From the blog.

We asked our community volunteer leaders @Sibyl Jacob , @Lieve Van de Voorde, @Brook Lee to share their experiences in the tech workplace and what they would say to women trying to make it in tech. Here’s what they had to say.



What would your tips be to women trying to make it in tech?

In the ever-evolving realm of technology, the introduction of Wi-Fi 7 marks a significant milestone in the journey towards achieving lightning-fast speeds, exceptional reliability, and unparalleled performance in wireless connectivity. As an expert in computer science and telecommunication, I am thrilled to share my insights on this groundbreaking innovation. Wi-Fi 7 is not just an incremental update but a transformative leap forward that promises to redefine our interconnected world. Let's explore the unique features of Wi-Fi 7 and discuss its potential impact on our digital lives.

The Imperative for Wi-Fi 7: Our world is increasingly becoming dependent on wireless connectivity for various aspects of daily life, from smart home devices to the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, and the demand for bandwidth-intensive applications is surging. Wi-Fi 7 emerges as a beacon of hope, designed to meet these escalating demands by offering swifter and more robust performance than ever before. It aims to transcend the capabilities of its predecessor, Wi-Fi 6, and address the formidable challenge of providing an efficient and responsive wireless experience globally.

Key Features of Wi-Fi 7: Wi-Fi 7 is poised to revolutionize the connectivity landscape with its array of pioneering features. It sets a new benchmark in wireless networking by offering elevated spectral efficiency and unparalleled multi-band operation. Some of the most promising features of Wi-Fi 7 include:

1. Enhanced Spectral Efficiency: Wi-Fi 7 utilizes advanced technologies to maximize the data transmitted over wireless spectrums, significantly boosting network efficiency and capacity.
2. Multi-Band Operation: It supports operation across multiple frequency bands, allowing devices to switch or combine bands for optimal performance seamlessly.
3. Improved Latency: Wi-Fi 7 is designed to reduce latency dramatically, ensuring smoother and more responsive online experiences, especially crucial for gaming and real-time applications.

Discussion Points:

1. Impact on IoT and Smart Devices: How will Wi-Fi 7 transform the IoT ecosystem and the functionality of smart devices in our homes and workplaces?
2. Challenges and Opportunities: What are the potential challenges in adopting Wi-Fi 7, and what opportunities does it present for businesses and consumers alike?
3. Future of Connectivity: With the advent of Wi-Fi 7, what can we anticipate for the future of wireless connectivity? How will it shape the development of emerging technologies?

Conclusion: Wi-Fi 7 represents a significant leap towards a future where ultra-fast, reliable, and seamless connectivity is the norm. As we stand on the brink of this new era, it's essential to understand the capabilities and implications of Wi-Fi 7 for our interconnected world. By embracing this latest advancement in wireless technology, we can unlock new possibilities and pave the way for innovation across various sectors. Let's engage in a thoughtful discussion on Wi-Fi 7 and explore how it will shape the landscape of digital connectivity.

Read the article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes...u-need-to-know-about-wi-fi-7/?sh=5dccf722b059

The tech industry, celebrated for its innovation and forward-thinking, faces a critical challenge that threatens to undermine its progress: the significant underrepresentation of women, especially in leadership roles. Recent data from the WomenTech Network reveals a stark reality: women hold less than 24% of tech leadership positions across industries as of 2023. This issue is further compounded by the disproportionate impact of tech layoffs on women, with 69% of those laid off in 2022 being women. This discussion aims to shed light on the systemic barriers women face in tech and explore actionable strategies to promote gender balance.

The Gender Gap in Tech Leadership: The disparity in leadership roles is not just a number; it's a reflection of the broader societal norms and implicit biases that influence hiring and promotion practices. The tech layoffs of 2022 have exacerbated this gap, reducing the pool of experienced women candidates for leadership positions and reinforcing the glass-ceiling effect. This trend not only hinders the progress of women in tech but also deprives the industry of diverse perspectives that are crucial for innovation.

Consequences of the Gender Imbalance: The underrepresentation of women in tech leadership has far-reaching implications. It limits the availability of women role models and mentors, which is essential for guiding and supporting the next generation of women in tech. Furthermore, the lack of job security and the perception of instability within the tech industry can deter women from pursuing long-term careers in this field. This cycle of underrepresentation and insecurity poses a significant challenge to achieving gender balance in tech.

