Continuous Learning Practices

What is CI/CD automation? CI/CD automation is a process of automating the following stages of the software delivery pipeline: Continuous integration (CI): This involves automating the process of building and testing your code every time a change is made. Continuous delivery or deployment (CD): This involves automating the process of deploying your code to production. 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Blueprint of Excellence The true power of CI/CD is unleashed through architect-driven automation. This approach leverages the expertise of architects to design CI/CD pipelines that are not only efficient but also resilient and secure. By  planning the automation strategy, architects ensure that the pipeline is aligned with the project's goals, technology stack, and operational requirements. This strategic oversight is critical in optimizing the CI/CD process, minimizing bottlenecks, and ensuring that the automation tools and practices adopted are the best fit for the project. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗜/𝗖𝗗 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Beyond Speed and Efficiency While CI/CD is often celebrated for its ability to speed up software delivery, its benefits extend far beyond just efficiency: - 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Automated testing ensures that bugs are caught early, improving the overall quality of the software. - 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗽: Continuous integration provides immediate feedback on code quality, allowing developers to make quick adjustments. - 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸: Smaller, more frequent deployments reduce the risk associated with releasing new features or changes. - 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆: Automation frees developers from manual tasks, allowing them to focus on creating value. The journey to implementing CI/CD may seem daunting, but the rewards are unparalleled. By embracing architect-driven automation, organizations can not only accelerate their software delivery but also enhance their ability to respond to market changes and customer needs swiftly. As we navigate the complexities of modern software development, let's champion the adoption of CI/CD practices. It's time to shift our mindset, innovate relentlessly, and drive towards a future where software development is more agile, resilient, and aligned with the ever-changing digital landscape.

What You Think You Need: • 5 Cloud Certifications • 3-5 Years of Experience • To Become a Subject Matter Expert What You Really Need: • Projects to Demonstrate Your Ability • 1 or 2 Core Certifications • An Understanding of How Cloud Benefits the Business You’re Applying To Understand That: • Those with numerous certifications may still lack the ability to build practical solutions. • People with 3-5 years of experience can be siloed and may not have broad experience with various tools or services. • You can be a Subject Matter Expert and still not fully understand how cloud technology meets the business needs of your organization. When I was nervous about lacking experience, I had to change my mindset to understand: Exposure = Experience. Then I had to ask myself: “Broadus, let’s say you’ve been learning a service for a few months, you’ve been building, deploying, and solving major problems with it. Let’s say you get hired, and you have a peer with 2-3 years of experience. Automatically, you would think they have more experience in everything. But let’s say this peer has never worked on this service before. Now, let’s say your company comes to you both and says they are using the service that you’ve been using for months before you landed this job, and your peer hasn’t used it at all. In this case, who has more experience?” So If You Want to Learn How To: • Gain experience in solving business problems • Build an extensive portfolio • Get certified while doing it Success in This Industry Is About Strategically Building Yourself! Think of yourself not as an employee looking for a job, but as a business developing its product (you) and its services (your skills) to help companies solve problems! Now, do you think a business waits until it has all the experience to start gaining clients? No they don’t. So guess what? Start Today!

If I was starting my Cloud career in the AI Engineering era, I wouldn’t just focus on Linux, networking, and cloud fundamentals. Instead, I’d start with: - How web apps and full-stack applications work Understand how frontend, backend, APIs, and databases connect — it’s the foundation for deploying anything meaningful to the cloud. Link: https://lnkd.in/d_Ycr2qw - Understand the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Knowing how code moves from development to production helps you build cloud infrastructure that aligns with real-world delivery. Link: https://lnkd.in/dZctq4tW - Get hands-on with Cloud Console, APIs, CLIs, and SDKs Learning how to interact programmatically with cloud services makes you more efficient and opens up automation opportunities. Links: • https://lnkd.in/du3mRSNm • https://lnkd.in/d7sc7C9c - Understand the difference between Model Development Lifecycle (MDLC) & SDLC MDLC focuses on data sourcing, model experimentation, training, evaluation, and continuous retraining — which is quite different from traditional app development. Link: https://lnkd.in/duPEeD3P Once you’ve got that, get this ready: • Brush up your Coding skills (Python) • Pick one cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP) • Get the core service fundamentals right (via certs or labs/projects) • Familiarize with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/Pulumi) • Get comfortable with Version Control (Git) • Explore AI & ML services on cloud platforms (like SageMaker, Vertex AI, Azure ML) • Understand how AI workloads run on cloud — compute, storage, scaling It’s a lot, especially in today’s market — but once you have the foundations right, you can start tailoring your expertise to a specialty: Networking, DevOps, Databases, AI/ML, etc. I’ve shared detailed Cloud DevOps roadmap in my newsletter here — if you haven’t checked it out yet: 👉 https://www.tech5ense.com/ What other roadmaps would you like me to cover? • • • If you found this useful.. 🔔 Follow me (Vishakha) for more Cloud & DevOps insights ♻️ Share so others can learn as well!

