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Cybersecurity is the most critical issue facing engineers

The engineering community sees a shortage of engineers now and in the future
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One in five engineers say the greatest challenge they are tasked with solving over the next quarter century is cybersecurity. And more than half of engineers around the world believe there are not enough engineers in place now and there will be still be a shortage in the near future.

The Global Engineer Survey—commissioned by DiscoverE of Alexandria, Virginia—was released today coinciding with World Engineering Day. More than 10,000 engineers from 119 countries offered input.

DiscoverE Executive Director Kathy Renzetti says participants were asked about the future of engineering and more specifically about global challenges, the community’s ability to solve those problems, and the limitations they may face.

In addition to concerns about cybersecurity, the participants raised the issues of economical clean energy, sustaining land and oceans, and a sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

Renzetti says it’s going to require many players to address these global concerns. She says, “It’s a collaborative effort on many fronts. It’s going to include companies, educators, students, policymakers, and the public and private sectors.”

Addressing a Shortage of Engineers

Renzetti adds that the survey results also addressed workforce development and the shortage of engineers, not just now, but in the future.

According to the survey, 51.7 percent of engineers agree or strongly agree there is a current shortage of engineers, while 54.3 percent believe there will be a shortage in the coming years. When it comes to technicians and technologists, 60.3 percent believe there is a shortage now and 58 percent believe it will continue in the future.

She says DiscoverE’s mission is to inspire and inform present and future generations’ interest in engineering.

“Kids should have awareness of engineering—ideally before fifth grade. That early engineering experience increases the possibility that a student will pursue the field through college,” Renzetti tells WorkingNation.

Survey results found that 96 percent of engineers say that volunteering with primary and secondary students to make that introduction to engineering is important.

Photo: DiscoverE

The Engineering Community is Optimistic

Despite global challenges, the survey says that the majority of respondents are optimistic about being able to tackle these issues. Renzetti says having role models, effective messaging around engineers, and learning how engineers apply math and science in their work will result in the creation of more future problem solvers.

In 2019, DiscoverE partnered with the World Federation of Engineering Organizations and UNESCO to coordinate World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development. The 2020 Global Engineer Survey is the second to be commissioned by DiscoverE.

Laura Aka is WorkingNation’s Senior Editorial Producer.

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Dana Beth Ardi

Executive Committee

Dana Beth Ardi, PhD, Executive Committee, is a thought leader and expert in the fields of executive search, talent management, organizational design, assessment, leadership and coaching. As an innovator in the human capital movement, Ardi creates enhanced value in companies by matching the most sought after talent with the best opportunities. Ardi coaches boards and investors on the art and science of building high caliber management teams. She provides them with the necessary skills to seek out and attract top-level management, to design the ideal organizational architectures and to deploy people against strategy. Ardi unearths the way a business works and the most effective way for people to work in them.

Ardi is an experienced business executive and senior consultant who leverages business organizational transformation through talent strategies. She uses her knowledge and experience to develop talent strategies to enhance revenue and profit contributions. She has a deep expertise in change management and organizational effectiveness and has designed and built high performance cultures. Ardi has significant experience in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, IPO’s and turnarounds.

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Ardi is currently the Managing Director and Founder of Corporate Anthropology Advisors, LLC, a consulting company that provides human capital advisory and innovative solutions to companies building value through people. Corporate Anthropology works with organizations, their cultures, the way they grow and develop, and the people who are responsible for forming their communities of work.

Prior to her position at Corporate Anthropology Advisors, Ardi served as a Partner/Managing Director at the private equity firms CCMP Capital and JPMorgan Partners. She was a partner at Flatiron Partners, a venture capital firm working with early state companies where she pioneered the human capital role within an investment portfolio.

Ardi holds a BS from the State University of New York at Buffalo as well as a Masters degree and PhD from Boston College. She started her career as professor at the Graduate Center at Fordham University in New York.