CompTIA Volley

Carolyn and Seth talk about AI with Mechie Nkengala, CEO and Chief Data Scientist at Data Products LLC and Vice Chair of CompTIA's AI Advisory Council. The group starts with some thoughts on the hype surrounding ChatGPT and other large language model tools, then dives into a broader discussion about AI. The best way to think about AI is as an enabling technology that can drive strategic goals, and it's important to recognize that good AI output means good data input. As for the lie, the headlines around AI wiping out all the jobs aren't in line with historical trends around technology innovation. There will be disruption, but AI is more likely to create jobs that use new skills to do new things.The Career Spotlight segment features Joseph Marchis, who found a career in technology after struggling with a traditional education pathway.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the complex landscape of technology careers. With so much recent focus on layoffs in the tech sector, there have been questions about the demand for tech workers. CompTIA's research shows that demand continues to be very strong across a wide range of industries, making technology jobs a promising choice for starting or switching careers. There are different types of individuals considering a tech career journey, from career-intent to tech-intent to those already in a technology role, and a career progression has three stages. First, education around the fundamental fields in technology careers. Second, building the necessary skills to take an initial role. Finally, ongoing breadth and depth of skills in order to reach more advanced positions.We are also launching a new segment for Volley. Career Spotlight features individuals working in technology, focusing on specific aspects of the career journey. The first Career Spotlight features Eduardo Gijon, who moved into a cybersecurity role after leaving the military. Check out comptia.org for much more on industry profiles and career resources.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at online marketplaces, which have changed how technology is procured and implemented, and the platforms used for these marketplaces, which offer companies ease of building while potentially creating lock-in. Online marketplaces are built to reduce friction for the end user, whether that is a client of a technology services provider or an employee within an organization. But building these marketplaces is a complicated task, especially when e-commerce is involved. Using a platform can allow the marketplace to be built quickly with a rich set of features, but it also creates a dependency on the platform provider that can become inefficient over time.

Carolyn and Seth wrap up the 2-part series on the changes in the technology industry by looking at the last 2 factors that shaped technology over the past 15 years. First, the evolution of the internet has driven digital strategy, and recent stumbles in the Web3 space raise questions about the exact use of digital ledger technology and the actual potential for decentralized networks. Beyond that, the concepts of Web 2.0, which were assumed to be relatively solid, are also being re-examined as companies struggle with ad-supported models and content moderation. The second major factor is perhaps the biggest question of all--what problems are left for technology to solve? Most of the low-hanging fruit has been claimed, and innovation will increasingly come from the intersections of technology and other fields, demanding multi-disciplinary expertise.

Carolyn and Seth kick off the new year with a 2-part series looking at the evolution of the technology industry over the past 15 years and the new paradigm for the industry heading into the future. There are four major drivers that shaped technology from 2007 to 2022. This episode looks at the first two: the growth of technology into a major industry that demands regulatory attention and social scrutiny, and the historic financial scenario where incredibly cheap capital allowed a higher degree of speculation on business ventures.

Carolyn and Seth take a look back at 2022, talking about the biggest stories and the impact on the technology industry. Technology was not the most important part of the year's top stories--the war in Ukraine and skyrocketing recession had critical humanitarian and societal concerns. The tech industry still had to still with ripple effects, though, such as supply chain disruption and the reality of higher interest rates. In addition, technology had a few stories of its own, including the crash of crypto, the reckoning of social media, and the difficulties of large-scale mergers.

Carolyn and Seth welcome CompTIA CEO Todd Thibodeaux to talk about the new concerns businesses have heading into 2023. CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2023 predicts that business as usual will get a reality check, and Todd walks through the many hurdles businesses face that will prevent them from simply returning to pre-pandemic operations. The threat of recession, the challenges of managing remote workers, and the importance of technology adoption are all factors that will shape business strategies in the future.

Carolyn and Seth go over the highlights from CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2023, the annual report looking at the major trends for the year ahead. Companies are recognizing that business as usual means something different now, as workforce dynamics and economic uncertainty drive new behaviors. The metaverse will likely not be restricted to VR, but will define a new way of providing holistic digital experiences. IT channel firms will continue exploring business model changes, including both the shift to services and a shift toward becoming a strategic business consultant. Finally, IT pros will leverage a wide variety of training options to build skills, finding new opportunities to assist with digital transformation efforts.IT Industry Outlook 2023: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/it-industry-trends-analysis

Carolyn and Seth welcome CompTIA CISO Randy Gross back to the show for the annual holiday episode. As always, the group talks about one thing in technology that is frightening (the failure to anticipate consequences of scaling), one thing they are thankful for (the open nature of technology professionals), and one thing on the wishlist (economic stability supported by tech innovation).

