Summary

Palmer Luckey: As the founder of Oculus VR, Luckey’s invention of the Oculus Rift kickstarted the modern VR revolution. He remains an influential voice, especially with his insights into VR hardware developments. John Carmack: The CTO of Oculus VR (though he stepped down from the…

Key Takeaway

• Palmer Luckey: As the founder of Oculus VR, Luckey’s invention of the Oculus Rift kickstarted the modern VR revolution.
• He remains an influential voice, especially with his insights into VR hardware developments.
• John Carmack: The CTO of Oculus VR (though he stepped down from the full-time role), Carmack’s influence extends from his days in the gaming industry.
• His technical expertise in VR’s nuances and optimization is unparalleled.
• Brenda Laurel: A pioneer in the intersection of VR and gender, Laurel has been exploring VR since the 1980s.

Body

Palmer Luckey: As the founder of Oculus VR, Luckey’s invention of the Oculus Rift kickstarted the modern VR revolution. He remains an influential voice, especially with his insights into VR hardware developments. John Carmack: The CTO of Oculus VR (though he stepped down from the full-time role), Carmack’s influence extends from his days in the gaming industry. His technical expertise in VR’s nuances and optimization is unparalleled. Brenda Laurel: A pioneer in the intersection of VR and gender, Laurel has been exploring VR since the 1980s. Her work includes the ground-breaking Placeholder VR project at VPL Research and writings on VR and human-computer interaction. Nonny de la Peña: Often dubbed the “Godmother of VR,” she is the CEO of Emblematic Group. De la Peña’s work in immersive journalism sets the stage for how news and real-life stories can be experienced through VR. Michael Abrash: As the Chief Scientist at Oculus, Abrash’s in-depth discussions on VR’s technical challenges and potential solutions are insightful. He’s known for his work on VR’s future, including optics, graphics, and tracking. Kent Bye: The voice behind the “Voices of VR” podcast, Bye offers an extensive range of interviews with VR professionals, exploring topics from design principles to philosophical implications of VR. Jeremy Bailenson: Founding director of Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Bailenson’s research delves into the psychological impact of VR. His book, “Experience on Demand,” provides a deep dive into VR’s potential and consequences. Jesse Schell: CEO of Schell Games and a professor at Carnegie Mellon, Schell’s insights into VR game design and interactive storytelling are influential. He’s recognized for his forward-thinking views on where VR gaming is headed. Tipatat Chennavasin: As a co-founder of The Venture Reality Fund, Chennavasin invests in VR’s future. He’s got an eagle-eye view on emerging VR trends, technologies, and startups, making him a must-follow for industry enthusiasts. Maria Korolov: As the editor and publisher of Hypergrid Business, Korolov frequently writes about enterprise applications of VR. Her work provides valuable insights into how businesses are leveraging VR for training, collaboration, and more.

Final Takeaway

Decide what matters, execute in short cycles, and make progress visible every week—so you enter 2026 with momentum.

About Ian Khan – Keynote Speaker & The Futurist

Ian Khan, the Futurist, is a USA Today & Publishers Weekly National Bestselling Author of Undisrupted, Thinkers50 Future Readiness shortlist, and a Keynote Speaker. He is Futurist Keynote Speaker and a media personality focused on future-ready leadership, AI productivity and ethics, and purpose-driven growth. Ian hosts The Futurist on Amazon Prime Video, and founded Impact Story (K-12 Robotics & AI). He is frequently featured on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, and Fast Company.

Mini FAQ: About Ian Khan