E is for Eskwelabs Issue 76 - Eskwelabs’ Declassified Future-Proofing Guide 📒
Welcome to the future of work! We are in a time when we maximize technology and automation to create a culture of inclusive, purpose-driven work for lifelong learners. ✨
We created this newsletter to keep our alums, partners, and anyone interested in learning skills for the future of work updated and connected to our ever-growing community. If you want to read our previous issues, you can check them out here.
Ciao! This is Meg speaking. 😉 Welcome to the future of work! We are in a time when we maximize technology and automation to create a culture of inclusive, purpose-driven work for lifelong learners. ✨ Eskwelabs’ fourth anniversary is a reminder that this future is accessible AND inclusive. Whether you’re a student, an employee, an aspiring bootcamp learner, an alumni, or a manager seeking opportunities to upskill their team, this guide will be useful to you because we ALL have a place in the future of work. 💯
Issue 76 is unique in the sense that it is a list—a guide for how we, as individuals and as organizations, can set ourselves up for success in a changing environment. We hope you take these suggestions proactively, so we can cross the bridge to the future together. 🌉
Some questions to reflect on in this newsletter:
How much have I grown over the past year? Where do I see myself in a year? 🔮
How do I measure impact in my work? ☄️
What can I contribute to an evergreen community of lifelong learners? 💚
Happy reading!
Reading time: 10 minutes
📚 Expert Interviews: Why we need insights from experts in the field
We depend on knowledge in the modern economy. According to an interview with Robert C. Post, the dean of Yale Law School, he says that innovation and technology are all driven by expertise. 🧠 Without understanding the world around us, it's impossible to create and control natural and social forces. This means we can't have the achievements that society needs to progress.
When it comes to technical skills anchored in data, it's even more encouraged to consult with experts in the field. Data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are constantly evolving, and some lack understanding of the role this industry plays in enhancing our daily lives. ⚙️ Learning from experts and hearing how they use these skills first-hand would answer our curiosities and ease any hesitations we have in learning them.
We had an interview with Riz Supreme Comia, a graduate of Eskwelabs’ Data Analytics Bootcamp Cohort 3. She designs and facilitates learning experiences in data analytics, functional literacy, mobility, social reform, and life skills with government officials, families from urban poor areas, persons with disabilities, and learners with underdeveloped literacy. 👩🏫 Read more about her insights here.
We also sat down and had an interview with Czarina Bastasa, a data analyst and expert in the field. 📊 She shared her insights on the current state of data processing in the industry, as well as what trends she’s seeing on the horizon. Our recent conversation shows data is an ever-evolving field and how exciting it is to be part of that.
Stay tuned for more “Skills of the Future” content where we feature interviews and conversations with leading experts in technology, data, education, and business! ✅
🔍 Trending Topics: Why we need to keep up with what’s new
Staying informed on industry trends and technology is essential for success as it allows you to anticipate changes and identify growth opportunities. 📈 For organizations, understanding emerging technologies and market trends enables you to create products and services that meet customer needs, make informed decisions about your business, and establish yourself as an industry leader.
Here’s a list of topics and resources you can look into to stay ahead:
Artificial Intelligence 🤖: MIT Technology Review (technologyreview.com), Forbes AI section (forbes.com/ai)
Remote Work 💼: Harvard Business Review (hbr.org)
Blockchain technology 🪙: CoinDesk (coindesk.com), Investopedia (investopedia.com)
Cybersecurity✅: SecurityWeek (securityweek.com), Dark Reading (darkreading.com)
Data analytics 🖥️: KDnuggets (kdnuggets.com), Data Science Central (datasciencecentral.com)
Internet of Things (IoT) 🖱️: IoT For All (iotforall.com), IoT Analytics (iot-analytics.com)
Cloud computing ☁️: CloudTech (cloudcomputing-news.net), TechRepublic (techrepublic.com)
Digital marketing 💹: HubSpot Blog (blog.hubspot.com/marketing)
E-commerce 💵: Shopify Blog (shopify.com/blog), eMarketer (emarketer.com)
Sustainable practices 🌳: Sustainable Brands (sustainablebrands.com), GreenBiz (greenbiz.com), World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
The list above is generated by ChatGPT-3 with the prompt “Write a list of essential topics to stay ahead of change in the future of work. Provide resources”
Our websites, eskwelabs.com and learningsprints.eskwelabs.com are also great resources to stay updated with the latest developments in education and technology as we are always on the lookout to upskill ourselves and our learners. 😉
🎯 Training Resources: Why we need cohort-based learning
The learner should have the greatest influence on any Learning and Development initiative. 🧑🎓 For this reason, cohort-based learning has been dubbed the future of learning. It is a learning pedagogy that treats a group of learners as one team, ensuring that not only do they develop hard, technical skills but also soft skills such as communication, empathy, and leadership. 👏
Cohort-based learning has also seen a massive surge in popularity in recent years and for good reason. With the rise of remote work and distributed teams, learners are turning to online and digital resources to achieve their learning goals. 🗺️ These types of programs promote meaningful interactions with peers and instructors, leading to a deeper understanding of course material and higher levels of retention. 💡
Eskwelabs’ cohort-based courses are ones that have been tried and tested over the years. Our confidence in these programs is based on the fact that they are designed and executed by experts in order to meet the diverse needs of our learners. 🤝
Upskilling starts today! Our Data Analytics Bootcamp and Data Science Fellowship are still open for admissions. 🧡
📝 Sign-up for Cohort 11 of the Data Analytics Bootcamp here: https://eskwe.link/DABootcamp
📝 Sign-up for Cohort 12 of the Data Science Fellowship here: https://eskwe.link/DSFellowship
💡 Innovation Showcase: Why we are driven by impact
The drive for social impact cannot be separated from the future of work. At Eskwelabs, we believe that through education and upskilling, we can empower individuals and communities to create positive changes and drive innovation in their respective fields. 🚀 We are continuously inspired by the impact our learners have made in their careers and communities.
