies (13:50) • State of the AR market and room for growth (15:50) • Split-computing vs all-in-one devices (18:06) • What sets XREAL’s tech apart from other AR glasses (20:00) • The limitations and challenges of AR (23:35) • A look at the future of XREAL: Project Aura (24:55) • What’s missing in the field of AR (31:30) Quotes: “We’ve shipped over 600,000 AR glasses—more than anyone else in the space. That’s proof people want lightweight, plug-and-play devices that just work.” – Ralph Jodice, XREAL “What we’re really trying to do is enable people to wear these glasses for longer than 15, 30, or 45 minutes. If that means having a tether, that’s totally fine. There’s nothing lost, and a lot gained.” – Amir Khorram, XREAL About the Guests: Ralph Jodice Ralph Jodice is the General Manager of North America at XREAL, leading market expansion and partnerships. With a background in PR, Ralph spent over a decade at Xbox developing deep expertise in gaming and consumer tech. Now he drives XREAL’s mission to make AR glasses practical, lightweight, and scalable for enterprise and everyday use. Amir Khorram Amir Khorram is the Global Head of Enterprise at XREAL, guiding strategy and adoption of AR across industries. With 10 years in XR—including leadership roles at HTC Vive and PICO—he focuses on accelerating enterprise AR deployment through practical, scalable solutions that bridge consumer innovation and professional use. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources: Ralph Jodice on LinkedIn Amir Khorram on LinkedIn Brad Scoggin on LinkedIn Will Stackable on LinkedIn | |||
| Lenovo: Unlocking Enterprise Potential with VR | 22 Feb 2024 | 00:43:50 | |
Dive into the dynamic world of extended reality (XR) with Lenovo's Vishal Shah and Jason McGuigan as they unravel Lenovo’s new enterprise XR solution: the Lenovo ThinkReality VRX. Uncover how Lenovo's commitment to an open ecosystem, driven by partnerships with Qualcomm and Snapdragon Spaces, is shaping a new frontier in XR technology. Vishal Shah (GM AR/VR) and Jason McGuigan (Head of Commercial VR) discuss Lenovo’s unique approach to XR, prioritizing the enterprise from the ground up. Learn how the VRX is a product designed solely for enterprise applications and stands apart from products retrofitted for gaming and consumer use cases. Lenovo's strategic focus on not competing with solution providers but rather fostering a thriving partner ecosystem sets a new standard in the XR industry. Jason McGuigan shares insights from the front lines, observing a surge in XR adoption across industries. This rise is not just about flashy trends but practical, long-lasting applications, notably in training and collaboration, that have found a sweet spot in various sectors. Unveiling the transformative power of generative AI, Jason discusses its increasing role in content development, potentially revolutionizing the scale and scope of XR applications. This technological synergy hints at a future where hyper-personalization in education and training becomes a reality, thanks to the convergence of XR and AI technologies Lenovo's vision extends beyond the hardware, focusing on creating intuitive, user-friendly solutions that bridge the gap between current challenges and a future where XR is ubiquitous. This episode offers a unique perspective on Lenovo's strategic roadmap, exploring how they facilitate end-to-end XR solution deployment and scaling, ultimately driving digital transformation across industries. Timestamps:
About the Guests: Vishal Shah is currently the General Manager of XR (AR/VR) and Metaverse at Lenovo. In his role, Vishal has global responsibility of all aspects of Product Management, Sales, Marketing and Operations for the XR/Metaverse group. He is responsible for managing the portfolio of ThinkReality XR solutions, an industry leading end-to-end solution that powers the Enterprise Metaverse. This includes the award-winning ThinkReality A3 smart glasses, Mirage VR S3 for enterprise VR solutions, and that the ThinkReality Platform, which is among the first truly device- and cloud-agnostic XR platforms to enable commercial customers to build, deploy, and manage applications and content on a global scale, with global support. Jason McGuigan is the Head of Commercial Virtual Reality at Lenovo. He is responsible for the organization’s current and future strategy for developing VR solutions across hardware, software, and partnerships. His focus is on driving enterprises to scale their adoption of VR in training, collaboration, and metaverse presence. Jason has over 20 years of experience in immersive and traditional media leadership and technology. Within the software realm, he has led, designed, created, directed, and produced high-quality VR experiences and media products for clients including Lenovo, National Geographic, IBM, The Home Depot, BASF, Disney, and many others. A deep understanding of the hardware and technology behind VR started over 35 years ago when he built his first PC. It has continued to evolve throughout the early days of immersive technology as he consulted on VR hardware solutions for many companies such as Gulfstream and General Motors. He is a regular speaker, thought leader, and advocate in the VR/AR space and has presented at industry conferences as well as unique venues like Skywalker Ranch and NASA. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| PICO: Practical Enterprise Applications in XR at Scale | 30 Jan 2024 | 00:34:33 | |
Join us in an insightful episode of XR Industry Leaders with Amir Khorram, General Manager of PICO North America. With a rich background in optics, photonics, and major XR hardware companies, Amir brings a unique perspective to the table, one shaped by his experiences at HTC and now PICO. In this episode, we delve deep into PICO’s commitment to enterprise solutions and their partner-first approach, a strategy that distinguishes them in the XR landscape. Amir discusses how PICO has always been enterprise-focused, particularly in North America, prioritizing partnerships and collaborative solutions over a solitary, closed-off approach. He highlights PICO’s dedication to being an integral part of the ecosystem, fostering growth and innovation alongside partners like ArborXR, XR Health, and Striver, among others. We explore the significant shifts in the XR industry, touching on its rapid evolution and the growing demand for scalability and versatility in enterprise solutions. Amir shares insights on the challenges of scalability, device availability, and the continuous quest for innovative applications that can leverage XR technologies in diverse sectors like education, healthcare, and corporate training. Reflecting on personal interests, Amir reveals his fascination with enterprise use cases in XR, from training doctors and pilots to immersive educational experiences. His enthusiasm for the myriad ways XR technology is revolutionizing industries is palpable and infectious. Amir also shares his vision for the future – a world where XR devices are as ubiquitous as PCs, creating a one-to-one ratio in enterprises and educational institutions. It’s a forward-looking perspective, hinting at a future where XR is integral to every aspect of our professional and educational lives. Join us in this engaging discussion that not only sheds light on the current state of XR but also gives us a glimpse into its exciting future. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Over an 18-year career, Amir Khorram has played key roles in the launch and scale of cutting-edge technology. From 5G cloud collaboration to XR, Amir has built business units that have led enterprise growth. Amir now leads PICO North America, delivering world-class VR solutions to everyone from SMBs to Fortune 500 organizations. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| St. James’s Place: Elevating Soft Skills with VR | 13 Dec 2023 | 00:45:47 | |
On this episode of XR Industry Leaders, we interview Hannah Frame (Social Learning Tech & Innovation Manager) and Josh Ellick (Immersive Technology Manager) from St. James’s Place. We discuss how St. James’s Place, a major UK financial services company, has implemented VR across its training programs. They cover creating bespoke VR simulations to develop advisor soft skills, the importance of making VR accessible to all learning styles, and using VR to boost engagement and empathy. The episode explores VR content development, change management, hardware logistics at scale, and plans to integrate AI for more adaptive training. Hannah and Josh also share advice for VR adoption, including hands-on demos to get buy-in, having VR champions spread awareness, and offering a blend of modalities so VR supplements other learning. Timestamps:
