there will be 1 million unfilled tech jobs in the United States in the coming
jobs in the United States in the coming
jobs in the United States in the coming years 1 million it’s a lot of jobs you
years 1 million it’s a lot of jobs you
years 1 million it’s a lot of jobs you have already heard it referenced here
have already heard it referenced here
have already heard it referenced here today pundits are calling this projected
today pundits are calling this projected
today pundits are calling this projected and supply and demand gap the tech
and supply and demand gap the tech
and supply and demand gap the tech talent crunch and it’s already gotten
talent crunch and it’s already gotten
talent crunch and it’s already gotten started
started
started according to Glassdoor research there
according to Glassdoor research there
according to Glassdoor research there are currently more than 250,000 unfilled
are currently more than 250,000 unfilled
are currently more than 250,000 unfilled tech jobs costing the economy more than
tech jobs costing the economy more than
tech jobs costing the economy more than 20 billion dollars annually those
20 billion dollars annually those
20 billion dollars annually those numbers may help to explain why one
numbers may help to explain why one
numbers may help to explain why one third of the HR budgets are dedicated to
third of the HR budgets are dedicated to
third of the HR budgets are dedicated to recruiting and retaining tech talent and
recruiting and retaining tech talent and
recruiting and retaining tech talent and why ninety percent of executives list
why ninety percent of executives list
why ninety percent of executives list just that as one of their top challenges
just that as one of their top challenges
just that as one of their top challenges two years ago I founded a school that
two years ago I founded a school that
two years ago I founded a school that helps people from non-traditional
helps people from non-traditional
helps people from non-traditional backgrounds start careers in technology
backgrounds start careers in technology
backgrounds start careers in technology to help fill that gap and I’ve come to
to help fill that gap and I’ve come to
to help fill that gap and I’ve come to believe that the tech talent crunch may
believe that the tech talent crunch may
believe that the tech talent crunch may be exactly the crisis the industry needs
be exactly the crisis the industry needs
be exactly the crisis the industry needs to reboot itself for the road ahead
to reboot itself for the road ahead
to reboot itself for the road ahead our world is being fundamentally changed
our world is being fundamentally changed
our world is being fundamentally changed by software tech giants like Google and
by software tech giants like Google and
by software tech giants like Google and Facebook have obvious impacts but there
Facebook have obvious impacts but there
Facebook have obvious impacts but there are countless other less flashy changes
are countless other less flashy changes
are countless other less flashy changes happening in virtually every part of our
happening in virtually every part of our
happening in virtually every part of our daily lives most of you in the audience
daily lives most of you in the audience
daily lives most of you in the audience probably use online banking I’m guessing
probably use online banking I’m guessing
probably use online banking I’m guessing the majority of you have probably called
the majority of you have probably called
the majority of you have probably called an uber from your smartphone and the
an uber from your smartphone and the
an uber from your smartphone and the really brave early adopters amongst you
really brave early adopters amongst you
really brave early adopters amongst you might sidle into the self checkout lanes
might sidle into the self checkout lanes
might sidle into the self checkout lanes at the grocery stores every once in a
at the grocery stores every once in a
at the grocery stores every once in a while the point is technology has become
while the point is technology has become
while the point is technology has become central to company operations across the
central to company operations across the
central to company operations across the board and that’s changing not just how
board and that’s changing not just how
board and that’s changing not just how we as consumers are interacting with
we as consumers are interacting with
we as consumers are interacting with these organizations but it’s also
these organizations but it’s also
these organizations but it’s also changing about how they think about
changing about how they think about
changing about how they think about building the teams that they need to run
building the teams that they need to run
building the teams that they need to run their businesses in getting ready for
their businesses in getting ready for
their businesses in getting ready for today’s talk I pulled up some job
today’s talk I pulled up some job
today’s talk I pulled up some job listings locally in Minneapolis for
listings locally in Minneapolis for
listings locally in Minneapolis for JavaScript which is one of the
JavaScript which is one of the
JavaScript which is one of the foundational technologies of the web and
foundational technologies of the web and
foundational technologies of the web and something we focus on at my school and I
something we focus on at my school and I
something we focus on at my school and I found companies hiring full-time
found companies hiring full-time
found companies hiring full-time software engineers in the following
software engineers in the following
software engineers in the following industries accounting data security
industries accounting data security
industries accounting data security education government home furnishings
education government home furnishings
education government home furnishings hospitality insurance logistics
hospitality insurance logistics
hospitality insurance logistics manufacturing marketing media medical
manufacturing marketing media medical
manufacturing marketing media medical and dental care software sports research
and dental care software sports research
and dental care software sports research restaurants and retail so that’s at
restaurants and retail so that’s at
restaurants and retail so that’s at least two breaths worth of industries
least two breaths worth of industries
least two breaths worth of industries and that is in the first four out of six
and that is in the first four out of six
and that is in the first four out of six three pages of results so over
