By Dr. Larry Rosia, president and CEO
One only has to look at the headlines or turn on the television news to see evidence of disruption. It is all around us.
In the past year alone, we have seen how lives and economies have been disrupted by trade disputes with other countries, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, and Canada-wide protests.
What does not always make the headlines, however, is the disruption occurring in our workplaces and its effects on jobs and how work is done.
There is no question that technology — things like artificial intelligence and machine learning — is behind much of the disruption, as this accelerated era known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution unfolds. Projections from leading organizations like the World Economic Forum are that one-third or more of today’s jobs are vulnerable to automation in the next decade.
At the same time, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is opening incredible, flexible opportunities for the workers of tomorrow and the creation of jobs that we could not imagine a short time ago.
To help prepare you for what is ahead, plan on attending this year’s THINK: The Future of Work, Innovation, and Learning Conference at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon on May 7th, 2020.
Presented by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the conference will feature a number of outstanding individuals who will share knowledge of the trends and tactics that can be used to navigate the choppy waters of disruption. They include:
- David Cearley is a Vice President and Gartner Fellow in Gartner Research who is a leading authority on information technology. Cearley analyzes emerging and strategic business and technology trends, and explores how these trends shape the way people and companies derive value from technology.
- Amber Mac, whose expertise bridges the worlds of marketing, technology, innovation and digital transformation. Whether it be enhancing customer experience, understanding how to leverage artificial intelligence, or building an unforgettable brand from scratch (as she has done), Mac empowers leaders and organizations to take advantage of the digital revolution.
- Justin Reves is a Saskatchewan-born digital media consumer and creator whose work illustrates the power of the Gig Economy. His content has reached millions of users worldwide.
The THINK Conference will involve more than listening to these and other great speakers, however. There will also be opportunities to interact and to learn from each other.
This is the second year Sask Polytech will present THINK. Last year’s conference drew more than 300 attendees.
It is my hope that you join us in Saskatoon on May 7th. Not only will you come away with practical tools, but also THINK is a fantastic way for you to build your network.
Register at think.saskpolytech.ca.
Published March 2020.