Huntsville Business Journal’s Post

This week marks 5 years of moving from Silicon Valley (SV) to the Research Triangle (RTP), and the Raleigh area. I frequently get asked, why did we move and how do I like this area? Especially by my friends in Silicon Valley. When you are in SV, you feel that you are living in a monoculture of tech folks. Almost everyone around you is working in tech or is an investor or a VC. It leads you to be hyper-competitive, and constantly chasing that next win, and that next role, and a higher paycheck. You need that higher paycheck to live and work in SV. And there is no other place like SV to fuel new companies, and tech startups for sure. The housing costs are out of control, the traffic and competition for schools and resources. Much of this was a motivator for leaving. But there were also many things that drew us to Raleigh and that we are grateful for. Being closer to our children who are both on the east coast. A lower cost of living, a simpler and calmer life and a diverse culture of real world humans. There are great schools here Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University as well as multiple other community colleges. A vibrant art and restaurant scene with world class museums like the North Carolina Museum of Art. There is a vibrant tech community as well and a world-class open source conference called All Things Open Conference run by the amazing Todd Lewis. I am also able to travel from an airport 15 mins from my home, and fully participate in my tech career but come home to a calm existence. Nothing wrong with that. #grateful #NorthCarolina #SiliconValley

The transition from academia to tech is often a crossroads, a dark night of the soul, a kind of wandering out in the storm before the clouds clear. Though I transitioned into tech four years ago now (wow), every day I still think about my work and labor in academia for over a decade, and how that world fell away during the pandemic. As a first-generation college graduate from a working-class family in rural Iowa, I was passionate about and took some amount of pride in the rigor and tenacity that academia often calls for. When I saw that passion slipping into the ether as a far-off dream because academia jobs were quickly dwindling, it also dawned on me how false the espoused notions of meritocracy were. I didn't see more-than-deserving folks from less-than-privileged backgrounds landing jobs; more often, it was those from backgrounds of wealth and connections finding their way into academic roles that were out of grasp for many others. These realizations didn't make the transition any easier, though they made the stakes clear as well as the sheer necessity. I'll say it again: every day I still think about my work and labor in academia. Ultimately the transition has been good--great, even, and more suited to what it is I want to do. But in the midst of all that, I still yearn to speak and build community with those folks who are and have transitioned from academia. There's a kernel of lived experience, a pitted core of knowledge that we share and need to share together, to understand how we can continue to develop and apply our education to our ever-changing roles. We also know how to survive in a tumultuous landscape. I'm looking to build community here, gentle friends, as we move through the doorway from one thing to the next.

We're thrilled to share that our Program Manager, Sabine Salandy, participated in a panel discussion today organized by the Center for an Urban Future (Jonathan Bowles) and supported by Amazon (Michael Sanicola) and the The Mayor's Office of Talent and Workforce Development (Abby Jo Sigal.) The topic at hand: "Helping Staten Islanders Access Tech Careers." Joined by insightful panelists Linda Baran, Kristi Nielson-Brescia, Kenya George, Andrew Greenfield, Scott Van Campen, and moderator Eli Dvorkin, they delved into the question: What's needed to make the tech sector in Staten Island and NYC more accessible?🎥 Watch some snippets where we explored the challenges in connecting qualified tech talent with the right opportunities. Our key message: Our students are not just qualified; they're exceptionally talented but often overlooked. On Staten Island, we've implemented diverse programs like TTP and CUNY2x to enhance tech education, ensuring our students are well-prepared for the transition to the workforce. However, we need your support. Employers, we encourage you to reach out and explore partnerships with us to retain top-tier tech talent in NYC and foster a deeper understanding of the incredible potential within our student community. Curious to learn more about TTP? Check out our program details here: https://lnkd.in/eQRBmgsf Ready to host an intern and be part of this transformative journey? Reach out here: https://lnkd.in/eD_F-X_v Let's bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, making NYC's tech sector more accessible for everyone! 💻🌆 #TechTalentPipeline #TechEducation #WorkforceDevelopment #NYCTech #Partnerships #TalentRetention

So it turns out that the #tech talent graduating from UNC Wilmington is not really interested in the BEACH life (Sand gets in the Keyboards) and certainly not interested in the BEACH discount (jobs have traditionally paid less for the benefit of living at the beach) or frankly, I have been told they are not interested in #FinTech as a challenging career choice. How can we improve this in #WilmingtonNC to keep our progress in the tech economy moving forward? - Better salaries - Requires more private #VentureCapital (Our April 4th event) - Diversification of opportunity - Like #IOT for #Healthcare (like our last event about the Tech in bioTECH with 160 people registered) - Adding upscale amenities for young professionals and affordable housing (Maybe that is what the new Dave and Busters in Mayfair is about.) We will address some of these issues at our March 13th event on Tech Talent https://lnkd.in/eRju7SfE North Carolina Technology Association (NC TECH)

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It turns out Gen Z aren’t after jobs in tech. For a few decades Silicon Valley has been the goalpost for many aspiring graduates, but some recent research has shown that Big Tech is losing its allure. Surprisingly, a lot of Gen Zers are looking for jobs in healthcare and government instead. What’s changing the aspirations of Gen Zers? Check out the full article below for the full run down👇👇👇

