What do you do if you're a retired professional trying to keep up with industry trends?

1 Join online platforms and communities

One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep up with industry trends is to join online platforms and communities that are dedicated to business architecture. These can include blogs, podcasts, webinars, newsletters, forums, social media groups, and online courses. By subscribing to these sources, you can access curated and updated content on topics such as business models, value streams, capabilities, governance, standards, frameworks, tools, and best practices. You can also interact with other business architects, ask questions, share opinions, and learn from their experiences and perspectives.

2 Attend events and conferences

Another way to keep up with industry trends is to attend events and conferences that are relevant to business architecture. These can include local, regional, national, or international events that are organized by professional associations, academic institutions, industry bodies, or consulting firms. By attending these events, you can network with other business architects, learn from experts and thought leaders, discover new ideas and innovations, and get feedback on your own work and projects. You can also participate in workshops, panels, discussions, and competitions that can challenge and enhance your skills and knowledge.

3 Enroll in courses and certifications

If you want to keep up with industry trends and also improve your credentials and competencies, you can enroll in courses and certifications that are related to business architecture. These can include online or offline courses that cover topics such as business strategy, enterprise architecture, business analysis, design thinking, agile methods, and digital transformation. You can also pursue certifications that are offered by reputable organizations such as the Business Architecture Guild, the International Institute of Business Analysis, or the Open Group. By enrolling in these courses and certifications, you can refresh and update your skills and knowledge, demonstrate your proficiency and professionalism, and boost your confidence and credibility.

4 Mentor and coach others

One of the best ways to keep up with industry trends and also share your wisdom and experience is to mentor and coach others who are interested in or working in business architecture. You can offer your guidance and support to aspiring or junior business architects, students, or career changers who want to learn more about the field and develop their skills and capabilities. You can also provide feedback and advice to peers or colleagues who are working on business architecture projects or initiatives. By mentoring and coaching others, you can keep your skills and knowledge sharp, expand your network and influence, and contribute to the growth and development of the business architecture profession.

5 Read books and publications

Finally, one of the most classic and timeless ways to keep up with industry trends is to read books and publications that are relevant to business architecture. These can include books that are written by experts and practitioners, publications that are issued by professional associations or industry bodies, or journals and magazines that are focused on business architecture or related fields. By reading these sources, you can deepen your understanding of the concepts and principles of business architecture, explore new perspectives and approaches, and stay informed of the latest research and developments.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?