Encouraging Professional Growth

Career progression : Yes, but without the manage people part There is a growing group of young professionals who do not aspire to be a people manager. There are good reasons for this with for instance research from McKinsey indicating that 53% of middle managers say they’re overwhelmed in work, and 51% say it’s impossible to give all of their direct reports the one-on-one time they need. Suzie Coen published an interesting article in The Hill on how companies are creating dual career paths to respond to the growing trend of people that dont aspire to be people managers. 1. Shopify split its career ladder into two tracks, “crafter” for individual contributors and “manager” for aspiring leaders. This allows individuals to advance in their areas of expertise and passion, rather than forcing them into roles that may not suit their skills or interests. Under Shopify’s dual-track framework, individual contributors or crafters can ascend in their careers without the implicit necessity to manage people, but they’re regarded as leaders and are compensated accordingly. Offering a distinct managerial track has helped to empower individuals who have a genuine interest and skill in leadership and people management to pursue those roles. 2. Walmart Global Tech launched a Fellow program which fosters growth in individual expertise, without mandating a shift to managerial roles. 3. Google’s engineering teams have created an “individual contributor” career path that is more prestigious than the manager path, and sidesteps management entirely. 4.Mastercard, employees can either progress as consultants (functional) or leaders (managerial). The company already has these defined paths in project management and sales, and plans to implement them in product development, marketing and communications. 5. BP has triple tracks: functional specialists, functional leaders and business leaders 6. Rolls Royce also has three tracks for promotion in the form of specialist roles, technical manager and project manager. Not all completely new but an interesting approach to enable a different career progression path for single contributors who just dont like the people manager part of the next level jobs. Source: https://lnkd.in/eGrr-Ud3

I just talked to an aspiring data analyst who took a popular bootcamp and still feels inadequate for their job search. Why? The bootcamp taught WIDE skills instead of DEEP. I stood there stunned hearing about how they learned a little bit of Tableau and a little bit of Power BI and a little bit of SQL, etc. but didn't learn anything super well on a deeper level. These basic high-level skills are fluffy, and anyone can learn them. They aren't helping you stand out on the job market and probably barely teach you enough to build a project. Why learn 2 BI tools (Tableau AND Power BI) when you could learn 1 deeply and transfer the skills to others in the future? Instead of learning a little bit of everything, focus on max 2-3 tools and learn them deeply. It'll make all the difference in your job search and career. Don't underestimate transferrable skills.

🎓 An Exciting Development in Doctoral Education? 🌟 This article in today's Times Higher Education sheds light on the "Venture Science Doctorate" program, which aims to reorient PhD candidates towards entrepreneurship and innovation. The venture science doctorate is a novel concept introduced by a British investment company in collaboration with technology translation experts from Imperial College London. This program allows PhD students to establish start-ups based on their research while completing their studies. Its primary objective is to address many graduate researchers' challenges in securing funding for their innovative ideas. Since its launch in 2016, this program, known as DSV (Deep Science Ventures), has been instrumental in establishing more than 40 science start-ups with a combined valuation exceeding £300 million. Building on this success, DSV ventured into the field of doctoral education, and its new program has garnered significant attention, with over 400 applications received during its inaugural year. Under the program, selected candidates engage in interdisciplinary, immersive analyses focused on societal outcomes. They collaborate with like-researchers and gain access to industry experts. This unique approach aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, providing PhD students with the necessary skills and contacts to succeed in both realms. In the program's initial year, students receive training in ten essential areas of starting and running a company, including leadership, storytelling, and industry economics. These skills are essential for equipping PhD graduates with the tools they need to transition into entrepreneurial roles, as traditionally, less than 0.5% of PhDs venture into the world of start-ups. One notable feature of the venture science doctorate is the mentorship provided to each doctoral student, guiding them in systematically exploring their respective sectors. The ultimate goal is to prioritize improving global outcomes, diverging from the traditional focus on academic publications. According to Dr. Thane Campbell, the Dean of Education at DSV, the program aims to train approximately 1,000 students by 2033, focusing on diversity and inclusivity. It aspires to have at least 80% of its graduates establish their own start-ups, a notable departure from the current 4% to 8% of PhD graduates who pursue entrepreneurship, depending on the sector. Does the venture science doctorate represent a significant step towards empowering PhD graduates to become successful entrepreneurs? Could a program like this work in New Zealand? What do you think? (Unfortunately, this article will be behind THE’s paywall for some of you. You can also read about the venture science doctorate at https://lnkd.in/gh-xehvV.) #PhD #entrepreneurship #venturescience #universities #highereducation

