Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - Building a business case for workforce transformation (PEX207)

Summary

• Speakers: Myra Pawlowski (Director for America's Partner Training), Nigel Watson (colleague from Asia Pacific and Japan), and mention of Case Pronk (Director for EMEA).
• Context: The training and certification team is now under the global services umbrella, which includes professional services, consulting, managed services, support, and training and certification.
• Roles: Partner Enablement Manager and Partner Trainer are the two main roles within the team.
• Trends: The session discusses trends in training, the value of learning, and how AWS partners are transforming their workforce through upskilling, reskilling, and recruiting.
• DSI Measurement: A study conducted to measure the impact of training on top to bottom line results and benefits for the workforce.
• Pandemic Impact: The pandemic has accelerated digital strategies and created a talent crunch, with phenomena like the "Great Resignation" and "quiet quitting" affecting productivity and business outcomes.
• Opportunity for AWS Partners: AWS partners are well-positioned to help customers with digital transformations due to their built-up skills.
• Talent Attraction and Retention: Creative strategies are needed to attract and retain talent, emphasizing continual learning and up-to-date skills.
• Forrester Study: AWS commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a study on the ROI of AWS training for partners, showing significant benefits such as a 229% ROI, faster project delivery, and improved win rates.
• Upskilling, Reskilling, Recruiting: The three focus areas for building a strong team are discussed with examples from partners like Perfios and Rackspace.
• New Partner Training: New courses and learning paths are introduced, including SAP certification, GovCloud Essentials, and AWS Sales Accreditation for Business.
• AWS Skill Builder: A digital platform for learning, Skill Builder offers free and paid subscriptions with access to digital courses, labs, and learning plans.

Insights

• Digital Transformation Demand: The demand for cloud talent has increased due to the pandemic, creating opportunities for AWS partners to fill the gap.
• Workforce Transformation: AWS partners are reimagining cloud development strategies to optimize customer outcomes, retain happy employees, and build competitive advantages.
• Investment in Training: The Forrester study highlights the importance of investing in training, showing direct benefits to business metrics such as win rates, project delivery speed, and employee retention.
• Creative Hiring Practices: Rackspace's strategy to hire from non-traditional backgrounds and invest in their training for cloud fluency suggests a need for more creative hiring practices in the tech industry.
• Digital Learning Preference: The survey results indicate a strong preference for virtual and digital learning experiences over traditional classroom settings, reflecting the need for flexible training options.
• Skill Builder Platform: AWS Skill Builder is positioned as a key resource for AWS partners, offering a range of training materials and learning experiences to suit different preferences and needs.
• Sustainable Enablement Strategy: The session emphasizes the need for a sustainable enablement strategy that includes a solid business case for ongoing investment in workforce development.