Tech industry trends and predictions for 2015

The technology industry will see acceleration in existing trends, as well as some brand new innovations in 2015. MBA students and business graduates with professional or entrepreneurial aspirations in the sector should be ahead of the curve on any significant developments, so what can we expect the year to bring? More MBA recruitment Technology companies have stepped up their MBA recruitment efforts this year, while graduates have exhibited more interest in careers in the industry. In spring 2014, tech showed the strongest increase in onsite business school hiring of any industry for the second consecutive year.[Tweet In spring 2014, tech showed the strongest increase in onsite business school hiring of any industry.] Overall, 55 percent of schools surveyed by the MBA Career Services Employer Alliance reported an increase in on-campus recruiting for full-time jobs. Even more (70 percent) had seen growth in full-time job postings. Separate research from the Graduate Management Admission Council showed that 61 percent of business school graduates seeking jobs in technology this year had early job offers. One attribute that is making MBAs attractive to tech firms is flexibility. Beat Buhlman, former managing director of global product development at Hult International Business School, illustrated this point by referring to the Street View project at Google, where he previously worked in a hiring role. He pointed out that it was impossible for the tech giant to recruit people with experience in this area, because it was entirely unique. So one thing that Google is looking for is someone who is not afraid not to know what they will be doing in two years from now, he told the Financial Times. Microsoft MBA staffing consultant Cassandra Young agreed, saying her company wants students who can handle and are comfortable with ambiguity. More gender diversity? Gender diversity has long been a problem in the technology industry. A recently published visualization from Information is Beautiful revealed that Google, Apple, Dell, Intel, and Nvidia all have female workforce representation rates of 30 percent or lower within their U.S. operations. This compares to an average of 46 percent for the top 50 companies in the country. Now this is such a well-recognized problem, can we expect to see any improvement in 2015? There is certainly some cause for optimism. Anise Mastin, MBA graduate and now senior marketing director at IBM, said women with career aspirations in the technology industry should not be discouraged by the fact it is male-dominated, Business Because reported. I believe if you have a passion to be in information technology, you will find your way, she said at an event organized by womens advocacy group the Forte Foundation. Deborah Gillis, chief executive of research and advisory group Catalyst, said: [Technology] organizations have a remarkable opportunity to turn things around, by focusing on how they can make all their talent men and women alike feel equally valued. Moreover, the fact that women are under-represented in tech could be seen as an opportunity. Natasha Walji, another MBA graduate and current head of industry for consumer packaged goods at Google, said: Its refreshing to see and have a female perspective on business, and if you frame it that way it can help you in your career. Growing rivalry between tech hubs As the industry continues to grow and offer more potential, the rivalry between the leading global technology hubs will become more intense. Home to the likes of Apple, Google, Yahoo!, Facebook, and Oracle, Californias Silicon Valley is the quintessential tech hub, but there are pretenders to its crown. According to Bloomberg founder and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, locations like London and New York have attributes that Silicon Valley lacks, such as an open environment that attracts a diversity of talented professionals. I think theres an awful lot of people in tech who want a bustling, diversified, and intellectually stimulating environment, and thats why they would go to the big cities of London and New York, he told Tech City News. Looking beyond the U.S. and the U.K., there are several global cities that will be making an impact in tech next year. Beijing is offering an increasingly supportive environment for start-ups, while cities like Amsterdam and Tel Aviv are also growing, providing new opportunities for entrepreneurs and business graduates. Innovations and growth in the latest technologies A year is a long time in a marketplace that depends on constant innovation and evolution. By the end of 2015, we can expect the tech landscape to have a different appearance, with todays cutting-edge technologies becoming more pervasive and commonplace. The proliferation of mobile devices means consumers are now digitally connected wherever they go, and this trend will gather pace with the expansion of wearable technology. Phones and wearable devices are now part of an expanded computing environment that includes such things as consumer electronics and connected screens in the workplace and public space, said David Cearley, vice president at IT research and advisory firm Gartner. Increasingly, its the overall environment that will need to adapt to the requirements of the mobile user. Linked to this is the anticipated growth in the Internet of Things, which will enable online access from an array of business assets and consumer appliances. Gartner is also predicting a big year for the 3D printing industry, with worldwide product shipments expected to rise by 98 percent. The most significant technology trend of the past decade has been the explosion of the third platform – mobile, social networking, cloud computing, and big data. All companies heavily invested in this area – from the smallest start-ups to the biggest corporations – can expect another year of growth in 2015. Global IT spending has been predicted to rise by 3.8 percent to over USD3.8 trillion next year, with third-platform technologies accounting for nearly all of the increase.[Tweet Global IT spending has been predicted to rise by 3.8 percent to over USD3.8 trillion next year.] Frank Gens, senior vice president and chief analyst at the International Data Corporation, which made the forecasts, said: The industry is now entering the most critical period yet in the third-platform era: the innovation stage. Over the next several years, we expect to see an explosion of innovation and value creation on top of the third platforms foundation. This stage will be driven by a new wave of core technologies – innovation accelerators – that radically extend the third platforms capabilities and applications across all industries. The Internet of Things is set to be one such innovation accelerator, along with security solutions optimized for the third platform, such as biometric security on mobile devices. Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Getting Into Business School – Expert Advice, or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .