Three-quarters of telecom companies identify the shortage of skilled workers as their primary challenge. Despite attractive salaries, this gap persists due to the generational preference for traditional four-year degrees over trades. Moreover, leaders of smaller workforces need to adapt to continual uncertainty while keeping teams engaged and high performing. This session will share a proven framework that empowers you to navigate change, build resilience, and confidently lead. Walk away with practical coaching techniques and adaptive leadership strategies to strengthen your team and drive results while maintaining your well-being as a leader.

Join Janice Oliva, Endeavor Business Media, as she moderates a lively panel discussion with telecom game-changing thought leaders and strategists. The session will dive into topics including: Key network growth drivers and headwinds, fiber capacity questions, converged/hybrid networks, bridging the digital divide with creative network solutions and BEAD realities. Sponsored by Clearfield, Esri, Millennium, TAK Communications, and Vitruvi.

In the telecom world, the most significant innovations aren't found in the cables or the code but in the people who build them. Discover how you can help your team close critical gaps in talent, training, and leadership to meet today’s rigorous network demands. This session explores workforce development strategies, technical upskilling, and adaptive leadership techniques that can equip teams with the expertise to manage high-performance networks and thrive in a fast-evolving regulatory and operational landscape.

Join broadband leaders as they explore the challenges, best practices and successes to recruit, retain and inspire the broadband workforce that evolves the fixed and mobile networks we all rely on to live, work and play. 

Thursday, July 31, 2025 
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Workforce Development: State of the Industry Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A (session included in full registration)
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Best Practices: Training & Expanding the Broadband Workforce (session included in full registration)
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Keynote by Brightspeed CEO, Tom Maguire (open to all attendees)
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM: Lunch followed by Executive Fireside Chat & Audience Q&A (plated sit-down lunch, registration required)  Click here to register for this special networking lunch. 
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Sponsored Tech Training Tours on Exhibit Floor  (included in general show registration)

According to the 2024 Global State of the Skills Economy Report by Cornerstone, demand for human skills continues to outpace digital skills, with North America seeing a 2.4 times higher demand for human skills. This underscores the market's need for programs that enhance human-centered capabilities alongside the telecom industry’s technological advancements. In this dynamic seminar, you’ll discover the five essential inner tools that drive success, helping you navigate uncertainty, make empowered decisions, and take bold action to lead with clarity in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. 

CONNECTLA shares challenges/opportunities for the state and economic development; and providers share best practices/stories/future initiatives about broadband training and growth.

Thursday, July 31, 2025 
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Workforce Development: State of the Industry Panel Discussion & Audience Q&A (session included in full registration)
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Best Practices: Training & Expanding the Broadband Workforce (session included in full registration)
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Keynote by Brightspeed CEO, Tom Maguire (open to all attendees)
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM: Lunch followed by Executive Fireside Chat & Audience Q&A (plated sit-down lunch, registration required)  Click here to register for this special networking lunch. 
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Sponsored Tech Training Tours on Exhibit Floor  (included in general show registration)