Nicholas Wyman

Automation, big data, robotics and artificial intelligence, are profoundly changing the way we live. More importantly, they are changing the way we work and the way we learn. Jobs in many industries are being altered, if not wiped out, by applications of technology. Though politicians rail against globalization and the offshoring of work, half of lost jobs in U.S. manufacturing have been the direct result of automation. And there’s more to come. A recent Oxford University study predicts that 48% of existing jobs will be eliminated in the next decade as a direct result of automation and technological change. Think about that: almost every other person you pass on the street will be affected! But perceptions about where work will be is not reality. It’s time to identify and covet the skills that are in need, not just the ones that are popular. You may think it’s all about your company getting on board with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) as well as tech skills to assure yourself of a job tomorrow. But there are plenty more sweet spots out there in the future workplace. Nick will give an insight into new research, his conversations with educators and employers and practical solutions to make sure that you know the key fundamentals to succeed in the 21st century workplace.

Are you a hiring manager having a hard time finding people with the right skills to do the jobs you need filled? Or are you an executive or business owner having trouble recruiting people with the skills needed to innovate, grow your business, and compete in a tough economy? If so, there may be one obvious place you haven’t thought to look yet: inside your own organization. Today’s smart companies are finding the valuable human capital they need to accomplish business objectives and get a leg up on their competitors - while saving money on recruiting costs and turn-over - by growing it from within. In this talk, skills expert Nicholas Wyman shares all he has learned helping companies develop their state-of-the-art skills training programs to show managers and HR professionals how to find productive, motivated, talented people for any position without having to look any further than their existing roster by investing in training and developing the talent they already have.

Today, 14 million Americans are unemployed, while 5 million positions remain unfilled. Why? Because businesses can’t find people with the right skills to do the jobs they need. Meanwhile, costs are rising exponentially, yet 53% of recent college graduates are unemployed or underemployed. Geared toward industry leaders, policy-makers, educators, or anyone interested in our collective economic future, this lecture looks at the issues behind this often quoted “skills gap” or as Nicholas Wyman refers to it, the problem of “people without jobs and jobs without people.” Drawing on his work with the organizations, governments, and educational institutions who are pioneering the most cutting-edge solutions to the skills-gap problem, Wyman offers a roadmap for how organizations, communities, and educators can come together to develop the human capital needed to keep our businesses innovative and profitable, our economy healthy and humming, and our nation sustainably competitive in today’s global economy.

Skills training is a natural match for the entrepreneurial mindset of this generation. Getting a cluster of skills that can evolve, ensuring young people don’t obtain just one degree and become ‘locked in’ is a critical ingredient to a successful and rewarding career. Studies support that Millennials say outright, they don’t want to have the same job for a lifetime. They want the opportunity to change and grow; they want to cultivate an “entrepreneurial attitude” towards their work life. Nick’s presentation will explore how to connect motivated students to the jobs of the 21st Century. Nick will give an insight into his conversations with employers. How they think and how they hire.