A fruitful FullConTech 2016 left us with many insights to sort through on growing, attracting, and retaining tech talent. On November 10th, 30 people gathered at our FullConTech Playbook launch party at Code Fellows to hear our game plan for turning our FCT findings into real change.  The Playbook is a record of specific ideas generated during the Invent Sessions at FullConTech this past Oct. 3.

In 2015, WTIA selected three plays to execute and successfully followed through on each one. This year, although we’re planning on delivering on our plays like we did last year, the way we’re going to do so will be a little different. We’re calling on the FullConTech community and their friends to sign up to design, execute, and implement the plays. There are two major types of plays to grow, attract, and retain talent in the Puget Sound: 1) ones that will take place out in the community at large and 2) those that will be led by individuals inside of companies.

The community at large will address questions posed in the Invent Session: What can we do to better align community college and other non-four-year programs with hiring needs so that we expand our talent pool? What new public-private collaborations could we create to help grow regional talent, and/or are there existing collaborations we could expand? How do we attract tech companies to foster innovative startups in the region?

At the Playbook Party, attendees got to sign up for the plays that most interest them. The play that addresses the first question involves bringing together WTIA member organizations and target schools to develop teaching fellowships, job opportunity apps/platforms, and career counseling. Another hit play, which addresses the second question, includes creating cross-sector partnerships to retain diverse employees and foster a sense of connectedness to the Puget Sound region. Finally, the play voted “best idea” by launch party attendees consists of strengthening the entrepreneur ecosystem.

For the plays that are to take place inside companies, we want people to volunteer to execute these plays within their company and to turn to others who signed up for the same plays as accountability partners. For example, a group of individuals may choose to introduce a Diversity Charter at work. To achieve this goal, they may agree to talk to an executive about what diversity means and then share their findings with their accountability partners by a set date.

One problem that individual companies will tackle is how to more effectively onboard junior hires and quickly make them productive by having them each pitch a company-improving idea to their respective CEOs. This play had one of the best responses at FCT launch party.

Go here to read an overview of all the plays and the issues they address, and download the playbook for more detailed descriptions. WTIA will keep tabs on the teams’ efforts over the next few months, and help out with plays that demonstrate meaningful traction by spring 2017.

So, how can you get involved with designing, executing, and implementing the plays outlined in the FullConTech 2016 Playbook? Check off the ones that interest you here. By December 5, we’ll connect you via email with others who share your interests. Each team of collaborators will create an action plan and milestones.

We can’t wait to see what changes are spurred by FullConTech this year. This kind of action, after all, is what the conference is all about. Good luck and happy volunteering.