TechConnect 2024

At Cengage Group, our commitment to education and learning extends not only to our customers but also to our employees. As an organization, we take pride in our tech-forward approach, constantly innovating to push ahead alongside new technologies.

We believe in fostering an innovative environment where employees continuously and curiously learn which is why we offer a wide range of professional development opportunities and events. These educational initiatives encourage employees to challenge the status quo, collaborate and problem-solve.

Our annual TechConnect event – hosted by our Chief Technology Officer Jim Chilton and Chief Digital Officer Darren Person - is a recent example of the in-depth learning experiences we provide our technology teams. With about 85 attendees, this 3-day learning event gave attendees complete freedom to think about innovation and unlock new ways of thinking to solve and create new business solutions.

Jim Chilton, Chief Technology Officer, shared, “We created TechConnect with the ambition of unlocking innovation by bringing our technology leaders together for a few days to think differently, learn new methodologies and embrace camaraderie. Each year, the event improves. Last year, we explored how AI would impact our business, both internally and externally. Our exceptional leaders generated hundreds of ideas, some of which turned into real products we are currently experimenting with, while others focused on optimizing our company's operations. This year, we concentrated on tackling the significant technology challenges we face, both within and outside of AI. The engagement, spirit and results from these teams have been outstanding!”

Darren Person, Chief Digital Officer, emphasized that, “TechConnect provided Jim and me with a platform to unite and present our shared vision for the future. It was a transformative experience where we brought together a diverse group of talented individuals, all driven by a common goal: to accelerate our ideas and propel us into the future. Through collaboration and synergy, we harnessed the collective intelligence and expertise of our teams, ensuring that we are equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead."

 

Learn more about TechConnect and hear directly from our employees about their firsthand experiences:

 

Daniel D., Senior Director of Software Engineering, has been a part of Cengage Group for 11 years. In his role, he oversees the technology teams responsible for supporting teachers and students in their daily learning activities.

Reflecting on his experience at TechConnect, Daniel shared, “The event reaffirmed our organization's culture of commitment to the well-being of teachers and students. It showcased the passion of our team members, emphasizing our unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in the edtech space.” Daniel also noted that Cengage’s collaborative culture was brought to life during the event's guest speaker sessions and problem-solving workshops, bringing teams closer together and fostering a shared sense of purpose. “My employee experience has been excellent; this is an organization I am proud to work for.”

One of Daniel's key takeaways from TechConnect is the significance of frequent communication and collaboration with peers, even a 15-minute conversation can yield valuable insight and contribute to personal and professional growth.

 

Courtney K., Senior Director, Product Portfolio Lead, has worked at Cengage Group for over eight years. In her role, she collaborates with business stakeholders and technology teams to define and prioritize development needs.

During TechConnect, Courtney had the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from various areas of the business. “I enjoyed the workshop sessions, where different design thinking tools were utilized, fostering diverse perspectives and ideas. Additionally, ‘Campfire Connections’ provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues on both professional and personal levels.” She shared that collaboration was key to the event’s success, as diverse teams brought a wider variety of ideas to the discussions.

For Courtney, TechConnect served as a powerful reminder of the importance of customer-centricity in problem-solving and solution design. “By including multiple people with different perspectives, you can ultimately end up with a more comprehensive, innovative solution to your problem statement.”

Looking ahead, Courtney is excited about the future of education technology. Inspired by her time at TechConnect, she sees significant opportunities to optimize technology's role in supporting learning outcomes for learners of all ages, especially with the growth of AI in the marketplace.

 

John M., the Director of Metadata Services for Gale, brings over 28 years of experience to his role at Cengage Group. He and his team are responsible for creating and maintaining the descriptive metadata that enables users to easily access content in Gale's vast repository. Throughout his career, John has contributed to both large-scale revolutionary advancements and smaller day-to-day projects aimed at improving efficiency, results, and cost reduction. Regardless of the project's scale, innovation is always a top priority for John and his team. He added, “My team has been pretty good at embracing innovation over the years, but I’m going to emphasize it again when I get back from TechConnect. If they think they see a better way to do something, let’s proceed!”

Reflecting on his experience at TechConnect, John appreciated the opportunity to work on a problem that was entirely outside of his typical day-to-day work and domain knowledge. “It was intimidating at first, but also freeing to learn about the problem and provide a perspective from outside of the team members who were immediately involved. This exercise reinforced the need to approach issues from the customer's perspective.”

Looking ahead, John said that he is excited about the future of education technology, as it presents numerous opportunities to solve problems and make a positive impact on students' learning experiences. “That opportunity to tackle a difficult problem and knock it down is a great reason to fire up the laptop each morning.”

 

Crista M., Manager of Identity and Access Management, has been a part of Cengage Group for 14 years. In her role, she works with her team to secure customer and internal Single Sign On and Multifactor Authentication systems.

Attending TechConnect provided Crista with valuable learning opportunities, particularly through engaging face-to-face conversations with individuals from the customer-facing side of Cengage. She expressed, "Stepping away from regular meetings allowed me to establish new connections and gain a deeper understanding of our products, development process and customer pain points."

One of Crista's main takeaways from the event was the significance of collaborative in-person meetings, which she believes fostered knowledge transfer, personal growth and camaraderie. As someone who strives to stay updated on emerging technologies, she found that TechConnect provided an excellent platform to build valuable relationships with individuals who can support her efforts and ongoing learning.

Energized by the experience at TechConnect, Crista expressed, “I am excited about leveraging emerging technologies to better serve our customers, enhancing their experience with streamlined processes while maintaining a strong security posture.”

 

Learn more:

Read more about past TechConnect events here. Learn about the opportunities and cautions for tech talent from CTO, Jim Chilton, and discover more about the record-breaking technology hiring trends.