"To know yourself, you must sacrifice the illusion that you already do." - Vironika Tugaleva. 7 ways to become more self-aware (backed by science): 1/ Dive Inward: Understand your true self. ↳Reflect on what truly drives you and your core values. ↳Embrace your passions and how they shape your life. ↳If you get sidetracked, it's okay. Just come back to self-reflection. 2/ See Yourself from the Outside. ↳Seek feedback to understand how others perceive you. ↳Openly discuss perceptions to bridge gaps between self and external views. ↳Resist the urge to defend or explain; listen and absorb. 3/ Clear the Noise: Focus on self-discovery. ↳Make time to think about yourself without any interruptions. ↳Find a peaceful spot where you can be alone with your thoughts. ↳Don't let your usual ideas get in the way. Stay open to what you find out about yourself. 4/ Embrace Discomfort: Growth lies outside your comfort zone. ↳It might feel weird or hard to question how you see yourself, but it's important. ↳Think about why you feel uneasy. It can teach you a lot. ↳Be patient with yourself. Understanding takes time. 5/ Balance Internal and External Views: Harmonizing self-perception. ↳Balance what you know about yourself with what others tell you to get the full picture. ↳Value both introspection and external feedback equally. ↳If things don't match up, it's a chance to learn more about yourself. 6/ Cultivate Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. ↳Recognize that self-discovery can be challenging and treat yourself with kindness. ↳Celebrate your progress, no matter how small. ↳Being kind to yourself helps you grow and feel better about who you are. 7/ Embrace Change: Self-awareness is a journey. ↳Accept that self-awareness is not a destination but a journey. ↳Be open to changing how you see yourself as you learn and experience new things. ↳Change is all about getting better and knowing yourself more. These insights are inspired by Tasha Eurich's 'Insight' and brought to you by Omar's Desk. PS: Remember, self-awareness is finding your truth, not fitting into others. 🔁 Useful? I would appreciate a repost! Image Credit: Henk Wijnands.

“It's challenging for me to maintain a consistent study schedule, especially as a working professional. “ This is a problem many of us face. Like trying to build a house on shifting sand, an inconsistent study schedule makes it hard to retain knowledge and progress. As Stephen Covey said, “we may be very busy, we may be very efficient, but we will also be truly effective only when we begin with the end in mind.” The demands of work and life can knock our schedules off track.  Unexpected challenges arise, priorities shift, and study time gets squeezed out.  Before we know it, we’re cramming the night before an exam or letting certifications lapse. I’ve been there myself.  As the founder and CEO of EduHubSpot,We help working professionals earn project management certifications. My team and I have coached hundreds of learners.  We’ve found a few key strategies that help keep study on track: -->Build a study habit.  Like a pilot runs pre-flight checks, make study a regular ritual. Brief daily study sessions are better than occasional marathon ones. -->Make a realistic schedule.  Block out study time in your calendar and protect it. Be honest about your bandwidth. Slow progress is better than no progress. -->Make it a priority.  Treat study time as sacrosanct, not optional. Say no to other commitments if needed. Your goals deserve focused effort. -->Review and adjust.  Reflect each week on what’s working and what’s not. Fine-tune your schedule to stay on track. The path to success rarely runs straight. With the right systems, we can take control of our learning amidst life’s twists and turns. Little by little, we can chip away at big goals. As Lao Tzu said “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” I hope these tips help you take that first step or your next one! Let’s connect if you have any other thoughts to share.

