How can IoT revolutionize industries, enhance safety, and drive innovation in a rapidly evolving tech landscape? In this episode of Shift & Thrive, Natalie sits down with Kelly Ireland, a trailblazing tech entrepreneur with 40 years of experience in IT. As the founder, CEO, and CTO of CBT, Kelly shares her journey from self-taught programmer to industry leader, highlighting her company’s strategic pivot to IoT over the past eight years. She dives into the transformative power of IoT across industries, the importance of team-centric leadership, and the evolving landscape of tech careers. From marketing strategies to mentorship, Kelly offers invaluable insights for business leaders looking to stay ahead in an ever-changing industry. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on innovation, adaptability, and building a future-ready workforce.Takeaways:Stay informed about and invest in emerging technologies. Kelly’s pivot to IoT was driven by recognizing its potential early on. Deeply understand the markets you serve. Cultivate a teamwork-oriented culture and avoid fostering individual "superstars" who may disrupt team cohesion. Encourage and value contributions from all team members, regardless of their role. Involve end users from the outset when developing new solutions to ensure they meet practical needs and gain better adoption. Focus your marketing efforts on niche, industry-specific conferences to directly reach decision-makers and end users.First seek recommendations from your current employees when filling positions, as they often know candidates who align with your company culture. Continuously invest in training your team to keep up with industry changes and emerging technologies.Allow and encourage your team to experiment with new ideas and technologies. Demonstrating wearables led to valuable new use cases. Stay flexible and willing to pivot your business focus as industry demands evolve.Actively engage in mentoring programs to inspire and guide young people in tech careers. Advocate for alternative educational routes in tech, like certifications, that can provide equally valuable career opportunities. Build a broad ecosystem encompassing partners, advisors, and diverse team members to gain multiple perspectives and strengths. Always be open to learning and adapting from different inputs and experiences.Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbt-kelly/ Website: http://www.cbtechinc.com/ Email: [email protected] to Tune In:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2D1YbT2QhKxIwbREpU7EMb Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/id1740828813 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa60b654-1955-4055-93df-fdd40c2a5c8f/shift-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-shift-thrive-ceo-insights-166792501 Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shift-and-thrive-ceo-insights-on-driving-change/PC:1001086797  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClf9QxGUxZw_Sv8_4bZP34Q This show is sponsored by Magnetude Consulting, bringing you the thinking-Power of a Growth Consultancy and the Getting-It-Done Power of a full-service B2B Marketing Agency. Learn more at: https://www.magnetudeconsulting.com 

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