2024: What Do You Know?

Image by ChatGPT-4/DALL-E

What You Know

Some bits of knowledge are evergreen and will always serve you. Others are subject to change, shifting with policy demands or responding to natural, political, or sometimes nefarious forces. As with any tool, knowledge effectiveness is maintained through sharpening and intentional use. Inventory this knowledge and pledge to review it regularly. For example:

●       Think you’re up on the cybersecurity threat landscape? Spend some time on Threatpost and The Hacker News - better than strong coffee to wake you up most mornings.

●       On top of California labor law? Check out the Department of Industrial Relations 2024 “Overtime Exemption for Computer Software Employees.”

●       Is your business subject to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)? The new 4.0 standard becomes effective in April 2024.

What You Don’t Know (Yet)

It’s a big world, and it’s always on the move. The scope of knowledge is ever-expanding, and that can be daunting. That’s no reason not to take advantage of the great (and often free) resources waiting for you. Just a few options to explore:

● Stanford Online - Free offerings in business, cybersecurity, data science, and machine learning.

● Harvard University - Free courses on management, computer programming, and leadership.

● Coursera - Thousands of free modules on everything from Excel wizardry to the basics of generative AI.

● Udemy - A huge library of free courses on topics in the technical and personal development realms.

● LinkedIn Learning - If you’re paying for a LinkedIn Premium subscription, a great option is available to you. Remember to explore and take advantage of the vast catalog of topics available.

Spreading It Around

Knowledge only has true power when it’s used, and that power multiplies when you share it. Take some time to exercise what you know, and when you can, give it to those who might need it most:

●       Write a LinkedIn post explaining your point of view on a topic in your own voice (no AI, please), include relevant links, and responsibly cite sources.

●       Contact a local college or university to inquire about technology internship placement needs and offer internships within your company.

●       Research STEM mentoring opportunities - like those at MENTOR - and donate your time and energy to bring the next generation of technology leaders along.

(This article originally appeared as a post on behalf of the Southern California Society for Information Management (SCSIM) at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2024-what-do-you-know-scsim-ognrc)