Carolyn and Seth talk with James Rocker, CEO of Nerds That Care, about his experiences implementing cybersecurity for clients. James talks about the need for education, especially as zero trust becomes an overarching framework for cybersecurity posture. The group also discusses the need to include business executives in cybersecurity discussions and the "onion approach" to cybersecurity architecture using a wide array of different tools.

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest State of Cybersecurity research. Although organizations often say that cybersecurity is a high priority, there hasn't been much progress in sentiment around internal cybersecurity efforts. At a high level, companies need to build a policy of integrating cybersecurity with business objectives. With this mindset in place, companies can begin implementing process steps in line with a zero trust framework, such as multifactor authentication or network microsegmentation. One of the most crtiical steps in a cybersecurity posture is the people, with all parts of an organization participating in the cybersecurity chain and technical specialists focused on skills such as threat knowledge, network security and data analysis.State of Cybersecurity landing page: https://insights.comptia.org/2022-state-of-cybersecurity-it-pro/p/1State of Cybersecurity main report: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/cybersecurity-trends-research

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest research on international trends in tech adoption and skills building, with the help of the author's study, CompTIA's Amy Carrado, and someone with first-hand experience, CompTIA's Loraine Vorster. The discussion touches on the importance of technology to strategic objectives, the surprising lack of process in assessing skills, and the benefits of upskilling existing workers.Business Technology Adoption and Skills Trends report: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/2022-international-business-technology-adoption-and-skills-trends/

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's new research exploring technology attitudes and adoption among small and mid-sized businesses. Even with the current economic uncertainty, the research shows that SMBs feel fairly optimistic. Goals for technology have shifted from immediate tactical needs to long-term strategic objectives, and businesses are exploring many new paths for procurement. Technology partners that have traditionally led with products should shift more toward services such as consulting and integration.

Carolyn and Seth talk with Corey Simpson, COO of International Legal Technology Association, about trends in automation. Corey covers the need to approach automation from a cost/benefit perspective and how automation is part of an overall operational approach rather than a standalone goal. The group then talks about challenges in automation and how companies can avoid pitfalls as they use automation to handle growing complexity.

Carolyn and Seth look at four topics that used to make major headlines but have faded in the public eye. First, they discuss how computing power gets less focus, since most people and companies have plenty of power for their needs and have turned to software and services. Then, they look at unified communications, which showed how adoption can be more about user behavior than technical solution. Next, they cover BYOD, which is certainly present in most companies, but usually as an option rather than a primary approach. Finally, they talk about the software wars, where debate over winning languages faded as multiple languages have emerged for multiple purposes.

Carolyn and Seth wrap up the series on partner experience, looking at the issue from the perspective of vendors and distributors. While a large part of partner experience remains focusing on the basics like tech support and financial compensation, there is a greater focus on ease of business and elevating partner success. Topics like communication and training are new initiatives that vendors are exploring, and this often means growing the skill set of the channel enablement team or partnering in new ways with distributors.

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's new research around the topic of partner experience. With IT solution providers beginning to focus more on their own brand and the services they provide to clients, they are also focusing more on the overall experience of working with a vendor beyond product delivery and support. This episode examines the question from the partner angle--what areas are most important to them? While technical support still ranks as a top concern, partners are also looking to vendors for training beyond specific products, in areas such as marketing or business operations.Partner perspective research brief: https://connect.comptia.org/content/research/partner-experience-trends-2022-research-brief

Carolyn and Seth welcome Rob Rae, SVP of Business Development at Datto, to discuss the state of mergers and acquisitions in the IT industry. Rob talks about the ways that customer demand and economics are driving M&A, then covers the need within the industry to better understand the mechanics of buying a company or being bought along with the cultural considerations after two companies have merged.Learn more at DattoCon September 11-13: https://www.dattocon.com/

Carolyn and Seth welcome two guests to talk about CompTIA's summer events, which are happening live for the first time in three years. First, CompTIA's VP of B2B Marketing Liz Wannemacher shares details on Partner Summit, which hosts academic partners, training partners, and employers to discuss the latest trends in IT training and skill development. Then CompTIA's Chief Community Officer MJ Shoer gives a preview of ChannelCon, which welcomes companies from all parts of the technology landscape to network and learn about industry trends. Both events are in Chicago during the first week of August, and there will be many opportunities to plug in to all the content.Partner Summit: https://connect.comptia.org/partnersummitChannelCon: https://connect.comptia.org/channelcon

