Technologist Talk Radio

Why is TechGirlz expanding curriculum to include boys after a decade of successfully inspiring middle-school girls to explore careers working with technology? Amy Cliett, who directs TechGirlz and is a regular Tales guest, explains how her own experience as a parent and accomplished technologist informs her view of whom the organization serves.

Reflecting on how far you've come during a journey is vital for envisioning your next milestone—and how much distance remains between you and that goal. Join Colleen Crino, chief development officer at Creating IT Futures, and senior development manager Cristina De Guia, as they reflect on the most challenging times in the organization's history that also generated an extraordinary impact on its mission. 

In this Technologist Tales miniseries, we explore how one of the oldest workforce development solutions may be the key to closing the tech skills gap, the tech gender gap and the tech diversity gap. Listen as Charles Eaton, Amy Kardel, and consultants Wendy Brors and Stephanie Veck explain how the CompTIA Apprenticeships for Tech serves employers, technologists and the industry as a whole.

To set the stage for 2022, Colleen Crino, Chief Development Officer for Creating IT Futures, shares stories about the organization's many partners, who they are and what they do in collaboration with CompTIA's charitable foundation.

Accelerating digital transformation takes trained technologists, in a position to thrive. In this miniseries, we feature insights from Craig Perry, Caleb Bellow, and Dustin Seyfert of international IT solutions provider Logicalis about what makes a great technologist, and how Custom Training from the CompTIA Tech Career Academy supports their ongoing mission.

In this Technologist Tales miniseries, we hear insights from Amy Cliett, director of TechGirlz. Learn how Amy launched her tech career, how she shepherded TechGirlz through its pandemic pivot, and how Creating IT Futures, CompTIA's charitable foundation, serves women interested in tech at any stage of their careers.

What do a small business owner, an operations manager and a special education teacher have in common? In this miniseries, we hear from Gloria Bell, Amy Cliett, and Alicia Park, three key voices from Creating IT Futures' TechGirlz team, sharing their journeys to discovering a passion for educating, inspiring and connecting the next generation of women in tech.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this mini-series revisits profiles of four technologists. Each is a graduate of the technical training program developed by Creating IT Futures, now operated by the CompTIA Tech Career Academy. Listen as these grateful graduates explain how support from our organization helped them launch rewarding tech careers. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Not all paths to successful tech careers pass through the computer science departments of 4-year colleges. Listen to this 5-part mini-series as we advocate for greater diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech industry by sharing the journeys of five remarkable technologists – Mariah Sexton, Kelly Stone, Carolyn April, Maddy Martin, and Nancy Hammervik.  Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Amidst pandemic-sparked social and economic upheavals, leading technologists are finding opportunities to prioritize greater diversity, equity and inclusion in technology businesses. Listen as Nancy Hammervik, Charles Eaton, Zac Cramer of IT Assurance, Randi Parker, Brittany Barnett of GEM and Amy Cliett of TechGirlz explain how their organizations tackle this challenge.

Is it possible to develop a more diverse, equitable and inclusive tech workforce, while shrinking our nation's tech skills gap at the same time? This mini-series profiles Gloria Bell, Randi Parker, Amy Cliett, and Alicia Park, women in tech who are making it happen through their leadership of Creating IT Futures programs like the Women In Tech Summit and TechGirlz.  Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

What do educators and technologists have in common? A passion for problem-solving, a lot of empathy and the organizational skills to translate understanding into action. Listen as Alicia Park, National Outreach Manager for TechGirlz, shares her journey from full-time educator, to full-time technologist. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Is there an ideal time in life to launch a tech career? Amy Cliett, director of TechGirlz, a program of Creating IT Futures, doesn't think so. Listen as she describes switching to a technology job in her 30's, why she did and how she's helping the next generation of technologists develop their talents and skills despite the pandemic.