Discussion Points:

1. Strategies for Promoting Gender Balance: What actionable steps can organizations take to address the gender gap in tech leadership? How can we ensure that hiring and promotion practices are free from bias?
2. Supporting Women in Tech: How can the tech industry create a more supportive environment for women, including mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and career development resources?
3. Addressing the Layoff Disparity: What measures can be implemented to prevent the disproportionate impact of layoffs on women in the tech industry?
4. The Role of Male Allies: Considering the discomfort many male managers feel in mentoring women, how can we encourage and facilitate male allyship in the tech industry?

Conclusion: The gender imbalance in tech is not just a women's issue; it's an industry-wide problem that requires collective action. By addressing the systemic barriers that women face and implementing targeted strategies to support and promote women in tech, we can begin to close the gender gap and unleash the full potential of innovation in the industry. Let's come together to discuss and implement solutions that will reboot the gender balance in tech for good.

Read the article: https://www.entrepreneur.com/leader...e-techs-gender-disparity-in-leadership/469543

In a world where every advancement seems to be countered by a new challenge, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a complex scenario of optimism and apprehension. Employees across the globe are wrestling with questions about AI's impact on their careers, while employers are calculating the potential financial benefits and strategic advantages. This discussion aims to explore the multifaceted relationship between AI, employees, and employers, particularly from the perspective of those in leadership roles.

The Employee's Dilemma: For many workers, AI represents a double-edged sword. On one hand, it holds the promise of streamlining tasks and unlocking new opportunities for innovation. On the other, there's a palpable fear of job displacement, skill obsolescence, and the unsettling prospect of reporting to an AI-driven manager. These concerns raise important questions about the future of work and the role of human employees in an increasingly automated world.

The Employer's Calculus: From the boss's viewpoint, AI is primarily seen as a lever for enhancing productivity and profitability. The allure of AI-driven efficiencies and cost savings is undeniable, but integrating this technology into the workplace is not without its challenges. Convincing employees to embrace AI, overcoming resistance to change, and navigating the ethical implications of automation are just a few of the hurdles that leaders must clear.

Discussion Points:

1. Employee Empowerment vs. Displacement: How can organizations balance the use of AI to enhance employee productivity without fueling fears of job loss or devaluation of human skills?
2. Cultural Integration of AI: What strategies can leaders employ to seamlessly integrate AI into their organizational culture, ensuring that it is perceived as a tool for empowerment rather than a threat?
3. Ethical Considerations: As AI becomes more prevalent in decision-making roles, what ethical guidelines should organizations follow to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability?
4. Future of Leadership: With AI's potential to revolutionize business operations, how might the role of human leaders evolve? Will AI augment leadership capabilities, or could it eventually replace certain leadership functions?

Conclusion: The journey into the AI era is fraught with both promise and peril. As we stand at this crossroads, it's crucial for both employees and employers to engage in open dialogue about their hopes, fears, and expectations regarding AI. By fostering a collaborative approach to AI integration, organizations can harness its potential while safeguarding the interests and well-being of their human workforce. Let's delve into this complex topic and share insights on navigating the AI landscape together.

Read the article: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-do-you-get-employees-to-embrace-ai-you-may-find-this-sneaky/

The term "Real World Assets" (RWAs) might seem self-explanatory, but its application within the blockchain ecosystem opens up a fascinating dialogue. RWAs in the blockchain context refer to the digital representation of tangible assets or the rights associated with them through tokens. This concept is not about owning virtual properties in digital realms but about bridging the tangible world with the digital one.

The Essence of RWAs: Imagine owning a token that represents a share in a real estate property, not a virtual one but an actual house or apartment in the physical world. This is the essence of RWAs. They bring the concept of asset ownership into the blockchain, allowing for innovative ways to manage and invest in real-world properties.

Fractional Ownership and Its Benefits: A particularly interesting aspect of RWAs is the possibility of fractional ownership. For instance, an apartment can be divided into numerous tokens, each representing a share of the property or even a share of the rental income it generates. This fractionalization makes the investment more liquid and accessible, opening up opportunities for a broader range of investors.

