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Believe it or not, this is the best time in history to be a creative. Technology advances and platforms like Instagram and TikTok have dramatically lowered the barriers to create work and share it with the world. Theres less emphasis on formal degrees or certifications, and more value placed on having a portfolio that reflects your taste, sensibility, and point of view. At the same time, its become more challenging to land (and keep) an entry-level role at an agency or design studio. Studies show that client pressure to produce more assets for less money has driven the push for greater efficiency in time and budget. As a result, teams have become leaner and more reliant on seasoned talent who can operate independently from day one. With many teams still working remotely or in the office only part time, the expectation is often to self-manage and deliver with minimal oversightsomething thats inherently more difficult for those just starting out. In my work with the creative organization and educational charity D&AD, Ive seen firsthand that its a complicated picture, full of real structural challenges. And its evolving in real time. But this moment is also full of opportunity, so long as creative talent and educators evolve accordingly and dont ignore the industrys changing creative needs. Today, nurturing creativity isnt about learning specific skills in design, VFX, production, writing, and more. Instead, its about perspectiveeach creative’s unique lens on the world informed by their lived experiences, personal network, and interactions. And it must be nurtured if were to navigate the uncertainty the industry is facing. A critical creative shift The accessibility of creative toolsand their ease of usehave opened the industry to fresh voices and perspectives. Its part of the reason we initially launched Shift, our free night school for self-taught creatives, to serve a growing influx of diverse creators coming from outside traditional pathways. Similarly, emerging tech is also fueling record-breaking creative output. This past year alone, were increasingly becoming accustomed to embracing and awarding work utilizing AI to push creative boundaries. But while more people are creating at a higher frequency, far fewer are doing it with the focus, consistency, and discipline required to achieve real expertise or mastery. While the concept is often contested, Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that it takes 10,000 hours to truly get great at something. It’s harder to reach that threshold in todays creative industry. The pace is fast, attention is fragmented, and opportunities to go deep into one discipline are increasingly rare. Were also missing the network and community that made it easier in the past. While some might say that taste and storytelling are the creative skills that will help talent survive this industry-wide shift, the truth is that both are becoming table stakes. The real creative differentiator is the ability to leverage your unique perspective, developing an insight that addresses a challenge. Then, you have to be able to articulate your perspective well enough to orchestrate creativity around itto lead multidisciplinary inputs, shape ideas across human and machine collaborators, and still land on something culturally relevant. In a world where the tools are accessible to everyone, the people who can apply their voices and direct creative impactnot just generate more and faster creative outputsbecome indispensable. Now, that doesnt mean that everyone needs to be a content creator or a polymath. Whats changing is the need for new and deeper cultural points of reference, the ability to articulate and communicate those references, and the expectation that creatives understand how different mediums and roles interact. Even if youre not doing it all yourself, you need to be able to collaborate across disciplines, speak multiple creative languages, and move fluidly between ideas and execution. Value your experiences As talent looks to future-proof their careers, theres several steps they can take to make sure their unique voices and experiences become valuable assets in meeting tomorrow’s creative needs. First, they should hone their perspective, particularly if theyre coming to the creative industry from non-traditional educational or cultural paths. Not only do they not need to conform; the industry urgently needs its nonconformist perspectives to evolve. Increasingly, when brands and orgs ask creatives to address a specific challenge, they dont want guesses from outsiders to that challenge. They want people who can speak to their own communitieswith similar interests, concerns, impulses, and experiences. In this sense, creatives can be the missing insight that the industry is lacking. So, they should do what they can to protect and value their identities. But also, talent should go beyond traditional skills as they expand their creative knowledge. The bulk of education cant be only focused on learning creative tools. In our Shift program attendees, we often see gaps in industry literacy: how roles work, how to respond to a brief, or how to turn creativity into a career. Creatives should seek out opportunities to build those more practical skills through classes or even mentorship. This kind of knowledge not only makes it easier to earn a job and helps shape good work, but fuels the confidence behind it. While most companies say creative talent is key to their business, few invest in developing that talent in ways that speaks the language of ideas, ambiguity, or cultural tension. These are the creative building blocks of insight. And its crucial that we cultivate this resource if we want to ensure a strong creative future. Kwame Taylor-Hayford is the cofounder of Kin and president of D&AD.
Category:
E-Commerce
Ive found that the best technical leaders tend to live in a space between optimism and skepticism. Were excited about whats possible, but weve also seen enough to know that not every shiny new thing delivers on its promise. That mindset has shaped how I lead and how I evaluate technology. Im always willing to explore whats next but do it with a critical eyetesting, validating, and asking the hard questions. Because in tech, theres always something groundbreaking that promises to change everything. Sometimes it does. Often, it doesnt. That perspective has been especially useful as Ive watched the evolution of personal computing. The PC has come a long way since the 1980s, but you could argue that not much has fundamentally changed in the last two decades. Smartphones and tablets took the spotlight, and PCs settled into a supporting role. But now, the AI PC has emerged as the next big thing, and youre likely contemplating whether its worth making the move. For any organizationwhether five employees or 20,000upgrading PCs can be scary. Its expensive and touches nearly every part of the business. Yet after using several AI PCs with integrated neural processing units (NPU) and other specialized processing units, in real-work scenariosbusiness trips, events, and enterprise and personal workflowsIm convinced this isnt just another hype cycle. These machines are different. Here are four ways Im finding wow that are worth your attention nownot later. 1. Futureproofing AI PCs are more than a hardware upgrade. Theyre a strategic investment in your workforces ability to adapt to the next wave of innovation. Wait too long, and your employees may struggle to maximize AIs rapidly advancing capabilities in daily work. Two years ago, only 5% of global commercial device shipments were AI PCs. By 2028, IDC predicts that will soar to nearly 94%. Investing early not only strategically enhances current worker proficiencies, it ensures your infrastructure is ready for future advancements in AI and computing technologies. I initially didnt expect to change my workflow until more productivity and developer tools emerge that fully leverage the latest devices high-power, low-latency efficiency. So, its fair to ask: What if these machines are outdated by the time the apps are ready? Yet nothing weve seen from manufacturers or independent software vendors (ISV) suggests thats likely. These devices are built for the long haul. 2. Creative and knowledge work potential AI PCs excel in creative tasks like generating images, enhancing design workflows, and running local models with advanced image processing tools like Adobe Firefly. But their potential goes far beyond the creative suite. Theyre poised to transform knowledge work too. Faster computation, predictive analytics, and local processing mean smoother, smarter workflows in tools like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Executives should push ISVs and major operating system providers to accelerate development in this space to unlock the full capabilities. Running sophisticated apps locally on the device without relying on external servers or cloud computing boosts efficiency and reduces latency. Thats not just a performance win; its a productivity revolution. 3. Battery life and responsiveness It might sound trivial, but battery life is a game-changer. On a recent three-day business trip, I used my AI PC on flights, in meetings, and at the airport without charging once. I used it during my meetings to take notes, handle my email, and even did some coding (yes, I still do that). I even squeezed in two more hours of work after I got home before the battery ran low. For executives on the go or a travelling workforce, that kind of reliability frees up mental space and time. No more hunting for outlets. No more battery anxiety. Another standout feature is responsiveness and speed. Across manufacturers like Qualcomm, Intel, AMD, and Apple, these devices are equipped with more processing unitscentral processing units, graphics processing unit, and NPUsthan traditional PCs. This increased compute capacity ensures that AI PCs are incredibly snappy, providing a seamless user experience that boosts overall productivity. 4. Cost efficiency Initially, the price delta between AI PCs and traditional PCs was substantial, often $100 to $200 more per device. However, this gap is narrowing. For companies managing thousands of devices, this cost reduction can lead to significant savings. Even a $60 difference is easy to justify when you consider the performance gains and extended device lifecycle. You can approach adoption slowly. Our company is rolling out AI PCs in phases, with about 15% of our workforce already plugged in, starting with power users like our software developers, engineers, and executives who travel frequently. By end of year, 40% percent of our workforce will be using them. Within a couple years, nearly everyone will. You can gain insight into the best ways AI PCs will impact your organization by testing through your power users, then broaden the pool as needed. This phased approach lets us test, learn, and scale intelligently. It also helps us identify where the biggest gains are, whether in creative output, battery life, or raw processing power. Lead the shift, dont chase it AI PCs arent just about speed or battery life. Theyre about preparing your organization for whats next. Adopting now offers numerous benefits to all areas of your business, from sales teams to creative or technical departments. Leaders must champion this transitionnot just by investing in the hardware but by advocating for faster software development and thoughtful rollout strategies. Start with the teams that will benefit the most. Learn from their experience. Then scale. Because the future of work isnt waiting. And with AI PCs, you dont have to, either. Juan Orlandini is CTO, North America of Insight Enterprises.
