Business Category Archives - General Assembly Blog

Data Skills 2024: What Financial Firms Need To Know

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Today, data is the key to decision-making, modernization, and competitive customer experiences. But without the right people to make sense of it all, this data can become increasingly fragmented and inaccessible — while valuable opportunities slip into the rearview mirror.

Data is only an asset when you have the right people in place who know how to use the data and democratize it across the business. That’s where we see opportunity meet impact.” 
– Angela Brennan, Global Lead Solutions Architect at General Assembly 

But where will you find the right data-savvy talent? In some cases, the answer is: within your own organization. As AI-driven tech makes roles like recordkeepers, data entry clerks, underwriters, and auditors redundant, upskilling and reskilling talent to data-adjacent roles is one powerful strategy for upleveling your capabilities, while preserving your company’s internal wellspring of knowledge and morale. 

That said, not every job opening can be filled internally. As new data roles emerge, you’ll need dependable pipelines for net-new talent that meets the evolving skill sets — and use case requirements — of the data tasks at hand.

To make these pivots quickly and effectively, you’ll need a clearer understanding of data’s growing role in the finance sector and the solutions that exist. 

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Software Engineering Skills 2024: What Financial Firms Need to Know

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If you’re a financial institution short of a few good software engineers, you’re not alone. 

Fueled by a pressing need for constant innovation, compliance adherence, and flexibility, over 90% of banks and insurers are in the midst of migrating their legacy systems to the cloud — up from 37% just three years ago.

At the same time, the scarcity of software engineering talent is deepening. Financial firms aren’t just competing with other organizations within the industry, but with virtually every industry — and not just here in the U.S., but the world over. 

You’re always going to be playing catch-up to some degree — and the challenge will always be: How do we evolve our skills, capabilities, and competencies to keep pace?” 
Ciaran Moloney, VP of Solutions at General Assembly  

So the question is: How do you fill open software engineer roles, future-proof their skills, and maintain a steady stream of talent to help your financial institution keep pace with its modernization goals?

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GA Partner Spotlight: An Interview with Cloudfloat’s Head of Engineering, Richard Weissel

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Headshot of Interviewee Richard Weissel smiling and Interviewer Alex Gedye smiling.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes


In the buzzing tech ecosystem of Sydney’s fintech scene, Cloudfloat stands out as a leader of innovation and empowerment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Founded in late 2020, Cloudfloat aims to revolutionize cash flow management for Australian businesses, offering hassle-free solutions that alleviate cash flow challenges.

In this exclusive interview, we dive into the heart of Cloudfloat’s engineering team with Richard Weissel, Head of Engineering. As a key architect behind Cloudfloat’s technological advancements, Richard sheds light on the driving force behind the company’s mission and also offers insights into Cloudfloat’s partnership with General Assembly. He includes how GA graduates have infused the organization with fresh perspectives and the skills needed to lift Cloudfloat toward greater heights of success.

Continue reading for a glimpse into Cloudfloat’s journey…

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Celebrating Black History Month: 4 New AI Tools by Black Creators

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Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

In Honor of Black History Month

Black History Month serves as a reminder to honor individual experiences and celebrate collective accomplishments. Beyond bridging wage gaps, fostering Black representation in tech is about creating inclusive experiences that empower marginalized communities. In the spirit of celebration, we shine the GA spotlight on four new AI tools by Black creators, embodying progress, equity, and empowerment in technology.

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What is a JavaScript framework?

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A JavaScript framework is a collection of JavaScript code libraries that provide a web developer with pre-written code for routine programming tasks. Frameworks are structures with a particular context and help you create web applications within that context. JavaScript is a powerful coding language used in both frontend and backend development.

It is completely possible to build strong web applications without JavaScript frameworks, but frameworks provide a template that handles common programming patterns. Each time you have to build an application, you don’t need to write code for every single feature from scratch. Instead, you can build upon an existing feature set. 

