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  • Sheerluxe, Published on January 29th, 2025.

AI is advancing at pace and is now set to transform society, the jobs market and how we do business. On the back of the prime minister pledging to turn the UK into an ‘AI superpower’, we checked in with the experts to find out the latest from the frontline…

What’s the most important thing business leaders or entrepreneurs need to be aware of?

“Leaders need to accept and understand what AI technology can do. I have lived through the internet boom and the initial AI comeback a decade ago in the form of machine learning. Both of these were waves of change in the IT industry that affected every aspect of our society and our lives. But I’ve never seen such a high speed of adoption as with generative AI. Even though the technology is young and not perfect, it is obvious that it fills a real need for most of us, individuals as well as businesses. Therefore, leaders must educate themselves in AI to learn the truth about its capabilities and risks. Use AI to solve a problem; do not invent a clever solution to a problem no one has. Be aware of the new risks that generative AI introduces, like hallucinations and toxicity, and allow use of AI accordingly for your own customers.” – Zorina Alliata, professor of responsible artificial intelligence, digital business & innovation at OPIT

Which industries do you predict will be most disrupted by AI in the next couple of years?

“The financial industry is always one of the first to adopt new technologies. Financial companies are already using generative AI for document processing, risk assessment, fraud prevention and algorithmic trading. Because of increased computing power, we also see AI growth in healthcare and life sciences for drug discovery and enhanced diagnostic procedures. Retail, education, logistics are also adopting AI at a high pace. Which industries will remain unaffected? None, really. Even in high-touch human professions like nursing, therapy, parenting, AI is a tool that can help. While not replacing the job entirely, the industry will change because the AI tools are changing the way the job is done.” – Zorina 

Are there any new business models emerging due to AI advancements?

“I think we will see more AI-as-a-service (AIaaS) offerings, where AI tools are built on top of large language models and offer specific capabilities. This is an area where there is a lot of innovation, and I’m excited to see this develop further. I already use AIaaS on a daily basis for better writing, research, creating videos and presentations, and code debugging.” – Zorina 

What are the biggest challenges for small businesses and start-ups in adopting AI technologies?

“A big risk is too much enthusiasm and optimism. Generative AI has been adopted at a great speed. When you first try it, it is amazing. It can write a whole paper in seconds. It can explain complex diagrams and concepts. It feels like the trusted assistant you always needed, but it’s important to remember that AI comes with risks. It’s one thing to write an AI service that recommends what movie you should watch next, and another thing to write an AI service that reads your X-ray and diagnoses if you have a tumour. These two applications of AI have very different risk thresholds. You need to plan your AI service or product to be appropriate for use and to minimise the risk for your customer. I’ve also seen start-ups that tried out an idea and are now planning to build a product out of it, without any understanding of what it takes to run AI services at scale. Having best practices implemented, a good operational foundation, governance and a clear operational model are all requisites for running any production systems, especially something as risky and fraught with unknowns as AI products are.” – Zorina 

Which ethical considerations should entrepreneurs keep in mind when integrating AI into their businesses?

“Some considerations when creating your risk strategy for AI include data privacy and security (ensuring responsible collection and use of customer data); transparency (being clear about how AI is used in products or services); fairness and bias (addressing potential biases in AI algorithms); job displacement (considering the impact on employees and planning for transitions); accountability (establishing clear responsibility for AI-driven decisions); and environmental impact (considering the energy consumption of AI systems).” – Zorina

How is AI changing customer expectations?

“Customer expectations have gone up significantly since generative AI enabled better interactions. Customers expect omni-channel communications, immediate responses, and predictive service. For those companies that still have fragmented data in several platforms and lack a cohesive customer journey, the learning curve will be steeper. The good news is, there are a lot of innovations in this area.” – Zorina 

What skills do you think entrepreneurs will need to succeed in an AI-dominated business world?

