I am Lisa M. Lum, with more than two decades of experience in the worlds of hospitality, real estate, and technology, it was only a matter of time before I found a way to blend these three pillars of my life into one. Being raised in Hong Kong and San Francisco, I was exposed to a pretty vibrant real estate and hospitality scene from a very young age. Plus, being a stone’s throw away from a place like Silicon Valley meant that you could feel the Big Tech culture pulsing through the city at every turn. Being immersed in industries that were always at the forefront of Big Tech my entire career, it started to become clear how my idea of Friends of the Metaverse could be used to celebrate the next generation of tech leaders and entrepreneurs in the web3. That’s where we are today.
What was your journey like to get where you are?
Like most entrepreneurial journeys, mine blossomed from following my passion for all things tech- and hospitality-related. Throughout my career, I’ve always had the idea of combining these passions into one to serve a greater purpose and with Friends of the Metaverse, that is exactly what we’re doing. But I haven’t been on this journey alone. I am of the belief to never stop learning. Throughout the last few years, I have spent my time seeking out mentorships from tech leaders, hoteliers, real estate professionals, and early adopters of NFTs to learn everything I possibly can about the new Metaverse phenomenon, from all different angles. It was a constant search for information from people that have already made great achievements in their respective fields.
In a simpler phrase, what is your company exactly doing?
Friends of the Metaverse is an agency that focuses on helping hospitality brands in web2 transition into web3 through coaching and consulting, and helping brands realize new revenue streams and community engagement strategies using winning Metaverse and NFT solutions. Friends of the Metaverse helps brands not only venture into but thrive in the Metaverse. We have an amazing team of developers, architects, and artists who are building something truly unique for brands.
What about Metaverse are you most excited for in the future?
What makes the Metaverse such a big deal is that it’s something we’ve seen in science fiction for so many years that is finally coming to life. Personally, I am most excited about the endless creativity and storytelling this new world will bring. With technology constantly evolving at an exponential rate, there is no limit to how far the Metaverse can go as it will usher in a new era of the online landscape and enable us to create truly immersive and engaging experiences we never thought possible. I think one of the biggest impacts this new interface will have is how brands engage with their consumers. Bringing together companies and consumers like never before through memorable, interactive, and innovative experiences, all at our fingertips, brands will now have the power to reach and embrace a worldwide community that is far bigger than themselves to increase consumer spending. It will be very interesting to see how brands find new ways to prosper in this new world.
Why should we be paying attention to the Metaverse?
The real question we should be asking here is “why are you not paying attention to the Metaverse?” As an industry poised to be even bigger than social media, the Metaverse is believed to become the biggest economic generator in the history of mankind – beyond the invention of the internet. Metaverse will become a place where people can work, play and socialize and will offer experiences that bring out the most creative minds from around the world. It’s time to get in on the ground floor of what’s on the horizon.