three pages of results so over
three pages of results so over two-thirds of computing jobs are now
two-thirds of computing jobs are now
two-thirds of computing jobs are now outside what most of us would think of
outside what most of us would think of
outside what most of us would think of as tech companies the tools that you’ll
as tech companies the tools that you’ll
as tech companies the tools that you’ll all use in the future to shop to access
all use in the future to shop to access
all use in the future to shop to access health care to connect with your family
health care to connect with your family
health care to connect with your family to get your news to travel and to put
to get your news to travel and to put
to get your news to travel and to put food on your table both figuratively and
food on your table both figuratively and
food on your table both figuratively and literally are being created right now by
literally are being created right now by
literally are being created right now by designers and engineers in all of these
designers and engineers in all of these
designers and engineers in all of these different industries I don’t think it’s
different industries I don’t think it’s
different industries I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the future of
hyperbole to say that the future of
hyperbole to say that the future of everything is being written in code if
everything is being written in code if
everything is being written in code if those are the stakes who’s behind those
those are the stakes who’s behind those
those are the stakes who’s behind those keyboards this is what the typical
keyboards this is what the typical
keyboards this is what the typical programmer looks like according to an
programmer looks like according to an
programmer looks like according to an annual survey done by a company called
annual survey done by a company called
annual survey done by a company called Stack Overflow
Stack Overflow
Stack Overflow they are 89 percent male they’re 88
they are 89 percent male they’re 88
they are 89 percent male they’re 88 percent white and Asian and the average
percent white and Asian and the average
percent white and Asian and the average age is 28 75 percent of these people
age is 28 75 percent of these people
age is 28 75 percent of these people studied computer science in college
studied computer science in college
studied computer science in college before starting their careers so these
before starting their careers so these
before starting their careers so these numbers paint a portrait of Technology
numbers paint a portrait of Technology
numbers paint a portrait of Technology generally that looks a lot like Silicon
generally that looks a lot like Silicon
generally that looks a lot like Silicon Valley
Valley
Valley both the place and the cast of the HBO
both the place and the cast of the HBO
both the place and the cast of the HBO TV show demographically developers
TV show demographically developers
TV show demographically developers represent only a fraction of our
represent only a fraction of our
represent only a fraction of our population but beyond that the majority
population but beyond that the majority
population but beyond that the majority have spent their entire careers in
have spent their entire careers in
have spent their entire careers in software the people that are creating
software the people that are creating
software the people that are creating software to revolutionize all of these
software to revolutionize all of these
software to revolutionize all of these industries are routinely working with
industries are routinely working with
industries are routinely working with very little if any personal context of
very little if any personal context of
very little if any personal context of the sectors they’re seeking to disrupt
the sectors they’re seeking to disrupt
the sectors they’re seeking to disrupt and none of this is new but as we
and none of this is new but as we
and none of this is new but as we scramble to address those 1 million
scramble to address those 1 million
scramble to address those 1 million unfilled tech jobs I believe that we all
unfilled tech jobs I believe that we all
unfilled tech jobs I believe that we all need to agree that the future of
need to agree that the future of
need to agree that the future of everything is too important to put in
everything is too important to put in
everything is too important to put in the hands of a small group of people
the hands of a small group of people
the hands of a small group of people just because they know how to code
just because they know how to code
just because they know how to code I think the future demands more than
I think the future demands more than
I think the future demands more than that I believe that organizations need
that I believe that organizations need
that I believe that organizations need to build teams inclusive of the
to build teams inclusive of the
to build teams inclusive of the audience’s they aim to serve studies
audience’s they aim to serve studies
audience’s they aim to serve studies have shown that organizations with
have shown that organizations with
have shown that organizations with diverse management teams are 35 percent
diverse management teams are 35 percent
diverse management teams are 35 percent more likely to financial returns above
more likely to financial returns above
more likely to financial returns above their industry mean and are more likely
their industry mean and are more likely
their industry mean and are more likely to develop new products and innovations
to develop new products and innovations
to develop new products and innovations and I absolutely believe that this
and I absolutely believe that this
and I absolutely believe that this principle transfers whole cloth into
principle transfers whole cloth into
principle transfers whole cloth into software development I think it comes
software development I think it comes
software development I think it comes down to a topic that we’ve heard about
down to a topic that we’ve heard about
down to a topic that we’ve heard about today already which is empathy and my
today already which is empathy and my
today already which is empathy and my school one of our core beliefs is that
school one of our core beliefs is that
school one of our core beliefs is that empathy beats engineering simply put a
empathy beats engineering simply put a
empathy beats engineering simply put a well engineered solution to a problem
well engineered solution to a problem
