An Emmy awarded to a Scottish inventor almost 140 years after his death, arrived to his home town of Kirkintilloch this week. Alexander Bain, who died in 1877, was given the unique honour for his pioneering work in the transmission of images. 
 
The Emmy, the first of its type to be given posthumously has caused great interest and resulted in a deeper understanding of how much of today's technological revolution had its roots in Bain’s ingenuity and dedication. 
 
Bain's invention is said to be one of the fundamental principles of television and could be viewed as a precursor for many of our technologies which we take for granted today.
 
During his lifetime, Bain's achievements included the invention of the electric clock but he is perhaps best known as the inventor of the fax machine, which he patented in 1843.
 
The invention, which came 33 years before the patent was given for the telephone, contained the fundamentals of what would become television.
 
Critically, it was the first time an image had been scanned from one location to another, paving the way for today's internet world.
 
This week I have had several speaking engagements delivering a series of CCA research results about digital transformation. A key issue identified is that of an organisation's ability to think like a new entrant, unencumbered by legacy and 'clutter'. Received wisdom is that the Googles and Ubers of the world are to be admired and emulated and that we are entering a new 4th industrial revolution where only those newbies will survive.
 
Perhaps one of the lessons to be learned is that progress can be cumulative; what's vital is that we learn to recognise what serves our brand well, and quickly identify and eliminate the lag factors. This doesn't mean that traditional values need to be dispensed with, but rather that we learn to preserve what is unique to our organisation be it physical product prowess, ethical values, a reputation for fairness, employee and customer engagement, community support, in other words our values. Strong leadership is then paramount to translate these to thrive in a digital world.  
 
Fortunately emerging leaders in customer experience won't have to wait 140 years to be recognised for their dedication and efforts. This year, CCA has revamped the awards programme to ensure that we recognise those leaders of the future. Nominated by boards these rising stars will be those who are making a discernible difference to their organisation during transition periods. Contact Sharon for more information on the Emerging Leader Award - CCA Industry Council Supporting Business Transformation. 
 
The full programme will be launched on 18th February in London and there is growing excitement about the opportunity to shine, not just in our industry but become recognised in the wider enterprise. (View the agenda and book your space).