This talk is about bridging the gap between learning and earning, providing practical tips & experiences of growing local tech talent. Ruth will draw on a decade's experience running a tech internship programme, mobilising the tech community to build a bridge and get over it's so-called pipeline problem.

What if our education, attraction, selection & retention strategies are broken? What if we can decrease the time & effort between "newbie" & "productive team member"?

There will be a sprinkling of future of education / future of work buzzwords, but not an excessive amount. There will be some examples & tips for finding & onboarding newbies. Plus some practical tips about how each of us can make a significant contribution at a personal, professional & organisational level.

Who is this talk for? Anyone with an interest in building technology teams, products, services or businesses. Anyone interested in people, education, diversity & inclusion, professional development, getting hired, learning stuff, getting promoted, or helping someone else get hired, learn stuff, or get promoted. Also, emoji fans.