Encore Evolution: Building Your Next Success Story with Michelle Prince

As we stride into 2025, it’s impossible to ignore a glaring imbalance in the artificial intelligence (AI) workforce. Currently, a staggering 71% of the AI workforce is male, leaving just 29% of these critical roles filled by women. This disparity doesn’t just reflect a diversity issue; it’s a missed opportunity to leverage diverse perspectives and talents in shaping the future of AI.

In this episode, we sit down with Charles Haley, a true legend in the world of football. As a five-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Charles has earned his place in NFL history as one of the most dominant defensive players ever. With a relentless drive, he made his mark on two of football’s most iconic franchises-the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys-winning five Super Bowl championships along the way.

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Colin Rocker, a career-focused content creator and advocate who has built a community of over 375,000 followers across various platforms. With a diverse background in consulting, startups, and advertising, Colin has made it his mission to empower “first-gen professionals”—those who are the first in their families to navigate the corporate world.

Change is a constant in the tech industry. As businesses grow, adapt, and disrupt the IT landscape, embracing innovation is crucial to staying ahead. To remain relevant and ultimately outpace the competition, companies must be nimble and flexible with their IT projects and hiring strategies. While offshore teams have been a traditional solution for the talent shortage faced by U.S. companies, they often fall short due to high costs, cultural differences, and language barriers. However, a customized nearshore approach, particularly in Guadalajara and throughout Mexico, has proven to be an effective alternative.

In today’s professional world, networking has gone beyond swapping business cards at conferences—it’s about forming real, meaningful connections that can actually shape your career. Colin Rocker, aka CareerColin, shares his journey as a first-gen professional and how networking became his “100% secret sauce” to success. Spoiler: it’s all about blending soft skills and leveraging AI, while staying true to yourself.