Finding New Cheese: Adapting to a World of Accelerated Change

In alignment with PNSQC's "Quality Through Community" mission, we will hold a joint meetup event with the Oregon Chinese Coalition (pdxchinese.org), featuring the following talk by Phil Lew, PNSQC's President:

In software engineering, AI-generated code and AI testing bots work together to develop and test code at unprecedented speeds. Where does that leave us humans?

Remember "Who Moved My Cheese"? In a world where familiar industries, technologies, and career paths are transforming at unprecedented speed, we must ask ourselves: Are we like Hem and Haw, waiting for old systems to return? Or are we like Sniff and Scurry, courageously exploring new opportunities?

The COVID era has permanently altered our professional landscape. As established professionals who've built careers on expertise and experience, we now face a critical choice: adapt to find new "cheese" or risk becoming obsolete. As Darwin noted, survival depends not on strength or intelligence alone, but on our ability to adapt to changing environments. For mid-career professionals, this means abandoning the outdated notion that our education and experience will carry us through the next decade.

We have witnessed the transition from paper to digital, from local to global. Now we face an even greater shift as AI, automation, and new business models reshape industries overnight. The skills that brought us success in the 2000s and 2010s may not serve us in the 2020s and beyond.

In this thought-provoking keynote, Phil steps away from conventional thinking to explore how established professionals can develop the adaptability mindset needed for the coming decade. You'll discover practical strategies for continuous reinvention, discerning signal from noise in a world of information overload, and leveraging your existing wisdom while embracing new paradigms. Join us to explore how you can become the architect of your own adaptation, ensuring your continued relevance, success, and fulfillment in rapidly changing times.

Philip Lew is the CEO at XBOSoft, a software quality and testing services firm. With over 20 years of experience in engineering, product management, and executive leadership, he helps clients implement complex software across expanding platforms. Philip holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Beihang University, specializing in software quality. He serves as President of the Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference and regularly delivers keynotes at top industry events on topics ranging from Agile testing to UX optimization. An avid traveler, Philip brings fresh perspectives to his presentations, combining insight with humor. Learn more at xbosoft.com and pnsqc.org.