Rejecting internal candidates without a clear development plan can be demoralizing and counterproductive. When an internal candidate takes the leap to interview for a new role, it’s not just about the position—they’re showing ambition, drive, and a desire to grow within the company. Let's use this momentum to support their career development. Here’s how we can make a positive impact: 1. Transparent Feedback ↳Provide detailed, constructive feedback. ↳Highlight their strengths and the areas they need to develop to be successful in future opportunities. 2. Personalized Development Plan ↳Collaborate with them to create a tailored development plan. ↳This could include training, mentorship, or project assignments that align with their career goals. 3. Regular Check-ins ↳Schedule periodic meetings to review progress, offer support, and adjust the plan as needed. ↳Celebrate their milestones and achievements along the way. 4. Encourage Continuous Learning ↳Recommend relevant courses, workshops, and resources. ↳Foster a culture of continuous improvement and learning. 5. Mentorship and Networking ↳Connect them with mentors and encourage them to build their network within the company. ↳These relationships can provide guidance, support, and new opportunities. Investing in our internal talent not only boosts morale but also strengthens our team and organization. Let’s commit to turning every "no" into a powerful stepping stone toward future success. By nurturing our internal candidates, we’re not just filling roles—we’re building resilient, engaged, and future-ready leaders. ♻️ Repost this if you agree ➕ Follow Anna Chernyshova for more posts like this

What’s it really like to be a Chief People Officer? One thing is for certain - you never stop learning. Ever. Last month I wrote a post with generative AI about what is like to be a CPO. It identified seven major parts of a CPO role. This week, I wanted to share more about #5: Continuous Learning. Here's what it said: "The world of HR is always evolving. We're lifelong learners, staying on top of trends, technologies, and legal requirements." Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away (or, about ten years ago, a few miles from where I work now), I was a paper-first leader. What do I mean by that? I led with compliance - people had a place of course, but that was secondary to the business. As I learned, unlearned, grew and changed, I learned to lead people-first, putting people above all else. Does this mean I can avoid tough decisions? Of course not. Does it mean that sometimes there are really difficult choices involving people. Yes, there are. This is a complicated role, with so many different moving parts. But back to continuous learning. When you are an HR practitioner caught up in the day to day, it is REALLY hard to see through the stacks of (sometimes literal, sometimes virtual) paper to really see your people. To really learn the things you need to know to lead your team, your people, your company and yourself. It can be completely overwhelming. I get it. But, I've learned over the past few years to put myself first. You should too. That goes not only for self-care, but also for learning. Take time to learn. Take time to grow. Take time to unlearn. That thing you have to do can wait an hour, a day, a week. Learn in a way that makes sense for you. It doesn't have to be books, articles or conferences. My favorite way to learn? It's from others. I talk with others, but I listen more than I talk. Be open to changing those ideas you hold onto so tightly. Maybe, just maybe, there's room for you to grow there. I know there is for me. I think the tough thing for those of us who've grown up in HR, or even worked for a number of years, is that learning is never done. You cannot check learning off that checklist you love so much (I do too!) Sure, you can finish a book, article or module, but you are always learning something, and everything we learn about eventually changes in some way, leading to a continuous cycle of learning. So, sometimes it's easier not to start something that can't be finished. Don't get caught up in that. Start today. Start with something new that expands your mind or changes your view on something. Talk to someone who is different from you in several ways. And listen. Talk to your people. And listen. Talk to your team members. And listen. It will make you a better CPO, HR practitioner and person. I know it has for me. And I can't wait to see what else I learn today, tomorrow, next week and beyond.

Want to future-proof your career and start leveraging AI? Here's how I did it, ranked from easiest to most ambitious: 1️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 • 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗: https://lnkd.in/eT-nzYP9 I recommend Heather Murray 's AI for Non-Techies Newsletter. It's a fun treasure trove of useful information. • 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗨𝗦𝗘: AI (Generative AI especially) is not infallible. Learn about the mistakes it can make, the issues it can cause, and how to navigate them. • 𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 (𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸): For $15/mo, Canva is an amazing option because you can test alot of current capabilities. For $20/mo, Microsoft Copilot Pro can be added to your Office 365 account. Also for $20/mo, Google offers AI premium for your workspace (GMail, Docs, Sheets, etc). 2️⃣ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗜-𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀. If your company offers access to AI tools, get access and use them according to their use policy. If not, create sample scenarios at home and practice. 3️⃣ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Share that you're interested in learning more in your field. Ask if coworkers or your LinkedIn network if anyone incorporated AI into their work. Offer to continue to learn together. 4️⃣ 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗜 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. There's no shortage of free webinars, conferences, etc. talking about AI. Get involved. 5️⃣ 𝗘𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱. Professional organizations and technology vendors offer lots of free training for specific use cases. 6️⃣ 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁. Talk to your manager about opportunities. Make it one of your professional goals to stand out. If they aren't there, contact your professional or volunteer organizations. 7️⃣ 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. Use what you've learned to pitch an opportunity to create value at your company, your professional, or your volunteer organizations. Do these make sense for you? How are you going about it? #artificialintelligence #innovation #changemanagement #technology #digitaltransformation

