Isaac Sharp believes that the democratisation of technology is an enabling force. As an Account Manager at Cisco, who first started out as a graduate two years ago, he uses technology to help his clients connect in a disconnected world. Working across a broad portfolio of clients, Isaac believes that technology plays a pivotal role in the future by being accessible and inclusive for everyone, to make his clients’ lives easier and, as Cisco likes to say, ‘build a bridge to possible’. 

As a result of the pandemic, the world is becoming less disjointed, and technology is becoming democratised. It is evolving to become an extension of oneself, particularly at a consumer level, so there needs to be equality and inclusivity for the user – it needs to be accessible for everyone, not just professionals. My job is about putting myself in the user’s shoes. For example, with home learning, some children can’t afford expensive noise cancelling headphones, so we can help by developing noise cancelling programs within the systems themselves. Other technology trends are macro hubs for congregating and cyber security. 

The democratisation of technology has led to a growth in hybrid workspaces. Imagine a modern meeting scenario where two people are based in the office and seven people are working remotely. You can’t have those in the office all crowding over one laptop webcam –it’s all about creating the best experience and making sure each person has equal ability and resolution to be able to tune into meetings, engage and perform at their best. You also want to make the most of your communal office space. How are people interacting in the room? Are they standing or are they sitting? Is there too much carbon dioxide? How do we go into a room and start a meeting without touching anything? Increasingly, there will be more emphasis on facilities and HR requirements. 

The building is an epicentre for me and my clients. Whether it’s catching a taxi to a client’s office or heading straight to Monards on payday, it’s the central point for me to perform my business. Even having Binary so close is amazing. The amount of money I’ve spent on coffee there is quite extraordinary! 

The 101 community connects me to new people and gets me out of my comfort zone. The building is the perfect start to the day and the amenities are the perfect end. There’s a beautiful Pilates studio and a space to do boxing, where I can release the stress of the day, which is something I probably wouldn’t do if I didn’t work here.