well engineered solution to a problem you don’t understand very well is not
you don’t understand very well is not
you don’t understand very well is not like
like
like to be a success by building a team that
to be a success by building a team that
to be a success by building a team that can establish meaningful active empathy
can establish meaningful active empathy
can establish meaningful active empathy with their users companies can better
with their users companies can better
with their users companies can better understand and serve their needs I’ve
understand and serve their needs I’ve
understand and serve their needs I’ve seen what can happen what can be
seen what can happen what can be
seen what can happen what can be accomplished by developers and designers
accomplished by developers and designers
accomplished by developers and designers who understand their audience I’ve seen
who understand their audience I’ve seen
who understand their audience I’ve seen language apps created by developers who
language apps created by developers who
language apps created by developers who spent years teaching English abroad I’ve
spent years teaching English abroad I’ve
spent years teaching English abroad I’ve seen store inventory systems developed
seen store inventory systems developed
seen store inventory systems developed by engineers who started their careers
by engineers who started their careers
by engineers who started their careers in retail I’ve seen mental health tools
in retail I’ve seen mental health tools
in retail I’ve seen mental health tools created by people whose lives have been
created by people whose lives have been
created by people whose lives have been touched by mental illness in each of
touched by mental illness in each of
touched by mental illness in each of these cases the life experience and the
these cases the life experience and the
these cases the life experience and the user empathy led to a better product
user empathy led to a better product
user empathy led to a better product developed more quickly and for lower
developed more quickly and for lower
developed more quickly and for lower cost and while it would be great if that
cost and while it would be great if that
cost and while it would be great if that argument alone sparked a revolution in
argument alone sparked a revolution in
argument alone sparked a revolution in the industry to embrace a more inclusive
the industry to embrace a more inclusive
the industry to embrace a more inclusive hiring strategy we might not have to
hiring strategy we might not have to
hiring strategy we might not have to wait for enlightenment to spark the
wait for enlightenment to spark the
wait for enlightenment to spark the change at the end of the day there
change at the end of the day there
change at the end of the day there aren’t enough programmers to go around
aren’t enough programmers to go around
aren’t enough programmers to go around so luckily companies have to think of
so luckily companies have to think of
so luckily companies have to think of different ways to approach things
different ways to approach things
different ways to approach things the explosion of demand and Technology
the explosion of demand and Technology
the explosion of demand and Technology colliding with a wholly inadequate
colliding with a wholly inadequate
colliding with a wholly inadequate talent pipeline is exactly the crisis we
talent pipeline is exactly the crisis we
talent pipeline is exactly the crisis we need to shock a complacent industry into
need to shock a complacent industry into
need to shock a complacent industry into changing their entrenched ideas and
changing their entrenched ideas and
changing their entrenched ideas and practices around hiring whether to
practices around hiring whether to
practices around hiring whether to intentionally build a more inclusive
intentionally build a more inclusive
intentionally build a more inclusive team or simply to keep up with the
team or simply to keep up with the
team or simply to keep up with the demands of an increasingly digital world
demands of an increasingly digital world
demands of an increasingly digital world companies are having to re-examine their
companies are having to re-examine their
companies are having to re-examine their processes in order to tap a broader pool
processes in order to tap a broader pool
processes in order to tap a broader pool of talent right now while the demand is
of talent right now while the demand is
of talent right now while the demand is so high in the supply so low we have a
so high in the supply so low we have a
so high in the supply so low we have a unique window to retrain the industry to
unique window to retrain the industry to
unique window to retrain the industry to embrace talent that can help them build
embrace talent that can help them build
embrace talent that can help them build teams that can develop empathy with
teams that can develop empathy with
teams that can develop empathy with their users that opportunity has helped
their users that opportunity has helped
their users that opportunity has helped to fuel a new breed of immersive
to fuel a new breed of immersive
to fuel a new breed of immersive accelerated learning programs that are
accelerated learning programs that are
accelerated learning programs that are helping to bring on under and unhappily
helping to bring on under and unhappily
helping to bring on under and unhappily employed people from diverse backgrounds
employed people from diverse backgrounds
employed people from diverse backgrounds and demographics into the tech sector
and demographics into the tech sector
and demographics into the tech sector tech boot camps as they’re sometimes
tech boot camps as they’re sometimes
tech boot camps as they’re sometimes called first appeared about five years
called first appeared about five years
called first appeared about five years ago but this year more than a hundred
ago but this year more than a hundred
ago but this year more than a hundred programs will graduate 23,000 people
programs will graduate 23,000 people
programs will graduate 23,000 people into the industry that’s about a fifth
into the industry that’s about a fifth
into the industry that’s about a fifth of people coming from traditional
of people coming from traditional
of people coming from traditional sources so it’s starting to really make
sources so it’s starting to really make
sources so it’s starting to really make an impact in these programs students are
an impact in these programs students are
