CompTIA Volley

Episode 217: HR's Shift into a Skills-Based Approach

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about the changes HR teams will need to make as their organizations pursue skills-based career development. Similar to technolog...

Episode 216: Taking Stock of Tech Skills

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about the tech skills landscape as businesses head into another year of digital transformation. Although AI is casting questions...

Episode 215: Exploring MSP Standards

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk through the issues surrounding standardization or regulation of the MSP industry. Unlike many other professional service sector,...

Episode 214: Counting the Costs of AI

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth share some news about the new entities of CompTIA Inc. and Global Technology Industry Association, then they dive into the challenges...

Episode 213: 2024 in Review

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a look back at 2024's biggest tech stories. From the ongoing hype around AI to the Crowdstrike incident, technology professional...

Episode 212: IT Channel Outlook

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth continue their overview of CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2025 report by lookin at the big issues facing IT channel firms in the new y...

Episode 211: IT Pro Outlook

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth give a preview of CompTIA's upcoming IT Industry Outlook report, focusing on the prospects for IT pros. Most IT pros are optimistic a...

Episode 210: Tech Salaries and Hiring Trends

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Ryan Sutton, Executive Director of Technology for Robert Half, to discuss findings from Robert Half's 2025 Technology Salarie...

Episode 209: Happy Volleydays

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Randy Gross, CompTIA's Chief Information Security Officer, for their annual holiday episode. The group talks about one t...

Episode 208: Developing Cybersecurity Skills

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Brad Powell, cofounder of ThreatCaptain, to talk about the cybersecurity skills needed in the market. CompTIA's State of Cybe...

Episode 207: State of Cybersecurity 2025

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth walk through the highlights of CompTIA's new State of Cybersecurity 2025 report. This annual study explores attitudes, strategies, an...

Episode 206: The Value of Community

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Suzanne Ricci, Chief Success Officer at Computer Coach, about the value of joining communities for IT professionals. In add...

Episode 205: Election Year Tech Issues

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the biggest tech issues that will face government officials with the U.S. election coming up in November. Ai has domin...

Episode 204: A Manager's View on Certifications

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a listen to some audio captured during CompTIA's interview at RSA with Jason Bentley, director of security operations at UST Hea...

Episode 203: Vertical Industry Trends

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's recent data looking at technology trends across verticals. While many of the differences between industries are ...

Episode 202: Trends in Skill Development

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about the latest approaches companies are taking around developing the skills of their workforce. Over 60% of companies claim to...

Episode 201: Tech Career Pathways

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's recent data around pathways for technology professionals. First, they look at the three buckets of skills that a...

Episode 200: Business Leadership in 2032

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth celebrate eight years of podcasting together by exploring what business leadership might look like eight years into the future. CompT...

Episode 199: Debating Digital Transformation

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth use some recent CompTIA research data to dig into the true meaning of digital transformation. The label doesn’t apply very well to ...

Episode 198: Workforce and Learning Trends

25 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA’s latest Workforce and Learning Trends research report with Hannah Johnson, Senior Vice President of Strategy an...

Episode 197: Enterprise vs. SMB

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth dive into the contrasting worlds of Enterprise and Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs). They explore the nuances of career path...

Episode 196: State of the Tech Workforce

26 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Haley Glover about CompTIA’s new research on the State of the Tech Workforce. Haley is the senior director of Upskill Ame...

Episode 195: Unpacking AI Hype

12 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth give their impressions on the hottest topic in technology—AI. Using new research on business viewpoints and adoption, the discussio...

Episode 194: State of the Channel Part 2

29 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Bob Coppedge from Simplex IT as they continue the discussion around CompTIA's State of the Channel research study. In this ...

Episode 193: State of the Channel Part 1

15 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth review CompTIA's latest State of the Channel research. This annual study looks at the dynamic ecosystem of the IT channel, where the ...

Episode 192: Job Seeker Trends

01 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Amy Carrado, CompTIA's senior director of workforce and internal research, to talk about the latest trends among job see...

Episode 191: Multigenerational Workforce Issues

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about the challenges facing organizations as they deal with changing generational dynamics in the workforce. Most of the attenti...

Episode 190: Prepping Students for Tech Roles

02 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Brad Chamberlain, who teaches technology courses at Maricopa High school in Arizona and oversees a student-led business calle...

Episode 189: How to Handle Data

19 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Joe Dery from Western Governors University to talk about the evolution and importance of data management and analytics. The g...

Episode 188: 2024 Business Climate

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about the business climate in 2024. Major trends like AI and cybersecurity governance will transform the landscape, but organiza...

Episode 187: 2023 in Review

08 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the year's biggest technology stories, with many of those being among the biggest overall headlines in 2023. AI domina...

Episode 186: IT Industry Outlook 2024

24 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth give a preview of CompTIA's upcoming IT Industry Outlook 2024 research report. After starting with an overview of the positive sentim...

Episode 185: Making IT Strategic

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with James Stanger, CompTIA's Chief Technology Evangelist, about the steps companies are taking to make IT a strategic imperativ...

Episode 184: Happy Volleydays

27 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Randy Gross, CompTIA's CISO, to take a tech-flavored tour of the upcoming holidays. The group chats about the frightenin...