Must the road to a successful technology career begin in a high school STEM program? Or include four years studying computer science in college? No on both counts. Listen as Jason Hernandez, chair of the CompTIA Tech National Alumni Advisory Council, shares how an IT training program operated by Creating IT Futures broadened his job prospects and improved his personal finances.  Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange  

The sight of a computer filling an entire room sparked Gloria Bell's passion for technology at the age of six. Over the years, she translated that fascination into co-founding the Women in Tech Summit (WITS) and earning a leadership position with TechGirlz, a program of Creating IT Futures. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

In honor of the upcoming WITS 10th Anniversary in-person and virtual celebration (October 22, 2021) Technologist Tales is re-releasing our award-winning mini-series featuring remarkable women working in the technology industry. This mini-series won “Silver” recognition from the 27th Annual Communicator Awardsfor distinction in podcasting promoting diversity and inclusion. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Why should today's career changers to consider training to become IT support specialists? Because despite pandemic conditions, U.S. employers continue to seek and hire qualified tech talent to bolster businesses and support our nation's workforce. This mini-series won “Gold” recognition from the 27th Annual Communicator Awards for excellence in podcasting promoting training. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Why are military veterans excellent candidates for jobs as IT support specialists? Is it the technical training they receive during service? Is it the work ethic they acquire during service? Or is it both? This story won “Silver” recognition from the 27th Annual Communicator Awards for excellence in individual episodes promoting causes and awareness. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

What is a workforce board? And how does one collaborate with the CompTIA Tech Career Academy Custom Training team? Together, they're helping military veterans, adults in career transitions, and young people from disadvantaged populations find opportunities in the tech workforce – often, with life-altering results. This mini-series won “Silver” recognition from the 27th Annual Communicator Awards for distinction in podcasting promoting causes and awareness. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

How is custom IT help desk training transforming our nation's workforce? Listen as executives from CompTIA Tech's Custom Training team and one of their key clients provide answers. Together, they're helping workers in career transitions find opportunities in the tech workforce – often, with life-altering results. This mini-series won “Gold” recognition from the 27th Annual Communicator Awards for excellence in podcasting that promotes training. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

What is “Social Innovation?” And how is TechGirlz, a program of Creating IT Futures, practicing this philanthropic discipline to inspire middle-school girls to explore careers working with technology? This mini-series won “Gold” and “Silver” awards from the 27th Annual Communicator Awards for excellence and distinction in podcasting that promotes causes, awareness, diversity and inclusion. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

What is “Social Innovation?” And what role do “chickens” play in practicing this philanthropic discipline at Creating IT Futures? This mini-series won “Gold” distinction from the Hermes Creative Awards for “outstanding work” while promoting a philanthropic cause. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

For four non-profits devoted to inspiring young women to pursue careers in technology and lead healthy, balanced lifestyles, COVID-19 was an existential crisis. Hear how these organizations not only survived their “pandemic pivots,” but are in some ways thriving because of them. That’s in this 3-chapter mini-series from a 2021 South by Southwest EDU (SXSW EDU) session moderated by TechGirlz, a program of Creating IT Futures. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

We’re celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Women in Tech Summit (WITS) by sharing a 3-part series based on a recent session during the South by Southwest EDU (SXSW EDU) conference. TechGirlz director Amy Cliett moderated the session, and the third installment features a conversation with Isis Miller of Black Girls Code. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

We’re celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Women in Tech Summit (WITS) by sharing a 3-part series based on a recent session during the South by Southwest EDU (SXSW EDU) conference. TechGirlz director Amy Cliett moderated the session, and the second installment features a conversation with Ashley Turner of Philly Tech Sistas. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

We’re celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Women in Tech Summit (WITS) by sharing a 3-part series based on a recent session during the South by Southwest EDU (SXSW EDU) conference. TechGirlz director Amy Cliett moderated the session, and the first installment features a conversation with Lauren Psimaris of Girls on the Run. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

As another installment in our series tracking successful graduates of CompTIA Tech’s IT-Ready Technical Support program, we revisit the “technologist triumph” of Theo Hysell. Listen as he tells the tale of developing a role as the “family IT guy” into a lucrative career in cybersecurity that has helped him weather the pandemic’s negative economic effects. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