Discussion Points:

1. Liquidity and Accessibility: How do RWAs improve liquidity and accessibility for investors compared to traditional asset ownership? What implications does this have for the real estate market and other asset classes?
2. Fractional Ownership: What are the potential benefits and challenges of fractional ownership of real-world assets? How does it change the dynamics of investment and ownership?
3. Investor Community: With RWAs making investments more accessible, how might this affect the community of investors? Could this lead to a more democratized investment landscape?
4. Regulatory Considerations: What are the potential regulatory implications of tokenizing real-world assets? How might governments and regulatory bodies respond to this emerging trend?

Conclusion: RWAs represent a groundbreaking intersection of the physical and digital worlds, offering new possibilities for asset ownership and investment. By discussing the implications, benefits, and challenges of RWAs, we can better understand how blockchain technology is reshaping our approach to real-world assets. Let's dive into this discussion and explore the future of RWAs together.

Read the article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes...t-that-means-for-enterprises/?sh=34e476437743

Hi everyone,

Thank you to all who were able to join our interest group call today where Wayne Selk, our VP of Cybersecurity Programs presented ISAO and Trustmark. There was also a healthy discussion and questions from both our ANZ and ASEAN participants on this call where members heard from Zaun Bhana from Leap Consulting, who hold a previous Trustmark accreditation, along with input from MSPs currently in the process of obtaining Trustmark accreditation.

Here is a link to the recording, https://comptia.zoom.us/rec/share/n...9b7atYaTCfCbtdIG4xruaZ--veus.hrheYoN7CeCKKtDc

The slides are attached.

And a link to Leap Consulting

Hi there,

In advance of Tracy Pound of Maximity's amazing session - Strategic Thinking and Action: Tools and Techniques for Business Success - coming up at our CompTIA Community UK & Ireland meeting in Manchester on 5 March, I'm posting some follow up CompTIA resource links here.

If you joined the session and want access to the resources then here you go.... If you unfortunately missed Tracy's session then please still feel free to take a look at the items via the links and provide any feedback here

MSP Guidebook https://my.comptia.org/resource-lib...k-cultivating-a-culture-of-process-efficiency

UK Legal Playbook https://my.comptia.org/resource-library/content/uk-legal-playbook

Marketing Toolkit https://my.comptia.org/resource-library/content/marketing-toolkit-for-msps

Maximizing Operational Efficiency - https://comptia.litmos.com/course/9907386

Elevating Your Sales Operation - https://comptia.litmos.com/course/7436080

I hope you find these useful.

The global aviation industry is navigating through an era of unprecedented challenges. With soaring jet fuel prices, labor shortages, and equipment scarcities, the pressure on the industry's bottom lines has never been more intense. Amidst these hurdles, blockchain technology is emerging as a beacon of hope, offering innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency and provide airports with a much-needed competitive edge.

The Power of Blockchain in Aviation

Blockchain technology, with its advanced database capabilities, facilitates the recording of transactions on an immutable ledger. This ledger, securely shared both internally and externally among interconnected companies, enables a seamless exchange of value and establishes a single source of truth, a feat that was previously unattainable.

Alan Vey, the founder of Aventus, highlights the transformative potential of blockchain in aviation, emphasizing its role in streamlining operations and enhancing the passenger experience. The adoption of blockchain is not a distant future prospect but a current reality, with leading airports like Heathrow and Zurich already implementing blockchain-powered solutions. These initiatives are revolutionizing cargo management efficiencies and delivering benefits across the aviation sector.

Redefining Airport Operations

The integration of blockchain technology is reshaping the very fabric of airport operations. It's not merely about embracing the latest technological advancements; it's about fundamentally altering how airports function, improving the journey for millions of passengers worldwide.

As we explore the evolving landscape of air travel, it becomes evident that blockchain technology holds the key to not only smoother operations but also a reimagined experience for all stakeholders involved, from airport and airline executives to passengers.

This discussion invites you to share your thoughts on the integration of blockchain technology in the aviation industry. How do you envision blockchain transforming the future of air travel? What challenges and opportunities do you foresee in its adoption? Let's delve into the potential impacts of blockchain on aviation, exploring how it can revolutionize the industry and enhance the travel experience for everyone involved.

Read the article: https://www.airport-technology.com/...-taking-flight-in-aviation/?cf-view&cf-closed