Demand for Soft Skills in the Tech Industry

Soft skills have been highlighted by Google employees as crucial for company leadership, and prominent venture capitalist Mark Cuban has stated that he values philosophy graduates over those from technical fields as startup founders.

The most important qualities and traits for leaders at Google

Being a good coach

Communicating well and listening to others

Recognizing ideas in their surroundings

Showing empathy

Being ready to help

Having critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Seeing connections between complex concepts

Possessing STEM skills

Case Study: Brand Positioning of UnCollege

UnCollege is a program designed for high school graduates who are deciding on their next educational path. It offers a 15-week or year-long course to help them figure out what they want to do in the future. The program, based on deep immersion, allows participants to gain life skills through self-learning, mentorship, and practical work experience. UnCollege focuses on developing the "soft skills" needed for higher education and consists of three stages:

• Participation in social projects,
• Practical workshops,
• Internships around the world.

All these components are tied together by ongoing interaction with a dedicated mentor who offers advice and helps clarify personal and professional goals, aligning with the brand's values. In 2018, UnCollege underwent a rebranding and became Year On, also changing its visual identity and branding.

Takeaways for Brands

As trends impose new demands on education, it is taking on forms that extend beyond the traditional boundaries of the industry. Two noticeable patterns are the demand for practical knowledge "here and now" and the growing importance of soft skills, both in youth and at higher levels of career advancement in adulthood. Against this backdrop, it is natural for new education brands to seek to distance themselves from traditional images that are perceived as distant from progress and innovation.

Nevertheless, the demand for continuous learning creates a need not only for brands that prioritize practicality and relevance but also for those that appeal to unlocking human potential — a fundamental value that transcends market conditions.

At Electric Brand Consultants, you can order a logo and brand book. Our branding agency has extensive experience in creating not only visual identities but also brand names, slogans, and brand strategies.