We often hear that technology is making work easier and more efficient but we also hear of the stress, depression and anxiety it sometimes brings to employees. But could the way we use technology be the solution? This is a question that Dave Coplin, chief envisioning officer of Microsoft UK, will look to answer when delivering a masterclass at MADE, the UK’s largest festival of entrepreneurship.
Providing business leaders with an insight into the future of technology in business, Coplin will explore how the rapidly rising volume of information is affecting business and the lives of employees. In particular, Coplin will discuss how small businesses could in fact increase their productivity by using technology in the right way and removing the stresses that can be caused by technology not working for the user.
The masterclass will also look at the problems that face business leaders, the mistakes and assumptions made and how people should be using technology to reimagine how we live, work and do business.
As a self-confessed technology ‘alchemist’, Coplin is passionate about turning the base metal of technology into valuable assets that affect the way people live, learn, work and play and in so doing, move the focus from the technology itself to the actual outcome.
“The success of our future depends entirely on our ability to grasp the potential that technology offers us,” said Coplin. “As a result, our aspiration should be to do things differently, not the same things slightly better.”
As well as being Microsoft’s chief envisioning officer, Coplin is also a successful author. His first book, Business Reimagined, provides a view of a new working environment based on collaborative and flexible working. And his latest book, The Rise of the Humans, provides a further call to action for both individuals and organisations to harness not hate the digital deluge, to rise up and take back control of the potential that technology offers society. The topics covered in both books will also be discussed during Coplin’s masterclass at the festival as he speaks in front of around 2,000 budding entrepreneurs and successful business leaders.
Prior to joining Microsoft, Coplin spent 13 years delivering IT strategy and solutions within the professional services industry in the UK, Canada and the Netherlands, helping to build the foundations of a global IT infrastructure. He is also a regular contributor to a range of media articles, conferences and forums all relating to the goal of making technology less visible and more valuable in our daily lives.
Coplin will also be joined at MADE by former member of JLS turned farmer, JB Gill, and multi-millionaire entrepreneur, Annabel Karmel.
MADE will also welcome Innocent Drinks’ Joe McEwan; Petra Wetzel of Scottish brewery West Beer; Jude Ower, CEO of innovative, philanthropic gaming company Playmob and Checkatrade founder Kevin Byrne, among others. Tickets for the festival are now on sale with more events and speakers due to be announced over coming weeks. 
For up to date information and tickets visit www.madefestival.com or follow @MADEFestival on Twitter.
