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Alumni story

Briar Prestidge

28 February 2025

BSLP(Hons) 2014
CEO of Prestidge Group, producer, entrepreneur and futurist

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What memories do you have from your time at UC?

Student life at UC had this beautiful, organic way of creating connections – we all lived in nearby flats, and there was this wonderful spontaneity to our friendships. You'd walk downstairs and find your friends just hanging out in the lounge, or everyone would naturally gravitate to a friend’s house for impromptu gatherings. Looking back, it was this sense of community that UC fostered and supported us with that helped us through the Canterbury earthquakes we experienced in 2011. This challenging period taught me something invaluable about human resilience and the power of being there for one another – lessons that continue to shape how I approach life and business today.

What advice would you give to recent grads looking to move overseas?

The reality about moving overseas is that you're never going to feel completely ready. This is something I learned firsthand coming from New Zealand, where the small-town mentality often makes people question why you'd want to leave at all.

Don't wait for some grand sign telling you it's the perfect time – that moment doesn't exist. Instead, have the courage to pack a single suitcase and just go for it. Some of the best decisions in my life came from taking that leap before I felt "ready." When I first moved abroad, starting in Australia before moving to New York, London and Dubai, I worked as a waitress while figuring things out, and that was perfectly fine. When I started my first business, I didn’t know where my first paycheque would come from and I moved into a tiny windowless room that barely fit my bed and ate pasta and frozen veggies for a while.

My advice is simple: put one foot in front of the other. Don't let the uncertainty of the future paralyze you. Be willing to start small, be open to unexpected opportunities, and trust that you'll figure things out along the way. The world has so much to offer, but you have to be brave enough to step out of your comfort zone to experience it.

The people who tell you it's too risky or question your decision to leave – they're often speaking from their own fears and limitations. Your journey is yours alone, and sometimes the best thing you can do is tune out the noise and trust your instincts.

Looking back, leaving my hometown was one of the best decisions I ever made. Today, I run global offices in Dubai, New York, and London through several ventures: our executive branding and PR agency, Prestidge Group; our production house, Digital Twiin Productions (which specialises in podcasts and reality TV for CEOs); tech-fashion house OLTAIR, where I design digital fashion for avatars and operate a futuristic shopping mall on Roblox; and I also produce documentaries about the future. But it all started with that first step of packing a suitcase and having the courage to go. I figured it out along the way.

After the success of 48 Hours in the Metaverse, what was your inspiration behind your upcoming 2025 documentary Cyborg To Be?

The inspiration behind my upcoming indie documentary Cyborg To Be comes from my deep-seated passion for reigniting excitement for the future within younger generations. After creating 48 Hours in the Metaverse, I noticed something concerning – many young people view technological advancement with anxiety rather than anticipation. I believe strongly that with change comes opportunity.

We're living through the most rapid technological transformation in human history. Young people today will witness and shape changes that previous generations could only dream about. Cyborg To Be explores how we're using technology to become better, faster, and stronger. But more importantly, it aims to transform the narrative around technological change. Instead of feeding into techno-anxiety, we need to help younger generations see the unprecedented opportunities ahead. Every technological revolution throughout history has created new possibilities, new careers, and new ways of thinking about what we can achieve.

The documentary asks questions that I believe will define our future: How will we adapt as we merge with machines? What does it mean to be human in an age of artificial intelligence? These aren't just theoretical questions anymore – they're challenges we need to address as we stand on the brink of what could be the most significant transformation in human history.

I'm so passionate about bringing these conversations to a broader audience. We need to be having these discussions now, while we still have the opportunity to shape how these technologies develop and integrate into our lives.

How do you navigate these quick technological changes, and what excites you most about these future developments?

I believe we have two choices: embrace change or fear the future. Throughout history, every major technological advancement has been met with both excitement and trepidation. What excites me most is how these developments could fundamentally enhance the human experience.

We're entering what I call 'The Era of Intelligence,' where the convergence of AI, biotechnology, and human augmentation is creating unprecedented possibilities. From brain-computer interfaces helping people like Noland Arbaugh regain mobility to the potential of extending human healthspan — these are opportunities to solve some of humanity's most pressing challenges.

The key to navigating these changes is maintaining an open mind while asking the right questions. It's not about blindly embracing every new technology, but rather understanding how we can harness these innovations to create a better future for everyone. This is why I'm particularly passionate about democratizing access to these technologies and ensuring their development is guided by ethical considerations.

Through my documentary series 'Cyborg To Be' and my podcast HYPERSCALE, I've had the privilege of interviewing numerous experts and pioneers in these fi elds. What I've learned is that the future isn't something that happens to us—it's something we actively shape through our choices and actions today.

What are you excited about for the upcoming year?

2025 is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting year of growth and innovation across several fronts. At Prestidge Group, we're seeing executive branding evolve from a "nice-to-have" into an essential part of corporate strategy, with more companies recognizing its value in this rapidly changing digital landscape and writing it into their corporate budgets.

I'm particularly thrilled about the launch of Cyborg To Be, my documentary series exploring the future of human-technology integration.

OLTAIR, our tech-fashion label, continues to push boundaries in the digital fashion space. Under Digital Twiin Productions, we're developing innovative reality TV initiatives that blend emerging technology with creative storytelling. This convergence of entertainment and technology is opening up exciting new possibilities for how we tell stories and connect with audiences.

What excites me most is how all these ventures interconnect – they're different expressions of the same vision: shaping a future where technology enhances rather than replaces human potential. Whether it's through personal branding, digital fashion, or documentary storytelling, we're working to make these technological advances more accessible and understandable to everyone.

You are the epitome of a multi-hyphenate - how do you manage to fit all of this into a working week?

It all comes down to intentional living and creating systems that work for you. I start my days early. Working across different time zones with offices in Dubai, New York, and London has actually helped me structure my time more effectively.

The key isn't about doing more—it's about doing what matters most. I've learned to prioritize activities that align with my larger vision of shaping the future, whether that's through executive branding at Prestidge Group, exploring emerging technologies through my documentary work, or mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

I also believe in the power of having an incredible team. I'm fortunate to work with talented individuals from 16 different nationalities who bring diverse perspectives to everything we do. This allows me to focus on strategic initiatives while knowing the day-to-day operations are in capable hands.

Most importantly, I make time for activities that keep me energized and creative—like my evening drumming sessions or working out. These activities help me maintain the energy needed to pursue multiple ventures effectively.

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