Alison Jarris

Get trends and insights on the State of IT based on a survey of 650 global technology leaders.

We are experiencing a rapid shift in technology that is changing the way we exist in the world. As the technology industry evolves toward full-scale adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), there is an entirely new set of demands to compete in the global innovation market. Leading the workforce of the future in these innovative fields requires an increasingly unique set of skills. In addition to the depth of technical rigor traditionally required to lead in science, technology, engineering… Show more

We are experiencing a rapid shift in technology that is changing the way we exist in the world. As the technology industry evolves toward full-scale adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), there is an entirely new set of demands to compete in the global innovation market. Leading the workforce of the future in these innovative fields requires an increasingly unique set of skills. In addition to the depth of technical rigor traditionally required to lead in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, leaders must have emotional intelligence, communication, and management skills to succeed in our increasingly connected society.

Whether by nature or nurture, studies have found that women by far outrank men in measures of these essential “soft skills.” IoT provides an opportunity for underrepresented populations in STEM leadership—women—to find new value in their industry contributions. Widespread initiatives to integrate women into the workforce, including campaigns to promote the feminization of labor and early STEM education initiatives, have sparked a national conversation. However, evolving industry needs require us to mature past awareness of the gender gap at the top level of STEM fields and target the right kind of leaders to spearhead innovation.

Much like the convergent nature of IoT, transcending traditional gender constructs in the technology industry’s leadership will require fundamental changes in the way we think and operate; it will require us to rebuild an agile, integrated, and connected industry model that allows our businesses—and our people—to thrive.

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This column offers a change from the traditional journalistic convention of instigating blind partisan aggression and explores the new road to political progress. Having seen from current and previous lawmakers the importance of compromise, I presented a moderate view with a liberal swing and the ultimate objective to encourage collaborative politics in congress, media and individuals.

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Adopting comprehensive state-by-state smoke-free laws in the 27 states that do not already have them will save more than $1.3 billion over five years, according to a report released in June by the American Cancer Society.