A Full Year of Mobile, Connected Products, and Empathy-Driven Engagement

I started 2015 going full bore on smart pills. 

Specifically, overseeing the delivery of a (now) FDA-approved digital solution to make it easier for bipolar and schizophrenic patients to track their mood and treatment over time. By using a unique combination of an ingestible sensor, bluetooth low energy patch, and smartphone application, patients and healthcare providers will soon have the ability to better manage these lifelong conditions.

I worked alongside some very bright and creative people that understood, at the core of this solution, existed a very unique user experience that changed over time as mood was altered through medication. Digital helped facilitate a relatively frictionless interaction between patient and doctor. Patients win, quality of life is improved, and doctors can focus on providing true care instead of asking the patient if their medication was consumed. 

As 2015 progressed, I had the special opportunity to join an organization I have respected for many years. Led by some of the most humble and visionary people in the industry, Solstice Mobile has helped some of the largest companies in the world win awards for their innovations. And while customer success is the end result of many months, or years, of collaborative hard work between Solstice and our clients, it all comes back to empathy.

Empathy for employees. Knowing that when you make others around you great, everyone wins. Make achievements known, nominate those that are going above and beyond, ensure everyone has a voice, and above everything else: serve others by supporting them. 

Empathy for society. We can't change everything, but we can use our considerable talents to make a difference in our industry, in our community with the Chicago Dance Marathon, and halfway across the world with organizations such as SHOFCO and The Internet of Elephants.

Empathy for users and their customer experience. What are the friction points? Where do unique opportunities to make an emotional connection? Putting yourselves in the shoes, boots, scrubs, or overalls of the user and understanding their daily path is at the heart of everything we do.

It's been a great year, and I've had the good fortune to work with very innovative companies, brilliant and creative digital makers, and a global leadership team that has a natural ability to balance between "being present in the now" and seeing around corners.

Thank you all for a great 2015.  2016 is going to be fantastic!