The time has come for pre-sales specializations. Especially because I believe this is a big missing part of career development. Over the last decade I've seen way to many pre-sales roles where the SE/SC is expected to tackle certain "extra" activities without being given the time to get them done. Creating specialization tracks is a way to formalize those requirements and set the expectation around time allocation for these activities. Here are the specializations I can foresee today: - Advocate Specialist: someone who attends conferences, creates external content, contributes to webinars, and helps to drive brand and problem awareness. Closely aligned to the marketing team, this role leans into a mix of writing, speaking, and creative skills. - Deployment Specialist: someone who scopes professional services and performs (small) deployments. Closely aligned to PS + CSM, this role owns best practices around implementation and long term measured adoption. - Enablement Specialist: someone who acts as the "go to" resource when it comes to supporting the enablement team. This can include supporting new hires, providing feedback on enablement materials and training, or participating in field training (as a technical resource). - Solution Specialist: someone who is a deep technical expert in a given product or solution. Often working closely with the product team and maintaining an internal lab environment, this role knows all the nitty gritty of different solutions. While some of these might be full time roles as companies grow, they can also present specialized careers paths for individuals looking to grow in the IC role (vs forcing everyone down the mgmt track). Each role is closely aligned with another internal team, leading to cross-collaboration and supporting GTM as a whole. What do you think...am I missing any specializations? #sales #b2bsales #cybersecurity #startups

6 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 Want proof that #VR, #MR, and #AI are transforming education and training? Here’s how global organisations are creating measurable impact with extended reality: 1️⃣ 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 (𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻) ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Addressing nursing shortages and training working adults. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: VR training with Meta Quest for clinical and soft skills, in partnership with PCS Spark and Oxford Medical Simulation. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: 10–15% increase in national nursing exam pass rates. 4,000+ nurses trained. Marked improvements in student confidence and real-world preparedness. 2️⃣ 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗴𝗼𝘄 ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Physical constraints in teaching 3D subjects and remote learning accessibility. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Mixed reality lab with Meta Quest headsets and 12 custom MR apps, developed with Edify. VR labs created in partnership with leading immersive tech companies, allowing teachers to lead 3D classes remotely. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: Thousands of students taught per semester. £3.7M UK government investment. Recognized in The Times Higher Education Awards 2021. Students reported increased confidence and deeper understanding of material, even in remote settings. 3️⃣ 𝗡𝗬𝗨 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Risky, limited traditional anesthetic training. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: VR simulation for oral anesthesia using Meta Quest. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: 1,200+ dental students trained. Greater student confidence. VR program licensed to other schools. 4️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Making science practical for online and in-person learners. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Mixed reality classes with Meta Quest, immersive views, and AI avatars. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: 100% of teachers reported improved student confidence. 85% improvement in content recall. 94% of students learned better in VR. 5️⃣ 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗧𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹) ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Training efficiency and safety in healthcare settings. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: VR modules for Lean principles with Meta Quest 2. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: 100% of participants said VR deepened their understanding. Plans to expand VR training hospital-wide. 6️⃣ 𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 ✦ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Scaling auto-mechanic training for formerly incarcerated people. ✦ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: VR training with Meta Quest 2 and the EMPACT Immersive Training Platform. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: Early graduates securing jobs quickly. Reduced recidivism rates. Major potential for broader socio-economic impact. #ExtendedReality #MetaForWork #EdTech #VRTraining #MixedReality #Impact

