By Lara Varjabedian, Co-Founder of UBQT
Embarking on the journey of creating UBQT has been nothing short of exhilarating – perhaps the most thrilling challenge of my entire career. Every day, I’m touched by the messages from friends/ex-colleagues across the globe explaining to me how relevant the application is for them, envisioning future features, and fueling our passion to make UBQT something truly remarkable. Jonathan L. Hasson, co-Founder & CEO, and I, knew from the outset that our early adopters would be individuals from the diaspora – expats, digital nomads, professionals from various backgrounds, and international MBA students temporarily gathered in one place before dispersing.
As someone of Armenian descent, the term “diaspora” has been woven into the fabric of my existence since childhood. From the day I drew my first breath, my father, a seasoned expatriate of a Japanese multinational – Komatsu – in Algeria, shaped my upbringing in a fascinating mix of cultures. While attending a French school, it became second nature to navigate a mosaic of traditions. Diversity wasn’t just a concept; it was my norm. At the age of 12, geopolitical circumstances prompted our relocation to Brussels, immersing me in yet another cultural transition.
Post my academic journey, I embarked on a professional odyssey with Generali Employee Benefits – GEB and relocated multiple times across Europe, the United States and Asia, engaging daily with dozens of countries and cultures in various continents. Skipping forward to 2021, during the second lockdown in London, I landed in Dubai initially for 2 weeks of remote working and decided 5 months later, unequivocally, to call it home. In the United Arab Emirates, I had the feeling of being back in school, surrounded by more than 200 nationalities, where 98% of the population hailed from diverse corners of the world.
Over an enlightening conversation with Martin Russell, an esteemed expert and researcher in diaspora, I discovered that there are over 281 million individuals globally who share the experience of being born, studying, or working somewhere else.
“Diaspora becomes a much bigger potential for positive impact around the globe when you think about how belonging is becoming multiple and hybrid in the networked age. With tools like UBQT, diasporas now have the technological support to be ‘here and there’ instantaneously and intentionally which allow them to engage back home or engage where they feel they belong on their terms and in real life”.
A pivotal moment arose when I engaged in a profound discussion with Robin Dunbar, the eminent biological anthropologist Professor of Evolutionary Psychology in the department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. My 90 incredibly inspirational minutes with him revolved around Dunbar’s number and the seven pillars that bind us together, shaping our own tribes.
“Like Lara, I spent my first 20 years immersed in a deeply multicultural, often quite transient, environment, in my case in East Africa. It gives you a very different perspective on life and the world. Meeting those who have had the same experience, no matter where you meet them, feels like ‘coming home‘.”
As I reflected on these conversations, certain truths emerged: the people close to me are invariably the fruit of diverse cultures, much like my own journey. In line with Dunbar’s theory and various other influences, the initial tribes on UBQT would be formed by individuals with the innate ‘UBQT DNA’. In the past weeks, I had the privilege of connecting with Kingsley Aikins a thought leader on global networking – CEO of The Networking Institute – to whom I owe my insightful conversation with Robin. His words added another layer of depth to my understanding.
“The key is having a sense of belonging and this can be to a country, region, city, place or organization, defining a new narrative of belonging in our interconnected world”.
This, in essence, encapsulates what “ubiquity” stands for. We aspire to create a community of global citizens who cherish professional and/or personal connections within a closed network, a sanctuary of individuals. UBQT aims at being the bridge that helps reconnect in a world where the virtual realm has claimed an oversized presence. Our challenge extends beyond technology – it’s about reshaping perceptions, redefining the purpose of social media.
In a world inundated with virtual experiences, can we reignite the allure of in person catch-ups and reclaim the beauty of real life connections?
