Episode 68: Taking The Leap

Our parents graduated, entered the workforce in their twenties, and stayed with the same organization, often in a similar field for the entirety of their careers. They were also often able to comfortably afford their own homes in their early twenties, but hey, it was a different time.
Everything has since changed. The security that previous generations experienced in their work no longer exists. We live in a time of anxiety and change like we have never seen before. Technology has disrupted countless industries, eliminating certainties and making a mockery of the idea of tenure. It has levelled the international playing field, meaning that there is as much opportunity for someone on the other side of the planet to compete for your job in a way that was once impossible. The World really has become flat. Periodic recessions are met with immediate layoffs regardless of the ability or contributions of the employee. And in our industry, skills and experience that were once highly regarded are today irrelevant.
But it's not all doom and gloom. All this disruption has opened up previously unheard of opportunities and mobility for those that welcome new challenges. Today, we are not expected to work for the same employer for the entirety of our careers. Indeed, today we are likely to have multiple careers within our working lives.
Given that, why would someone want to become a digital strategist mid-career? Let's start with the premise that it is an attractive role. Not only is it in high demand, with a lot of organizations actively hunting for a relatively small pool of talent, it is also a role that is closely associated with organizational revenue and profitability. As such, it is also a high profile role, which to many people is quite appealing.