Episode 183: Real Cybersecurity Stories

13 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Chris Cochran, Cofounder of Hacker Valley Media and Advisory CISO at Huntress, to discuss some real-world cybersecurity issue...

Episode 182: State of Cybersecurity 2024

29 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth review the highlights from CompTIA's State of Cybersecurity 2024 research report. As companies are taking a more strategic view of te...

Episode 181: Xpert Series Certs

15 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Teresa Sears, CompTIA's VP of Product Management, about the upcoming Xpert Series certifications. Companies of all sizes an...

Episode 180: Keys for Tech Startups

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about key items that should be considered by anyone thinking about starting up a tech services business. The environment has cha...

Episode 179: Whatever Happened to SoCloMo?

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth step into the time machine to explore a nearly-forgotten buzzword: SoCloMo. The concept--combining Social, Cloud, and Mobile--may not...

Episode 178: MSP Workforce Issues

04 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Jabu Dayton, Principal of Jabu HR and CompTIA board member, to discuss the issues managed service providers are facing as the...

Episode 177: Outcome-based Pricing

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about the rise in interest around outcome-based pricing as companies come to grips with the new realities of technology budgets....

Episode 176: Digital Transformation

07 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Marisol Angelini to the podcast to discuss digital transformation. Marisol is a former executive of Coca Cola who now advises...

Episode 175: Channel Consolidation

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about the changes taking place in IT channel M&A activity. As the channel has grown, there are fewer purchases of micro-size...

Episode 174: ChannelCon Preview

09 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome MJ Shoer, CompTIA's Chief Community Officer, to give a preview of this year's ChannelCon event. Held jointly with CompTIA's P...

Episode 173: Data Career Pathways

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Ken Sardoni, CompTIA's Senior Vice President of Learning Programs, to talk about the field of data. Companies have had digita...

Episode 172: Tech Skill Supply and Demand

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the supply and demand of tech workforce skills, using data from two of CompTIA's recent studies, State of the Tech Wor...

Episode 171: State of the Channel Part 2

28 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth do a deep dive on the upcoming State of the Channel report from CompTIA research. While the overall technology ecosystem is growing a...

Episode 170: State of the Channel Part 1

14 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth start a two-part series giving a preview of the upcoming State of the Channel report. In this episode, they welcome John Harden, seni...

Episode 169: Trends in Software Development

31 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with CompTIA Chief Innovation Officer Nate Garner about the latest trends in software development. There are far more companies ...

Episode 168: 2023 Research Roadmap

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth give a recap of CompTIA's Communities and Councils Forum that took place in Chicago this week. The event provided networking opportun...

Episode 167: Two Truths and a Lie about AI

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about AI with Mechie Nkengala, CEO and Chief Data Scientist at Data Products LLC and Vice Chair of CompTIA's AI Advisory Council...

Episode 166: Careers in Technology

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the complex landscape of technology careers. With so much recent focus on layoffs in the tech sector, there have been ...

Episode 165: Marketplaces and Platforms

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a look at online marketplaces, which have changed how technology is procured and implemented, and the platforms used for these m...

Episode 164: How Tech Got Here Part 2

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth wrap up the 2-part series on the changes in the technology industry by looking at the last 2 factors that shaped technology over the ...

Episode 163: How Tech Got Here Part 1

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth kick off the new year with a 2-part series looking at the evolution of the technology industry over the past 15 years and the new par...

Episode 162: 2022 in Review

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a look back at 2022, talking about the biggest stories and the impact on the technology industry. Technology was not the most im...

Episode 161: Business Now and Then

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome CompTIA CEO Todd Thibodeaux to talk about the new concerns businesses have heading into 2023. CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2...

Episode 160: IT Industry Outlook 2023

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth go over the highlights from CompTIA's IT Industry Outlook 2023, the annual report looking at the major trends for the year ahead. Com...

Episode 159: Happy Volleydays

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome CompTIA CISO Randy Gross back to the show for the annual holiday episode. As always, the group talks about one thing in techn...

Episode 158: Cybersecurity in the Real World

14 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with James Rocker, CEO of Nerds That Care, about his experiences implementing cybersecurity for clients. James talks about the n...

Episode 157: State of Cybersecurity

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest State of Cybersecurity research. Although organizations often say that cybersecurity is a high priority, ...

Episode 156: International Tech Adoption and Skills

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest research on international trends in tech adoption and skills building, with the help of the author's stud...

Episode 155: SMB Tech Trends

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's new research exploring technology attitudes and adoption among small and mid-sized businesses. Even with the cur...

Episode 154: Trends in Automation

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Corey Simpson, COO of International Legal Technology Association, about trends in automation. Corey covers the need to appr...

Episode 153: Whatever Happened To...

05 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth look at four topics that used to make major headlines but have faded in the public eye. First, they discuss how computing power gets ...

Episode 152: Partner Experience Part 2

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth wrap up the series on partner experience, looking at the issue from the perspective of vendors and distributors. While a large part o...

Episode 151: Partner Experience Part 1

09 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's new research around the topic of partner experience. With IT solution providers beginning to focus more on their...