About the Guests: Previously a rotational graduate at SJP, Hannah now works in the Learning & Development team driving the digital engagement strategy for learning and helping transform the approach to development. This includes driving the adoption of Virtual Reality, AR, podcasts, bite-size digital learning, and social learning platforms. Hannah’s main passion is how we can utilize technology to foster collaborative, peer-to-peer learning and to increase engagement. Josh has been working with SJP since the beginning of 2022, and is responsible for project management and delivery of immersive technologies, including Virtual and Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Gamification. Working in the Learning and Development division, Josh is focussed on delivering impactful immersive experiences that solve business challenges, as well as offering scalable, accessible content solutions through a variety of mediums. About St. James's Place: St. James’s Place engages in the wealth management business. It offers investment, retirement, protection, intergenerational wealth management, banking and mortgages, and advice for businesses. The company was founded by Nathaniel Charles Jacob Rothschild, Mark Aubrey Weinberg, and Michael Summer Wilson in 1991 and is headquartered in Cirencester, the United Kingdom. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| MyndVR: Senior Care and Digital Therapeutics with VR | 29 Nov 2023 | 00:30:58 | |
This episode explores how VR is being used to help improve quality of life and unlock memories for seniors/elderly patients, especially those with conditions like dementia or Alzheimer's. MyndVR– also called Mynd Immersive– has spent 7 years developing therapeutic VR content specifically for senior care facilities. CEO Chris Brickler discusses various case studies and research projects validating VR's ability to reduce anxiety, depression, pain and behavioral issues in elderly patients. Key research partners like Stanford and the VA health system are conducting studies showing VR's efficacy as a senior therapy tool. The episode covers MyndVR's lightweight VR headset built for senior ergonomic comfort, training caregivers on VR administration, getting VR approved by CMS as a covered Medicare treatment, and scaling VR rollouts across thousands of operators globally. Chris offers advice on starting VR pilots in senior facilities and talks about hardware sanitation, content development and real-world operational challenges. Overall the episode explores VR's big potential to enhance senior living, improve mental health, and "unlock memories" for the rapidly growing elderly demographic. Listeners get an inside view of the senior care VR landscape and lessons from one of the industry's most experienced practitioners. Timestamps:
About Chris: Chris Brickler is CEO and Co-Founder of MyndVR, a national health and wellness company providing Virtual Reality solutions to the dramatically growing senior market (through long-term care communities, veterans’ homes, home healthcare providers, and directly to seniors “aging in place”). The company has curated a vast library of VR content and creates original programming designed for both recreational and therapeutic effects. In addition, MyndVR is working with leading US universities and researchers to study the potential health benefits of VR for our dynamic and aging population. From Texas to London to LA to Silicon Valley, Chris has managed large business units at Verizon, British Telecom, and GuideSpark and has served on the boards of a NASDAQ company and several non-profits. His production group in Los Angeles, Xlantic.com, created an artistic, multi-platform video program around love and relationships that was nominated for an Emmy. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| MDA: Training For Outer Space Operations with VR | 15 Nov 2023 | 00:39:35 | |
In this fascinating episode, we go behind the scenes at MDA to explore how they are leveraging XR to prepare for outer space operations. MDA chief software architect Bart Verzijlenberg and VR lead developer Jessa Zabala give us an inside look at their pioneering work with augmented and virtual reality. Discover how MDA utilizes VR headsets to enable training for outer space. Bart and Zabal share valuable insight into how VR is enhancing pre-operative planning, with astronauts and flight controllers able to immerse themselves in realistic experiences prior to critical missions. Additionally, we discuss how VR assists onboarding and continuing education for MDA's growing team. New hires can explore full-scale models of the International Space Station, gaining an intuitive understanding of MDA's complex operations and technology. The episode also covers MDA's use of XR for engaging demonstrations and mission planning. Verzijlenberg and Zabala share challenges faced during initial XR implementation, including security constraints and hardware limitations. However, increasing comfort with the technology has enabled streamlined workflows and multi-site training. Listeners will come away understanding how XR has become an integral part of MDA's drive to push boundaries and helpful advice for implementing your own VR program. Timestamps:
About Bart: Bart is currently the lead software architect for the Gateway External Robotics System (GERS) heading for lunar orbit. He is a founding member of the DREAMR lab (Dynamic Robotic Emulation and Mixed Reality) where he explored mixed reality value opportunities. Starting with simple lessons it quickly grew to remote training (in Covid context), mission review/planning and test support. Bart Verzijlenberg has been with MDA’s software department since 2010 working on a wide variety of robotic systems and next generation technologies. Projects have ranged from 4 medical robotic devices (MRI based biopsy system and multiple generations of a robotic exoscope used widely in neurosurgery), and testbeds for various flight systems, to next generation robotic development for Lunar Gateway. About Jessa: Jessa Marie Zabala is the Virtual Reality Lead Developer at MDA and is the DREAMR Lab's Project Lead. She develops and maintains Meta VR apps used for training astronauts, preliminary mission operations planning, onboarding new employees, and public outreach. As the DREAMR Lab Project Lead, Jessa is responsible for leading major robotic upgrades in the DREAMR Lab, such as replacing the joints of their zero-gravity robotic arm used for ground testing. In her 5 years at MDA, she has worked on flight hardware projects, such as repairing one of the latching end effectors of the CANADARM2 and the design of flight support equipment for sending up spare joints to the International Space Station. Jessa has also worked as a mission planner for MDA on the OSIRIS-REx mission that recently brought back a sample from the asteroid Bennu. Her previous experiences with hardware and mission planning have been invaluable to her work in VR development for astronaut training. About MDA: Serving the world from Canada, MDA is an international space mission partner and a robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. Today, they’re leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more. Together with our many intrepid partners, we're working to change our world for the better, on the ground and in the stars. Learn more at https://mda.space/en/ About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Harvard: Experiential VR Learning in Education | 01 Nov 2023 | 00:31:29 | |
In this episode, we discuss with Matt Cook, an XR consultant at Harvard University Libraries, the impact of virtual and augmented reality on higher education. Matt describes how he came into the world of XR after discovering VR's potential for while studying philosophy. At the University of Oklahoma, he spearheaded VR programs with an emphasis on cost-effective solutions. Now at Harvard, Matt curates custom virtual reality (VR) experiences utilizing the institution's rare artifacts and collections. We discuss immersive use cases from a variety of fields, including theater, ancient history, literature, and organic chemistry. For instance, Matt created a virtual reality Globe Theatre so that students could perform Shakespeare as if they were ancient actors. Additionally, his team created captivating molecular visualizations to enhance spatial comprehension in chemistry laboratories. Matt describes the transition from hardware constraints to the current emphasis on customized content creation. He emphasizes productivity tools such as Gravity Sketch and Engage that facilitate XR learning for multiple users. Also, we investigate the importance of experiential learning and "digital superpowers" that transcend physical limitations. Matt reflects on the thrilling trajectory of XR, which includes innovations such as eye tracking, haptics, and AI-driven content generation. He emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between AI and XR, with automation driving data refinement and immersive experiences facilitating human-centered comprehension. A revealing discussion on the expanding role of XR in higher education and beyond. We distill important lessons for integrating virtual worlds into curricula and reveal an intriguing high-tech future in which VR and AI converge. Timestamps:
