Comptia Volley

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA’s latest Workforce and Learning Trends research report with Hannah Johnson, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Marketing Development at CompTIA. The group talks about the shift towards a skills-based approach in hiring, the importance of digital literacy and fluency, and how the HR tech stack is growing more complex and AI-enabled.Workforce and Learning Trends 2024: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/workforce-and-learning-trends-2024

Carolyn and Seth dive into the contrasting worlds of Enterprise and Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs). They explore the nuances of career paths, training opportunities, and purchasing behaviors across these distinct business environments. The differences between the two types of organizations highlight potential skill needs for both IT professionals, business leaders, and third party firms.

Carolyn and Seth talk with Haley Glover about CompTIA’s new research on the State of the Tech Workforce. Haley is the senior director of Upskill America, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, and she discusses the spread of tech careers far beyond the tech industry, the opportunities and challenges involved with remote work, and the wide array of tech skills that employers are looking for.State of the Tech Workforce 2024: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/state-of-the-tech-workforce

Carolyn and Seth give their impressions on the hottest topic in technology—AI. Using new research on business viewpoints and adoption, the discussion touches on the changing definition of AI and the way that organizations are likely to implement AI as part of broader solutions. Then the two talk about the challenges companies face as they accelerate their adoption and the skill gaps that need to be closed for the workforce of the future.

Carolyn and Seth talk with Bob Coppedge from Simplex IT as they continue the discussion around CompTIA's State of the Channel research study. In this episode, the group talks about the need for channel firms to assess and improve their basic business acumen. While most of the focus in channel business development is placed on vendor/distributor relationships and technology portfolio management, there is a growing demand for improved skills around topics such as finances and HR as the industry matures and grows.

Carolyn and Seth review CompTIA's latest State of the Channel research. This annual study looks at the dynamic ecosystem of the IT channel, where the changes have repercussions for both technology firms and technology professionals. Looking at this year's study, the discussion touches on the way that tech complexity is driving optimism in the tech industry and the downstream effects of building business models around services rather than products.State of the Channel 2024 (requires CompTIA member login): https://connect.comptia.org/content/2024-state-of-the-channel

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Amy Carrado, CompTIA's senior director of workforce and internal research, to talk about the latest trends among job seekers. CompTIA's latest research continues a multi-year study on attitudes and challenges of people looking for a new career. The group talks about changing perceptions of the job market, the different motivations based on industry, and the future of AI in the job hunt.Job Seeker Trends research report: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/job-seeker-trends/

Carolyn and Seth talk about the challenges facing organizations as they deal with changing generational dynamics in the workforce. Most of the attention in recent years has been on the behaviors and preferences of younger workers as they enter the workforce, but there is an equally significant shift taking place with older workers. As people are living longer and changing their expectations around aging, they are also changing their expectations around later stages of a career. Organizations need to consider how to manage and leverage these workers and their experience, and they should also consider how to think about this cohort in their customer base.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Brad Chamberlain, who teaches technology courses at Maricopa High school in Arizona and oversees a student-led business called 24PinTech. Brad discusses the current challenges and opportunities in preparing students for success in technology careers and every other career which requires some tech fluency. Building a foundation of knowledge around technology systems and cybersecurity is critical, and certifications are a must-have for students who want to pursue a career in a technology field.24PinTech website

Carolyn and Seth welcome Joe Dery from Western Governors University to talk about the evolution and importance of data management and analytics. The group talks about the changes that have taken place over the years in how companies handle data, the most important actions to take for a modern data approach, and the need to have foundational data principles before pushing forward with an AI strategy.

Carolyn and Seth talk about the business climate in 2024. Major trends like AI and cybersecurity governance will transform the landscape, but organizations will be operating inside a new environment as they make decisions on these initiatives. The possible soft landing for the economy, the complexity of digital transformation, and the challenge of building digital skills are all factors that will weigh on 2024 strategies.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the year's biggest technology stories, with many of those being among the biggest overall headlines in 2023. AI dominated technology discussions, but how is it actually changing business? Social media came under the spotlight for many reasons, and the future of the sector may be in question. After the year started with layoffs from large technology firms, technology jobs across the economy continued on a strong growth path. Other topics that get a quick look include the post-pandemic work environment, the constant drumbeat of cybersecurity incidents, and the growing focus on building and distributing technology components.