“Some skills that would be useful include:

  • AI literacy: understanding the basics of AI, machine learning and data science.
  • Data analysis & interpretation: ability to work with and derive insights from large datasets.
  • Strategic thinking: identifying where AI can add value to business processes and products.
  • Ethical decision-making: navigating the ethical implications of AI implementation.
  • Adaptability & continuous learning: keeping up with rapidly evolving AI technologies.
  • Human-AI collaboration: effectively working alongside AI systems.
  • Soft skills: creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence and leadership will become even more valuable as AI handles more routine tasks.

As a leader, you are not required to write code or figure out the best way to deploy your model, but a high-level understanding of what AI can do will help you have meaningful conversations with your technical team and create AI products that are truly useful.” – Zorina

Finally, how will AI impact the workforce this year?

“There are several studies on this, such as the one the World Economic Forum (WEF) released this month about the status of work and the future of jobs. Some of the highlights are that AI and other technologies will continue to broaden digital access, with a first effect on increased demand for AI and data skills. The number of technology-related roles is the fastest growing, but frontline roles like farmworkers, delivery drivers and construction workers are predicted to see the largest growth. AI has evolved quickly to create images and videos, threatening the jobs of designers and movie producers. It was not what we would have predicted a few years ago. AI has a way of growing in unexpected ways, as we discover new paths of research and innovate ways to use it. I personally think it is hard to predict exactly where AI will go, and what will be the result of automating all routine tasks and behaving closer to humans. One thing we can be sure of is that people who understand AI and know how to use it will benefit from whatever new challenges are coming our way.” – Zorina

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The Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) began enrolling students in 2023 to help bridge the skills gap between traditional university education and the requirements of the modern workplace. OPIT’s MSc courses aim to help professionals make a greater impact on their workplace through technology.

OPIT’s courses have become popular with business leaders hoping to develop a strong technical foundation to understand technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, that are shaping their industry. But OPIT is also attracting professionals with strong technical expertise looking to engage more deeply with the strategic side of digital innovation. This is the story of one such student, Obiora Awogu.

Meet Obiora

Obiora Awogu is a cybersecurity expert from Nigeria with a wealth of credentials and experience from working in the industry for a decade. Working in a lead data security role, he was considering “what’s next” for his career. He was contemplating earning an MSc to add to his list of qualifications he did not yet have, but which could open important doors. He discussed the idea with his mentor, who recommended OPIT, where he himself was already enrolled in an MSc program.

Obiora started looking at the program as a box-checking exercise, but quickly realized that it had so much more to offer. As well as being a fully EU-accredited course that could provide new opportunities with companies around the world, he recognized that the course was designed for people like him, who were ready to go from building to leading.

OPIT’s MSc in Cybersecurity

OPIT’s MSc in Cybersecurity launched in 2024 as a fully online and flexible program ideal for busy professionals like Obiora who want to study without taking a career break.

The course integrates technical and leadership expertise, equipping students to not only implement cybersecurity solutions but also lead cybersecurity initiatives. The curriculum combines technical training with real-world applications, emphasizing hands-on experience and soft skills development alongside hard technical know-how.

The course is led by Tom Vazdar, the Area Chair for Cybersecurity at OPIT, as well as the Chief Security Officer at Erste Bank Croatia and an Advisory Board Member for EC3 European Cybercrime Center. He is representative of the type of faculty OPIT recruits, who are both great teachers and active industry professionals dealing with current challenges daily.

Experts such as Matthew Jelavic, the CEO at CIM Chartered Manager Canada and President of Strategy One Consulting; Mahynour Ahmed, Senior Cloud Security Engineer at Grant Thornton LLP; and Sylvester Kaczmarek, former Chief Scientific Officer at We Space Technologies, join him.

