by Asheesh Advani
Satya Nadella summed up how I’ve been feeling when he said in Microsoft’s recent earnings call that he has seen two years of digital transformation in two months. We’ve done something similar across the JA network, with more digital programs and learning experiences introduced in the last few weeks than we have seen over the last several decades. JA’s digital transformation is in full swing, and I’d like to talk about a number of ways I’m seeing that manifest itself.
The pandemic has brought us all together with a set of shared experiences, fears, and futures. This is why I am proud of my colleagues who have worked across all six regions of the JA network to support a “We are JA” campaign that is raising awareness of our collective initiatives to be a force for good and a strong partner to business, government, and civil society. We’re profiling the work of regional operating centers, national leaders, and innovators from across our network and offering ways for JA fans and supporters to be even more involved in our network . We’ll also continue to share our experiences for how we are resilient and enabling youth to #KeepLearning, and how we are collaborating and advocating at a global level with UNESCO, G20 leaders, and the World Economic Forum. This is a timely marketing initiative and a natural follow-on to the “I am JA” campaign that focused on alumni during 2019 Centennial events. One undeniable lesson from 2020 is how globally connected we all are, so moving from “I” to “we” seems only natural.
JA locations around the world have also been modernizing, using virtual and digital technology to connect, learn, and communicate. We’re seeing more activity in online communities, such as our community for alumni, for staff, for collaboration on OneJA (with usage growing 60% in fiscal year 2020), and for external audiences visiting JA websites and social media channels, which now have more than four million followers! In addition, three of the six regions have now successfully transitioned their Company of the Year competitions to a virtual setting, with great success.
Satya Nadella summed up how I’ve been feeling when he said in Microsoft’s recent earnings call that he has seen two years of digital transformation in two months.