Are You Ready for the Next Economy?

If you haven’t yet read Thomas Friedman’s latest book Thank You For Waiting, you’ve probably heard about it. Friedman expertly takes us on the journey of society-altering technology that launched in 2007, forever changing the world we knew…and in many cases the course of our professional lives.

Insecurity about the next economy is fueling angst on many levels – from politics to education. How do we adjust, stay aware of and prepare for the rapid fire of change that continues to feel destabilizing? Friedman talks about staying “in the eye of the hurricane.”

In this video, Vice Chancellor of California Community Colleges, Van Ton-Quinlivan talks workforce and economic development – preparing for the next economy and what education can do to help stranded workers transition.

Van is the sparkplug behind Doing What Matters for Jobs & the Economy, which is a backbone of the focus on economic mobility at the 6th annual California Economic Summit coming up in November in San Diego. Early bird registration ends August 31.

We are in the thick of it here in the Valley, where we have been focused on developing a world-class workforce, excellence in business and policy alignment. While the hurricane is blowing, those of us who are finding our way to the eye are a growing team, collaborating to design pathways intended to take our region to the next economy.