Carolyn and Seth give a preview of CompTIA's upcoming IT Industry Outlook 2024 research report. After starting with an overview of the positive sentiments shared by IT pros and IT channel firms, the discussion turns to two of the major areas covered by trends in the report. AI continues to be the biggest topic in technology, and while the hype may fade to some degree in 2024, AI will continue to drive changes to workflow. From a cybersecurity perspective, governance will get more attention as operations around cybersecurity and data management require a more rigorous approach, and the need to build skills will become more critical, especially for channel firms who may need to take a more strategic approach with their clients.

Carolyn and Seth talk with James Stanger, CompTIA's Chief Technology Evangelist, about the steps companies are taking to make IT a strategic imperative. The shift from tactical IT to strategic IT has been taking place for some time now, and there are two main issues businesses have been running into. First is Shadow IT, where business units procure their own technology. Second is Cowboy IT, where IT departments have to skip steps and incur technical debt as they scramble to meet objectives. To mitigate these issues, companies should focus on strong two-way communication, skills-based career development, and best practices for governance.

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Randy Gross, CompTIA's CISO, to take a tech-flavored tour of the upcoming holidays. The group chats about the frightening possibilities of cyberattacks on mobile devices, as that platform appears to have reached a tipping point in terms of cybercrime. Then they shift gears, highlighting AI as something to be thankful for. Even with many questions left to answer, AI is poised to be a revolution in work, opening new opportunities for IT pros and IT industry firms. Finally, they cover an item on the wish list: major progress in skills-based workforce development. While skills-based hiring has a strong foothold among major enterprises, there is more work to be done in driving adoption among SMBs and extending the practice to career development.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Chris Cochran, Cofounder of Hacker Valley Media and Advisory CISO at Huntress, to discuss some real-world cybersecurity issues. The group talks about the biggest challenges in cybersecurity, especially for small businesses trying to change their mindset. They also touch on the demand for cybersecurity skills and the implications of AI for cybersecurity strategies.

Carolyn and Seth review the highlights from CompTIA's State of Cybersecurity 2024 research report. As companies are taking a more strategic view of technology, they are also taking a more strategic view of cybersecurity. This means adopting a risk management approach to define cybersecurity initiatives and building cybersecurity processes that drive decisions throughout the organization. At a tactical level, there is a greater focus than ever before on skills, and firms are building their talent pipeline with early-career professionals. Of course, AI is the main topic at the product level. The cybersecurity toolbox continues to have a wide array of choices for managing different aspects of cybersecurity, and AI is poised to impact all of them as it drives a higher degree of automation.State of Cybersecurity 2024: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/cybersecurity-trends-research

Carolyn and Seth talk with Teresa Sears, CompTIA's VP of Product Management, about the upcoming Xpert Series certifications. Companies of all sizes and industries are increasing their demand for technical expertise, including the highest level of specialists. These experts in infrastructure, data and cybersecurity create long-term strategic plans that align with business objectives and oversee implementation. The group talks about the typical progression of technology careers and the skills that can be validated with certifications.Learn more: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/xpert-series

Carolyn and Seth talk about key items that should be considered by anyone thinking about starting up a tech services business. The environment has changed dramatically over the past 20 years, and alongside the specific technology services to be offered, there are four critical components to getting started in the tech space. Business functions such as finance, HR and legal must be integrated into planning beyond the bare minimum requirements. Marketing strategy will help establish an identity and build a plan for reaching customers across multiple channels. Alliances throughout the technology ecosystem will help offerings be more robust. And cybersecurity is a topic that every firm must be fluent in whether they are offering cybersecurity services or something different.

Carolyn and Seth step into the time machine to explore a nearly-forgotten buzzword: SoCloMo. The concept--combining Social, Cloud, and Mobile--may not have lasted long, but it represented a possible inflection point for IT. Many believed that these three trends would usher in an era of consumerization of IT, where line-of-business employees would be driving technology procurement and utility. That hasn't quite happened. While technology discussions today are much more collaborative, IT is still in the driver's seat when it comes to produces a secure enterprise architecture. Each of the three trends individually has had some degree of impact, though often not in the way people were predicting ten years ago.