In this special CEO-to-CEO edition of In Other Words, Phrase CEO Georg Ell sits down with Cathy Hackl, futurist, CEO of Future Dynamics, Nokia's Futurist-in-Residence, and one of Newsweek's Top 25 AI Visionaries.

Known as the Godmother of the Metaverse, Cathy traces her journey from Emmy-nominated journalist and Emmy judge to one of the most influential voices in spatial computing, AI, and immersive technologies. They discuss the AI supercycle and the infrastructure powering the next era of computing. They also explore why a generation of kids already converting dollars to Robux in their heads may be rewriting the rules of commerce, communication, and customer experience.

Drawing on her experience advising Fortune 100 brands and building large-scale experiences in platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, Cathy shares what business leaders can learn from the next generation of consumers. The conversation explores the rise of AI agents, the growing importance of gaming as a communication channel, and why the future of customer engagement may extend far beyond websites, apps, and screens.

Cathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech executive, futurist, and CEO of Future Dynamics. Known as the Godmother of the Metaverse, she is one of the world's leading voices on AI, spatial computing, gaming, and immersive technologies. A former Emmy-nominated journalist and Emmy judge, Cathy serves as Futurist-in-Residence at Nokia and as an External Advisor to Boston Consulting Group, helping Fortune 100 companies navigate emerging technologies and changing customer expectations. Newsweek named her one of its Top 25 AI Visionaries. She has appeared on the Forbes Latam 100 Most Powerful Women list and the Vogue Business 100 Innovators list. Her work has been featured by CNBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Time, and 60 Minutes.

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