How often does a technologist’s journey wind through the lecture halls of law school and the corridors of Capitol Hill? Listen to this tale celebrating Women’s History Month, as Randi Parker, senior director at Creating IT Futures, shares how her career evolved from advocating for the technology industry to making tech careers more accessible.  Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

How does hauling pickle barrels prepare you for a successful career as a technologist? Nancy Hammervik, incoming CEO of the CompTIA Tech Career Academy and leader of CompTIA’s membership organization explains in this tale celebrating Women’s History Month. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Revisit the “Technologist Triumph” of Angela Curtis, a graduate of IT-Ready Technical Support training. Hear how the CompTIA Tech Career Academy helped Angela translate her passion for solving problems into an IT help desk career at international medical technology maker Medtronic that provides personal financial stability and professional growth opportunities. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Revisit the “Technologist Triumph” of Nate Perkins, a graduate of IT-Ready Technical Support training from the CompTIA Tech Career Academy. Hear how Nate’s decision to pursue certified tech skills – such as CompTIA’s A+ certification – has provided professional growth opportunities for himself and sustainable financial stability for his family. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

What is “Social Innovation?” And what role do “chickens” play in practicing this philanthropic discipline at Creating IT Futures? This series of three podcasts answers those questions about social innovation in action. Listen as our team members share stories about partner organizations – TEKsystems, Verizon Foundation and Workday Foundation – that make a measurable difference in tech businesses and local communities across the country. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

How are relationships between Creating IT Futures and philanthropic partners holistic and integrated? This chapter offers two prime examples: Verizon Foundation and Workday Foundation. Listen as Jeff Lareau, manager, strategic partnerships, and Alicia Park, national outreach manager for TechGirlz, share two stories of individuals and organizations that make a measurable difference in tech businesses and local communities across the country. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

What is “Social Innovation?” And how is TechGirlz, a program of Creating IT Futures, practicing this philanthropic discipline to inspire middle-school girls to explore careers working with technology? Listen to this series of three podcasts that describes social innovation in action in the words of the innovators who converted TechShopz workshops to virtual delivery at high speed, then launched a new distance-learning option, TechPodz. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

What is “Social Innovation?” And how is the CompTIA Tech Career Academy practicing this philanthropic discipline to generate measurable social impact? Listen to this series of five podcasts that describe social innovation in action in the words of the innovators who design it, the employers who benefit from it, and the technologists with thriving careers because of it. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

How do you inspire the next generation of technologists? This replay of one of our award-winning Technologist Talk mini-series goes “into the field” to feature people who enable and encourage the next generation of technology talent – from teens in middle and high school, to adults in career transition – to envision themselves working in tech jobs. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Who is a technologist? And why are technologists the best candidates for hundreds of thousands of jobs in today’s digital economy – especially in the post-pandemic future? This replay of one of our award-winning Technologist Talk mini-series answers those questions through conversations with Creating IT Futures CEO Charles Eaton and CompTIA CEO Todd Thibodeaux. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Creating IT Futures CEO Charles Eaton’s five core traits of a technologist broaden the understanding of working with technology beyond the restrictions of technical considerations. Still, finding a tech pro that exemplifies all five qualities of a technologist remains rare. Listen to this latest installment in our series of tales celebrating remarkable women in tech featuring Maddy Martin, head of growth & education for Smith.ai. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

In this Technologist Tales sidebar edition, leaders from workforce boards in Texas and Missouri tell their custom training tales. Hear how collaborative relationships with the Custom Training team at CompTIA Tech Career Academy help military veterans launch technology careers in civilian life, Missourians land digital apprenticeships and San Antonio’s disadvantaged youth upskill for tech jobs.   Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