Your learning programs are failing for the same reason most people quit the gym. If your carefully designed learning program has the same completion rate as a January gym membership, you're making the same mistake as every mediocre fitness trainer. You're designing for an "average learner" who doesn't exist. Here's how smart learning designers can apply fitness training principles to create more impactful experiences: 1️⃣ Progressive Overload 🏋️♀️ In fitness: Gradually increasing weight, frequency, or reps to build strength and endurance. 🧠 In learning: Systematically increasing cognitive challenge to build deeper understanding. How to integrate in your next design: - Create tiered challenge levels within each learning module - Build knowledge checks that adapt difficulty based on previous performance - Include optional "challenge" activities for advanced learners - Document the progression pathway so learners can see their growth 2️⃣ Scaled Workouts 🏋️♀️ In fitness: Modifying exercises to match individual fitness levels while preserving movement patterns. 🧠 In learning: Adapting content complexity while maintaining core learning objectives. How to integrate in your next design: - Create three versions of each activity (beginner, intermediate, advanced) - Include prerequisite self-assessments that guide learners to appropriate starting points - Design scaffolded resources that can be added or removed based on learner needs - Allow multiple paths to demonstrate competency 3️⃣ Active Recovery 🏋️♀️ In fitness: Low-intensity activity between intense workouts that promotes healing and prevents burnout. 🧠 In learning: Structured reflection periods that consolidate knowledge and prevent cognitive overload. How to integrate in your next design: - Schedule reflection activities between challenging content sections - Create templates that prompt learners to connect new concepts to existing knowledge - Include peer teaching opportunities as a form of active learning recovery - Design "cognitive cooldowns" that close each module with key takeaway exercises 4️⃣ Periodisation 🏋️♀️ In fitness: Organising training into structured cycles with varying intensity and focus. 🧠 In learning: Cycling between concept acquisition, application, and mastery phases. How to integrate in your next design: - Map your curriculum into distinct learning phases (foundation, application, mastery) - Create "micro-cycles" within modules that alternate between content delivery and practice - Design culminating challenges at the end of each learning cycle - Include assessment "de-load" weeks with lighter workload but higher reflection The best learning experience isn't the one with the most content or the fanciest technology—it's the one designed for consistent progress through appropriate challenge. What fitness training principle will you incorporate in your next learning design?

Over the years, I've developed strategies to turn the overwhelming influx of information from events into actionable steps for business success. If there’s one piece of advice I always hold true, it’s this: To make an event successful, boil down all your action items to three key things and understand how you're going to measure their success. Trade shows are perfect for gaining new insights, networking, and generating ideas. However, the sheer volume of information can be paralyzing. You'll encounter countless sessions and speakers filling you with knowledge and inspiration. But the reality is—you won't be able to remember everything shared. Before attending, take the time to understand the current challenges your business faces. Review the agenda, research the speakers, and consider reaching out to them. Knowing your business’s pain points will help you filter the vast amount of information you receive and identify what’s immediately applicable. During the event, develop a system to categorize the information: 1️⃣ Immediate Action Items - Things you need to implement immediately. 2️⃣ Future Reference Material - Information not relevant today but might be useful later. 3️⃣ Less Relevant Data - Content that doesn't apply to your business. After each session, highlight or underline the key takeaway. Annotate these notes with your thoughts and potential action items. At the end of the day, or before attending social events, rank these action items based on: 📌 Level of Effort (LoE): How hard it is to implement. 📌 Return on Investment (RoI): The potential benefit it could bring. Visualize your action items in a quadrant setup. By placing your action items in this context, you can make informed decisions about where to invest your time and resources. 📌 Low Effort, Low Return 📌 Low Effort, High Return 📌 High Effort, Low Return 📌 High Effort, High Return The goal is to walk away with three focused action items—your “action list.” These should be tasks that will significantly impact your business and are manageable. Knowing these will prevent you from being distracted by the remaining 90% of content that doesn’t align with your immediate goals. Happy Networking! #AmazonAccelerate #AmazonAds #Amazon

