Technology is an innovation hub, now more than ever. As the pandemic has shifted much of our work, we need a secure, powerful network every day to work, socialize and take part in leisure activities online.
Frannie Matthews, president and CEO of Colorado Technology Association, and Cassie Roach, vice president, global public sector at Cisco Systems, joined Virtual Voices last week to discuss technology, its role in our lives and the future of broadband.
Virtual Voices aims to keep Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation alums informed and engaged as our community works through this challenging time. Each virtual meeting brings together leaders on the front lines of impacted industries to share their knowledge, perspectives and leadership lessons.
Check out our key takeaways and the video of the webinar below.
Digital literacy is vital in the modern world. In most careers, you need to be able to demonstrate knowledge of technology, from operating telephones to tablets and computers. Not only are employers looking for technical skills and aptitude, they’re also looking for individuals who want to learn, contribute to a team and ask for help when it’s needed.
There are many entry points into a technology career. Companies are looking for employees with skills that can translate to being everything from a software engineer to a human resources director. The best way to figure out where you fit is to get your foot in the door. This starts first with apprenticeships and internships.
Technology increases access. It immediately connects us to knowledge, allows more people to have a seat at the (virtual) table and facilitates conversations across communities. We should use the internet as often as we can, particularly in this time where we’re not physically together with our community.
Billions of people across the world lack access to internet. The economy will benefit if we can bring more people online and bridge the digital divide. In 2020, lack of access to internet means that students cannot learn and professionals cannot work. When COVID-19 first began, organizations from all sectors collaborated to move people online and create secure connections. Moving forward, we cannot leave individuals and communities behind simply because they lack access to the internet. In the same vein, we need to increase consumer trust in technology companies and begin to think of easy habits that can make our lives online secure.
We should all aim to be lifelong learners. With technology, we can constantly grow our areas of expertise. A much wider audience can watch lectures, read and discuss literature and attend seminars remotely. We encourage you to continue to seek out virtual opportunities to learn and to check out the books recommended by Frannie: “The Future is Faster Than You Think” by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler, “21 Lessons for the 21st Century” by Yuval Noah Harari, and “The Singularity is Near” by Ray Kurzweil.
Join us in the New Year for more Virtual Voices. In the meantime, check out our other upcoming programs.
