Episode 6: Interviewing graduates
Last week, I had the opportunity to interview a recent graduate. It was a fascinating conversation that reminded me of myself 20 years ago – full of ambition, ideas, and a hunger for knowledge. During our discussion, the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) came up, and I was surprised by the angle my interviewee took. They expressed sincere concern about the future and the potential lack of job opportunities, wondering if pursuing a university degree was still worth it.
As an interviewer, I felt the need to steer the conversation towards a more positive note. I wanted to highlight how humans are great at adapting to changes in technology and the job market. We discussed how a university degree provides not only knowledge but also critical thinking skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities, which are highly valued in the workplace. We also talked about how AI can improve our lives by automating tedious tasks, freeing up time for more meaningful work. In the end, my interviewee left feeling more optimistic about their future and the role they could play in shaping it.
As a Chief Technology Officer (CTO), I am responsible for ensuring that our company remains relevant for the next 5-10 years. This involves making strategic decisions that will impact our employees over time. For example, we have employees who have just graduated and others who are nearing retirement. It is my duty to consider how our strategy will affect each of these groups.
To ensure that we make the right choices, I constantly monitor the technological landscape and consider how emerging technologies can be leveraged to benefit our company. In addition, I collaborate with other C-level executives to develop a comprehensive plan that aligns with our long-term goals.
While my primary focus is on strategic decisions, I also recognize the importance of operational day-to-day tweaks. As such, I work closely with our operational teams to ensure that our strategic decisions are implemented effectively and efficiently.
Overall, I take great pride in my role as a CTO and the responsibility that comes with it. It is my goal to make decisions that will not only benefit our company, but also positively impact our employees and ensure their success both now and in the future.
Now I have over 20 years of experience in business technology consulting. As someone who was born in 1980, I have seen the world change in ways that I could never have imagined when I was interviewing for jobs. Today, I want to share with you some of my experiences and insights about how the world has changed, and what this means for you and me as we embark on our journey.
When I was growing up, the internet was not widely available. In fact, it wasn't until 1996 and I was 16 that the internet became accessible to the general public. Back then, we had to use dial-up modems to connect to the internet, and we could only use it for a limited amount of time each day. This might seem like a lifetime ago for some, but it was a pivotal moment in history that changed the world forever.
However, the internet was just the beginning. The rise of technology has brought about a whole new world of possibilities that we couldn't even imagine back then. Nowadays, we have access to a wealth of information that was previously unavailable to us. We can learn about anything and everything just by doing a quick Google search. We can communicate with people from all over the world, no matter where we are. We can even shop online and have goods delivered right to our doorstep.
Additionally, the advancement of technology has given rise to a whole new world of entertainment. Video games are no longer limited to clunky desktop computers with ovens for screens. Now, we have consoles that can render lifelike graphics, virtual reality headsets that can transport us to other worlds, and even mobile games that we can play on the go. And let's not forget about streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, which allow us to watch movies and TV shows whenever and wherever we want.
While some people may argue that technology has made us more isolated and less social, I believe that the opposite is true. Thanks to social media and messaging apps, we can stay connected with our friends and family no matter where we are in the world. We can share photos, videos, and stories with them instantly, and even have group video chats to catch up face-to-face.
While the internet may have been a game-changer back in the day, the advancements in technology since then have truly revolutionized the way we live our lives. We have access to more information, entertainment, and social connection than ever before, and I believe that this is mostly positive.
In the past few decades, we have experienced a significant shift in the economy, with the advent of new industries and the decline of others. For instance, e-commerce and ride-sharing services have emerged as game changers, making life more convenient for consumers. At the same time, traditional businesses such as video rental stores and printed newspapers have been struggling to survive. As the economy evolves, so do the types of jobs available, with some becoming obsolete and new ones emerging. Additionally, technology has played an essential role in transforming entire industries, such as farming, manufacturing, and healthcare. These changes have brought both opportunities and challenges, and it is crucial to keep up with the latest developments to stay competitive in the ever-changing job market.
But despite all of this change, one thing remains constant: human beings are remarkably adaptable. We have been adapting to new technologies and new ways of life for centuries. When the plow was invented, farmers were threatened, but they adapted and found new ways to farm. When factories were automated, workers were threatened, but they adapted and found new jobs in other industries.
Change can be scary, but it is not always a bad thing. In fact, change is often what drives progress and makes the world a better place. The internet has brought us closer together and given us access to knowledge and resources that were once impossible to obtain. It has made it easier to connect with people from all over the world and given us the power to make a difference in ways that were once unimaginable.
To the even younger generation I would say that as on embarks on this journey into adulthood, you will face many challenges and uncertainties. You will encounter new technologies and new ways of life that might seem foreign and even frightening at first. But I urge you to remember that you are capable of adapting and thriving in a changing world. You are part of a generation that has grown up with technology at your fingertips, and you have the skills and the creativity to shape the future in ways that we can't even imagine. You are actually much more prepared than I can imagine. And I look forward to the next 40 years of my life.
So embrace change, and don't be afraid to take risks and try new things. Follow your passions and your dreams, and don't let fear hold you back. You have the power to change the world, and I can't wait to see what we humans will accomplish in the years to come.
AI for integration is an incredibly powerful tool that can revolutionize the way we work. With the ability to create tests and suggest how data should be transformed, it allows us to work more efficiently and effectively. When we use AI for integration, we are not only saving time, but also increasing accuracy and reducing the risk of errors.
Moreover, the need for connecting data never stops, and it is becoming increasingly important as we continue to generate more and more data. With AI, we can streamline the integration process and ensure that all of our data is properly connected and analyzed. This can lead to new insights and opportunities that we may have otherwise missed.
AI for integration is a game-changer for industries like ours. By leveraging this technology, we can do more in less time, while also improving our data analysis and decision-making capabilities.
Becoming an expert in integration can be an incredibly valuable asset for your career. With the ever-increasing emphasis on interconnected systems, the ability to seamlessly merge disparate technologies into a cohesive whole is becoming more and more essential. Additionally, partnering with IBM, one of the world's largest contributors to open source and trusted AI, can provide you with access to a wealth of tools, resources, and expertise to help you excel in this field.