About Matt Cook: Matt Cook is Digital Scholarship Program Manager at Harvard Library. In this role, Matt provides instruction, assists in the development of technology spaces, and leads efforts to digitize and explore heterogenous (i.e. text, artifacts, AV, etc.) material collections, at scale, while keeping “humans in the loop” through the use of augmented and virtual reality interfaces. As a researcher, Matt studies the state and trajectory of digital scholarship generally, what it takes to manage exploratory teams in libraries, and the scholarly impact of new knowledge services related to physical fabrication and mindfulness. Find out more at https://www.mncook.net/. About Harvard: Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders who make a difference globally. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Bank of America: Changing the Way We Train with VR | 23 Oct 2023 | 00:40:04 | |
In this episode, Michael Wynn from Bank of America joins us to discuss their VR program. Discover how they're harnessing virtual reality to revolutionize corporate training and employee engagement. Bank of America has reimagined onboarding through immersive virtual experiences. In their VR portal, users explore the Bank of America Museum, engaging with audio, visuals, and interactive elements that intricately unveil the company's ethos and culture. They’ve also crafted a metaverse where employees experience a "day in the life" scenario, coupled with recreational mental wellness activities. Employees can also chat with HR to discuss benefits in an engaging virtual setting. Michael shares how Bank of America has also created coaching simulations, where AI and VR redefine role-playing. This innovative approach provides guided feedback on soft skills, significantly elevating professional capabilities. The decision to adopt VR goes beyond statistics; it's about experiential learning. Virtual reality's ability to replicate real-world situations enhances understanding and retention, especially in critical contexts like bank robbery responses. We discuss insights into the challenges of deploying VR in a vast enterprise, managing logistics, and ensuring seamless VR experiences. Looking forward, Bank of America's plans to have 40+ VR experiences for its employees by the end of the year. Join us in this episode to witness how VR is reshaping finance and technology, from training paradigms to employee engagement and well-being. Timestamps:
About Michael Wynn: Mike Wynn is a Senior Vice President, Innovations and Learning Technology Executive for The Academy. In this role, he is responsible for delivering innovations and managing the technology roadmap to increase synergies and reduce inconsistencies between individual learning programs offered by the Academy. He is also responsible for solving common learning challenges and creating a holistic, high tech and high touch employee learning experience to foster career growth and development. Mike joined Bank of America in 2005. During his 16 year career he held several roles within the Consumer channel which include Financial Center Manager, Market Training Leader, Consumer Market Manager and Associate Readiness Manager. As a Readiness Manager, he had responsibility for driving employee readiness, client satisfaction, and sales performance for all Financial Centers in South Carolina. As a part of his current responsibilities, he manages a team behind the scenes to bring innovative solutions to the Bank. Those solutions include the use of Virtual Reality, which is designed to increase employee engagement and learning retention using state of the art technology. Additionally, his team also develops AI Bot Conversation simulations and systems simulators. His team specializes in interactive learning solution design to help improve the overall learning experience by combining dynamic graphics and audio to deliver memorable content. He resides in Waxhaw, North Carolina. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| VictoryXR: Shaping the Future of Education with VR | 21 Sep 2023 | 00:45:54 | |
In this episode, we dive deep into VictoryXR's origin story, exploring how founder and CEO Steve Grubbs' experiences in politics and entrepreneurship shaped the company's unique approach to education. VictoryXR is currently one of the leading content creators and developers for virtual reality in education. Founded in 2016, VictoryXR is at the forefront of producing award-winning virtual reality curricula for schools. We discuss their VR content modules and talk about how to provide equal access to all students with exciting, immersive experiences. We discuss unique challenges to VR adoption in education and the importance of having a plan both for VR pilot programs and for scale. Steve also discusses the meaningful impact and eye-opening statistics on the impact of their “Metaversity” compared to traditional schooling and how their partnership with Meta is transforming education through virtual reality. Their innovative concept of "Metaversity" introduces digital twin metaversities, offering virtual reality experiences of campus grounds. Notably, Metaversity has seen exceptional student satisfaction, engagement, and achievement rates, surpassing traditional and online schooling. Join us as we explore the exciting possibilities of VR-based education and the future of XR in the educational space. Timestamps:
About Steve Grubbs: Steve Grubbs is the co-founder and CEO of VictoryXR. After founding the company in 2016, Steve lead the VXR team to winning the Global Education Innovation of the Year award in 2021. Before founding VXR, Steve founded two other successful ventures. Steve served in the State of Iowa legislature from 1991-1997, sitting as Chair of the House Education Committee. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance and J.D. from the University of Iowa. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| VRpatients: Designing Your Own VR Training for Healthcare | 30 Aug 2023 | 00:42:52 | |
Experience the immersive journey into the world of healthcare simulation with VRpatients – a pioneering force that's shaping the future of medical education. In this episode, we sit down with Devin and Will from VRpatients, a company redefining clinical medical education for nurses and EMS with its groundbreaking platform. Devin shares his journey from being a customer of VRPatients to becoming an integral part of the team, highlighting how his previous work experiences shaped this transition. Discover the essence of VRpatients – a platform that brings programmable mannequins to life in virtual reality. VRpatients enables clinical educators to effortlessly design, deploy, and evaluate a variety of patient scenarios. As Devin shares his own experiences with VR, we explore the excitement surrounding new innovative solutions and the meticulous preparation required to set VR up for success. Learn about the “hands on” approach that VRpatients takes with schools and all the intricacies and challenges to making VR work seamlessly. We uncover captivating insights from their pioneering work in VR and the challenges they've encountered while scaling their transformative platform. Devin's deeply personal connection to VRpatients adds a poignant touch to our conversation. We also delve into intriguing discussions, such as the Apple Vision Pro talk, hinting at the future of VRpatients and the evolving landscape of medical education. Timestamps:
About Devin Marble: Devin holds an undergraduate degree in Health Sciences from Northern Arizona University and has been a certified emergency hospital paramedic for 8 years. He also serves as adjunct faculty at the Public Safety and Emergency Services Institute in Southern Arizona and is an experienced clinical genetic research assistant for the University of Arizona’s NIH Precision Medicine Initiative. In addition to his healthcare expertise, Devin is a credentialed VR educator through Georgian College, serves as the Head of Marketing for VRpatients, and is the owner of the not-for-profit Immersive Medical YouTube Channel and podcast. Prior to his career in healthcare and education, Devin spent 10 years as an accredited Producer and television host in Los Angeles. His unique combination of technical skills in media production, public speaking abilities and passion for healthcare allows him to effectively convey the value of immersive technologies in nursing simulation. About VRpatients: The VRpatients platform is an asynchronous and remotely accessible clinical simulation tool that reaches beyond the classroom deploying real life scenarios to 10 or 10,000 students simultaneously anywhere in the world. Our unique partnership with ArborXR empowers educators by simplifying IT device management, while VRpatients handles the software toolkit for crafting dynamic simulations. With VRpatients, instructors can engage students outside the classroom with an interactive, dynamic training environment focused on clinical decision making. Students can practice formative virtual simulations from anywhere, perform summative evaluations at the sim center, debrief in-person with trackable analytics, and translate their virtual experiences into actual clinical skills. VRpatients, real life training without real life consequences. Learn more aobut VRpatients at https://vrpatients.com/ About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Zimmer Biomet: Reshaping Healthcare Training with AR and VR | 09 Aug 2023 | 00:35:21 | |
