But what exactly is VR, or Virtual Reality? To put it simply, VR is a digitally emulated reality experience that makes the user feel as if they are actually present in the time or place shown, all while staying in the same place. This place or time can either be an entirely fictionalized ‘virtual’ world, or a mix of the real and digital elements.

Now, you might ask that what is it about VR that has marketers and whole organizations clamoring the build or attain the next best VR technology? For starters, VR tools contribute towards increased user experiences by amplifying the emotional intensity and personalized nature of the delivered message. And for skeptics who still deem VR as too expensive to ever be employed in mass marketing, recent technological improvements and alternate VR channels have drastically lowered the production costs, as can be seen from McDonalds as yet experimental campaign that converts Happy Meal boxes into the ‘Happy Goggle’ VR headset-their own highly cost-effective version of Google Cardboard with the added benefit of repurposing.

Other benefits of employing VR into mass marketing strategies is the unique, immersive experiences that the technology offers, which have been utilized by various companies to promote their brand ideals, leave a lasting impression on users by appealing to a certain aspect of their personalities, and consequentially generate a larger customer base. Take, for instance, The North Face’s campaign that virtualized the brand’s ‘explorer’ credo by offering customers the chance to hike within Yosemite National Park, America, or the conveyance of more philanthropic ideals of Tom’s shoes where customers were taken on a journey through Peru to gift shoes to someone in need. VR advertising also provides a way around ad-blockers, the use of which has increased by well over 30% since 2016, by repackaging and repositioning what is essentially an advertisement into an immersive and more receptive user experience.

Contrary to popular beliefs, VR marketing is happening now and will only advance into something bigger and better than its present counterpart-perhaps even to the point where it overtakes all traditional advertising media to become the sole marketing tool.

A large number of organizations are now being headed by women, for women. And while this is an excellent way to ensure maximum employability for the gender leading the highest global population, it has made male employment that much difficult, as multigender organizations focus o rapidly growing their female workforce. Where for some organizations this maneuver is a means of capitalizing on the one of the greatest global trends, others are driven to hire women over men in uneven proportions due to the prevalence of customer-centric business trends. Considering that women constitute a major portion of customers worldwide owing to their increased buying power as a result of increased employability, companies are left with little choice but to hire female personnel to appeal to their customer-base. Therefore, it can be said that feminism is a double-edged sword; where on one hand it facilitates women in showcasing their abilities, gaining financial independence, and increasing global economies in the process, the mass employment of women and encouragement on misogynistic feminist practices in workplaces is negatively affecting the male workforce, with the number of unemployed male graduates mounting each year; a practice which may possibly reverse the doubled workforce advantage gained by equal sex employment.

So, while feminism is a powerful initiative that speaks for the rights of women and what they stand for, the current version of this movement is slowly giving rise to unethical and non-productive work behaviors and negatively impacting contemporary employment culture.

As opposed to ‘Permanent Content’ that stays on the ‘walls’ of an individual or business’ profile page to be viewed or copied limitlessly by other users until or unless removed by the original user themselves, ephemeral content describes the increasingly popular temporary posts-referred to as ‘stories’-that remain on the wall only for 24 hours before permanently disappearing from one’s timeline. In addition to the extra privacy provided to individual users, these short windows come equipped with a wide plethora of filters, features and other editing tools that further add to the entertainment factor. However, these very tools can, and are being used by businesses big and small to connect with their target audience in a lighter, friendlier, more personalized manner. Moreover, the temporary nature of these stories allows businesses to take advantage of knownpeak online use times, such as during the workday, and instantaneously post spontaneous yet targeted promotional content that is sure to be viewed by their target customer. The live-viewing element drastically increases customer exposure, all the while adding to the overall excitement afforded by an ephemeral post. Businesses can also emphasize and capitalize on the message that they want to send to their target audiences, and allow them to showcase the lighthearted side of their brand. In short, while permanent posts are irreplaceable tools, such as for job postings or new outlet notices, organizations must embrace the ephemeral posting trend to best capitalize on their social media marketing campaigns and gain momentum over their competitors.

But how does workplace diversity contribute towards enhanced productivity and higher financial returns? We know that creativity and wide-ranging solutions are what drive productivity and organizational development, and a diverse workforce does just that. Team members from varied backgrounds bring different perspectives and schools of thought to the problem-solving table, resulting in more creative, innovative, and optimized solutions than their homogenous counterparts. Moreover, continued exposure to and interaction with individuals from diverse professional backgrounds invites further learning and instills the drive for personal and professional improvement among teammates, both of which fuel a productive work environment. Similarly, a wide-spectrum organization rich in a workforce inclusive of gender, ethnicity, religion, and skill not only boosts employee morale to the ends if increased employee loyalty and optimum work performance, but also attracts a wider pool of skilled professionals by presenting itself as a forward-thinking and just organization. An added benefit of an intercultural team is the sheer variety of languages and cultural understanding that individuals bring on board with them. Not only does this allow organizations to appeal to a wider clientele within their home bases, but also sets the stage for successful global expansion.

However, it must be noted that simply recruiting a colorful plethora of individuals is not sufficient for increasing company-wide productivity and growth. Organizations must also work to improve upon their internal and external policies, resources, and compensation packages to ensure true diversity, workforce motivation, productivity, and growth.