If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been talking about the importance of people a lot lately.
The truth is, after five years in the tech industry, I’m starting to wonder if we’ve lost the plot.
In the last few weeks, I’ve talked to dozens of people who have often spent more than a decade in this industry and over and over I hear the same thing:
“I love tech, but I don’t know if I can handle staying in this market much longer.”
We could point to any number of elephants in the room that many are hesitant to address.
Mass layoffs.
Lack of work life balance.
Poor and disjointed leadership.
Little or no representation for women, people of color, and others.
But… weren’t those some of the same things that were supposed to draw us in to begin with? 🤔
An industry designed to create a better world, BY people and FOR people. 🌎
To make life simpler, more convenient.
To create an industry where anyone could carve their own path.
To empower professionals to have more control over how, when, and where they work.
To understand the importance of life outside of the office.
An industry that used to be celebrated for its inclusivity and positivity is now much more commonly associated with toxicity, instability, and uniformity.
Somewhere along the lines we forgot that behind the KPIs, quarterly goals, and stakeholder celebrations are real people that work tirelessly to make it happen.
This isn’t me being a hater, it isn’t a one woman stand against a community I love - it’s a reminder that we have to get back to what matters.
Earlier this week, the universe aligned to allow Rae Foote and I to finally meet up in person.
This industry brought us together in 2023 and I feel so grateful to be able to call such a sharp, trailblazing person a friend.
THIS is what it’s all about ya’ll. Real connections. Learning from each other. The humans behind the machines and products we put our blood, sweat, and tears into.
Leave your ego at the door and let’s make tech great again - one small act of gratitude at a time. 💙
#maketechgreatagain #peoplefirst #community
Co-Founder & CEO | Sales Automation & New Business Development at Horizon Works LLC
2moI love your insightfulness, Ryan.