This morning I joined in on a wonderful discussion led by Accenture learning gurus Dana Alan Koch and Bob Gerard called the Science of Biology and Learning. I learned so much from my fellow "learning geeks" Alexandria Pabst, PhD, Paul Zak, and Tessa Forshaw. Of course I wanted to talk about the intersections between well-being and learning, as both play an instrumental role in human capital management, talent retention, innovation, growth and productivity...essentially all aspects of business performance. Sharing something I shared with the group, based on research we collected as a team at Accenture that we dubbed "learning accelerators": Stress influences learning in powerful ways. *Negative* stress negatively impacts our: 🛑 Memory  🛑 Knowledge retention  🛑 Self-efficacy (belief in our ability to accomplish a task) 🛑 External locus of control (feeling in control of our circumstances and ability/potential to learn) 🛑 Openness and willingness to learn and adapt in the moment of need  🛑 Negative stress also plays a large role in increased extraneous load (Jarret, 2011). But here's the thing: stress in and of itself isn't the issue. In fact, based on the research, a little stress enhances learning (even acute stress!). On a macro level, external workplace stressors employees face can inhibit learning and growth, so it's important to consider this BEFORE designing or implementing a training. For example: if you're asking a group to take time out of their busy work days to learn something new, consider how to mitigate potential stressors that could be barriers to learning. Consider things like: ⚡ Spaced learning where there are plenty of breaks. Spaced learning is actually great for learning anyway - but it offers a chance for learners to get some recovery between learning moments. ⚡ Don't schedule the learning outside of regular work hours, forcing them to make accommodations for childcare, commutes, losing precious family time or workout time, etc. ⚡ Consider neurodiverse learner needs as best as possible: factor for group work, accessibility needs, social needs, etc. ⚡ Provide enough time for catch up after the learning. Can certain calls, meetings, regular tasks etc. be deleted or delegated away so they can bring their best focus to the learning? If not, can you offer space in the training (or before or after) for catch up so they're not backlogged? The optimal amount of stress for learning and performance is learner specific, task specific, and situation specific (Bong, 2016). A little positive stress can enhance learning (challenges, exercises, competition, quizzes, etc.), but there's a tipping point where stress can negatively impact learning. Know your audience and how stress plays a role in learning to best to elevate their performance and learning potential.

I'm working on a cheat sheet for educators who are new to AI and feeling a bit overwhelmed. Here it is. I'm posting in the spirit of #BuildingInPublic because I genuinely want your feedback. As educators, instructional designers, and learning professionals, what resonates with you? What falls flat? What's missing? == Sanity Cheat Sheet for Educators == 1. Breathe! It's okay to be wary of AI. It's new, and it's a lot. Take it one step at a time. 2. Get curious. AI is a tool, like any other technology. Explore what you can do with ChatGPT or other AI platforms. The more you play, the more comfortable you'll get. 3. Connect with colleagues. Talk to other instructors or staff who seem excited about AI. What are they doing? What's working well? Let their enthusiasm inspire you. 4. Start small. Pick one simple way to try AI - like generating a writing prompt or making a quiz. Tiny wins build confidence. 5. Know your "why." Before diving in, clarify how AI could help you and your students. What problem could it solve, or what opportunity could it open up? 6. Teach your students to use AI smartly. Help them see it as a tool to enhance their learning, not a shortcut to skip it. Talk about things like academic integrity and how to attribute AI-generated content. 7. Keep humans in the loop. AI isn't replacing you! Use your judgment, give feedback, and add the "human touch" to whatever AI spits out. 8. Monitor your workload. AI should make your life easier, not create more work. If something's not saving you time or effort, ditch it. 9. Stay flexible. The AI landscape is changing fast. Be ready to adapt your approach as you and the college learn what works best. 10. Remember your value. AI cannot replicate your wisdom, experience, and personal connection with students. You've got this! == End Cheatsheat== I'm especially curious to know: • Does the tone and style work for you? Is it too casual or just right? • Are there any key tips or points that I've missed? What else would you add to help AI-wary educators feel more confident and prepared? • If you've introduced AI to educators before, what strategies or approaches have you found most effective? Any success stories or cautionary tales to share? Please don't hold back - I'm here to learn and improve! 🙏 Your comments, reactions, and shares are all valuable data points as I refine this resource. And hey, if you know any educators currently grappling with AI integration, feel free to tag them or share this post and say "Hit on this!" The more perspectives, the better. Thanks in advance for your help. Together, we can make the AI journey less daunting for our fellow educators. #GenerativeAI #Feedback #Teaching