Getting Ohio to be No. 1 in innovation
I spotted an opportunity for change during my move back to Ohio in July 2019. Bloomberg had just ranked Ohio 24th in its state innovation index. Seems we failed to eke out Rhode Island, a state with a 10th of our population. This didn't seem right. Ohio is filled with world-class institutions like Ohio State and Cleveland Clinic, and was the birthplace of aviation. Something just seemed wrong.
A little research suggested the widening talent gap might be dragging us down. Cap Gemini and LinkedIn put out a report concluding that 54% of "organizations agreed the digital talent gap was hampering their digital transformation programs. Further, their organization had lost competitive advantage because of a shortage of digital talent."
Something seems right. This is exactly where the work of organizations like Team NEO and the governor's office are focused. They're aiming to close the gap. At Team NEO, initiatives such as the Smart Manufacturing Cluster and Aligning Opportunities are making a difference in transforming the private sector.
Like it or not, Industry 4.0 is here, and it's going to disrupt traditional manufacturing. No business owner will be safe saying, "We've always done it this way" to justify decision-making. Employees won't tolerate an anchor to the way it's always been. They will move on if they don't feel like they are being invested in:
55% of digitally talented employees say they are willing to move to another organization if they feel their digital skills are stagnating at their current employer,
47% are likely to gravitate toward organizations that offer better digital skill development.
At the governor's office, programs such as Tech Cred are making it easier to invest in employees. The state of Ohio will reimburse employers up to $30,000 for 15 workers to teach them a new skill.
I applaud these efforts of public-sector encouragement where employers are teaching their workers new skills needed for the 21st-century economy.
As one of the co-founders of OhioX, a nonprofit organization that represents and connects those committed to growing Ohio's economy through technology and innovation, I have a unique opportunity to see how companies across the state are investing in talent to make sure we have a booming business sector.
There is no reason Ohio can't be No. 1 on Bloomberg's innovation index. We have the capital. We have the talent. We have world-class companies at the forefront of their industries. We have the history of breakthrough ideas. And we have the public and private commitment to be a state that invests in our people so they can help build the next generation of great companies.