CompTIA Volley

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.