It’s been more than six months since the former CompTIA Community was renamed as the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) and embraced a singular focus on our global community of members.
During that time we’ve hired a CEO, Dan Wensley, and engaged in hundreds, if not thousands, of conversations with members and other industry leaders about what community means to them and how GTIA is positioned as a leader to help the industry and everyone in it.
Most recently, we held our first-ever UK & Ireland Community Forum and Spotlight Awards, 26 June in Manchester. where Dan detailed his career history and leadership principles. A self-described 30-year student of the channel (and 20-year member of GTIA), Dan’s leadership style is built on four pillars: People, Resources, Community, and Advancement.
For GTIA, the people are our members and professional staff, and the commitment that is brought to both. Resources are the benefits GTIA builds for our members, whether for an individual growing their career or a member company pursuing their goals. Community is at the core of all things GTIA, including the Spotlight Awards that recognize members who are making an outsized impact as individuals and organisations. Finally, Advancement is about providing opportunities for members and staff to reach new heights as we grow the global community.
The feedback we received in Manchester demonstrates that members are very pleased and excited about the future of GTIA and what it means for the global IT channel. We are looking forward to continuing the dialogue 13-14 October in London at our first ChannelCon EMEA conference (yes, we’re extending the ChannelCon brand and scale of our flagship event in the US).
Building on the four pillars mentioned above, attendees at ChannelCon EMEA can also expect to hear about GTIA’s core values.
1. Member First: GTIA exists to serve and empower our members. Everything GTIA does starts with member value and a success mindset.
2. Growth Minded: GTIA will embrace innovation, adapt to change, and lead with curiosity to build member value and the future of the channel.
3. Build Together: We will collaborate as a team, with members, and other organizations to build a stronger industry. We foster an inclusive culture, where every voice is heard and valued. We will act with integrity, transparency, and accountability in all we do.
4. Share the Vibe: We will bring energy, passion, positivity, and a sense of fun to our work, community, and membership. We will make space to grow, laugh, build relationships, and celebrate the ride along the way.
Based on all the smiles, laughter, and high-fives I saw in Manchester, I would say this rings very true. If I heard someone say they could “feel the change,” or “feel the vibe” once, I heard it hundreds of time.
Another interesting anecdote I took notice of was that we not only had attendees from the UK & Ireland Community in attendance, but also from GTIA’s Benelux, DACH, and North America communities, speaking to the true global impact GTIA membership provides. It is clear that since selling off the CompTIA brand and associated certification business, that members truly value what GTIA is now capable of.
In some respects, GTIA remains the same association with the same guiding values it has always been. In others, it is a bright new day filled with possibility. That was another theme that Dan shared with attendees. That of possibility. It was the thesis of his interview to be GTIA’s CEO, and it’s a fundamental strength of our singular focus on our members and global community. We may be a non-profit trade association, but we firmly understand that our members are for-profit organizations. It is our responsibility to help our members achieve their business goals. Given our unique position in the industry, there is no better place to bring the channel together, even the fiercest of competitors, to work together to help everyone reach their full potential. And in doing so, we create better economic conditions in the local communities where our members live and work. Together with our commitment to increasing our charitable giving, we really can make the world a better place. Our members feel that. Our members aspire to that. Our members are doing that.
There is no better time to be a GTIA member and help chart the future. Based on what I heard from members in Manchester and fully expect to hear at ChannelCon EMEA, this not only resonates, it’s being turned into action. Join us in London, 13-14 October, for ChannelCon EMEA to learn even more.
MJ Shoer is the chief community officer at GTIA.
