“It’s not what you know; it’s how fast you can learn.” Great insight from Liz Wiseman, author of “Rookie Smarts” and President of The Wiseman Group.
This statement captures the theme from last week’s episode of DisrupTV, where our hosts Vala Afshar and R ”Ray” Wang caught up with two influential business leaders who are both shaking up the status quo - Liz Wiseman and Sharon Wienbar, CEO of Hackbright Academy.
The world is changing. When it comes to business, it’s not always about rank or title when looking for new ideas. We’re in a world with new technologies and vast amounts of data hitting the market every day, changing the way we think, do business, and grow as individuals. Liz illustrated the importance of continually learning and looking for resources typically overlooked - the young and aspiring interns and rookies.
This is great advice, and I am grateful to have worked with mentors and managers from the start of my career who asked my opinion and pushed me to grow by challenging his/her and even my way of thinking. Reverse mentoring helps leaders continue to grow, while motivating their staff. A great piece of advice I will keep with me as I continue moving up the ladder.
During the show, Sharon Wienbar explained how women are amping their learning and earning potential through taking a different path, one less traveled. They are changing their careers and switching industries to go into coding - a still male-dominated role - at Hackbright Academy. In an intense 12-week program, women from all walks of life learn the skills to work and succeed (eliminating that dreaded imposter syndrome) as an engineer.
This is a powerful message for all women who may have started in different careers; they aren’t stuck and have the resources and mentors to tackle a job that will dominate in the not-so-distant future. Think about it - we spend way too much time looking at our phones, computers, TVs and other devices. Coding is a language everyone should learn - even with a basic understanding. It’s what connects us to the rest of the world.
This is similar to one of our previous guests Whitney Johnson, the author of “Disrupt Yourself.” She talked about not letting your career go stagnant and looking for the fastest growth curves to continually learn and grow. Sometimes that curve means leaving your cushy job to take on a role in a completely different industry or something new altogether. Whitney actually left her prestigious job on Wall Street to get where she is today. To be successful, you have to constantly learn and challenge yourself. Yes, I’m going to quote Ace of Base: “No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong.”
“It’s not what you know; it’s how fast you can learn.”
Whether you’re part of a company looking to adopt the next big technology, someone looking to switch careers, working your way up the ladder, or just making your way through life, this is a must-watch episode. Personally for me, these women are inspirational and great role models, especially for women looking to climb the ranks in male-dominated industries. Pave the path you want by taking the leap and learning from everyone around you. If you are interested in meeting like-minded executives and mentors, check out the Constellation Executive Network.
DisrupTV Episode 0011: Featuring Sharon Wienbar & Liz Wiseman
Check out DisrupTV every week on blab at 11 AM PT. See you on Fridays!