Course content includes:

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  • Network security and intrusion detection
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  • Cryptography and secure communications
  • Data analytics and risk management
  • Generative AI cybersecurity
  • Business resilience and response strategies
  • Behavioral cybersecurity
  • Cloud and IoT security
  • Secure software development
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving
  • Leadership and communication in cybersecurity
  • AI-driven forensic analysis in cybersecurity

As with all OPIT’s MSc courses, it wraps up with a capstone project and dissertation, which sees students apply their skills in the real world, either with their existing company or through apprenticeship programs. This not only gives students hands-on experience, but also helps them demonstrate their added value when seeking new opportunities.

Obiora’s Experience

Speaking of his experience with OPIT, Obiora said that it went above and beyond what he expected. He was not surprised by the technical content, in which he was already well-versed, but rather the change in perspective that the course gave him. It helped him move from seeing himself as someone who implements cybersecurity solutions to someone who could shape strategy at the highest levels of an organization.

OPIT’s MSc has given Obiora the skills to speak to boards, connect risk with business priorities, and build organizations that don’t just defend against cyber risks but adapt to a changing digital world. He commented that studying at OPIT did not give him answers; instead, it gave him better questions and the tools to lead. Of course, it also ticks the MSc box, and while that might not be the main reason for studying at OPIT, it is certainly a clear benefit.

Obiora has now moved into a leading Chief Information Security Officer Role at MoMo, Payment Service Bank for MTN. There, he is building cyber-resilient financial systems, contributing to public-private partnerships, and mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity experts.

Leading Cybersecurity in Africa

As well as having a significant impact within his own organization, studying at OPIT has helped Obiora develop the skills and confidence needed to become a leader in the cybersecurity industry across Africa.

In March 2025, Obiora was featured on the cover of CIO Africa Magazine and was then a panelist on the “Future of Cybersecurity Careers in the Age of Generative AI” for Comercio Ltd. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry also invited him to speak on Cybersecurity in Africa.

Obiora recently presented the keynote speech at the Hackers Secret Conference 2025 on “Code in the Shadows: Harnessing the Human-AI Partnership in Cybersecurity.” In the talk, he explored how AI is revolutionizing incident response, enhancing its speed, precision, and proactivity, and improving on human-AI collaboration.

An OPIT Success Story

Talking about Obiora’s success, the OPIT Area Chair for Cybersecurity said:

“Obiora is a perfect example of what this program was designed for – experienced professionals ready to scale their impact beyond operations. It’s been inspiring to watch him transform technical excellence into strategic leadership. Africa’s cybersecurity landscape is stronger with people like him at the helm. Bravo, Obiora!”

Learn more about OPIT’s MSc in Cybersecurity and how it can support the next steps of your career.

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How Regenerative Business Models Are Redefining Innovation and Sustainability
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Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) masterclasses bring students face-to-face with real-world business challenges. In OPIT’s July masterclass, OPIT Professor Francesco Derchi and Ph.D. candidate Robert Mario de Stefano explained the principles of regenerative businesses and how regeneration goes hand in hand with growth.

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Professor Derchi began by explaining what exactly is meant by regenerative business models, clearly differentiating them from sustainable or circular models.

Many companies pursue sustainable business models in which they offset their negative impact by investing elsewhere. For example, businesses that are big carbon consumers will support nature regeneration projects. Circular business models are similar but are more focused on their own product chain, aiming to minimize waste by keeping products in use as long as possible through recycling. Both models essentially aim to have a “net-zero” negative impact on the environment.

Regenerative models are different because they actively aim to have a “net-positive” impact on the environment, not just offsetting their own use but actively regenerating the planet.

Massive Transformative Purpose

While regenerative business models are often associated with philanthropic endeavors, Professor Derchi explained that they do not have to be, and that investment in regeneration can be a driver of growth.

He discussed the importance of corporate purpose in the modern business space. Having a strong and clearly stated corporate purpose is considered essential to drive business decision-making, encourage employee buy-in, and promote customer loyalty.

But today, simple corporate missions, such as “make good shoes,” don’t go far enough. People are looking for a Massive Transformational Purpose (MTP) that can take the business to the next level.

