Customizable Skill-Building Resources

Upskilling Strategies: Yesterday we looked at the Upskilling for business success and today we're going to look at customizing learning pathways for your Tech team. In today’s tech landscape, a one-size-fits-all approach to training just doesn’t work. To build a high-performing, future-ready tech team, upskilling programs need to be personalized and role-specific. 🔍 Start by assessing your team’s current skills: Use skills assessments, 360-degree feedback, and project performance reviews to understand the strengths and gaps within your tech teams. 🔑 Tailor learning pathways to meet the needs of specific roles within your organization. A few examples: ·       Cloud Engineers can benefit from certifications and training in platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. ·       DevOps Teams should focus on tools like Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, and CI/CD pipelines to streamline workflows and improve collaboration. ·       Cybersecurity Specialists need continuous learning in threat detection, encryption, and certifications like CISSP or CEH. ·       Software Developers could advance their skills in languages like Python or Java, or explore microservices and API development. 🎯 Personalization matters. When you align learning paths with individual roles and career goals, your team is more engaged and motivated, and the impact of upskilling is much greater. To create a successful upskilling strategy: ·       Set clear development goals based on current and future business needs. ·       Leverage e-learning platforms that offer customizable learning paths and assessments. ·       Encourage mentorship and peer learning to reinforce new skills within the team. ·       Investing in personalized learning paths doesn’t just future-proof your workforce—it drives innovation, improves retention, and keeps your tech teams agile and ready for the challenges ahead. Are your upskilling programs tailored to the unique needs of your tech team? #upskilling #personalizedlearning #techtrends #cloudengineering #DevOps #cybersecurity #continuouslearning #workforcedevelopment

Taking control of your own growth with a custom curriculum for self-development. Every year, I’ll create ‘mini diplomas’ that focus on developing a new skill over two to three months. I’ll buy a variety of books, courses, and videos and follow several thought leaders in the field. Then, I’ll write out a curriculum to work through these resources and, crucially, focus on how I’ll implement the lessons. The topic will usually revolve around a current challenge I'm facing or a skill that can immediately impact my life or business. Below is a picture of my current mini-diploma - to dive deeper into the world of learning science and training design. Why? I want to make my training programs the best they can be, have a massive impact on the teams I train, and drive real transformation. That won’t work if my training is seen as an ‘event’ and the lessons fall out of the recruiter’s heads after a few days back at their desks. I’ve been creating ‘mini diplomas’ for the past few years. I usually aim to build out my resources from a few different sources to give different perspectives. The 2-3 month timeline means I won’t focus on anything else. There are a lot of distractions out there (particularly in the world of tech/AI), and so it can be tempting to veer off-course. But that depth means I’ll spend 20-40 hours on that topic and become pretty proficient at it. Then, I have the option of extending the time or moving on to my next topic. I highly recommend this approach to anyone at any stage of their career. At the end of the day, no one else is going to be responsible for your personal or professional development; it’s up to you. #minidiploma #personaldevelopment

I had the privilege of joining Haley Glover and Rebekkah Hogan on a panel at #SXSWEDU discussing the The AI Alliance Guide to Essential Competencies for AI. The guide defines essential competencies, which support a framework for education and training curricula and can help promote inclusive access to AI education so that individuals can gain key AI skills needed to succeed as AI transforms roles across industries. I come to SXSW EDU each year to learn about emerging trends and edtech innovations from leading practitioners. My conversations this week have confirmed what I am hearing from partners across the work I do at IBM: there’s a growing urgency around AI education and bridging the AI divide. With AI adoption rapidly growing and open-source AI models becoming more accessible, the need for AI skills has never been more urgent. As the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2025 report highlights, 39% of skills will be outdated by 2030, underscoring the need for AI education. As a follow-up to the AI Alliance’s Guide to Essential Competencies for AI, I announced two new IBM initiatives aimed at AI education and skilling. 1) New IBM SkillsBuild University Strategy: IBM is partnering with universities worldwide to enhance AI education through faculty training, hands-on labs, real-world learning, and access to generative AI and LLMs like watsonx and IBM Granite. Additionally, we’re launching free online courses to help learners at all levels explore generative AI. If you’re a university or faculty member, let’s collaborate. To learn more about how we’re empowering students, universities, and faculty members, check out our blog to know the resources available for free: https://lnkd.in/e4v-Sj2e 2) New IBM SkillsBuild AI Readiness Assessment: Our new IBM SkillsBuild AI Readiness Assessment will first have learners take a test to evaluate their skills and personalities, determining their AI readiness. Then, using watsonx, IBM’s portfolio of generative AI products, to drive insights, the assessment matches learners to specific skill levels and provides personalized learning recommendations on IBM SkillsBuild. Designed for learners in different life stages —high school students, post-secondary learners, and adult learners – the assessment provides clear guidance to support learners’ learning journey, as well as offers insights to help educators better support their students. The assessment will be available to learners in the first half of the year. We must equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to understand and use AI effectively in school, work, and life. Our new IBM SkillsBuild initiatives will help bridge the skills gap and drive innovation. I’m excited to continue our work advancing these efforts and empowering the next generation of AI talent. #IBMSkillsBuild #AIEducation #FutureofWork #SXSWEDU

One size doesn't fit all when it comes to learning. Let's dive into personalized learning paths and how they empower our teams. As leaders, we recognize that each employee has unique strengths, preferences, and growth areas. Personalized learning paths allow us to tailor development experiences. Let’s look at 5 strategies for personalized learning: 1. #SkillsAssessment: Start by assessing individual skills. Use tools like competency frameworks or self-assessment surveys. Identify gaps and strengths. Imagine a marketing manager discovering a knack for data analytics during a skills assessment. We can then guide them toward relevant courses or workshops. 2. Customized content: Offer a buffet of learning resources. Some prefer bite-sized videos; others thrive on in-depth articles. Curate content that aligns with diverse learning styles. Imagine a visual learner immersing themselves in infographics about market trends while an analytical thinker dives into case studies. 3. #Microlearning modules: Break down topics into bite-sized chunks. Microlearning fits busy schedules and enhances retention. Imagine short modules on negotiation skills or time management. These snackable lessons can be consumed during coffee breaks or commutes. 4. Assign mentors and learning coaches: They guide employees, provide feedback, and celebrate milestones. A seasoned leader can help a junior manager navigate complex projects. Imagine a mentor sharing insights on stakeholder management or organizational change leadership. 5. Gamified challenges: Set challenges, quizzes, or simulations. Reward progress. Imagine a sales team competing in a product knowledge quiz—learning becomes fun! The top scorer gets a virtual high-five. Remember, agility isn't just about reacting swiftly; it's about learning, adapting, and thriving. #ContinuousLearning #IndividualDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment