Meetings of the Future: Polycom CEO

After agreeing to a telepresence interview with the CEO of Polycom, Bob Hagerty, we truly didn’t know what to expect. We knew we’d be speaking to Hagerty from Andover, Massachusetts one of Polycom’s offices, while he’d be in Santa Clara, California headquarters. We knew about Polycom, an established $1.1 billion, market-leading provider of telepresence, video and voice communication solutions. However, we didn’t know how Polycom’s telepresence would be unique.

The difference was apparent upon entering the room. This conference room more closely resembled a movie theater. High-end chairs were neatly lined up in front of a glossy oval conference table facing a 16-foot screen. Soft lighting and surround sound added to the entertainment vibe of the room.

Then everything changed when the phone rang and the giant screen came alive. It was at this moment my colleagues and I experienced first-hand the virtual meeting.

Although 3,150 miles apart, the distance dissolved within seconds as we received a hearty welcome from Hagerty. An infectiously enthusiastic man, Hagerty has been CEO of Polycom for over 10 years. This year he was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California.

Dawn of Virtual Reality

During our interview with Hagerty, the power of telepresence was revealed in crisp, clear picture. He not only made eye contact with each of us, but we interacted with him as though he was just sitting across a conference table instead of across the United States. At one point, he even jokingly reached across the table as if he were going for a handshake.

Unlike video conference solutions of the past, telepresence creates an intimate face-to-face experience, which cannot be replicated by telephone, email or any other form of non-visual communication. “When you have this type of face to face communication, you pick up on things faster like nonverbal signals. It changes the entire experience,” says Hagerty.

Not surprisingly, research from the analyst firm Gartner Inc. indicates telepresence will replace 2.1 million airline seats by 2012, while market research firm IDC says telepresence sales will reach $1 billion by 2011.

“There has been a quantum leap in technology to create an experience across a large pallet to make this work.” Hagerty explained. “We are now living in a global world and finally we are all connected.”

Game Changer

Perhaps more than anything else, telepresence solves the issue of global inefficiency. Telepresence means we could be saying goodbye to constant flying, impassive hotel rooms and long business trips for good. Hagerty, who uses telepresence 7-8 times a day himself, says the current system of global face-to-face communication is incredibly ineffective.

“As the world has globalized, what has every industry done to communicate and meet with each other on a global basis,” Hagerty asks, providing a quick response. “They’ve thrown people at it by putting them on airplanes. This has had two effects. One it has destroyed people, as it’s hard and takes a toll. Secondly, it’s unproductive. You’re sending one guy out of 8,000 to communicate, and everyone is happy with it. By doing this, you’re not truly connecting with local enterprise.”

By providing impeccable video quality, true-to-life dimensions and transparent technology, Polycom’s telepresence is more than just a suitable problem solver. It’s a game changer. With several product offerings, including personal telepresence solutions, Hagerty says Polycom has the potential to connect everyone, everywhere from backcountry rural areas to prisons.

Technology & Responsibility

Along with its primary goal of connecting the world, Polycom’s telepresence has environmental and personal benefits as well. This hits close to Hagerty and is one reason he’s intensely passionate about telepresence and video solutions in general.

“I feel it’s a part of our citizenship and obligation at Polycom to bring it to the world. Lawyer’s have their pro-bono work, doctor’s solve medical challenges, I feel it’s part of my obligation to connect people and society,” Hagerty says adamantly.

He uses a specific example to reiterate his point, “Medical professionals in a world away can learn new techniques. For instance, there was a doctor in Peru, who used one of our telepresence solutions to develop a medicine on the fly to restore a patient’s health. He connected with a doctor here in the States, who assisted him through the telepresence.”

By providing solutions in real-time, the doctors had direct interaction with the Peruvian patient and the local doctors to accurately diagnose and efficiently treat a rare condition; thereby saving a man’s life. This is the kind of outcome that makes telepresence not only a game changer but also a life changer. As Hagerty points out in his usual unremitting pace, data is priceless. When it comes to saving lives, visual data is incredibly invaluable.

Touching the world

What’s next? The research and development team at Polycom, one third of the 2500 person company, are developing future technologies, which will surpass the current experience. This technology, available within the next five years, could include virtual reality or at least “holograms to 3D type of experiences,” according to Hagerty.

Regardless of the technology and its capabilities, Hagerty’s philosophy has always centered on investing in people. Telepresence does just that and with the ability to save people’s physical and emotional being.

Furthermore, it can be used to create many shared experiences on a plethora of platforms. Along with connecting diverse communities with each other, it can provide assistance in hazardous environments such as military operations, fire rescue, toxic atmospheres and even hostage situations. Not to be forgotten, education is a definite place where the benefits of this technology will find roots in our globalized world.

“My mother really wanted me to be a doctor,” Hagerty said. If positively touching and helping people’s lives was his mother’s wish, than he has certainly exceeded her wildest expectations.

Personal Facts:

Name: Robert Hagerty

Education: B.S. in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, and an M.A. in Management from St. Mary's College of California.

Family: Wife Deanna, sons Robert & Damian, daughter Sara. Proud Grandfather

Currently reading: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni