We recently had the opportunity to connect with Brennen S. Dicker, executive director, Creative Media Industries Institute, after a summit to gather his thoughts and experiences.
During our conversation, he shared his thoughts on the value of our in-person summits and how they can create a stronger level of connectivity and collaboration.
Addressing Key Challenges in Emerging Technologies
Before the summit, we inquired about the Brennen’s primary challenges. He highlighted a crucial aspect for his institution, CMII: “My top challenge is continuing to find value for the students at CMII concerning their future degrees. This is a bit of a challenge considering we work with emerging technologies.”
However, the summit’s structure, incorporating both content sessions and one-on-one meetings, proved beneficial. Brennen noted, “The content sessions and 1:1s helped me understand the direction industry is going in terms of emerging tech and what skills our students need to bring to market to add value.”
This understanding is crucial for CMII, as Brenan explained, “The summit provided valuable insights into industry trends and skill requirements, which will directly inform how we can better prepare CMII students for their future careers. By understanding where emerging technologies are headed, we can more effectively align our educational offerings with market demands, ensuring our graduates remain competitive and valuable to potential employers.”
The Importance of People
For those considering attending a GDS summit, Brennen offered compelling advice, emphasizing the power of human connection: “If someone was on the fence about attending a GDS summit, hmm. I would emphasize that the most valuable aspect is the opportunity to connect with other senior leaders facing similar challenges with emerging technologies.”
While the formal presentations are valuable, he stressed the significance of informal interactions: “While the keynote speakers and panels provide great insights, the true magic happens in those one-on-one conversations with fellow participants and vendors. These personal interactions are invaluable because they help you realize you’re not alone in navigating the complex world of innovation.”
These connections can lead to tangible benefits: “You’ll discover others are wrestling with the same problems you are, and these connections often lead to practical solutions, future collaborations, and a supportive professional network that extends well beyond the event itself.”
Brennen highlighted the dual benefit of the summit: “The combination of structured content and informal networking creates an environment where you can both learn from industry experts and validate your own experiences through peer conversations. This dual benefit is something you simply can’t replicate through online events or standard conferences.”
The Ever-Evolving Landscape of AI and Organizational Change
The rapid advancements in emerging technologies, particularly AI, present ongoing challenges for organizations. When asked if he felt equipped to make meaningful changes, Brennen acknowledged this dynamic environment: “The rapid pace of AI technology development creates a complex situation for organizational change.
“While the conference provided valuable insights and direction for implementing meaningful changes, the technology landscape evolves so quickly that these implementations often have a short shelf life of approximately six months before new AI challenges emerge requiring attention.
“This creates a cycle where organizations must continuously adapt rather than implement one-time solutions.”
This highlights the need for agility and continuous learning in the face of technological progress.
Identifying New Solutions and Navigating Vendor Relationships
The summit also served as a platform for discovering potential solutions. Brennen confirmed: “Yes, I was able to identify a number of solutions that could potentially impact CMII.”
However, he also pointed out a unique consideration for educational institutions: “Since we are an educational institute, it’s sometimes challenging for vendors because we are dealing with smaller budgets and very different turnaround times in academia.”
This emphasizes the importance of vendors understanding the specific needs and constraints of the academic sector.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Brennen for taking the time to share his thoughts after the Digital Innovation Summit. It’s always inspiring to hear first-hand how these events help leaders like Brennen navigate the fast-moving world of emerging tech.
His insights remind us that the real value of these summits isn’t just in the keynotes or presentations—it’s in the connections made, the ideas exchanged, and the shared challenges that bring people together. We’re thrilled that Brennen found meaningful takeaways to bring back to CMII, and we can’t wait to see how his students benefit from these industry insights.
Thanks again, Brennen—it was a pleasure having you at the summit, and we look forward to staying connected!
If you want to attend a future GDS Summit, visit our calendar on our website.
