Leading a Product Through Evolution, Breakthrough, and Real-World Validation

By Lauren Burnside - Vice President of Product Management & Marketing

There’s a moment in product development that feels almost surreal. You’ve been in the trenches for months, or in our case, years, mapping features, talking to users, making hard trade-offs, and adjusting to the ever-changing tides of the market. Then one day, the pieces align. And you realize . . .this is it. This is the version that doesn’t just work, it really lands.

That’s where we are right now at NexGen Technologies, LLC.

As the VP of Product and Marketing at NexGen Technologies, I’ve had the privilege of helping shape NexGen Virtual Office since its early days. I’ve worked side by side with our CEO, Joseph Jacoboni navigating the messy, rewarding, and at times, emotional process of building a product that dares to rethink the way people work. And after three years of iteration, listening, testing, and building, we’re on the verge of releasing a massive enhancement that I believe will reshape how enterprise teams connect, collaborate, and succeed.

And it couldn’t come at a more pivotal time.

The Market Is Loud. Our Product Is Clear.

We’re living in a loud moment for workplace policy. Big names: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Jeff Bezos, are doubling down on mandatory Return to Office (RTO) policies. Their argument? Accountability. Productivity. Culture.

What’s fascinating is that I don’t actually disagree with their goals, I disagree with the means they’re choosing to get there.

Forcing people back into buildings doesn’t automatically create accountability. What creates accountability is clarity. Visibility. Real-time awareness. Connection. And that’s exactly what our product was built to deliver.

NexGen Virtual Office started as a platform for remote and hybrid teams, but what we’ve built goes far beyond that. It’s a virtual workplace that mirrors the culture, communication, and context of a physical office, but does it way better.

With our newest version, it works for everyone:

• Fully remote teams

• Hybrid teams

• And even in-office teams

Yes, in-office too. Because even in a physical office, managers still walk around to see who’s available. People still rely on email to get questions answered. Communication still breaks down.

NexGen changes that.

With one glance, you know exactly who’s working, who’s on break, who’s in focus mode, and who’s available to collaborate. You know whether a teammate is in a meeting or deep in a task. You don’t waste time sending emails and waiting for replies, you solve problems in real time. You communicate in the way that suits you best, whether that’s a quick chat, a live video pop-in, or just the presence of knowing someone is "at their desk" virtually.

It’s More Than Features. It’s a Philosophy.

We didn’t build NexGen Virtual Office to enforce how people should work. We built it to empower how people prefer to work.

And here’s the truth: more and more people don’t want face-to-face communication all day, every day. They want the option. They want flexibility. They want structure that adapts to them, not the other way around. Our platform gives people autonomy with visibility, and that’s what sets us apart.

This upcoming release has crystallized something that’s been growing quietly in the background: NexGen isn’t just a product for remote teams anymore. It’s a productivity platform for the modern workplace, regardless of location.

And that realization feels electric.

A Personal Milestone in a Professional Journey

As a leader, this moment means a lot. I’ve poured vision, feedback, problem solving, and passion into this product. I’ve worked alongside brilliant minds, made difficult calls, and watched our team stretch, struggle, and grow. The emotional highs and lows of startup life are very real, especially when you’re building something that doesn’t quite fit into any existing box.

There were times we questioned direction. Times we pivoted. Times we had to make tough decisions about where to invest our limited resources. That’s the reality of innovating inside a startup. The scope changes as the market moves. User behavior surprises you. The “must-have” from six months ago suddenly isn’t relevant.

But when you’re adaptable, and deeply committed to your mission, you get to moments like this. Where you know, without a doubt, that what you’ve built is special. That it solves a real problem in a real way. That it’s ahead of the curve, and right on time.

This Is What the Future Looks Like

If you’re leading a team of hundreds or thousands across locations, departments, or time zones, this is your moment too. Because the reality is: hybrid and distributed work isn’t going away. And in-office collaboration isn’t the silver bullet some hope it will be.

The organizations that win in the future will be the ones that create environments where every type of worker can thrive. Where people feel seen, supported, and empowered, without sacrificing accountability, efficiency, or culture.

That’s exactly what NexGen Virtual Office makes possible.

We’re launching our version of 2.0: NexGen Virtual WORKPLACE. And we’d love to show you how it works.

👉 Reach out to book a live demo and see the future of work in action.