18 Seventh Edition Marquis Who’s Who INSIGHT A. RENEE THORNTON, PHD Performance Psychologist, CEO Pathfinder Resilience Fennville, MI https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-thornton/ What innovations or technologies do you feel will shape the future of your industry? The most innovative phenomenon occurring now is the shifting attitude of senior leaders. In the last decade, society has been inundated with complaints about the younger generation. Complaints have since turned into untrue labels. My research reveals the Millennial and Gen Z populace's positive impact on the workforce. Today, people are not interviewing with a focus on what they bring to the agency but with a question about what the organization’s culture brings to them. Leaders today realize that recruiting and retaining talent is only possible when the culture reflects the beliefs of its entire team. People do not buy what you do; they buy what you believe because they believe what you believe. Transformational leaders are finally building high-performing teams united by a shared belief system. The result is the culture shift we’ve needed for decades. What excites you the most about your industry? In the last few years, we’ve seen the social perception of our public safety profession deteriorate. We've seen the behavior of the few impact the reputation of the many. People have stopped believing in heroism the way they used to. We can’t change the past, but we can build a better future. Our greatest opportunity is to become resilient – to raise the bar on what excellence is, vow to make tangible change and prepare to outperform expectations in the future. Our communities, organizations, families, professions and heroes deserve nothing less. NIRMALYA THAKUR, PHD Lecturer Emory University Atlanta, GA nirmalyathakur.com/ How have you navigated disruptions in your industry to remain a top professional? Since I first started researching in the field of human-computer interaction, my goal has always been the same — to create a positive impact on society so that the future of humanity can have a better world in which to live, work and grow. Every day I enter the lab is an opportunity to make a difference. What are two key behaviors/personality traits that allow you to be effective in your role? No matter how small the invention, effort or discovery, I believe that anything my research contributes to can make a positive change in this world. I am also always focused, even in times of failure. Jay Shetty, a motivational speaker, once said that “the difference between a winner and a loser is that the winner tried one more time.” I tell myself that when I am stuck on the same problems, I don’t give up. What excites you the most about your industry? We’re currently seeing different disciplines of computer science making an impact on society. For instance, if we talk about artificial intelligence, it is impacting the way people stay at home and work in different industries; AI is playing a role in many workplaces. When we talk about artificial intelligence, we mean smart gadgets, robots or machines; people are going to be interacting with them. Human interaction with technology has the potential to change the world by driving us toward an advanced state of living.
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