Category:
E-Commerce
When my marketing role evolved to include customer success and renewals, some naturally expressed confusion on why a CMO with established expertise and an already large remit would willingly take on more. This confusion was not among colleagues (Im fortunate enough to be part of a very supportive environment!) but among others inside and outside of my network. Looking back, that decision reinforced something I believe is a career accelerator and crucial in leadership. Its a lesson Ive shared with many young professionals and I believe others should take it to heart. Adaptability defines who will lead tomorrow’s companies and who won’t. Heres how to think about becoming more adaptable. Break artificial barriers Sometimes we box ourselves in with professional or personal labels. “I’m a marketer” or “I’m an engineer” or Im a mother becomes both identity and limitation. These labels feel safe in a chaotic world. They create boundaries, but they can also limit growth. I’ve seen smart, capable young professionals turn down opportunities with a quick “that’s not in my job description.” They build walls around their roles, thinking they’re creating safety without fully appreciating the downstream impact to their career growth. My shift from marketing into customer success happened deliberately. I wanted to understand the full customer journey firsthand. And now, every time I push beyond my comfort zone, I gain insights that change how I approach all aspects of our business. Look at the full picture Working across both marketing and customer success showed me connections I’d have missed otherwise. When you handle both sides of the customer relationship, patterns start to appear. You notice how your early marketing messages set expectations that affect renewal conversations months later. You spot the gaps between what attracts customers initially and what keeps them around. This full-picture view prepares you for executive roles in ways specialization can’t. Senior leaders need to synthesize information from across departmentstough to do when you’ve only seen one slice of the business. Ride the wave of change Young professionals today face relentless workplace transformation. Technologies reshape entire industries overnight. Business models evolve constantly. People who excel amid this chaos don’t resist changethey embrace it. When unfamiliar challenges crop up, they lean in rather than back away. This is something I strive to instill in my team and my children. When we are not afraid to take on unfamiliar challenges and we dont accept perceived limitations, we create permission for others to do the same. I’ve witnessed this ripple effect repeatedly. One person’s willingness to push boundaries inspires colleagues, friends and family to reconsider their own self-imposed constraints and embrace a growth mindset. How to build your adaptability muscles Getting comfortable with change takes practice: Jumping into cross-functional projects exposes you to different departments Consider sideways moves before focusing solely on climbing up Ask questions about parts of the business you don’t touch daily Find mentors with backgrounds different from yours Tackle unfamiliar tasks with curiosity instead of anxiety Reframe your professional limitations If someone requests your help with a task that falls outside of your area of expertise, view it as a chance to develop and expand your skills. Find new routes Adaptability opens doors that might otherwise stay shut. Reaching senior leadership often means finding alternate routes when traditional paths prove blocked. The biggest barriers to professional growth often aren’t external obstacles or lack of opportunity, they’re the invisible ceilings we build for ourselves. Connect the organization People who move between different functions bring unique valuethey bridge communication gaps. They translate between specialized teams that struggle to understand each other. They spot problems and opportunities others miss. Companies facing complexity need leaders who make connections. When you demonstrate this skill, you stand out dramatically from peers who excel only in their specialty. Get comfortable with discomfort Becoming adaptable means feeling uncomfortable regularly. Stepping into new territory triggers self-doubt, but over time builds your confidence to trust your judgment. But, here’s a poorly-kept secret: This discomfort never completely goes away, even for experienced executives. What changes is how you respond to it. You start seeing discomfort as a sign of growth rather than failure. Young professionals aiming for leadership positions gain an edge with this mindset shift. While others avoid challenging situations, you’ll build versatility that makes you increasingly valuable. I projectwith confidencethat well see leaders of tomorrow who continuously reinvent themselves, crossing boundaries, embracing challenges outside their comfort zone, and bringing diverse perspectives together. The real question: When unexpected opportunities appear, will you take them? I definitely think you should. Melissa Puls is chief marketing officer and SVP of customer success and renewals at Ivanti.
Category:
E-Commerce
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