Andela + Pluralsight: Building high-performing distributed engineering teams
With 1.3 million software development jobs slated to open up in the U.S. in the next decade and only 400,000 domestic computer science graduates to fill them, finding tech talent is more critical than ever.
Andela aims to bridge that gap and maximize the impact of the world’s largest untapped tech talent pool: Africa. Founded in 2014, Andela has been growing a network of technology leaders in Africa, bringing the U.S. and African tech sectors closer together and helping companies overcome their talent shortages to build better products, faster.
“To meet a critical demand for IT skills, tech companies continue to shift toward distributed teams and remote work,” says David Blair, Chief Technology Officer at Andela. “We help close that talent shortage with a highly skilled, well-trained workforce, so companies can build software to drive competitive advantage.”
To provide companies with world-class talent, Andela invests in budding developers, helping them achieve mastery in software development and interpersonal business skills. Andela fellows rely on Pluralsight courses to grow their skills, using a custom learning path aligned to Andela’s six core competencies: quality of work, quantity of work, initiative, professionalism, communication and integration.
“Part of my job is making sure our developers grow into technology leaders in their four years with us at Andela,” says Lisbi Abraham, Chief Information Officer at Andela.
Andela at a glance
FOUNDED IN 2014
FOUNDED IN 2014 TO BUILD A NETWORK OF TECHNOLOGY LEADERS AND BRIDGE THE DIVIDE BETWEEN U.S AND AFRICAN TECH SECTORS
FOUR COUNTRIES
1,050 EMPLOYEES ACROSS FOUR COUNTRIES
BEST PLACE TO WORK
NAMED BY JOBBERMAN AS THE BEST PLACE TO WORK IN NIGERIA
TOP 100
RANKED 28 ON RECRUITMENT FIRM BRIGHTER MONDAY’S LIST OF TOP 100 PLACES TO WORK IN KENYA
In fact, Andela users have viewed over 2,000 Pluralsight courses, clocking over 14,000 hours of learning and taking over 900 skill assessments in 32 different areas. With Andela adding approximately 45 new fellows each month, those numbers continue to grow rapidly.
“Just as importantly, we have the tools and analytics to monitor progress and feedback, so we can ensure we’re growing technology leaders versed in high-demand skill sets.”
Using Skill IQ to show mastery or discover learning paths
“Pluralsight is an important part of our readiness assessment as we place developers into internships,” says Lisbi. “It gives us objective, third-party insight. We now use Skill IQ as a key data point in determining when someone has mastered the skills needed to place them with our partners.”
Developers who aren’t yet showing mastery are served up a set of courses on an individualized learning path to fill in their knowledge gaps. “Then, of course, they have the flexibility to navigate their own path,” Lisbi continues.
Once Andela developers level up and are placed in an internship, they continue to use Pluralsight’s platform to keep up with emerging technology.
“We used to have a hodgepodge of learning resources,” says Lisbi. “Today with Pluralsight, engineers get up to speed faster, they feel more comfortable because they have a vetted resource for learning, and we have a true partner committed to solving our challenges and celebrating our success.”
“Giving employees access to Pluralsight is a minimal investment with maximum return,” added Lisbi. “It shows your employees how important they are to you and how much you value their advancement and growth. For us, it’s helping us make a big impact in the local communities to make the most of their formidable talent.”
CHALLENGE
Getting software engineer fellows skill-ready to join the workforce and develop into technology leaders requires the ability to offer robust coursework and ongoing learning for today’s most in-demand technologies. Andela works to match software engineers in Africa with companies throughout the world facing critical technology skills shortages.
SOLUTION
Engineering fellows begin taking advantage of Pluralsight courses and curriculum their very first day. The company also uses Pluralsight skill assessments and analytics to map progress in six core competencies and determine when developers are ready to be placed with an Andela partner.
RESULTS
In the last year alone, Andela has:
- Turned novice developers into experts by giving them personalized learning journeys
- Gotten developers up to speed faster to confidently place them in internships
- Seen deep engagement: Developers clocked over 14,000 hours of learning over 2,000 courses and took more than 900 skill assessments