February 2023

The Importance of Understanding Technology in Career Advancement

In today’s business landscape, technology plays a critical role, regardless of the job you hold. A competent tech executive understands the importance of keeping all leaders well-informed about the latest technological advancements. They devise a comprehensive plan to ensure effective communication and knowledge sharing among the leadership team.

Laptops have become ubiquitous tools, necessitating that users acquire proficiency in office applications such as PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. However, it is insufficient in today’s world to simply be familiar with navigating a laptop. It is crucial to actively engage and educate oneself about how technology is shaping one’s specific industry.

You might be familiar with the term “Cloud”, but have you ever wondered what it actually means and how it can benefit your business?

Nowadays, data holds immense significance, leading many organizations to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for leveraging and decision-making based on this wealth of information. But how does it all work? Lately, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding ChatGPT. Are you familiar with this technology and its potential applications for your business? The key is to stay well-informed and have a good understanding of these advancements, as it can greatly benefit both you and your career. Embracing these transformative technologies will shape the future of your company.

We’ll talk more about specific technologies and how they apply to various businesses in later posts.

Virtual Conferences

Everyone is working virtually, if not fulltime, at least parttime. This makes connecting with people a challenge. Tech execs need to factor virtual ways of working as part of their technology strategy.

The virtual world presents challenges for professionals, especially newcomers. How to stand out on Zoom, Teams, and other platforms? It’s not easy. Mistakes, even the ones you are unaware of, are common.

New Way of Operating

Virtual conferences have become the standard way to meet at many organizations. Just like physical conferences, there are rules: be on time, turn on your camera, and actively participate. Following the rules is the first step to getting noticed, but it may vary depending on the organization and team. Getting an appropriate share of speaking time can be challenging with a competitive crowd. So, be nice and use the “raise hand” button, while avoiding jumping in too often or talking over leaders. These are just some of the mistakes to avoid. It’s important to have something valuable to contribute to the conversation, rather than speaking for the sake of being heard.

Leaders may be expected to talk

Believe it or not, some leaders feel the need to talk excessively during virtual meetings, repeating what’s already been said without adding value. Unfortunately, being the boss, nobody tells them to stop. Another mistake is ignoring these bosses’ judgment on your participation in the conference call. Though Joe may not have had valuable input, listening connected and enabled him to. So, if you find yourself being quiet Joe with a talkative boss, occasionally interject with a “thank you” or an insightful comment to show your involvement. Remember, adding meaningful input is key.

To “add meaty” and make the best impression you can, you need to do the following:

Check the meeting invite for the topic and attendees. Make sure you’ve accepted the invite.
Prepare – do your research on the topic and get to know who the people are who will be attending the call and their roles.
Create a bulletized list of topics that you could potentially discuss during the call.
Email the meeting organizer to ask if there is an expectation for everyone to provide some level of input during the call. If there was no agenda, or the agenda was not clear, this is a good time to get clarity from the meeting organizer.
Be on time to the call.
Dress neat – interpret how you should dress based on the kind of call and the culture of your organization. Virtual meetings are usually fairly informal.
Turn on your camera and smile – say hi to the crowd.
Use the “raise hand” button to be given a smooth transition into the conversation. You can also just start talking during pauses, if there are any.
Don’t talk over people. If you do, say sorry and defer to the person you stepped on.
Take notes so that you can respond to any requests or answer questions after the call.
Give a nice wave and smile at the end. Say something like, “talk to you all again soon.”

You’ll have virtual meetings where people don’t turn on their cameras. If everyone is doing it, that’s okay. The objective of these calls is to accomplish something, which doesn’t always require following all the virtual meeting rules.

When you don’t want to turn on your camera

Sometimes, you may feel uncomfortable turning on the camera due to the time of day or exhaustion. In such cases, especially if others have their cameras on, you can simply explain, “Apologies for not having my camera on. I’ve had back-to-back calls today, and I’m a bit worn out.” Usually, people will understand, unless the talkative boss is on the call. Knowing your audience is crucial, and in the case of the talkative boss, I always turn on the camera.

We’ll talk more about virtual meetings in the future.

Moving from Corporate to Consulting

Some dream of transitioning from a corporate software developer role to consulting or Big 4. Travel and the potential for more money add allure. However, the move is not for everyone and can be stressful if unprepared. Does it accelerate the path to becoming a tech exec?

Let’s determine if the consulting world is right for you. As a software developer, you’ll work on projects with a team, either at a client site or virtually. Junior focus on coding, while senior roles also involve pre-sales as a subject matter expert.

What’s the difference?

This is not much different from your current corporate software development team. The point is, you’ll be leaving a well-structured environment one with more stress. Clients have high expectations and constantly assess the quality of your work. If you excel at what you do, this won’t be a big deal. However, consulting company leaders are often pressured to quickly place you in a role, so you’re not sitting on the bench.

Project assignments

Leadership “markets” you to assign you to a project. Ideal fit can be secondary to project assignment, with revenue generation as the primary factor. Consider your flexibility and adaptability in handling change and stress. Making it past the first two years is a good sign for growth and advancement.

Up or out

Big 4 consulting firms (Deloitte, E&Y, PWC, and KPMG) follow an up-or-out model. you don’t get promoted within a specific timeframe (usually two years), they let you go. This can be unsettling for those transitioning from a corporate setup with no fixed promotion expectations.

Mix of assignments

Assuming you’re not assigned to a long-term project, rotating clients and projects is a great way to build experience. It keeps things interesting, avoiding the mundane grind of doing the same thing every day for years. However, if you prefer certainty and not having to learn anything new, consulting might not be the right fit for you.

As a consultant, each role offers an opportunity to learn and adapt to new job requirements and work environments. The pace can be demanding, as clients expect more productivity. However, there are chances to shine and make a lasting impression. Building a good rapport with clients may result in project extensions, which are highly valued by consulting companies. Consultants who excel in extending projects are rewarded with higher raises and promotions. If you thrive in a competitive environment, consulting is ideal for you.

I’m rambling and there is a lot more to this topic, but let’s summarize the pros and cons of the consulting world:

Pros:

Dynamic and fast paces
Quicker promotions and more money
Travel and interesting project locations

Cons:

Fast paced and lots of uncertainty
Stress and high expectations
Uncertainty of roles or work assignments

Being a consultant requires a particular mindset. Work-life balance may be challenging, with frequent on-the-road assignments. Temporary dislike of assigned work and constant self-evaluation can induce stress. However, if you progress up the chain (up-or-out), the rewards are significant.

Job Search for the Tech Exec

As a tech exec, I get asked all the time about the right strategy to find a new job.

In the past, physical resumes were mailed when seeking employment, hoping for a response. But in today’s digital era, LinkedIn is a remarkable platform for expanding your professional network. Search for industry peers, invite them to join your network, clearly communicate your job search intentions, and provide a direct link to your updated profile.

Furthermore, you possess the ability to proactively engage with professionals employed at your desired company. Take the initiative to connect with them and politely inquire if they would be willing to provide an endorsement for a specific role.

Anticipate the potential of being overlooked while recognizing that not everyone will respond to your outreach efforts. Nevertheless, persistence remains crucial. One of the advantages of leveraging LinkedIn is the extensive pool of connections at your disposal. As you commence expanding your network, the process of adding new connections becomes increasingly effortless. In forthcoming posts, we will delve into diverse strategies for networking through platforms such as LinkedIn.

Click here for a post on finding the right technology talent.