In this Technologist Tales sidebar edition, Mark Plunkett and Jason Mangold from the Custom Trainingteam at CompTIA Tech Career Academy discuss reskilling and upskilling our nation’s workforce for the tech jobs of the future. The key? Striking a balance between industry standards – i.e., CompTIA certifications – and custom curriculum – i.e., fostering business soft skills. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Listen as three graduates of the IT-Ready Technical Support program from CompTIA Tech Career Academy share stories about launching successful tech careers with help desk training. In each tale, jobs working with technology have provided continuing professional growth opportunities and sustainable personal financial stability – despite the pandemic’s economic challenges. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Best way to ensure a long, successful career working in the technology industry is by earning a computer science degree first, right? Nope. A conversation with Carolyn April – CompTIA’s senior director of industry analysis, co-author of the recent IT Industry Outlook 2021 and co-host of the popular Volley podcast – continues our series celebrating the upcoming 10th Anniversary of WITS, the Women in Tech Summit. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

This Technologist Talk mini-series encourages career changers to consider training to become IT support specialists now despite today’s economic turbulence. Why? Because U.S. employers continue to seek and hire qualified tech talent to bolster businesses and support our nation’s workforce. Listen as leaders from CompTIA Tech Career Academy explain how their IT-Ready Technical Support program enables career changers to launch new technology careers. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

How does a technologist become Social Media Professional of the Year and Nonprofit Communicator of the Year? By thinking differently and thinking bigger about technology’s role in business challenges like the pandemic. A conversation with Kelly Stone, lead social marketing strategist for CompTIA, kicks off our November series celebrating the upcoming 10th Anniversary of WITS, the Women in Tech Summit. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

This Technologist Talk mini-series explains how custom IT help desk training is transforming our nation’s workforce by showcasing the work of CompTIA Tech’s Custom Training team with a key client . Together, they’re helping adults in career transitions and young people from disadvantaged populations find opportunities in the tech workforce – often, with life-altering results. Listen as workforce development leaders elaborate how they help job seekers launch new tech careers. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

This Technologist Tales mini-series showcases the work of CompTIA Tech’s Custom Training team, which collaborates with workforce boards, municipalities and other community-service organizations. Together, they’re helping military veterans, adults in career transitions, and young people from disadvantaged populations find opportunities in the tech workforce – often, with life-altering results. Listen as the leaders of workforce agencies in four states tell tales of helping job seekers launch new tech careers. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Whether online or in classrooms, millions of young people across the country are back in school, returning to high schools, colleges and universities to prepare for future careers. And with the pandemic’s impact on our nation’s economy and job markets, we believe students should pursue jobs working with technology now more than ever. Listen to a series of conversations with award-winning author and Creating IT Futures CEO Charles Eaton, as he deflates seven fallacies that discourage teens from considering tech careers. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

You’ve heard the rallying cry from Texas history, “Remember the Alamo,” right? Well, a lot of young job seekers in the San Antonio region surely will remember this slogan, too, because of a custom IT training program supported by CompTIA called Workforce Solutions Alamo. Listen as executives from CompTIA’s partner, C2 Global, tell the tale.  Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

Which is the one most critical success factor for landing – and keeping – a tech job? Technical training from CompTIA Tech? CompTIA certifications? Or, experience in customer service? The answer to this trick question may surprise you. Listen as Priyanka Neupane, a senior IT supervisor for international medical technology maker Medtronic, tells the tale of how she discovered the right answer for her tech career.   Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange

This special edition retells the tale of the “Pandemic Pivot” to virtual delivery of TechShopz, the TechGirlz workshop series that brings middle-school girls face-to-face with tech mentors. Listen as Amy Cliett explains how an unexpected operational challenge evolved into an unanticipated deepening of program’s value to students and volunteers across the country. Original Technologist Talk Radio theme music by C. Ezra Lange

How does a workforce board help hundreds of thousands of people find jobs in the wake of a pandemic? One way is providing on-demand virtual IT training, with support from CompTIA Custom Training. Listen as Dr. Mardy Leathers, director of Missouri’s Office of Workforce Development, holds an audio “show & tell” session, explaining how his team helps workers develop digital skills that will last a lifetime. Original Technologist Tales theme music by C. Ezra Lange