Corrina McCann: Unlocking the Secrets to Achievement

Corrina is a remarkable entrepreneur and content specialist who has been shaking up the industry for over a decade. With her expertise in virtual reality and augmented reality production, she has redefined the art of storytelling for businesses. Corrina’s passion for innovation has led her to establish a creative business that offers pioneering services, challenges conventional norms, and empowers brands through engaging content and video production. Furthermore, her dedication to female empowerment and positive change has made her a true game-changer within the tech sector. We are delighted to have Corrina here today to share her insights and experiences with us.

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Can you tell us about your journey as an entrepreneur and content specialist? What inspired you to enter the industry, and how has your path unfolded over the past 10 years?

As an individual, I have always been inspired by my mother’s entrepreneurial and competitive mindset. I find the start-up environment to be extremely appealing, especially because it aligns with my creative nature. Content creation is a dynamic field that requires you to be constantly aware of the latest trends. The industry never slows down, and you must not only continuously strive to remain ahead of the curve, but you’ve got to want to stay there too.

Presently, London has emerged as the world’s leading tech capital, which is an exciting sector to be involved in. Although being a woman in this industry presents challenges, it also offers significant rewards. By networking with other professionals, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most innovative brands globally as well as meet incredibly intriguing individuals.

Virtual reality and augmented reality production are relatively new concepts in the business world. How did you identify the potential of these technologies early on, and what drove you to specialize in this field?

It was 10 years ago that I identified the potential of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies. Driven by my interest in bringing health and wellbeing to a broader audience, combined with my exposure to various hospitality and travel brands during my time running a lifestyle magazine, sparked my curiosity and led me and my co-founders to create a VR platform where people could have experiences beyond their wildest imagination. Imagine it: one day you’re meditating in the Himalayas, the next you’re doing yoga on a beach in Bali.

Soon after its launch, some of the most prominent names in travel began reaching out to us, and being one of the first female-led VR companies worldwide and the first in the UK was a really exciting time. Now, we specialise in all forms of immersive content.

Could you elaborate on the ways in which virtual reality and augmented reality have revolutionized storytelling for businesses? What unique advantages do these technologies offer compared to traditional methods?

Virtual reality and augmented reality are powerful tools that offer so many benefits for storytelling. With VR, you can create fully realized 360-degree environments that transport the viewer to the heart of the experience. This technology has so many applications that it would be impossible to list them all here. But to provide some context, it is possibly more widely known for its applications in travel, hospitality, education, journalism, and even healthcare. 

For instance, we’ve collaborated with one of the top ophthalmologists in the world to film them performing different surgical techniques, which was then used to train surgeons in third-world countries.

Journalists might use VR to place viewers in the middle of conflict zones or disaster areas, providing them with a more visceral understanding of events. Similarly, VR is a potent tool for raising awareness about sustainability and climate change by immersing users in real-world situations like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, for example.

AR, on the other hand, offers a creative way to merge digital information with the real world, thereby opening up new avenues for storytelling. At Infinite Studios, we have partnered with tourist boards to direct people through their smartphones to attractions, hotspots, and landmarks. 

We’re constantly exploring new ways to harness the potential of VR and AR across different industries, from product visualisation to marketing campaigns, virtual try-ons, and in-store experiences. The possibilities truly are limitless; like we say at Infinite Studios, your only limitation is your imagination.

Your creative business is known for its forward-thinking approach and pioneering services. Can you give us some examples of projects where you have pushed the boundaries and delivered exceptional results for your clients?

One example that springs to mind is our collaboration with Morgan Stanley and the WSJ on the Capital Creates Change project. We produced a thought-provoking virtual reality experience that showcased Kiribati, an island nation comprising 33 coral atolls across 1.3 million square miles in the Pacific Ocean. The production highlighted Kiribati’s struggle with the effects of global climate change while also showcasing the resilience of its people, who are fighting to preserve their culture.

Through this immersive 360° experience, viewers are able to take a close and personal tour of an island that most would never have the opportunity to visit. So again, by leveraging VR technology, we aim to create a more impactful and emotive experience, which in this case was all about driving home the very real threats of climate change.

Female empowerment and positive change are central to your mission. How do you incorporate these values into your work, and what impact do you hope to have on the tech sector and beyond?

