I was initially hired as a multimedia designer to develop e-learning modules, but over time I’ve evolved into product development. I’ve been at Vertex 20 years and I’ve never had the same year twice. We all know the world has changed dramatically in that time and the rate of change is increasing exponentially. When I started at Vertex, mobile phones, and internet access were luxury items. WiFi didn’t exist. Today, all these things are now commoditized. It makes you wonder which of today’s tech will be tomorrow’s commodities and which ones will be obsolete?

That’s where Vertex Innovation Labs comes into play. We started two years ago to not only explore new technologies and their relevance to the tax world but also to respond quickly to changes in the economy and marketplace. We’re given the autonomy to function like a startup within Vertex. To address these challenges, we’ve been trained in Scrum, Design Thinking, and Lean Startup. We use all of these methodologies, to collaborate with clients to develop and validate potential new products.