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's data around blockchain, including some general thoughts on emerging technology adoption. With so many new technologies on the market and such a high degree of digital operations already in place, companies need a well-defined approach to evaluating emerging trends and implementing technology to solve business problems. Many companies are in the early stages of this activity, and that shows up in optimistic viewpoints on blockchain knowledge and a shortage of killer use cases. Blockchain is a protocol-level technology that may not have direct impact for every organization but could indirectly influence a wave of applications in the future.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Gordon Pelosse, CompTIA's senior vice president of employer engagement, to discuss the recently released Workforce and Learning Trends 2022 research report. Many challenges in building technical talent were exacerbated by the pandemic, such as finding skilled candidates or holding on to existing workers. While many employers are turning to new tactics such as dropping a four-year degree requirement, building a skills-based approach requires significant effort. The core issue for many businesses is finding a way to quantify the skills they need and then creating development plans to attract and grow those skills.CompTIA's Workforce and Learning Trends 2022: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/workforce-and-learning-trends-2022

Seth and guest co-host Amy Carrado welcome Randall Edwards, CompTIA's director of product development, to have a discussion around the role of technical support. In the digital era, most companies are considering some level of in-house technical support in order to drive efficiency. Many traditional skills are evolving as endpoints become more diverse and backend functions migrate to the cloud. In addition, cybersecurity has become a critical skill for tech support specialists. CompTIA's newly refreshed A+ certification uses industry input to validate these modern skills in job seekers.CompTIA A+ overview: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/aCompTIA's State of the Tech Workforce: https://www.cyberstates.org/The Role of Technical Support in Modern IT: https://www.comptia.org/blog/tech-support-in-modern-it

Carolyn and Seth start with some quick thoughts around social media in the wake of Elon Musk's offer to take Twitter private, then they dive into CompTIA's new data around IT operations. Even after the pandemic, there has not been dramatic change in attitudes around technology adoption. Organizations that are closer to the cutting edge are focusing on new ways to evaluate and implement new technology. Organizations that have more measured technology adoption may be considering increased investments as a way to accelerate their strategy, and the plans for those investments reflect the need to fully understand the dynamics of modern IT.

Carolyn and Seth talk about the latest research around managed services. With the pandemic beginning to fade, MSPs are feeling optimistic about the prospects for the future. Many are exploring the addition of premium services, which may require changes to the business model since areas like cybersecurity or data analytics do not necessarily follow repeatable processes. In order to serve the full range of customer needs, MSPs may need to further explore partnering with specialists. The ultimate goal for most MSPs is improving customer experience, both for their own clients and their clients' clients.Trends in Managed Services research brief: https://connect.comptia.org/content/research/trends-in-managed-services-2022

Carolyn and Seth welcome James Stanger, CompTIA's Chief Technology Evangelist, to talk about employee experience. Employee experience is becoming a critical discipline for businesses as the post-pandemic workplace evolves, and James talks about the need to improve hiring practices, the ways to help employees avoid burnout, and the importance of developing skills.McKinsey article on employee experience: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/this-time-its-personal-shaping-the-new-possible-through-employee-experience

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest research in the field of data management and analytics. More and more, companies are looking to their data to be the differentiating factor that will drive internal efficiency or external growth. While the ultimate goal is data analytics, most companies are finding that the first order of business is building structure and process around the data they already have. The overall effect is a huge demand for data skills, whether that's database administration, data analytics, or data science.

Carolyn and Seth dive into the hype around web3, the concept of decentralizing the internet using blockchain. Starting with a quick history of web1/web2.0/web3, the two define the web3 concept as a shift toward ownership of content rather than production of content. The technology being used for web3 concepts has already launched cryptocurrencies and NFTs, but there is still a challenge in finding a killer app, especially for businesses. The big hurdle for web3 will be in redefining technology protocols now that they are already ingrained in society and business, and the best advice for companies right now is to make sure they have processes for monitoring and evaluating web3 and other emerging trends in order to stay ahead of the curve.

Carolyn and Seth welcome Marie Rourke, owner of Whitefox Marketing, to talk about how marketing practices are evolving for companies in the IT channel. Historically, vendors have provided marketing funds for their partners, and those funds are still available, but vendors are doing more to tie the funds to expected outcomes and also provide guidance around the best way to invest in marketing. Additionally, solution providers are pursuing marketing of their own brand as they are building awareness of the value they provide to their clients. For many firms, marketing may be a new addition to the business model, but it may also be one of the easiest ways to find new growth. CompTIA's Marketing Toolkit: https://connect.comptia.org/content/marketing-toolkit-for-msps

Carolyn and Seth discuss some of the findings from CompTIA's recent data on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the IT channel. DEI is a major concern for many firms, but there are many challenges when it comes to moving the needle. Smaller firms are exploring actions beyond hiring and workforce training, including being more selective about working with companies that have clear DEI strategies. In the coming year, companies plan to start exploring the best way to set metrics to measure progress on DEI initiatives.