Through my work, I am deeply committed to promoting female empowerment and positive change. In terms of our projects, we prioritise working with companies and organisations that share our values of promoting diversity, inclusion, and positive change. For example, we collaborated with Nykani Camps and Lodges, co-founded by individuals committed to fighting poverty through education in Tanzania. We captured their efforts through 360-degree film and photography and showcased the power of community-driven initiatives to transform lives.

It is my hope to inspire other companies and organisations to create positive change in their communities. Ultimately, we want to create a more equitable and just world for all, where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed and thrive.

As an entrepreneur, what are some of the challenges you’ve faced in building and growing your business? How have you overcome them, and what lessons have you learned along the way?

This goes hand-in-hand with my last answer. A decade ago, we faced significant resistance when we launched our female-led company. We had to work tirelessly to prove ourselves, but it’s been incredibly worth it, and I have been afforded some truly incredible opportunities and have seen and done extraordinary things. 

However, despite our success, we still face challenges. Some major networks and production houses fail to recognise the value of female-led content, which is why so many women are out there doing it for themselves. Women in production and creative spaces forge ahead and believe in the content we produce.

While it’s essential for women to empower other women, it’s equally crucial, if not more so, for men to endorse and advocate for women in this field if we want to see genuine and long-lasting change.

Looking ahead, what trends and advancements do you anticipate in the virtual reality and augmented reality industry? How do you plan to stay at the forefront of these developments and continue to offer innovative solutions to your clients?

Looking to the future, I believe that virtual reality and augmented reality technologies will continue to evolve and become more advanced. We anticipate that there will be advancements in hardware such as headsets, as in Apple’s latest launch, allowing for more immersive experiences. Additionally, we expect to see more sophisticated software that can generate lifelike scenes and environments.

In terms of specific trends, I think there will be an increase in the use of VR and AR in education and training as companies and organisations recognise the benefits of these technologies for learning and development, remote work, and virtual conferences. COVID changed a lot in terms of the way we can and choose to work, and we have had multiple discussions with organisations that want to utilise this technology to retain, attract, and stay connected to their people.

Infinite Studios has been using VR and AR technologies in the travel industry for several years now, and what benefits have you seen from implementing these technologies, and what do you see as the future trends in this space?

One of the biggest advantages has been the ability to offer virtual tours of hotels, resorts, and other accommodations. This has allowed travellers and potential guests to get a better sense of what a property or destination has to offer before they book their stay. Try before you buy, if you will. Combined with AR for wayfinding purposes, it has helped to streamline the travel experience, reducing stress and improving overall satisfaction. 

For example, in May this year, Greece’s tourism minister announced a new initiative to make a total of 287 beaches across the islands fully accessible to people with mobility problems, 220 of which will be ready for summer. If you have mobility challenges, imagine putting on a headset and being able to see and experience what access would be like to any number of those beaches. Wouldn’t that peace of mind be something?

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or individuals interested in entering the tech and content production industry? Are there any key skills or strategies they should focus on developing?

My advice is five-fold:

Stay curious and open-minded: Technology is rapidly evolving, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations is essential to remaining competitive. Keep an open mind and be willing to learn new things.

Focus on storytelling: Technology and content production go hand-in-hand, and being able to tell compelling stories is essential to creating engaging content. Focus on developing your storytelling skills, whether it’s through writing, video production, or other mediums.

Embrace collaboration: The tech industry is built on collaboration and teamwork. Be open to working with others and building relationships with peers, mentors, and other industry professionals.

Stay adaptable: The tech industry moves quickly, and being able to adapt to change is critical. Be flexible and willing to pivot your strategy when necessary.

Network and build relationships: Building relationships with other professionals in the industry can help you learn about new opportunities and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments.

Lastly, what are your future goals and aspirations for your business? How do you envision your impact evolving in the coming years?

It is my hope that Infinite Studios will continue to make a positive impact. We are committed to championing equality and equity as we work towards achieving long-term and enduring change.

As always, we will remain dedicated to embracing technology and digital innovation with a focus on providing our clients with personalised and captivating experiences. This could be anything from utilising machine learning and other AI-driven technologies to refine marketing strategies to using VR and AR to create next-level immersive and interactive experiences. 

Whatever comes, our goal is to have our finger firmly on the pulse.