Episode 122 - 2023 Wrap-Up and 2024 Predictions

It's the end of 2023! This year we experienced the continuation of the economic trends we saw in 2022, watched complex and troubling geopolitics unfold, experienced more tech layoffs and a difficult fundraising environment, and witnessed the continued rise of AI. It’s been a hectic year so we want to take this quiet moment to reflect on it and consider what’s ahead. We cover a lot in this end-of-year extravaganza including: Customer education and AI in the workplace Leadership growth and team development Leadership, customer education, and podcast milestones Customer education trends and predictions for 2023 AI in customer education, ROI calculations, and live training Customer education, digital success, and consolidation in the industry And much, much more! Stay tuned for our annual music episode - coming soon! Summary Customer education and AI in the workplace Dave and Adam discuss national holidays and make predictions for 2024. Adam and Dave reflect on 2022, with Adam noting it felt like a continuation of last year's trends and Dave sharing his experience working in a services company. Dave Derington shares insights on customer education and the importance of conferences for consultants. Leadership growth and team development Adam reflects on his first year as a VP, sharing insights on his growth and new responsibilities. Adam Avramescu: Leading a program as VP involves managing multiple aspects, from budget to culture. Adam Avramescu emphasizes the importance of aligning teams towards common goals and reducing duplication of effort. Leadership, customer education, and podcast milestones Adam Avramescu emphasizes the importance of contextualizing titles within an organization and focusing on scope of work rather than just the title itself. Dave Derington and Adam Avramescu reflect on five years of CELab, a podcast they co-host, and highlight milestones achieved, such as reaching 100 episodes. They discuss their approach to the podcast, including externalizing their thoughts and sharing valuable insights with their audience. Adam and Dave reminisce about how they started their podcast, Customer Education Show, while working together at Selma and Cherry Street coffee in Belltown, Seattle. They discuss how their podcast has evolved over time, still focusing on raising the profile of customer education and highlighting challenges faced by leaders in the field. Customer education trends and predictions for 2023 Dave Derington and Adam Avramescu discuss their podcast, See Lab, and how it has evolved over time, from a DIY approach to a more professional and regular schedule with sponsors. They emphasize the importance of finding and highlighting diverse voices in the customer education industry, and invite listeners to join their forum and share their experiences. Adam and Dave discuss their 2022 predictions, including more economic tumult and the importance of efficient customer education. They reflect on their predictions, noting that growth at all costs is over and sustainable growth is the new focus. Dave Derington and Adam Avramescu discuss the future of customer education, including the importance of proving ROI and the shift towards remote and async learning. They also discuss the impact of macroeconomic factors, such as the pandemic and globalization, on the delivery of live training and the adoption of virtual and hybrid learning methods.