This week's episode of XR Industry Leaders offers an insider's view on how extended reality is changing healthcare, straight from Zimmer Biomet. Thomas Kopec, Senior Manager of Digital Learning, discusses his company's pioneering use of AR and VR for surgical planning, medical training, and more. Listeners will learn how Zimmer Biomet uses HoloLens and VR headsets to enable real-time CT visualizations during surgery. Kopec also explains the virtual collaboration tools that facilitate remote mentorship and live Q&A during procedures. Gain valuable insight into how VR is enhancing pre-operative planning, with surgeons able to immerse themselves in realistic experiences prior to entering the OR. Kopec candidly shares results from initial VR pilot programs, including challenges like hardware costs, managing headsets, and user adoption. Looking ahead, he predicts VR and AR will play an integral role in healthcare through training, collaboration, rehearsal, and competency evaluation. For those interested in how extended reality will shape medicine going forward, this is a must-listen episode. Kopec provides an insider's perspective on VR's transformative potential for surgery, training, and beyond. Tune in for cutting-edge use cases and an exciting glimpse into the future of healthcare. Timestamps:
About Tommy Kopec: Tommy Kopec began working as Senior Manager for Digital Medical Education at Zimmer Biomet in July 2022, overseeing extended realities (VR, MR), as well as the online education for HCPs. Previously, Tommy was a tenured Associate Professor of Kinesiology at a university in Birmingham, AL. He also completed his PhD in Human Performance in 2016 from The University of Alabama. Before returning to school for his terminal degree, Tommy worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer at University of South Alabama with their Football and Baseball programs, as well as an outreach athletic trainer with Encore Physical Therapy, covering all athletics at Baker High School in Mobile, AL. About Zimmer Biomet: Zimmer Biomet has been based in Warsaw since it was founded in 1927. Today, Zimmer Biomet has operations in more than 25 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer Bioment’s global team designs, manufactures and markets effective, innovative solutions that support orthopedic surgeons and clinicians in restoring mobility, alleviating pain and improving the quality of life for patients around the world. Our musculoskeletal technologies and a wide range of related products and services make us valuable partners to healthcare providers in more than 100 countries. We’re building on a strong history of success to enhance the value we provide to healthcare providers and their patients. Zimmer Biomet maintains world-class scientific facilities and resources and collaborates with leading clinicians and researchers around the world. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Kellanova + Roundtable Learning: Replacing Physical Store Training with Virtual Reality | 22 Apr 2025 | 00:38:08 | |
In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Tomissa Smittendorf from Kellanova and Scott Stachiw from Roundtable Learning to explore how VR revolutionized retail sales training at Kellanova. Tomissa shares how they replaced an expensive, in-person grocery store training center with an immersive VR experience that enhances onboarding, boosts display execution by 90%, and improves knowledge retention. Scott breaks down the design strategy behind creating a virtual store where new hires learn to upsell, identify safety issues, and build real-world confidence. The episode dives into how VR created scalable, data-driven training, and why strong partnerships are key to successful XR adoption. From overcoming deployment challenges to envisioning future applications across supply chain and retail partners, this is a masterclass in turning XR experimentation into a strategic advantage. Timestamps:
About Tomissa Smittendorf: Tomissa has over 30 years of CPG experience and is a visionary leader at Kellanova, driving growth through strategic learning initiatives. As Sr. Director, Commercial Capabilities, she led the launch of VR training at Kellanova, transforming onboarding and upskilling. Her work builds high-impact teams and a culture of continuous learning that solves real business challenges. About Scott Stachiw: Scott Stachiw is VP of XR Development and Design at Roundtable Learning, where he leads immersive learning strategy and content creation. With deep expertise in instructional design and XR technologies, Scott played a key role in launching Kellanova’s VR training—designing scalable, experiential solutions that drive measurable business impact. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Capco: Elevating the Financial Industry with Virtual Reality | 27 Jul 2023 | 00:33:17 | |
In this episode of XR Industry Leaders, we dive into the world of virtual reality and its applications in the financial and banking industries, featuring the remarkable work of Capco. We interview Luigi Nicastro, Senior XR Consultant at Capco Toronto, and discuss what it takes to build a successful immersive technology program. We explore Capco’s journey into XR and their approach to XR content creation, avatars, and virtual meetings over Zoom to enhance client experiences and drive engagement. We also discuss the challenges of security and privacy in VR, which are of utmost importance in the financial sector, and how Capco takes a diligent approach to addressing these concerns. However, the road to innovation is not without challenges. We explore the obstacles faced by Capco during their on-the-ground experiences and XR pilot programs and how they navigated through them to achieve success. But what lies ahead for the industry? Luigi shares his thoughts on how VR will revolutionize the financial and banking industries, offering a glimpse into the exciting future that awaits us. Join us on this immersive journey as we uncover the remarkable innovations and achievements of Capco as they utilize virtual reality as an organization. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the present and future of VR in the financial and banking industries. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Luigi is a Senior XR Consultant in the Immersive team at Capco Toronto, focused on building the digital future. With a background in Metaverse development and Interaction Design specializing in user experiences, Luigi has experience in developing virtual reality programs from social hubs to medical training programs. About Capco: Capco, a Wipro company, is a global technology and management consultancy specializing in driving digital transformation in the financial services industry. With a growing client portfolio comprising over 100 global organizations, Capco operates at the intersection of business and technology by combining innovative thinking with unrivaled industry knowledge to deliver end-to-end data-driven solutions and fast-track digital initiatives for banking and payments, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance, and the energy sector. Capco’s cutting-edge ingenuity is brought to life through its Innovation Labs, award-winning Be Yourself At Work culture, and diverse talent. Capco’s approach is tailor-made to fit each client’s problem, with an emphasis on building long-term strategic partnerships that foster collaboration and trust. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| MIT: Exploring Extended Reality in Historic Operas | 12 Jul 2023 | 00:34:19 | |
Virtual and augmented reality are changing the way MIT creates performing arts events. What if you could bring to life 19th century operas with the power of immersive technology? That’s exactly what MIT is doing with Wagner’s classic operas “Parsifal” and “Siegefried.” Select attendees view the opera with AR to see both the performers live on stage and added 3D effects that invites viewers to participate in the opera in new and interconnected ways. With AR, attendees of the iconic Beyruth Festival can experience mythical elements coming to life in ways that have only lived in the imagination or in limited set designs before. While we’ve only touched the surface of how AR can interact with performing arts, MIT leads the way as an innovator of immersive technology. We discuss common obstacles and challenges to using XR in education, advice for new adopters, and share stories of how XR is being used at MIT. Quote: “A big issue for us was figuring out how to manage headsets and rapidly deploy updates, track battery life, firmware and software updates. We couldn’t find a way to implement managing XR technology on our own. When we found ArborXR, it was the magic bullet. It was the thing that solved everything, so we didn’t have to worry about it. When you’re moving at such a fast pace with immersive technology, you need something that just makes it work and ArborXR does that for us.” “Even with a small amount of headsets, managing headsets can be really difficult and managing each headset can be so painful. On top of that, we needed a tool like ArborXR to manage kiosked VR experiences remotely for our users.” Timestamps:
About the Guest: Joshua Higgason is a technical instructor at MIT with a focus on video, lighting, scenic, and interactive designer for theater, opera, concerts, and live performances. He has designed and consulted for The Builders Association, Big Dance Theater, MoMA, MassMoCA, Theatre for One/Christine Jones, The Windmill Factory, and TED. He teaches design at MIT. Recent projects include Hansel und Gretel (projections; Teatro Alla Scala); King Arthur (projections; Statsoper Berlin); Die Dreigroschenoper (projections; Salzburger Festspiele); Nico Muhly’s Control (Five Landscapes for Orchestra) (video, scenic; Utah Symphony); Ira Glass' Seven Things I've Learned Tour (projections); Persona (video and lighting; Dir. Jay Scheib); Sufjan Stevens’ Carrie and Lowell Tour 2015 (video); Radiolab’s Apocalyptical Tour (video, scenic, lighting); Powder her Face (video; NYC Opera; Dir. Jay Scheib); and The Ambassador (video; BAM; Dir. John Tiffany). About MIT: The MIT community is driven by a shared purpose: to make a better world through education, research, and innovation. Founded to accelerate the nation’s industrial revolution, MIT is profoundly American. With ingenuity and drive, their graduates have invented fundamental technologies, launched new industries, and created millions of American jobs. At the same time, and without the slightest sense of contradiction, MIT is profoundly global. MIT’s community gains tremendous strength as a magnet for talent from around the world. Through teaching, research, and innovation, MIT’s exceptional community pursues its mission of service to the nation and to the world. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Magic Leap: How Augmented Reality is Elevating Enterprise | 14 Jun 2023 | 00:35:37 | |
Magic Leap is a market leader in Augmented Reality (AR) headsets and continues to push the boundaries of what AR can do in enterprise. Chief Transformation Officer, Daniel Diaz, discusses Magic Leap’s evolution as a company, their ongoing headset innovations, and some jaw-dropping use cases and statistics he has seen over the past five years. Augmented reality may seem like the technology of tomorrow, but Diaz explains that AR is changing the enterprise landscape today. From recruitment to skills training to employee retention, Diaz explains that AR is making a meaningful difference in manufacturing, healthcare, law enforcement, and beyond. Tune in to the full podcast to learn more about Magic Leap’s experience in augmented reality, real-world statistics from their customers, and innovations they’ve made with the Magic Leap 2 headset. Quote: “I think the number one thing that anyone can do to drive better adoption and remove friction from AR is to help people understand the platform’s ability to deliver value now, at this moment in time. There's no arguing whether it has more efficiency, cost savings, or better outcomes. Those are things that you just can't argue with.” Timestamps:
About the Guest: Daniel Diez is the Chief Transformation Officer for Magic Leap, a leader in enterprise Augmented Reality technology. In this role, Daniel is responsible for business transformation within Magic Leap as the company continues to grow and refine its enterprise technology offerings, as well as helping advise Magic Leap customers on how to use AR technology to optimize and grow their businesses. Daniel also oversees Magic Leap's corporate, brand, and product marketing in addition to public relations, communications, and government relations programs – all designed to build the company's corporate reputation, grow awareness of the company's enterprise AR offering, and create an understanding of the platform's ROI. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Bodyswaps: Innovating Soft Skills Training with Virtual Reality | 10 May 2023 | 00:40:21 | |
In this episode of XR Industry Leaders, we sit down with the CEO and founder of Bodyswaps, Christ Mallet to discuss how VR training is changing the way companies and schools prepare their workforce. Bodyswaps’ VR apps aim to help users develop essential soft skills, such as communication and body language, to enhance their employability in the workplace. Bodyswaps specializes in “off-the-shelf” and “autonomous” VR apps, which allow students to complete modules independently without the need for instructors. Additionally, Bodyswaps has developed innovative inclusion and diversity training that helps trainees recognize implicit bias and foster healthy dialogue around issues of race and sexism. With their focus on self-discovery, self-reflection, and education by shifting a user’s perspective in VR, Bodyswaps is changing the game in soft skill training for the modern workforce. During our conversation with Bodyswaps, we discuss the future of VR in education, including the potential for virtual classrooms and remote learning. We also cover advice for new adopters of VR technology, as well as tips on creating a compelling VR demo to impress decision makers. Join us in this episode to learn more about the innovative work of Bodyswaps and the exciting potential of VR technology in education and professional development. Quote: “Quite often at universities, it's an XR champion or an educator who wants to bring VR to the campus. You need to help them to get buy-in. And to get buy-in you need to put headsets on people’s heads.” Timestamps:
About the Guests Christophe Mallet is the CEO and co-founder of Bodyswaps, a leading provider of immersive soft skills learning experiences. Paris-born Christophe, following a decade of experience in social media and VR-based storytelling, co-founded Bodyswaps in 2019 with a mission to make soft skills training autonomous, affordable and effective. Chris believes everyone has the potential to learn career-boosting soft skills, given the right tools, and Bodyswaps are harnessing AI and immersive technologies to make this possible. Chris is an international speaker and regular podcaster on VR and learning. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| VHA: How Virtual Reality is Revolutionizing Veteran Care | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:43:18 | |
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is changing the game in healthcare by using virtual reality to improve the lives of their patients. In this episode of XR Industry Leaders, we speak with Caitlin Rawlins and Anne Lord Bailey from the VA about how VR headsets can help veterans with pain management, mental health, and overall well-being. They share insights on how VR can interrupt negative stress signals to the brain, the potential for VR to target specific symptoms like acute pain, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and social isolation, and the stories from veterans who saw immediate symptom relief. The VA has shipped out over 1,200 headsets in all 50 states, overcoming challenges with virtual reality and creating scalable and repeatable processes to ensure their staff and patients are supported. Tune in to the full podcast for more on the VHA’s virtual reality playbook and resources for implementing VR technology in healthcare. Quote: “You have to experience the value of XR. Make sure that you're facilitating opportunities to get heads in headsets because that's what builds your XR champions and they are the ones who help you tell the story.” “Build a community around VR. As people experience VR, they become advocates for it. Working together, understanding and sharing lessons learned, and developing resources has been really critical to help the standard for how we do virtual reality.” Timestamps:
About the Guests Dr. Anne Lord Bailey is VA Immersive Lead for VHA’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning. Dr. Bailey started her health care career as a pharmacy resident and then pharmacy practitioner for Western North Carolina VA Healthcare System in Asheville, NC. In 2021, Dr. Bailey became OHIL’s lead for immersive technology, establishing VA Immersive as a collaborative program across OHIL. She has worked with thought leaders in government, academia, and industry, while co-leading the expansion of the VHA Extended Reality (XR) Network alongside Caitlin Rawlins. Recently, Dr. Bailey was awarded 2022 G2Xchange Change Agent Award, 2022 Service to the Citizen Award, and International Virtual Reality in Healthcare Association’s 2022 Hero Award. Caitlin Rawlins has been a registered nurse for over 10 years, with VA for 6 years, and initiated the first positive distraction-focused VR program for pain and anxiety management in VHA in her first year of VA practice. She now aids in leading VHA Innovation as VA Immersive Program Manager. She has helped support the expansion of XR technology use from one facility to over 160 and network engagement to more than 1,700 VA employees. Ms. Rawlins has been awarded the 2019 ANCC Pathway Award, 2022 G2Xchange Disruptive Tech Program Award, IVRHA Hero Award, and, along with other OHIL Immersive Tech team members, was a recipient of the 2022 Service to the Citizen Award for her work with XR. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Stanford: How Immersive Technology Enhances Education | 12 Apr 2023 | 00:39:10 | |
Stanford has been at the frontline of immersive technology for decades, and VR is no exception. Virtual reality gives a new dimension to learning where you can take abstract principles and bring them to life– students can virtually experience what human hearts look like during exercise, when unhealthy, and as they age. Students can create virtual spaces for collaboration, working together remotely or touring departments across the nation. And with VR empathy training, students experience what most marginalized minorities experience daily, getting a small glimpse of what life would look like from a different perspective. However, implementing XR in education requires both a creative vision and technical understanding. Erik discusses the need to have a team that works together to create XR content and scalable systems. The balanced focus on creativity and technical implementation makes VR successful and takes education at Stanford to a whole new level. Quote: “In an academic setting, immersive technology adds real value when you can transmit information, transport a learner or transform a concept.” Timestamps:
About Erik Brown Erik Brown is the Associate Creative Director at Stanford University’s digital media and equity unit, Stanford Digital Education. As an academic media creative who has been developing online courseware for universities such as MIT, Boston University, and Wellesley for the past decade, Erik is always looking for thoughtful and creative ways to leverage various technologies to increase engagement, access, and equity within the higher ed space. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Amazon (AWS): Removing Friction from Enterprise XR | 29 Mar 2023 | 00:42:31 | |
In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Stephen Curtis, a Senior Prototyping Architect working in Spatial Computing at AWS. Stephen shares his insights on how to get started with immersive technology and the journey AWS took to start taking XR seriously. We discuss how technology can be used to remove friction in enterprise, give examples of enterprise friction in XR, and how AWS helps customers with their journey into XR. We dive deeper into operational excellence, and managing content and devices for XR. We also discuss the best approach for XR content authoring and whether companies should use authoring tools or apps. For companies starting a pilot project, Stephen shares his advice and established use cases. We also discuss the XR use cases that Stephen is most excited about and how to quantify data for efficacy. As the conversation turns towards the Metaverse, we explore whether it will be one world or multiple worlds, and whether it should be open-source. Finally, we discuss what might surprise us about XR or the Metaverse in 10 years! Join us for this insightful conversation on the future of immersive technology and XR for enterprise. Timestamps:
About Stephen Curtis Stephen is a Senior Prototyping Architect for the Worldwide Specialist Organization on Spatial Computing. He currently works with AWS customers, APN partners, and AR/VR device manufacturers to leverage cloud-based technologies to build immersive and spatially aware experiences. Stephen has developed and/or led over a dozen successful prototyping engagements for some of the largest AWS global customers (including BMW). With industries including automotive, telecommunications, energy, manufacturing, biomedical research, and pharmaceutical technologies. Specializing in taking bleeding edge technologies and bringing them to enterprise. He was also the lead developer on the Visual Asset Management System (VAMS), a spatial data lake reference architecture which is now the foundation of the AWS go-to-market strategy for spatial computing. Prior to AWS, Stephen has been an enterprise-level developer, architect and technical leader for nearly 20 years. Working with global-scale companies in the travel and hospitality, marketing technology, startup consulting, video game, construction, utilities, media and entertainment, luxury brand, retail and fashion industries. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| WestRock: How XR is Accelerating Manufacturing | 15 Mar 2023 | 00:37:12 | |
Years ago, a forward-thinking vice president at WestRock said, “we need to look at extended reality technology.” What they didn’t know at the time was that there was a massive global event that would make AR and VR invaluable tools for manufacturers to continue doing business. COVID-19 accelerated XR – we’ve heard that from companies worldwide – but it pushed forward-thinking manufacturers to innovate with XR even more than they already had planned. Where some manufacturers could no longer do processes physically, WestRock figured out how to do them virtually. Now, XR is integrating into WestRock warehouses all over the world. In factories, AR tools provide factory workers with guided workflows from remote experts. They now have a library of 360 walkthroughs of facilities for training and new prospects to view. And they provide designers tools for collaborative modeling in AR/VR to produce virtual prototypes and save thousands of dollars on unused physical prototypes. But it didn’t start there. How do you show the impact of XR to leadership and veteran employees who are used to more traditional methods? How do you handle the challenges of scale once you see an XR pilot program succeed? We get into these questions, the story of how WestRock uses XR for business, and more on the podcast. Quote: Platforms like ArborXR are great for taking successful XR pilot programs and turning them into solid, scalable growth." Timestamps:
About Scott Burkey: Scott Burkey is a Technology Fellow at WestRock, a global manufacturing and consumer packaging company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. He takes a pragmatic approach to implementing new ways of making training more effective and supporting front-line workers. Having worked as a software developer for over 20 years for brands like CNN, TBS/TNT and Coca-Cola, Scott now champions new technologies in the manufacturing industry which he believes will be one of the biggest adopters of augmented and virtual reality. Prior to WestRock Scott delivered VR products for the National Basketball Association. He serves in an advisory capacity to startups and nonprofits. Scott is a United States Marine Veteran that enjoys running and backpacking with his wife and 4 children in Atlanta, Georgia. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Pfizer: Transforming How We Train with XR | 01 Mar 2023 | 00:44:56 | |
How do you take a pilot project for immersive technology and introduce it to one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world? Pfizer’s Smart Factory Technology Manager, Nick Hockley, says it comes down to one word: “Consistency.” Change is hard. It’s even harder when you reinvent new processes and training with an emerging, evolving technology like VR and AR. In this episode, Will and Brad talk about what it takes to implement XR in enterprise. Nick reflects on all the necessary steps, from showing proof-of-concept, measuring success and impact, creating AR/VR content in house, having consistent conversations with key decision-makers internally, being patient with the process, and more. Quote: "In big corporate structures, change moves at a slow pace.. It’s all about consistency. Do not be deterred the first time you try to bring in a new technology or concept. Consistently find ways to bring your ideas to the right people." Timestamps:
About Nicholas Hockley: Nicholas Hockley is an experienced XR Product Manager with 6+ years of leading teams that develop, deploy, and implement award winning XR solutions for the Enterprise. He manages a portfolio of 3D solutions including but not limited to VR Trainings, Enterprise Metaverse, 3D scanning solutions, and XR device support systems. He is currently the Solution Owner for the Virtual Reality workstream on the Pfizer Digital Manufacturing team focusing on creating 3D experiences that open new pathways for learning, collaboration, and operation. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Futurus: Set Up XR Pilot Programs for Success | 15 Feb 2023 | 00:32:42 | |