Take, for example, Ben & Jerry’s. The business’s initial corporate purpose may have been to make great ice cream and serve it up in a way that people will enjoy. But the business really began to grow when they embraced an MTP. As they announced in their mission statement, “We believe that ice cream can change the world.” Their business activities also have the aim of advancing human rights and dignity, supporting social and economic justice, and protecting and restoring the Earth’s natural systems. While these aims are philanthropic, they have also helped the business grow.

RePlanet

Professor Derchi next talked about RePlanet, a business he recently worked to develop their MTP. Founded in 2015, RePlanet designs and implements customized renewable energy solutions for businesses and projects. The company already operates in the renewable energy field and ranked as the 21st fastest-growing business in Italy in 2023. So while they were already enjoying great success, Derchi worked with them to see if actively embracing a regenerative business model could unlock additional growth.

Working together, RePlanet moved towards an MTP of building a greener future based on today’s choices, ensuring a cleaner world for generations. Meeting this goal started with the energy products that RePlanet sells, such as energy systems that recover heat from dairy farms. But as the business’s MTP, it goes beyond that. RePlanet doesn’t just engage suppliers; it chooses partners that share its specific values. It also influences the projects they choose to work on – they prioritize high-impact social projects, such as recently installing photovoltaic energy systems at a local hospital in Nigeria – and how RePlanet treats its talent, acknowledging that people are the true energy of the company.

Regenerative Business Strategies

Based on work with RePlanet and other businesses, Derchi has identified six archetypal regenerative business strategies for businesses that want to have both a regenerative impact and drive growth:

  • Regenerative Leadership – Laying the foundation for regeneration in a broader sense throughout the company
  • Nature Regeneration – Strategies to improve the health of the natural world
  • Social Regeneration – Regenerating human ecosystems through things such as fair-trade practices
  • Responsible Sourcing – Empowering and strengthening suppliers and their communities
  • Health & Well-being – Creating products and services that have a positive effect on customers
  • Employee Focus – Improve work conditions, lives, and well-being of employees.

Case Studies

Building on the concept of regenerative business models, Roberto Mario de Stefano shared other case studies of businesses that are having a positive impact and enjoying growth thanks to regenerative business models and strategies.

Biorfarm

Biorfarm is a digital platform that supports small-scale agriculture by creating a direct link between small farmers and consumers. Cutting out the middleman in modern supply chains means that farmers earn about 50% more for their produce. They set consumers up as “digital farmers” who actively support and learn about farming activities to promote more conscious food consumption.

Their vision is to create a food economy in which those who produce food and those who consume it are connected. This moves consumers from passive cash cows for large corporations that prioritize profits over the well-being of farmers to actively supporting natural production and a more sustainable system.

Rifo Lab

Rifo Lab is a circular clothing brand with the vision of addressing the problem of overproduction in the clothing industry. Established in Prato, Italy, a traditional textile-producing area, the company produces clothes made from textile waste and biodegradable materials. There are no physical stores, and all orders must be placed online; everything is made to order, reducing excess production.

With an eye on social regeneration, all production takes place within 30 kilometers of their offices, allowing the business to support ethical and local production. They also work with companies that actively integrate migrants into the local community, sharing their local artisan crafts with future generations.

Ogyre

Ogyre is a digital platform that allows you to pay fishermen to fish for waste. When fishermen are out conducting their livelihood, they also collect a significant amount of waste from the ocean, especially plastic waste. Ogyre arranges for fishermen to get paid for collecting that waste, which in turn supports the local fishing communities, and then transforms the waste collected into new sustainable products.

Moving Towards a Regenerative Future

The masterclass concluded with a Q&A session, where it explained that working in regenerative businesses requires the same skills as any other business. But it also requires you to embrace a mindset where value comes from giving and that growth is about working together for a better future, and not just competition.

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