an impact in these programs students are typically spending about five months
typically spending about five months
typically spending about five months studying most of its 60 to 80 hours a
studying most of its 60 to 80 hours a
studying most of its 60 to 80 hours a week building skills and software
week building skills and software
week building skills and software engineering user experience design and
engineering user experience design and
engineering user experience design and other in-demand areas it might sound a
other in-demand areas it might sound a
other in-demand areas it might sound a little crazy you quit your job and you
little crazy you quit your job and you
little crazy you quit your job and you dedicate base
dedicate base
dedicate base every waking moment to learning but it’s
every waking moment to learning but it’s
every waking moment to learning but it’s working nearly 90% of the grads from my
working nearly 90% of the grads from my
working nearly 90% of the grads from my school start careers intact within six
school start careers intact within six
school start careers intact within six months and other programs across the
months and other programs across the
months and other programs across the country have similar success rates so
country have similar success rates so
country have similar success rates so how do these candidates look relative to
how do these candidates look relative to
how do these candidates look relative to the average developer they’re 57% male
the average developer they’re 57% male
the average developer they’re 57% male they’re 79% white or Asian and the
they’re 79% white or Asian and the
they’re 79% white or Asian and the average age is 30 so demographically
average age is 30 so demographically
average age is 30 so demographically boot camp grads are more inclusive than
boot camp grads are more inclusive than
boot camp grads are more inclusive than the industry but the biggest difference
the industry but the biggest difference
the industry but the biggest difference is the diversity of backgrounds and the
is the diversity of backgrounds and the
is the diversity of backgrounds and the fact that the vast majority these people
fact that the vast majority these people
fact that the vast majority these people are coming from outside of technology
are coming from outside of technology
are coming from outside of technology students hail from a wide variety of
students hail from a wide variety of
students hail from a wide variety of industries but some of the most strongly
industries but some of the most strongly
industries but some of the most strongly represented our retail education finance
represented our retail education finance
represented our retail education finance and healthcare all of which are
and healthcare all of which are
and healthcare all of which are industries that are being actively
industries that are being actively
industries that are being actively disrupted by software and where insights
disrupted by software and where insights
disrupted by software and where insights from the field could be terrifically
from the field could be terrifically
from the field could be terrifically relevant if the tech industry wants to
relevant if the tech industry wants to
relevant if the tech industry wants to rise to the challenge of reinventing our
rise to the challenge of reinventing our
rise to the challenge of reinventing our world accelerated learning must be part
world accelerated learning must be part
world accelerated learning must be part of the solution alongside other efforts
of the solution alongside other efforts
of the solution alongside other efforts to diversify the stem talent pipeline
to diversify the stem talent pipeline
to diversify the stem talent pipeline graduates of these programs can help
graduates of these programs can help
graduates of these programs can help organizations to diversify their
organizations to diversify their
organizations to diversify their demographics and backgrounds of their
demographics and backgrounds of their
demographics and backgrounds of their teams immediately while bringing
teams immediately while bringing
teams immediately while bringing valuable context from a variety of
valuable context from a variety of
valuable context from a variety of different industries that can help
different industries that can help
different industries that can help ground innovative digital solutions with
ground innovative digital solutions with
ground innovative digital solutions with real-world experience the challenge of
real-world experience the challenge of
real-world experience the challenge of filling those 1 million jobs is an
filling those 1 million jobs is an
filling those 1 million jobs is an opportunity for technology to reinvent
opportunity for technology to reinvent
opportunity for technology to reinvent itself we can choose to elevate empathy
itself we can choose to elevate empathy
itself we can choose to elevate empathy for users and bring the human side of
for users and bring the human side of
for users and bring the human side of software development to the forefront
software development to the forefront
software development to the forefront all that’s required is for organizations
all that’s required is for organizations
all that’s required is for organizations to think critically about who belongs on
to think critically about who belongs on
to think critically about who belongs on the teams that will build the future for
the teams that will build the future for
the teams that will build the future for their companies and for their users they
their companies and for their users they
their companies and for their users they need to embrace non-traditional
need to embrace non-traditional
need to embrace non-traditional candidates who may bring the context and
candidates who may bring the context and
candidates who may bring the context and empathy to the table that can help I
empathy to the table that can help I
empathy to the table that can help I know firsthand that there’s an army of
know firsthand that there’s an army of
know firsthand that there’s an army of untapped smart capable people out there
untapped smart capable people out there
untapped smart capable people out there waiting to help change the world with
waiting to help change the world with
waiting to help change the world with software we just need to give them a
software we just need to give them a
software we just need to give them a chance thank you
chance thank you
chance thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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