In 2014, Annie Eaton started a networking event for people in Atlanta interested in immersive technology, specifically virtual reality and augmented reality. Businesses quickly approached her and asked how to use XR in their companies, which led to her founding Futurus. Now, Futurus develops VR and AR apps for some of the biggest companies in the world. How did Futurus get their start? What does it take to be a successful VR developer for enterprise? In this episode, Brad and Will interview founder and CEO Annie Eaton of Futurus. They discuss the startup journey, how to be successful in VR/AR pilot programs, common pain points for organizations using XR, measuring the impact of XR in business, and more. Quote: "It takes an internal XR champion to understand that VR is still highly experimental and there is a lot to define. Our job is to produce a proof-of-concept that will be helpful for business, but also, to help create a process that hasn’t been defined for your organization or your industry yet." Timestamps:
About Annie Eaton: Annie Eaton is an immersive content producer specializing in engaging and interactive virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. She currently serves as the CEO of Futurus, an Atlanta-based software development company, and Executive Producer of Amebous Labs, a virtual reality-focused game studio. She serves as the volunteer Director of Arts Programming with Women in Technology, and as an advisor for the virtual reality hardware startup Unlocked Reality. As a Georgia Tech graduate, she stays involved in the Atlanta technology community, managing XR Atlanta, a community organization that now boasts over 1,500 members. Annie is also involved with Women in XR Atlanta, Women in Technology (WIT), and The Academy of International Extended Reality (AIXR). Various organizations have recognized her for her work in tech, including Women in Technology (Woman of the Year Award), Women in IT (Rising Star Award), and Technology Association of Georgia (Young Professionals’ Technologist of the Year Award). Her projects have won recognition from Fast Company in their Innovation by Design award series. Annie has vast public speaking experience, having been invited as a speaker for conferences, podcasts, educational institutions, and corporate events to share her love and knowledge of immersive technology. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| IE University & VirtualSpeech: Building Student Confidence with VR Public Speaking | 03 Sep 2025 | 00:36:40 | |
In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Sophie Thompson, CEO and co-founder of VirtualSpeech, and Gema Molero, Project Manager of XR at IE University, to explore how VR is reshaping higher education. What started as Sophie’s personal struggle with social anxiety has grown into VirtualSpeech—a global VR platform for soft skills training. Partnering with IE University, they’ve scaled immersive public speaking and leadership training across campuses, impacting thousands of students. Gema shares how IE made VR compulsory for over 1,000 master’s students, scaled to 700+ devices, and proved measurable gains in student confidence and skills. The conversation covers the origins of VirtualSpeech, faculty adoption hurdles, the power of AI feedback, and how ArborXR helps IE University manage devices across multiple campuses. Whether you’re running a pilot or scaling XR globally, this episode is full of lessons on building programs that stick. Key Moments 01:02 – From Social Anxiety to VR Pioneer 05:03 – Why IE University Made VR Compulsory 11:07 – Faculty Adoption & Early Challenges 15:30 – What Students Actually Do in VR 20:39 – The Power of Immersion & Emotional Response 20:39 – AI Coaching for Personalized Learning 21:46 – Scaling to 700 Devices Across Campuses 27:31 – Proving ROI: Confidence Up 24% in Two Sessions 27:31 – Advice for Universities Considering VR Quotes “In less than 20 minutes, students using VirtualSpeech increased their public speaking confidence by 24%.” – Brad Scoggin, citing IE University data “At first, we had 300 headsets. Now we’re managing over 700 devices across multiple campuses—and ArborXR makes that possible.” – Gema Molero About the Guests Sophie Thompson is the CEO and co-founder of VirtualSpeech, the first VR app built to help people overcome fear of public speaking, now used globally for soft skills training. Gema Molero is the Project Manager of XR at IE University in Spain, where she leads the integration of VR into curriculum and manages the university’s 700+ headset deployment. Links and Resources Gema Molero on Linkedin Sophie Thompson on LinkedIn VirtualSpeech Website IE University Website Brad Scoggin on LinkedIn Will Stackable on LinkedIn | |||
| UPS: We Know XR is Going to Work | 01 Feb 2023 | 00:42:19 | |
For UPS, XR is no longer proof-of-concept. It’s essential for business. Virtual reality changed how UPS trains its workers, saving countless hours in training and millions in labor costs. But how did they get there? In this episode, Brad and Will interview Mark Gröb, the Head of Immersive Technology for UPS. They discuss the years-long approach to creating “XR as a practice,” challenges integrating consumer XR headsets into enterprise settings, examples of how XR is impacting UPS’ business, advice for new XR adopters, and more. Quote: "The biggest challenge I’ve faced in XR in the last 3 years is deployment. For enterprises being able to deploy the technology in a cost-effective way is incredibly important… Now, we have a defined, mature XR practice around training. And using technology like ArborXR, which I define as a self-support MDM solution, goes a long way to help scale.” Timestamps:
About Mark Gröb: Mark Gröb is a seasoned Veteran of the broader industry of Visual Simulation and Entertainment. He has a long history in the area of Virtual Reality started in 1998. Currently building a practice of Immersive Technology (VR, AR, MR+ML) at UPS. Head of the Immersive Tech Center at UPS. Developing Innovations to solve Enterprise problems for UPS and our Partners. The primary focus is on Human Factors and Data Visualization. Leading XR practices in highly cross-matrix teams to explore and develop IP (patents and business methods) for UPS. Global SME in the practice of XR Enterprise deployments and support for UPS. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| INVISTA (Koch Industries): What If We Reimagined Our Entire Training Process? | 18 Jan 2023 | 00:36:16 | |
Today’s episode is with Dane Laughlin, Operations Transformation Product Leader at INVISTA, a Koch Industries subsidiary. How does an organization begin using immersive technology to change how they work and train? What are the challenges that everyone faces when trying to integrate XR? What sort of impact is XR having on business? We dig deep with Dane Laughlin, Operations Transformation Product Leader at INVISTA, a Koch Industries subsidiary. Dane has been implementing AR/VR solutions for years and specializes in immersive, emergent technology. Dane shares how he first came into contact with XR, the challenges he faced integrating XR into his company, the massive impact VR has had on training, challenges with XR content, how to scale from pilot programs to full XR deployments, and key considerations for working with 3rd parties. Plus, you might finally learn what the Metaverse is. Quote: “The three core challenges in XR are keeping VR content up to date, getting 3D content ready to use in VR, and managing devices broadly over an enterprise.” Timestamps:
About Dane: Dane Laughlin focuses on integrating emergent technology across INVISTA's global operations space for process improvement. Dane’s core competency is AR/VR implementation, wearables, IoT, and data analytics. Using these tools, he is looking to change the way that employees interact with their work as well as their training. As an internal specialist and project manager, Dane has worked on projects in environments ranging from a corporate cubicle to the manufacturing floor. Utilizing his biomedical engineering background, his core focus is to streamline the interface between people and technology to improve execution accuracy and increase efficiency. In addition to being a technologist, Dane is also an Inventor with four patents in the visualization of deep brain stimulation. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Boston Children’s Hospital: Transforming Nurse Training with XR | 25 Feb 2025 | 00:27:47 | |