Day 3 is underway at SXSW EDU! Overheard from some of the most innovative minds in higher ed? “Student-centered is wrong. It’s helping students architect their own education and experiences that we need to be thinking about.” We believe Ed Tech’s greatest role in innovation is doing just that. From President Philomena Mantella (Grand Valley State), and the other astute practitioners on the panel "Navigating a New Era in Higher Ed”, here’s what to ask when evaluating new technology for your institution: ✅ What do we need? ✅ Why do we need it? ✅ What is the problem we’re trying to solve? ✅ Does it meet an admissions imperative? ✅ What need will it meet for our staff and our students? ✅ Does it create opportunity? ✅ How are jobs made easier? ✅ Does it create a “frictionless” experience? Simple questions. But simple is an essential when confronted with an expo hall chalk full of 100+ opportunities that look like this. #SXSWEDU #EdTech

🌟 Calling all East Sussex based digital and tech professionals! 🌟 Are you passionate about shaping the future of tech education? We are seeking employers who want to make a real difference and be part of the Tech Teacher Encounters Day on July 5th at Bexhill 6th Form College. This is your chance to inspire and support teachers and career advisors to widen their knowledge and understanding of the Tech and Digital sectors. The event will illuminate the diverse pathways within the tech industry, spotlight potential careers, the broad spectrum of skills students can develop, and the many routes available into a career in Tech. We will be looking at diversity in the sector (and what needs to change) and will be leading workshops and talks on key areas such as AI, Software Development, User Experience Design, Product Management, and Data Analytics. Why get involved? 🚀 Impact Education: Directly influence the educators shaping our future tech leaders. Showcase Your Expertise: Highlight the cutting-edge technologies and methodologies driving your industry. Network and Collaborate: Meet like-minded professionals committed to advancing tech education. We're seeking employers who would like to take part in workshops, offer insightful talks or engaging demos. Your knowledge could bridge the gap between current educational practices and the fast-paced tech sector, preparing students for tomorrow's challenges. The event is being led by TechNative and developed in partnership with Skills East Sussex and funded by the Careers and Enterprise company.  For more details, visit https://lnkd.in/geNvNtaS Ready to make a difference? DM me or email dan@technativedigital.com to get involved and help be the bridge between industry and the classroom! #TechNativeDigital #TechEducation #DigitalSkills #EastSussex #InnovateEducation #techteacherencounters Wendy Gorham Jennie Cole Hannah Brookshaw Caroline Bragg

⚡️ Inspiring the next generation of tech talent!⚡️   ⭐️ Tech Futures Day – 13 Sept 24 – CTW24 ⭐️   Dedicated to getting young people excited about a career in tech, Tech Futures Day is designed to bring young people into our science parks, expose them to world-leading businesses, connect them with role models and mentors and give students an experience they’ll never forget 🚀   Anne Bailey, CEO, Form the Future CIC says:  “Tech Futures Day will give young people growing up in Cambridge and the surrounding region a chance to experience what it’s like to work in the tech sector through direct engagement with tech professionals. We hope to spark their curiosity about a career in tech, and provide the information and support they need to pursue one.  Many students live in the shadow of tech hubs like the Cambridge Science Park, but have no idea about the amazing work taking place there. This is an opportunity to bridge that divide and inspire diverse talent into the tech sector.”    There will also be talks and discussions with employers, academics and educators about the challenge of attracting diverse talent into tech - and exploring what’s working and what’s not!   👉 Employers: This is your opportunity to share your company’s story and inspire future tech talent by offering a visit to students. 👉 Schools: Introduce your students to a world of possibilities by signing up for a visit to a Cambridge science park.   Let’s work together to build a diverse and thriving tech future! 👏   ⏩ Find out more about how to get involved here:  https://lnkd.in/d_M6XfTK    --- 📆 Save the date 9-13 Sept Innovate | Invest | Grow #CamTechWeek Powered by Cambridge Wireless Ltd  

General Assembly is teaming up with CollegeVine, an AI-powered professional network for high school students. Why? Together we want to work on pathways to tech careers for high school students (Easy? Nope. Worth it? We believe very much so.) We’re building on the momentum of a growing number of organizations and state governments that are adopting a skills-first approach to hiring. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all post-secondary education path - we all know that. For those who choose not to go the route of traditional higher ed, GA paves an accelerated pathway into high-demand roles. Our partnership will leverage CollegeVine’s AI recruiting capabilities to provide students with on-demand insights into GA’s career-centric programs. Onwards we go - excited to expand post-secondary opportunities and supporting students in navigating their career journeys. Learn more about this exciting partnership in our press release: https://lnkd.in/guNuJ9gG Let's go Daniele Grassi Edward Shiplee Danielle Chircop Jeff Bergin, PhD Rachel Park-Fleming Michaela Mendes Kate Braner Rafael Vieira Tiago Rafael A. Castañeda Vinay Bhaskara Christina Tan #EdTech #Partnership #Skills