2024 started with a bang! 💥 kicked off the Seed Transformation program at Stanford Seed Entrepreneurship is a game of uncertainty, so it’s highly valuable to understand the tricks of the trade from businesses fighting the same battles as you or the ones who’ve won it and are ahead of the curve. During the first immersion week of the program, I got the opportunity to learn from Stanford Professors — Baba Shiv and Jesper Sorensen. They shared some gems of insights on: • X-framework: Understanding human motivations and the distinction between the prospect vs. protect mindset, along with techniques on how to transition between these two mindsets. • Business Model Canvas (BMC): A strategic tool to see our business from a holistic, 360-degree angle. • Building a solid strategy is an iterative constant process, not a one-time task. • Why capturing value is more important than creating value • The level of leadership it takes of scale an organization • How to differentiate between Adaptive challenges vs. Technical problems In addition to that, got a chance to connect with fellow bootstrapped founders. Turns out, the cohort has 85% bootstrapped founders. Since we face similar challenges to a degree, it was a great space to bounce around ideas and pick up a few tricks. Can’t wait to share more of such learnings in my upcoming posts. #StanfordSeed #startups #entrepreneurship #tech

Over the next 3 months, I’m hosting 4 major events in France, UK, USA and KSA. Beforehand, I want to share my top tips on how to get the best out of networking. 1. Set Clear Targets Action: Make a hit list of the top 10 companies or people you need to meet. Research what they care about—know their wins, pain points, & what they’re hunting for before you walk through the door. Outcome: These conversations won’t just happen by chance. By doing your homework, you’ll turn a five-minute chat into a deal-building moment. Schedule meetings in advance, & after the event, send a tailored follow-up email that shows you were listening. 2. Take the Stage (Literally) Action: Get on the agenda. Whether it’s a keynote, panel, or fireside chat, nothing says “I’m the one to watch” like holding the mic. Use this time to address the industry’s biggest challenges & position yourself—& your company—as the answer. Outcome: Speaking builds instant credibility. It’s not just exposure; it’s authority. Post-event, share the highlights on LinkedIn & invite attendees to continue the conversation, turning an audience into a lead pipeline. 3. Own the Floor Action: Don’t just lurk—work the room. Engage with key exhibitors, ask questions, & position yourself as a resource, not just another pitch. Be direct but curious: “What’s your biggest challenge this year?” and “How can I help?” are powerful openers. Outcome: You’ll stand out as someone who listens. Take notes during conversations, & follow up within 48 hours with a personalised message. Not a generic “great meeting you”—send actionable insights or specific ideas that move the ball forward. 4. Host the Inner Circle Action: People bond better in a more relaxed setting than over Wi-Fi. Organise an exclusive dinner, roundtable, or cocktail event for a curated group of heavy hitters. Keep it intimate—this is about building relationships, not just showing off. Go easy on the heavy sell. Outcome: People remember who brought them value & connections, not who handed out free pens. Post-event, share any key takeaways & book one-on-one follow-ups to solidify what you started over drinks. 5. Hack the Tech Action: Use every tool at your disposal—event apps, LinkedIn, QR codes. Pre-event, reach out to attendees & book meetings. At the event, swap contacts digitally to keep things seamless, & use a CRM to track every interaction. Outcome: You’ll leave the event with an organised roadmap of leads, not just a stack of business cards destined for a desk drawer. Follow up strategically with segmented, value-driven emails & keep the momentum alive. The Bottom Line: Trade fairs & exhibitions aren’t just networking. Preparation, presence, & follow-up separate those who close deals from those who just collect swag bags. Be human. Don’t think of this as just a branding exercise but an opportunity for long term partnerships. Be genuine - your new contacts will become close contacts, if not friends. Make it count! #revenuegrowth

Immersive learning isn’t the future—it’s happening now at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah. Over the past term at AURAK, my students and I embarked on a journey to transform traditional teaching materials into interactive, immersive learning modules using ThingLink. Across five departments—from AI and Chemistry to Biotechnology and Media Production—we’ve built something special: a scalable model for faculty-led, student-powered e-learning innovation. In this article, I reflect on our process, share real student projects, and explore the learning theories that guide this work. I also talk about why empowering faculty to design their own immersive content is more sustainable than outsourcing. I’d love for you to read, share, and join the conversation on how we can rethink education together. A big thank you to all the innovators and leaders from AURAK Cijo Vazhappilly Khouloud Salameh Prof. Irshad Ahmad Dr. Sara Faiz Mohamed Sharul #EdTech #ImmersiveLearning #InstructionalDesign #HigherEducation #ThingLink #FacultyDevelopment #VRinEducation #DigitalPedagogy