Boston Children's Hospital is pioneering the use of XR technology to enhance medical training and improve patient care. In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, we meet with Angelina Gu, an XR Simulation Specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Immersive Design Systems. Angelina shares how XR is transforming medical training by providing realistic, scenario-based learning experiences for clinical staff. She discusses how VR helps trainees practice high-risk procedures, familiarize themselves with hospital environments, and improve communication skills in high-stress situations. The conversation highlights the importance of easing new users into VR, the challenges of managing device updates, and the role of data in optimizing training. Angelina also shares insights on the future of XR in healthcare, predicting deeper integration with traditional simulations and increased accessibility. We explore how XR enhances—not replaces—existing training methods, making medical education more immersive and effective. Timestamps:
About Angelina Gu: Angelina is an XR Simulation Specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital's Immersive Design Systems. Collaborating with clinical educators at BCH, Angelina develops and facilitates immersive training experiences harnessing the power of immersive media (VR, AR, MR, 360 media, etc). Angelina is passionate about how immersive media transform medical simulation practice, making medical training more accessible and engaging. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Somero & ForgeFX: How VR Is Solving the Labor Shortage in Construction | 02 Jul 2025 | 00:41:30 | |
Episode Summary: In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Dave Raasakka of Somero Enterprises and Greg Meyers & Devin Weidinger from ForgeFX to explore how VR is transforming training for the concrete construction industry. What began as a solution to scaling training for niche heavy equipment has evolved into a full-fledged VR program that’s enhancing safety, saving costs, and boosting trainee confidence. The conversation dives deep into how Somero equips operators to handle machines that weigh up to 20,000 pounds—without ever touching real concrete. From loading a screed machine onto a trailer to precision pouring with laser-guided equipment, trainees now fail safely in virtual environments before they ever touch the real thing. Together, the teams unpack the technical side of building a high-fidelity VR experience, how multi-user sessions enable real-time feedback, and why starting small is key to launching a successful XR training program. Key Moments:
“VR gives us what I call ‘safety without penalty.’ You can make a mistake and learn from it without damage or danger—and that’s a huge win in our world.” – Dave Raasakka, Somero Enterprises "I’ve got a one-word answer to “Why VR?”—failure. Failure is phenomenal in training. You can't excel at something unless you try and fail and figure out how to overcome it. In the real world, you can’t let someone drive a trailer off the edge to learn spatial awareness. But in VR, you can fail safely, learn from it, and improve.” – Greg Meyers, ForgeFX About the Guests: Dave Raasakka Dave is the Senior Vice President of Global Customer Support at Somero Enterprises, where he oversees XR training strategy. With 25+ years in mechanical engineering and support, Dave has led the adoption of VR to help train operators on complex screed equipment across the U.S. Greg Meyers Greg is the CEO of ForgeFX Simulations. With a background in immersive learning and enterprise simulations, he leads ForgeFX’s strategy to help manufacturers reduce risk and cost by creating simulation-based training. Devin Weidinger Devin is the Technical Director at ForgeFX. He brings a decade of VR experience, including projects like Job Simulator and Rick and Morty VR. At ForgeFX, he ensures training simulations are realistic, intuitive, and immersive. Links & Resources: Connect with Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-weidinger-3a451467/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-meyers-4402a514/ Connect with Devin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-weidinger/ Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/ Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/ Somero Enterprises website: https://www.somero.com/ ForgeFX website: https://www.forgefx.com/ | |||
| Mars Wrigley: The Multi-Million Dollar Impact of VR Training | 27 Jan 2025 | 00:44:19 | |
Mars Wrigley, one of the world’s largest food manufacturers, faced significant challenges in their gum production operations: increasing output, improving efficiency, and reducing employee training time. The solution? Virtual Reality. In this episode, we explore how Mars Wrigley revolutionized its training program using VR, cutting training time in half and boosting output by 45%. Faced with the challenge of onboarding 200 operators in just six months, Mars Wrigley partnered with Futurus and ArborXR to create an immersive learning experience. The VR solution standardized training, improved retention, and delivered measurable results, including a $19 million business impact and 200,000 additional cases of gum in seven months. Join us as we discuss how this innovative approach is shaping the future of workforce development and scaling across global operations. Timestamps:
About Josh McCrary: As the Training Coordinator at Mars Wrigley, Josh oversees VR training initiatives across multiple facilities, managing modules that streamline onboarding and upskilling for employees. With hands-on experience training operators both traditionally and with VR, Josh focuses on optimizing processes to boost efficiency and reduce downtime. His leadership has been instrumental in scaling Mars Wrigley VR training programs nationwide. About Lauren Rucker: Lauren Rucker is the Training Lead for Mars Wrigley’s stick packaging operations, designing and implementing modules that have successfully onboarded over 200 employees. With a background in education and instructional design, Lauren aligns training strategies with corporate goals, ensuring effective skill development. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| PwC: Reimagining the Workplace with XR | 15 Jan 2025 | 00:41:06 | |
In this episode, Alex Rühl from PwC shares insights into her role as Head of Emerging Tech and the company’s innovative use of VR internally and externally for clients. From VR training for leadership and healthcare to groundbreaking projects like "In My Shoes," designed to foster empathy and awareness about race, Alex highlights how VR is transforming industries. Alex also discusses PwC’s pivotal VR study showcasing faster learning and cost-effectiveness at scale, as well as VR’s impact on remote work, data visualization, and pre-sales. Tune in to explore how VR is redefining learning, collaboration, and engagement, while driving measurable outcomes for PwC and their clients. Timestamps:
About the Guest: Alex Rühl is an award-winning VR creator and Head of Emerging Tech at PwC. Renowned for projects like "Keyed Alike" and "Playing God"—which premiered at Cannes Film Festival—she’s a Global XR All-Star and TEDx speaker, driving innovation by helping organizations leverage emerging technologies for the future of work and entertainment. About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com. Links & Resources:
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| Nicklaus Children’s Hospital: Transforming Pediatric Care with VR | 27 May 2025 | 00:40:27 | |
Episode Summary: In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Dr. Christina Potter from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to unpack how VR is revolutionizing pediatric care and staff training. Christina shares how what began as a one-year pilot to reduce pre-surgery anxiety has scaled into a hospital-wide program supporting 8,000 patients in a year. From immersive patient distraction tools to cutting-edge staff training on behavioral emergencies, the hospital is seeing measurable reductions in pain, stress, and clinical incidents. The episode explores how Christina built a scalable, data-driven VR program from scratch, the importance of co-creating content with hospital staff, and how ArborXR helps them manage headsets across 12 units. Whether it’s reducing parental anxiety or helping neurodiverse patients learn to drive, this is a compelling look at VR for good in healthcare. Key Moments:
“We supported 8,000 patients with VR last year alone, and ArborXR helps us manage it all. Being able to push content, track usage, and show real-time data makes all the difference when pitching for funding and proving impact.” – Dr. Christina Potter “We’ve seen up to a 60% drop in patient anxiety and pain perception—and a 70% reduction in parental anxiety—just by introducing VR into the pre-op experience.” – Dr. Christina Potter About Dr. Christina Potter: Dr. Christina Potter is the Director of Digital Innovation at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. With a background in research and a passion for emerging technology, Christina has led the hospital’s expansion into virtual reality, developing use cases for patients, staff, and caregivers. Under her leadership, Nicklaus has seen over 8,000 VR uses annually, with outcomes including a 60% reduction in preoperative anxiety and groundbreaking staff training programs. Links & Resources:
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