Episode 150: IT M&A

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Rob Rae, SVP of Business Development at Datto, to discuss the state of mergers and acquisitions in the IT industry. Rob talks...

Episode 149: CompTIA Summer Events

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome two guests to talk about CompTIA's summer events, which are happening live for the first time in three years. First, CompTIA'...

Episode 148: Blockchain Adoption

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's data around blockchain, including some general thoughts on emerging technology adoption. With so many new techno...

Episode 147: Trends in Workforce Learning

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Gordon Pelosse, CompTIA's senior vice president of employer engagement, to discuss the recently released Workforce and Learni...

Episode 146: Developing Tech Support Skills

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Seth and guest co-host Amy Carrado welcome Randall Edwards, CompTIA's director of product development, to have a discussion around the role of technic...

Episode 145: IT Operations

15 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth start with some quick thoughts around social media in the wake of Elon Musk's offer to take Twitter private, then they dive into Comp...

Episode 144: Trends in Managed Services

01 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about the latest research around managed services. With the pandemic beginning to fade, MSPs are feeling optimistic about the pr...

Episode 143: Employee Experience

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome James Stanger, CompTIA's Chief Technology Evangelist, to talk about employee experience. Employee experience is becoming a cr...

Episode 142: Data Management and Analytics

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest research in the field of data management and analytics. More and more, companies are looking to their dat...

Episode 141: Unpacking Web3 Hype

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth dive into the hype around web3, the concept of decentralizing the internet using blockchain. Starting with a quick history of web1/we...

Episode 140: Marketing the Business of Tech

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Marie Rourke, owner of Whitefox Marketing, to talk about how marketing practices are evolving for companies in the IT channel...

Episode 139: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth discuss some of the findings from CompTIA's recent data on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the IT channel. DEI is a major con...

Episode 138: Exploring the Metaverse

07 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth start 2022 by diving into one of the hottest topics in technology: the metaverse. After giving a high-level definition of the metaver...

Episode 137: 2021 In Review

10 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a look back at some of the big technology trends from 2021. The consistency in regulatory pressure and the growing concerns arou...

Episode 136: Business Buying

26 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Gavin Garbutt, chairman and co-founder of Augmentt, about business tech purchasing in 2022. With budgets on the rise, busin...

Episode 135: IT Industry Outlook 2022

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's new research, the IT Industry Outlook 2022. The theme of the report is "Return to Strategy," as both IT professi...

Episode 134: Happy Volleydays

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Randy Gross, CompTIA's CIO and EVP of Cert Operations, for the annual holiday episode. They discuss one thing in tech th...

Episode 133: Cybersecurity in the Real World

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Ricardo Frost, VP and CIO of RFK Solutionz, to discuss some real world issues in cybersecurity. Ricardo talks about the need ...

Episode 132: State of Cybersecurity

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth review CompTIA's State of Cybersecurity research as Cybersecurity Awareness Month kicks off. As cybersecurity continues to be a movin...

Episode 131: CompTIA Custom Training

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Mark Plunkett, Vice President of custom training at CompTIA Tech Career Academy. Mark gives an overview of custom training ...

Episode 130: Tackling Data Skills

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about the steps companies need to take as they build their data capabilities. Most companies need to start with building compreh...

Episode 129: Tech and Food

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Matt Britt, executive chef and assistant professor at Johnson and Wales, about the intersection of technology and the culin...

Episode 128: Apprenticeships for Tech

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Amy Kardel, CompTIA's VP of Strategic Workforce Relationships, about the Apprenticeships for Tech program. Amy shares the c...

Episode 127: SMB Tech Trends

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data around SMB tech adoption. The SMB segment is the largest part of the economy, but they have not alwa...

Episode 126: Trends in Automation

09 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data around IT automation. Automation is certainly not a new concept, but it is growing in importance as ...

Episode 125: Tech and Nonprofits

25 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk with Kelly Lyndgaard, CEO of Unshattered, about the ways that technology can help a nonprofit. Unshattered offers women in recov...

Episode 124: State of the Channel

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth celebrate 5 years of the Volley podcast and welcome their new producer Andrea McMillian. They they dive into CompTIA's latest data on...

Episode 123: CompTIA Tech Career Academy

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Nancy Hammervik, CompTIA's EVP of Industry Relations and newly appointed CEO of CompTIA Tech Academy, to talk about her ...

Episode 122: Conversations with Things

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome Diana Deibel and Rebecca Evanhoe, authors of Conversations with Things. The field of user experience has become more critical...

Episode 121: IT Ops and Emerging Tech

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data on emerging technology. With emerging technology most commonly showing up embedded in broader soluti...

Episode 120: Under the Radar

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth welcome back Dave Sobel, host of the Business of Tech podcast. The three talk about technology topics that are flying under the radar...

Episode 119: Tech and Journalism

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth take a look at the ways that technology has changed the field of journalism. Using the recent legislation passed in Australia as a st...

Episode 118: Help Desk Trends

19 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carolyn and Seth talk about CompTIA's latest data around the help desk function. A significant number of companies want to make technology a core comp...