⬆ Level Up 2026 | Badge of the Month | January 2026

In 2026, my main learning focus is building real-world AI agents for the XM and survey ecosystem, especially for Qualtrics. After spending many years working with survey platforms, I saw how much time is lost on manual work like survey conversion, logic, skip logic, and survey flow setup, so I decided to quit my job and work on this full time. I’m now building Pirai AI to create agents that automate these tasks so teams can focus more on insights instead of setup.

This year I’m learning how to build reliable, production-ready AI agents, turn natural language into real actions inside Qualtrics, and grow not just as a technologist but also as a product builder. It’s challenging, but it’s been the most exciting learning journey of my career so far, and I’m looking forward to learning alongside the XM community.

My goal for 2026 would be to be able to slow down a bit! Things are always moving extremely fast so I’d like to try to focus on one thing at a time and slow the pace down a bit. I guess it’s a kind of learning i have to take care of. 

Love reading all your goals!

On a personal level, I love exercising but am realizing my recovery is lacking so hoping to prioritize sleep (8 hours) and perhaps even do a Hyrox. Professionally, I want to network more and continue improving our community programs!

Happy New Year everybody, 

Education is always a good goal :) . For 2026 I want to get more education on the Lifecycle projects and also the 360 Projects. So, the Basecamp for now are my baby steps, for the next 1 to 2 months, and then as we start these projects, I am thinking of further educations. 

On a personal level, I am thinking to refresh my skiing, but taking it slowly and hoping for snow :) 

You goal sounds amazing! We could use this AI for skip logic :) 

​@Livia B Happy New Year! I agree that education is always a good goal to set every year. I think Basecamp is a great first step for you to set yourself on that learning path!

I wish you the best in skiing, because I for one can’t ski for the life of me haha. I know pizza and french fry but that’s all. 😅

​@AlexandreLeduc This is such a valid goal! I feel like I’m always speeding with my time whether walking fast from place to place or rushing in general. I will definitely accompany you on this one, I need to take a few more moments to breathe and take in the present before hurrying on to the next part of the day! 🙂

​@arunxmarchitect I applaud you for taking that leap of faith and building something you are interested and proud of! I look forward to seeing updates and having you learn and teach in the Experience Community!! 🤗

Happy Tuesday everyone! There’s a lot of goals I have for myself this year both professionally and personally. 🙂

Professionally, I want to improve my project management skills and expand my video editing and production abilities. I find video editing both fun and rewarding and truly believe it can help me create better content for the community!

Personally, I want to be more intentional with my time, take more pictures, and get better at some of my hobbies! These hobbies include basketball, ping pong, running, and general strength training. Since I’ve also moved away from friends and family, I want to prioritize making time to reach out to them and continue nurturing those relationships. 😄

In 2026, I’m intentionally leaning into travel as a creative pursuit and learning journey. I’m challenging myself to travel more—exploring new cultures, places, and ways of seeing the world—while becoming more present, curious, and adaptable. Each trip is an opportunity to learn beyond books or courses, building perspective, empathy, and inspiration that I bring back into both my personal and professional life.

2026 Goals for myself:

Work - all things Qualtrics being an Admin. Training and socializing our new program with our front line teams engaging them.  I am excited to see the results, trends and insights that we gain from our 3 surveys that we’ve launched for this year. Excited to attend my 3rd X4 in March - even more exciting now that we just launched with Qualtrics surveys to our homeowners.

Family - Excited to see where the next chapter takes our daughter who graduates in June 2026 with a Bachelors in Forensics and Psychology as she navigates and plans her next steps for year 5 - likely in Pathology. I will always be her biggest fan and encourager (Dad too)

Be the best version of me and to never stop learning.

Great goals! I am a huge photo taker - especially Nature pics.

A parent tip that worked with our daughter at that age through Covid days. Go for drives together, let her play her playlist on the radio and great conversations happen - without eye contact!  Worked for me and she is now 21 and still likes the farm drives when at home.  Toss in a treat - ice-cream or latte’ stop while out.  Enjoy the ride.  P.S. I am extrovert and she is introverted

Love these goals! We’d love to meet you in person at the community space at X4! Stay tuned for more info 😀

Professionally, I want to focus more on networking and am off to a decent start with a conference.

Personally, I want to make running a part of my daily routine (expecting a decent 80% strike rate on this).

I am trying to learn writing from my non dominant hand & also learning to read and write my Mother Tongue [Malayalam].

In 2026, I plan to continue my AI learning journey that began in 2025 🤖📚, deepening my skills through consistent practice and real-world application 🚀.

Alongside this, I’m also focusing on my spiritual growth by exploring Jainism ☸️ and adopting small daily practices rooted in mindfulness 🌱 and self-discipline ✨.

I am planning to learn Dutch and also grow more in EX space.

One of the main goals I fixed myself in the last year was to nourish meaningful relationships with my children. I found out that a big part of that is simply to accompany them in their passions and help them to learn what they love.

At the same time, I’ve realized how important it is not to take up all the space in the process. My role is to support and encourage, not to direct or pressure. I want my presence to be a source of motivation and confidence, not a constraint. Each of my three kids sees the world differently, and that means I need to meet each of them where they are. So far it’s been learning chess, manga drawing and dusting off my roller hockey skills. It’s a beautiful challenge to grow alongside them, discovering new interests together while letting them take the lead.

Those are great goals. 

I feel like your statement about not taking up too much space really resonates with me. It took me a long time to develop the emotional intelligence to get where I am with my kids, but I am glad I finally did get there. 

I maintain with my kids that it is not my job to define their happiness, only enable it in as much as I can. I don’t get to decide what a succesful or fulfilling life looks like for them; that is something they decide for themselves.This was intially a struggle for me as a parent when they and I were younger, as I felt I KNEW what would make them successful, but after butting heads with my older kids for some time, I realized that they, and only they, can define what that looks like, and I am better off letting them explore that journey on their own, with my resources support only if they need it. It took me a long time to develop the emotional intelligence to get there, but I am glad I finally did. 

As we step into 2026, I’m motivated to focus on personal and professional development, with the goal of continuously improving my capabilities.

In the year ahead, I plan to expand my knowledge of Employee Experience surveys and employee engagement, complementing my strong foundation in Customer Experience.

In 2026, I’m focused on deepening my skills in advanced analytics and data storytelling, along with earning additional Qualtrics certifications—expanding from BX into CX. I’m also building a consistent learning habit and pushing myself to share insights more confidently. Looking forward to growing together 🚀