Everyday, The Carrera Agency thoughtfully connects clients to top technology talent. It’s what we have been doing since day one, and it’s what we will do for years to come. Although technology demands have changed significantly since the company’s inception in 2002, Carrera recognizes that the need for detailed thought and extra effort hasn’t. And this past year we have contributed a great deal of thought toward both information technology and digital strategy (aka Carrera’s Designing North Studios division). With input from our large network of freelance talent and experienced and knowledgeable talent management team, the following are the curated discussions which have made this past year so memorable.
In a time of frequent disruption with technology impacting every aspect of business, The Carrera Agency continues to strengthen its practitioner approach to strategic talent management through leveraging boutique technology and digital design services to some of the largest organizations in the country. Whether a company is gearing up for expansion, or a consultant is ready to take a leap into a new role, The Carrera Agency remains focused on the most important aspect of any team, its people.
Read the full article: Talent Management: A Practitioner's Approach to People, Skills and the Workplace
When we asked a group of CIOs in the Southern California region what their biggest concern was for the immediate future their answer was clear: cybersecurity and social engineering; the culmination of people, process and technology. A nuance in cyber crime from predominantly email to a new, social-driven world has paved the way for a modern form of social engineering, better known as social media engineering.
Read the full article: Social Engineering, a Driver for Cybersecurity Awareness
Now, and in the future, the ‘art’ of project management may be even more important than the science. But let’s not get carried away, the mechanics of the profession remain very important and serve as the foundation of a product manager’s skill set. From getting the job done to being the team’s biggest supporter, the modern PM must be ready to adapt to people.
Read the full article: A Project Manager Perspective on Project Management
Talent Management and Project Management: these two fields align interrelated teams which emphasize an importance on ‘people’ and ‘projects’ within the field of information technology. And when analyzing the two from the perspective of a practitioner, you will find people, processes, and technology to be the three pillars to performance and success. “The right people for the right projects, that’s talent management, having the right people to lead these projects, that’s project management."
Read the full article: The Three Pillars of Talent and Project Management
Big data is no longer exclusive to IT companies. And whether we can see it or not, it’s ripe for the picking, ready to solve a wide array of problems. From machine learning to aggregation and analytics, big data makes strategies that were once impossible, possible. And with these possibilities comes an increase in using big data for social ‘good.’
These modern projects serve as a glowing north-star for the positivity that big data can offer to both society and business, something that companies such as Illumina and Western Digital are very familiar with:
Read the full article here: Doing GOOD With Big Data Projects
Digital disruption is everywhere, and the competitive landscape has shifted to a modern form where customized business solutions must be delivered at a rapid pace. But in order to be successful, business and IT leaders need to work hand-in-hand to innovate quickly and deliver on all transformation scenarios.
To understand the opportunities and challenges of today’s business landscape, we’ve been listening attentively to what CIO’s and technology executives have been saying about their own organizations.And one factor remains salient among all groups: all departments must be comfortable with change.
Read the full article: Digital Transformation: Key Factors for Business and IT Leaders
Every organization that embarks on a digital transformation falls somewhere on the readiness scale. And identifying readiness for digital transformation is one of the most important steps in the entire process.
The path forward for digital business change is paved differently with unique challenges for every organization. And it’s important to understand that each level of readiness calls for a long-term strategy if a company wishes to experience their growth potential.
Read the full article here: Digital Transformation: Identifying the Levels of Maturity
Current numbers indicate that the freelance workforce is the fastest growing component of the U.S. Economy. In the previous year, the freelance workforce accounted for 55 million professionals who earned nearly one trillion in income, according to a workforce survey (largest to date) commissioned by Upwork and Freelancers Union.
And by 2020, at least 40% of the workforce in the U.S. will be comprised of freelance professionals. The idea is that consultants who bring holistic skills to the table will have a greater chance of success in today’s environment than ever before.
Read the full article here: Growing the Freelance Economy With a Focus on Consultants
Think of your heart as the Chief Creative Officer of your life. The more you listen to it, the more inspiration will enter your life. As you test and identify the responsibilities that bring you joy, it’s the heart that alerts you when you’ve got it right; the ultimate system of checks and balances. This interconnectedness allows passion to flow freely, both inward to the soul and outward to the people who work alongside you.
As you identify your professional journey, think about the many enriching opportunities available to you as a consultant. Especially true for information technology fields, companies of all sizes are working to elevate the human experience, beginning with meaningful work and relationships.
Read the full article: Purpose and Passion: The Catalyst for Consulting Success
As the year comes to a close with feelings of gratitude and accomplishment, we can't help but smile at the work our team has done: relationships formed, clients cared for and people recognized. But through all of these conversations, be it technology or talent, one factor remains most important among our team's success: the people involved in everything we do. As we see it:
“People are definitely a company’s greatest asset. It doesn’t make any difference whether the product is cars or cosmetics. A company is only as good as the people it keeps.” - Mary Kay Ash
With a new year ahead, we look forward to new challenges, even greater goals and meaningful relationships. From cybersecurity to big data projects and talent management, we invite you to keep the conversation moving forward with The Carrera Agency: