348: Build Your Skill Set and Have Patience with Luke Switkowski
Release Date: 08/29/2022
367: You Should Experiment Early in Your Career with Josh Doody
IT Career Energizer
Josh Doody is a salary negotiation coach who helps Software Developers get more high-quality job offers and negotiate higher salaries using the strategies and tactics he writes about on the Fearless Salary Negotiation website. Top 3 Career Tips 1. Build financial flexibility before taking big leaps. 2. Experiment early and often. 3. Make flexible plans and be ready to pivot. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I just started listening to this podcast a couple of weeks ago and love every episode so far.” If that...
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366: Thriving in a Tech-Driven World: Nada Sanders on AI, Career Growth & Communication
IT Career Energizer
Nada Sanders is a professor at Northeastern University, internationally recognized AI thought leader, and expert in forecasting and supply chain strategy. Nada is a passionate advocate for bridging the gap between technology and humanity, helping professionals’ future-proof their careers in a digital world. Nada is a sought-after speaker and the author of seven books including the “The Humachine: AI, Human Virtues, and the Superintelligent Enterprise”. We’re giving away 5 copies of the latest edition of this fantastic book. Listen in to the episode to find out how...
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365: How to Stay Ahead of Tech Industry Changes with Tony Walker
IT Career Energizer
Tony Walker is an accomplished professional in the IT and technology industry, specializing in passive infrastructure. He leads Global Fiber Product Marketing for The Siemon Company. Tony has worked with top-tier companies, navigating dynamic challenges and offering unique solutions in areas such as cabling and network deployments. His career journey is a testament to the power of curiosity and continual learning, which has shaped his innovative approach to technology. Top 3 Career Tips 1. Some of the most exciting opportunities may not seem glamorous at first....
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364: Change Will Bring You Opportunity with Anil Pande
IT Career Energizer
Anil Pande is a director and board adviser across multiple Insurtech, Digital Health, Fintech and Consultancy firms. He is also a managing partner of TestPro. He has had a successful career delivering quality engineering services for large corporate clients by bringing best practice, in depth knowledge and practical skills to deliver challenging programmes. Top 3 Career Tips 1. Change brings opportunity with it. 2. Don’t stay still. If you’re learning you’re not staying still. 3. Get out of your comfort zone. Do things that you’ve never done...
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363: You Need To Know What You Want with Kevlin Henney
IT Career Energizer
Kevlin Henney is an independent consultant, speaker, writer and trainer. His software development interests are in programming, practice and people. Kevlin is co-author of A Pattern Language for Distributed Computing and On Patterns and Pattern Languages. He is also editor of 97 Things Every Programmer Should Know and co-editor of 97 Things Every Java Programmer Should Know. Top 3 Career Tips 1. Having an appreciation for detail is its own reward. 2. Look for the things that excite you from a technical point of view. 3. You don’t need to know...
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362: Transitioning into a Career in Tech with Vanessa Vun
IT Career Energizer
Vanessa Vun is a front-end engineer at SciShield. Vanessa is in the early stages of her tech career having transitioned into tech after realising that she felt unfulfilled in her old career working in a laboratory. Top 3 Career Tips 1. Test the waters before diving into a career in tech. 2. Career switching is a marathon not a sprint. 3. You need to out-human the AI. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I just started listening to this podcast a couple of weeks ago and love every episode so far.” If that sounds...
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361: Great Communication Skills will Amplify Your Success with Brent Dykes
IT Career Energizer
Brent Dykes is the author of Effective Data Storytelling: How to Drive Change with Data, Narrative and Visuals - . He is also the founder of AnalyticsHero, a data storytelling consultancy, the Senior Director of Data Strategy at Domo and a regular Forbes contributor. As you’ll hear, we talk about the importance of Data Analytics to companies. But also the opportunity to build a career in Data Analytics. Top 3 Career Tips 1. Consulting can be a great opportunity to work for more than one company at the same time. 2. It’s not just about...
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360: Nurture Your Network Before You Leverage It with Joe Karlsson
IT Career Energizer
Joe is a Data Engineer turned Developer Advocate. He is also a TEDx speaker and he has spoken at hundreds of technical conferences all over the globe. Joe specialises in making complex programming concepts approachable for developers of all levels. And he empowers developers to think creatively when building applications with a massive amount of data through demos, blogs, videos, or whatever else developers need. Top 3 Career Tips 1. Make sure you’re maintaining your network before you need them. 2. When someone needs help, try to help them if you...
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359: Be Audacious and Give Yourself Permission with iAsia Brown
IT Career Energizer
iAsia Brown is a Senior Producer at Xbox Gaming Studios. She has a track record of delivering Triple A and Indie game projects at scale. Prior to this iAsia worked as a Senior Program Manager for Microsoft. And this followed 16 years as a combat veteran of the US Air Force and Marine Corps. iAsia is a member of the board of directors for Women In Tech Hollywood and for Creating Coding Careers. And she has even described herself as the “Coolest Nerd You’ll Ever Meet.” Top 3 Career Tips 1. Be audacious. Don’t be afraid to just do something....
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358: You Need to Figure Out What Works for You with Anna Skoulikari
IT Career Energizer
Anna Skoulikari is an Internal Communications Project Manager at JetBrains. She is the author of “Learning Git” as well as creator of the course “Git for complete beginners”. Click on the following link below to find out more about Anna’s book and course – Top 3 Career Tips 1. Listen to your gut. Figure out what works for you. Figure out who you are and stay true to your own path. 2. Tap into your intuition and follow your curiosity. 3. Consider any advice you receive as an option in the buffet of options that you can take. ...
info_outlineIn this week’s show, Phil talks to Luke Switkowski, the CEO and cofounder of Kognitiv, a company that provides Workday consultancy and professional services. He has been working with Workday for more than a decade and developed an on-demand services model supporting Workday clients.
Luke talks about why skill sets are at the heart of every IT career. He also discusses the value of patience when it comes to unhappiness in your career path.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
TOP CAREER TIP
To build a career, you have to build a skill set. It takes patience and time, but everything is predicated upon this, so give it your full attention.
WORST CAREER MOMENT
While consulting on a project, the testing was something of a disaster. Testing showed that the systems built were dysfunctional and barely working.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT
Starting the Kognitiv business, and making it a success!
THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T
The tools and capabilities available to everyone in the world of today are very exciting, and enable us to make incredible things.
THE REVEAL
What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The potential to tinker and solve problems
What’s the best career advice you received? – Niche down and learn your specialist area.
What’s the worst career advice you received? – That degrees of education are always important to every part of your career
What would you do if you started your career now? – Work in consulting
What are your current career objectives? – Making Kognitiv even better
What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Asking questions
How do you keep your own career energized? – Working on side projects and pursuits to make the world even better
What do you do away from technology? – Barbecuing and grilling!
FINAL CAREER TIP
If you’re not happy in a position then don’t react by quitting immediately. Look for the root cause of your unhappiness and try to fix it.
BEST MOMENTS
(4:51) – Luke – “Whether we like it or not, we live in a skill-based economy and a skill-based society”
(11:09) – Luke - “Don’t assume that everyone will perform their roles in a project. Take more ownership of the work you have to do, and really follow through on it”
(15:37) – Luke – “Find a niche area in which you’re ready to learn, and learn it to the best of your ability”
(18:52)– Luke – “Ask questions and don’t be afraid to ask for help”
ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS
Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions. Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers. And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journey.
CONTACT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS
Phil can be contacted through the following Social Media platforms:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_PhilBurgess
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/philburgess
Instagram: https://instagram.com/_philburgess
Website: https://itcareerenergizer.com/contact
Phil is also reachable by email at [email protected] and via the podcast’s website, https://itcareerenergizer.com
Join the I.T. Career Energizer Community on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/ITCareerEnergizer
ABOUT THE GUEST – LUKE SWITKOWSKI
Luke Switkowski is the CEO and cofounder of Kognitiv, a company that provides Workday consultancy and professional services. He has been working with Workday for more than a decade and developed an on-demand services model supporting Workday clients.
CONTACT THE GUEST – LUKE SWITKOWSKI
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kognitivinc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-switkowski/
Website: https://kognitivinc.com/