Five Minutes With: Alexandra Hussenot
REWIND speaks to Alexandra Hussenot, CEO of Immersionn and UK Lead at Women In Immersive Tech.
“Five Minutes With” is a regular feature that gives you an insight into some of the greatest minds in the immersive industry, all within the time it takes to grab a cup of coffee.
Alexandra is the founder of Immersionn, a Content Discovery company. She is also the UK lead for ‘Women in Immersive Technologies’, a community of 1000 members that aims to empower European women working in XR. She is also a member of the UK5G Creative Industries Working Group, reporting to the department in charge of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Prior to founding Immersionn, Alexandra pursued an international business career at insurance firm Allianz, managing an £80M global business. She has also worked all over Europe during her 11 years at Sony Ericsson and has a solid experience designing and launching software and service products. She has also led large scale operations for mobile phone repairs and remanufacturing.
What is exciting you the most about the immersive industry right now?
It feels like the world just woke up to the industry and accelerated towards us. Many of my peers are thriving and it is so deserved.
While a year ago I had to “pitch” virtual reality and immersive tech, in 2020 it shifted, and we started to see traction. The immersive industry is experiential and so naturally businesses are turning to us as a serious alternative to physical events and meetings.
How has the pandemic impacted your business?
It’s been a lifesaver after the initial shock. A big chunk of our strategy was connected with the deployment of 5G in Europe. At the start of the crisis, in February 2020, with Mobile World Congress cancelled and the situation with Huawei in the UK, Immersionn was in a tricky situation. At the same time, our runway was out so we had to hold our breath and pivot very very quickly. Then we had a little bit of luck with an early adopter (T-System) for whom we adapted our tech to fit their needs. And after that, we really took off as we realised we had “product-market fit”.
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
Your greatest opportunities might be the things you decided you will never do.
What and/or who is your source of inspiration?
Round pegs in square holes.
What has been your biggest business challenge in the past 12 months?
Finding a product-market fit.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
I get to meet and interact with amazing people at all levels of society, with diverse backgrounds and motivations in life. It’s intellectually stimulating to have such a broad view on the world.
And some just for fun!
Tell us something that would surprise us
Do you know how many litres of water an elephant can hold in its trunk?
** Spoiler alert, it’s 12 litres!**
What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Jump from a Swedish bath bridge, in the winter.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Travelling spacetime.
What are you reading right now?
Le Petrole, Upton Sinclair. It’s a French edition from 1920.