Our Data Analytics Bootcamp learners wrap up Sprint 1 by making a CO2 Emissions Presentation. 💨 They use Power BI to investigate CO2 data from Southeast Asian countries and derive meaningful insights from it.
For example, Group 2 of Cohort 10 came up with the data-driven recommendation that Vietnam must pivot toward renewable sources of energy and decarbonize its industries in order for them to reach its emission reduction goals. 😮 Their investigation has led them to the following information:
➡️ Vietnam’s CO2 emission is greater than the Southeast Asian lower-middle-income countries’ average
➡️ GDP per capita and population are the strongest drivers of CO2 emissions in Vietnam
➡️ Coal CO2 has had the greatest impact in terms of CO2 emissions from 2000-present
Our Data Science Fellows, on the other hand, are able to showcase their bootcamp learnings through Demo Day—a culmination of their learnings in the form of a presentation in collaboration with data professionals. 🤔 The recent Cohort 10 graduates made presentations on skincare brands, traffic management, the hotel industry, archetypes of data professionals, and precipitation in Manila. You may read on these projects from the perspective of a Data Analytics Bootcamp graduate here or you may watch the presentations yourselves! 👏
Great news–our showcases are gonna get BIGGER and BETTER in our fifth year! 👀 Stay tuned for updates!
🗞️ Company Milestones: Why we need to collaborate
The future is not lonely as we each have a role to play in order to succeed. Our advice—to find your community of like-minded individuals to brave this world of constant change and innovation. 🫂 At Eskwelabs, each of our team members has significantly contributed to bringing us to where we are right now—a leader in the future of work. 💞
I think my proudest moment will always be listening to the learners' sprint projects. Whether it's a spreadsheet sprint, data storytelling sprint, or even a decision-makers sprint, it is amazing to see how the learners apply the concepts that we teach them, and it's gratifying to see all the hard work that has gone into setting up the mentors and educational materials pay off through impactful student projects. It really is my proudest moment and it continues to make me thankful to be part of this team.
One of my proudest moments during my tenure has been successfully managing 8 sprints (as of writing). They were definitely challenging at times, but with the unwavering support of the team, we were able to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional results. I am grateful to the team for their hard work, dedication, and support to go above and beyond to ensure our success. And that's what makes the Eskwelabs magic!
🌐 Future of Work Insights: Why we need to be key-shaped people
The desire to stay relevant and upskill is already a step towards being a key-shaped person. 🔑 A future-ready individual has a diverse set of skills and experiences, making them adaptable to a variety of roles and industries. 🎨 Moreover, this concept of being key-shaped can also be extended to organizations, enabling them to remain agile and adaptable in the face of evolving challenges and opportunities.
The nature of work. 🌱 Organizations should be data-driven. In a highly competitive space, workflows and systems can be more efficient if they are based on data. With the rise of automation and AI, it's important to build meaningful workflows to remain relevant.
The workforce of the future. 🤝 An organization that does not value its people will not succeed in the future of work. It is important to gain insights into the existing workforce and identify the necessary skills for the future so that they can ensure they have the right people in place to drive success.
The workplace of the future. 📁 A future-ready organization should be agile—always ready to assess, revise, and improve the workplace.
Source: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-the-future-of-work
Here is a star for you 🌟 for reading through this guide. In doing so, you have shown intent to participate in the future of work—and if you’re ready for the future, the future is also ready for you. ✨
Double the opportunities and share them to the next person. 🚀 ‘Till next time!
💌 Learning with you,
Meg Ruiz
Junior Content Designer at Eskwelabs