Carolyn and Seth start 2022 by diving into one of the hottest topics in technology: the metaverse. After giving a high-level definition of the metaverse as online life, the discussion turns to the recent hype around the metaverse as a killer app for VR. The main question moving forward is around immersion--how often do people want to be fully immersed in online activities? Whether VR is the main technology or AR plays a strong role, there will be a lot of hardware involved if this vision of the metaverse takes off.Why The Metaverse Will Matter to IT Pros: https://www.comptia.org/blog/the-metaverse-at-work

Carolyn and Seth take a look back at some of the big technology trends from 2021. The consistency in regulatory pressure and the growing concerns around cybersecurity were two main stories, and many other events fell under the umbrella of resiliency. From digital transformation to remote work to chip shortages, the common thread was a desire to build more resiliency into business operations. To close out the episode, Andrea McMillian joins from the producer's seat to share her thoughts on digital content trends.

Carolyn and Seth talk with Gavin Garbutt, chairman and co-founder of Augmentt, about business tech purchasing in 2022. With budgets on the rise, businesses will be exploring both the tactical and strategic side of IT. Items on the wish list include consulting around technology opportunities, managing cloud systems, and Microsoft 365 security.

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's new research, the IT Industry Outlook 2022. The theme of the report is "Return to Strategy," as both IT professionals and IT channel firms start moving back toward the dual mindset around tactics and strategy that was developing pre-pandemic. The report includes 10 trends to watch, including a shift toward consulting for channel firms and the evolution of software to become even more granular. The report also includes in-depth sections on IT pro and channel firm behavior, including a renewed interest in hiring and the major balancing act businesses will have to perform when deciding how to handle their workforce in the coming year.IT Industry Outlook 2022: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/it-industry-trends-analysis

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Randy Gross, CompTIA's CIO and EVP of Cert Operations, for the annual holiday episode. They discuss one thing in tech that's scary (the threat of disruption), one thing they are thankful for (broad access to technology), and one thing on the wish list (removing more friction).

Carolyn and Seth welcome Ricardo Frost, VP and CIO of RFK Solutionz, to discuss some real world issues in cybersecurity. Ricardo talks about the need to build focused cybersecurity budgets, the importance of training, and the benefits of audits in redefining strategy.

Carolyn and Seth review CompTIA's State of Cybersecurity research as Cybersecurity Awareness Month kicks off. As cybersecurity continues to be a moving target for many businesses, a more structured approach is needed. Companies need to start with policy, where a zero trust approach is becoming the best practice. From there, they need to build out the processes and people that are required for strong cybersecurity. Finally, they can add the products needed to execute the strategy.CompTIA's State of Cybersecurity 2021: https://www.comptia.org/content/research/cybersecurity-trends-research

Carolyn and Seth talk with Mark Plunkett, Vice President of custom training at CompTIA Tech Career Academy. Mark gives an overview of custom training programs, which are developed with educational institutions, government entities, and private organizations in order to build a pipeline for technical talent, especially among underserved populations. As demand for technical skills continues to skyrocket, there is a growing need to create new pathways for job seekers and new options for businesses trying to close skill gaps.CompTIA Custom Training: https://www.comptiatech.org/custom-training-programs

Carolyn and Seth talk about the steps companies need to take as they build their data capabilities. Most companies need to start with building comprehensive plans for all their data, including storage options, classification schemes and breaking down data silos. From there, they can move into the analysis that adds new value. Businesses may have to explore many different options for adding data skills, since they are often looking for a significant amount of job experience. Individuals interested in a role in data analysis may have the necessary business experience but lack specific technical skills, which is where training and certification can play a role. Closing the Data Skills Gap whitepaper: https://www.comptia.org/content/whitepapers/closing-the-data-skills-gap

Carolyn and Seth talk with Matt Britt, executive chef and assistant professor at Johnson and Wales, about the intersection of technology and the culinary industry. The pandemic greatly accelerated the need for restaurants to become digital, and Matt talks about the different ways technology is being used for both customer experience and back kitchen improvements. Culinary Now podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culinary-now-podcast/id1490695277

Carolyn and Seth talk with Amy Kardel, CompTIA's VP of Strategic Workforce Relationships, about the Apprenticeships for Tech program. Amy shares the characteristics that make apprenticeships unique--a structured approach to learning workplace skills and typically leading to a permanent position. With demand for technical skills skyrocketing, apprenticeships offer a new avenue for businesses to find and develop the workers they need. CompTIA Apprenticeships for Tech: https://www.comptia.org/content/lp/apprenticeships-for-tech

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data around SMB tech adoption. The SMB segment is the largest part of the economy, but they have not always been leaders in technology adoption. While the pandemic drove SMBs even more towards core IT infrastructure, the mindset around strategic IT may not have shifted dramatically. Moving forward, the focus will be on how SMB needs are changing and whether they fill those needs in-house or through outside partners.