All JavaScript frameworks, like most other frameworks, provide some rules and guidelines. Using these rules and guidelines, any developer can make complex applications faster and more efficiently than if they decided to build from scratch. The rules and guidelines help shape and organize your website or web application too!

For example, think about a potter’s wheel where you can build pots. The potter’s wheel is your framework; it has certain consistencies that you have to work with. The wheel rotates, and you can use that rotation to build pots of different shapes and sizes.

You can build pots, plates, cups, bowls, or even cylindrical sculptures. But you can’t build a house with it; you need to find a different framework for that. 

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Leading Through Change: Why it Pays to Reskill & Redeploy Workers Instead of Laying Them Off

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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes


Layoffs have become an unsettling norm across industries. Companies that rapidly staffed up during the pandemic in response to surging demand are trimming staff as demand wanes. It’s a vicious cycle — many of these companies will be hiring again within the next year to keep up with a constantly shifting consumer landscape.  

Most recent layoffs have disproportionately affected non-technical employees, hitting departments like human resources, recruiting, and marketing hard. They’ve also had other ripple effects — shelving diversity initiative progress and causing anxiety throughout the workforce. And to add to it all, companies are still struggling to recruit for tech roles and continuing to invest in digital transformation efforts in hopes they’ll be more efficient and competitive in the future. A future that’s already here. 

TL;DR: There’s a severe imbalance in the labor force, and companies need to think about modernizing their workforce like they think about modernizing their tech. It’s time to move past the band-aid effect of layoffs and upgrade to a truly sustainable talent strategy. 

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How Businesses Can Practice Ethical AI

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A man and a women standing in a business lounge discussing upskilling and reskilling employees.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

AI presents vast opportunities for innovation. But companies must also address the ethical concerns this rapidly emerging tech poses. This article examines how responsible innovators can implement ethical AI practices.


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How General Assembly is Bridging the Skills Gap and Shaping Tech Careers in Bahrain

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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

In an ever-evolving digital landscape, one organization stands out as a lighthouse for career transformation and education all at once. You might have heard of it! Does General Assembly ring any bells? Since inception in 2011 in New York City, General Assembly has grown from a humble co-working space into a global learning experience with campuses in 20 cities and over 35,000 graduates worldwide, and now, that wealth of experience is established in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

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5 Reasons Why T-shaped Employees Are The Future of Work and How They Offer Businesses a Competitive Edge

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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

The tech workforce of yesterday is not the workforce of today – and it certainly won’t be the workforce of tomorrow. 

Technology is evolving rapidly, and companies are struggling to keep up with the pace of digital transformation. Traditional college degrees aren’t evolving rapidly enough to equip entry-level employees with future-proof skills. Software engineers, developers and designers who joined the workforce ten or more years ago already have outdated skill sets. 

Many companies are turning to upskilling and reskilling programs to modernize their workforce. But one type of employee is pivotal to shoring up a company’s culture for the next wave of innovation: the T-shaped employee.

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Beyond Tomorrow: 5 Ways Business Leaders Can Prepare for the Future of AI

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GA Business leaders talk corporate strategies at a roundtable

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

What was once thought to be a flash in the plan is now transforming businesses across the globe. If there’s anything we’ve learned this year it’s that generative AI is here to stay—and it’s here to change everything about how we live and work.

According to an IBM report, 35% of businesses worldwide are already using AI—and within the next 10 to 20 years, virtually every business and government agency will, too. Many companies are already tapping AI in new and exciting ways, from customer service chatbots to copywriting and even diagnosing medical conditions. At the same time, AI has brought ethical questions around copyright, employment and bias to the forefront. Today’s business leaders must understand how to harness the potential of AI, and learn to address the challenges it presents. 

Most critically, companies need to prepare their workforces for a new world of work, where employees will collaborate closely with AI on a daily basis. As organizations race to adopt AI and gain a competitive edge, talent with AI skills are in high demand. According to some reports, they are landing salaries of $900k. Competing in this landscape can feel like it’s impossible. We’ve got you covered with strategies that will position your workforce for an AI-powered future. 

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