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data around IT automation. Automation is certainly not a new concept, but it is growing in importance as companies use technology strategically and systems become more complex. The discussion covers the perception of automation as a benefit vs. a threat, the challenges in connected a variety of systems, and the skills needed to help businesses achieve automated processes. Trends in Automation charts: https://www.slideshare.net/comptia/trends-in-automation-2021

Carolyn and Seth talk with Kelly Lyndgaard, CEO of Unshattered, about the ways that technology can help a nonprofit. Unshattered offers women in recovery opportunities to develop professional skills and find a sense of community by creating and selling custom handbags. Kelly talks about how technology provided a foundation for their previous efforts and how technology became more strategically important as a result of the pandemic. As a nonprofit, Unshattered needs to make sure that technology helps connect all their audiences and drive their ecommerce strategy.

Carolyn and Seth celebrate 5 years of the Volley podcast and welcome their new producer Andrea McMillian. They they dive into CompTIA's latest data on the state of the IT channel, discussing the general sentiment among solution providers, the growing imperative around partner experience, and the opportunities and challenges of exploring new verticals. CompTIA's 9th State of the channel will be available mid-July at https://connect.comptia.org/ Business Model blog post: https://connect.comptia.org/blog/tech-business-models

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Nancy Hammervik, CompTIA's EVP of Industry Relations and newly appointed CEO of CompTIA Tech Academy, to talk about her new role and the mission of CTCA. The academy is the evolution of CompTIA's IT Ready program, offering technical training and business skills to candidates seeking an IT position. Nancy talks about the steps the academy is taking toward accreditation, the lessons learned from reaching students during the pandemic, and the possibilities for the academy to offer technical training to a more diverse pool of job seekers. CompTIA Tech Career Academy: https://www.comptiatech.org/

Carolyn and Seth welcome Diana Deibel and Rebecca Evanhoe, authors of Conversations with Things. The field of user experience has become more critical as expectations change around technology, and natural language interfaces require many new considerations. Diana and Rebecca share insights from their book, including the questions companies should ask as they think about building conversational technology and the wide range of skills required for success. Conversations with Things website: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/conversations-with-things/details/faq/ Use discount code CWTTALK0521 for 20% off the book!

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data on emerging technology. With emerging technology most commonly showing up embedded in broader solutions, the best place to start the discussion is around the foundations that companies are building with their IT operations. Companies are investing in a very balanced way across infrastructure, software, cybersecurity, and data. These investments include the basic components needed for modern IT architecture along with training for new skills. With this foundation in place, emerging tech adoption is moving forward in a measured way as organizations explore the complexities of technology-based business solutions.

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Dave Sobel, host of the Business of Tech podcast. The three talk about technology topics that are flying under the radar but could have big implications ahead. First, they discuss the digital divide within the tech industry--how the issues that make headlines from the tech giants are not always the issues being faced by the average tech firm, and how the seemingly simple solutions often require massive resources. Second, they cover the non-technical skills needed for success in technology today. As technology continues to have significant influence on other industries, there is more of a need for roles such as legal expertise or ethical considerations. Finally, they wrap the conversation with a discussion on tech weariness. As society comes out of the pandemic where technology has been heavily utilized, there is some desire to lessen tech usage and make sure that technology use is balanced rather than simply assuming that more is better.

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the ways that technology has changed the field of journalism. Using the recent legislation passed in Australia as a starting point, they discuss how legislation in this area needs to understand internet economics and properly address market dynamics. Then they move into a broader discussion on how technology and social media have changed journalism for better and for worse before wrapping up with a discussion on consumer practices ultimately driving business models.

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data around the help desk function. A significant number of companies want to make technology a core competency, and that includes robust technical support. Most of the skills needed are still the traditional technical skills that have been in place for years, but the level of knowledge needs to expand. In addition, the customer experience is becoming a key metric for ensuring productivity of the tech-enabled workforce. Finally, companies are finding that help desk roles are good preparation for a wide variety of IT careers. CompTIA's Trends in Help Desk data: https://www.slideshare.net/comptia/help-desk-trends