My Self-Learning Courses: Technical, Leadership and Project Management
- Roger Cruz
Owned by Roger Cruz
Intro
There is always room for continuous improvement. These are some of the courses I've taken that I found value in improving my people and project management skills.
As of 1/24/2024, I've taken 196 courses in LinkedIn Learning. 2024-01-24 - LinkedIn Learning Courses.pdf
| Color Key | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Really Good. Lots of knowledge to be gained. Inspirational. I would watch it again | |
| Good. Something to learn, may watch it again for a refresher | |
| Just OK. Some may be geared towards beginners. It may be a bit boring or too basic. No need to watch again. | |
| Blah. Bad content, or speaker. Boring or useless fluff information (eg jargon of keywords without good examples) |
Definitely checkout the courses by Paul Smith on story telling. It will make you a better leader.
Agile
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DevOps Foundations: Lean and Agile by Ernest Mueller and Karthik Gaekwad | Theories, techniques, and benefits of agile and lean. Learn how they can be applied to operations teams to create a more effective flow from development into operations and accelerate your path of "concept to cash." In addition to key concepts, you can hear in-the-trenches examples of implementing lean and agile in real-world software organizations. | 1hr 26 mins | Jul 8th, 2019 | I think this is a real good introduction for someone looking to learn about Agile. The class notes have a lot of links to useful content. I really like the fictitious company example. Learned a lot of useful info PDU Credit |
AWS
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explore the anatomy of CloudFormation and the structure of templates, and then find out how to create your own templates to deploy resources such as S3 buckets and EC2 web servers. | 43 mins | Jul 9th, 2019 | A basic introduction to CloudFormation on AWS. Good to watch once if you are not familiar with it. |
Brainstorming and Ideation
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learn to ideate rapidly like a pro using tried-and-tested techniques to solve common collaborative problems. Stefan illustrates how to overcome complex challenges by inventing, iterating, and inflating throughout the ideation process. | 26 mins | March 27th, 2023 | A valuable intro to rapid ideation with some examples that can be used to introduce teams to the process. | |
by Stefan Mumaw | Stefan Mumaw brings brainstorming into the modern age, with rules and techniques to help you set up and run more effective creative brainstorming sessions, including what to do before, during, and after each session. He details everything from group ideation dynamics to brainstorming techniques like idea webbing, time boxing, and story structures. | 42 mins |
Business Finance And Accounting
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Running a Profitable Business: Calculating Breakeven by Jim Stice and Kay Stice | Breakeven analysis and cost-volume-profit analysis will help you understand when—and if—your business will start to recover those costs and begin making a profit. Understanding your breakeven point will help you to determine how much you need in revenue to keep your business going. Accounting professors Jim and Kay Stice walk through the breakeven equation, and cover types of costs, contribution margin, breakeven point, and net income. | 1hr 23 mins | Nov 18th, 2019 | A basic introduction to computing break-even costs. I found it too simplistic but it may be good for someone who doesn't have a basic understanding of financing. |
Cloud Technologies
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Learning Jenkins by Michael Jenkins
| Meet Jenkins, the open-source automation tool for software development and system administration. With Jenkins, you can automate build management, continuous integration and deployment, testing, resource management, monitoring and reporting, and much more. This introduction helps you use Jenkins to release and deploy software more quickly and reliably. | 1hr 20 mins | Jul 21st, 2019 | |
| Covers the basics of containers, including an overview of the fundamental steps involved in building container-based software, followed by some examples of real-world applications that leverage containers | 1hr 16 mins | Jul 8th, 2019 | A bit too repetitive and basic for me. Can't really say that I learned anything new. Maybe useful for someone who knows nothing about containers but I think there are better courses for that.. |
DevOps and DevSecOps
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DevOps Foundations: Going Cloud Native by Karthik Gaekwad | Explore the benefits and challenges of cloud-native platforms like Kubernetes and find out how to take the first step towards transformation: assessing your current infrastructure and planning for the future. Learn the high-level strategies that will help you succeed, and find how to prioritize efforts like DevOps, continuous integration, continuous delivery, microservices, security, and organizational alignment | 46 mins | Jul 10th, 2019 | Introductory course for a high-level view of enterprise applications migration to cloud. This is good for managers or VPs who are looking to understand what creating cloud native apps will entail. |
Learning Cloud Computing: The Cloud and DevOps By David Linthicum | This course explains how to set up a cloud-based DevOps process and leverage services offered by Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Cloud computing expert David Linthicum first introduces the business case for DevOps in the cloud, which can ensure scalable and continuous delivery, testing, integration, and deployment for organizations of any size. | 1hr 48 mins | Jul 8th, 2019 | A really long course for very basic info. Not sure I learned anything new from this 2hr course. |
| DevOps for Data Scientists by Dan Sullivan | This course was designed for data scientists who need to support their models in production, as well as for DevOps professionals who are tasked with supporting data science and machine learning applications. Learn about key data science development practices, including the testing and validation of data science models. This course also covers how to use the Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML), monitor models in production, work with Docker containers, and more. | 32 mins | Jul 12, 2019 | I can't say I found much use to this course. Basically that data scientists use data models and similar tools to deveopers (Git, etc) to keep track of the models. It has a small section on PMML (Predictive Model Markup Language) which was new to me. |
Team Building
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managing a Cross-Functional Team by Mike Figliuolo | A cross-functional team is a group of people with different functional expertise working toward a common goal. Because everyone has their own priorities, cross-functional teams can be challenging to lead. Team demands compete with the day-to-day demands that team members face from their own departments, and the team leader often has to rely more on influence than direct control. | 1hr 9 mins | May 15th, 2019 | He provides a good recipe for managing X-functional teams. Lots of info on how to prepare and run the team. A bit monotonic, he can put you to sleep easily. |
| Managing Team Conflict by Henna Inam | Henna provides direct instruction, exercises, and scenarios that play out common team conflict situations. Discover why team conflict is necessary for success and how to determine whether a conflict is healthy or unhealthy. | 1hr 10 mins | Dec 10th, 2019 | Some useful examples on how to handle conflict and when to walk away. Discusses 5 conflict styles and the pros/cons PDU credit |
| Hiring Your Team by Cindy Mayer | Cindy Mayer shows how to prepare for and conduct employee interviews in person, over the phone, and with video-conferencing tools. Understand what your ideal candidate would bring to the table and use that information to structure a job description and effectively scan resumes. Next, build an interviewing plan, and develop questions that elicit thoughtful, helpful responses. Finally, learn how to conduct an interview, probe for more depth with follow-up questions, navigate pitfalls, and take next steps after the interview | 1hr 14mins | May 15th, 2019 | Course is from the perspective of an HR person. Mostly tips on how to conduct interviews PDU credit |
| Lean Technology Strategy: Building High-Performing Teams by Jez Humble | Lean teams are nimble and diverse. They include product managers, developers, and operations specialists, who may only work together for a short time. How do you manage people that play such different roles and unite them towards a common goal? In this course, Jez Humble provides tips to build high-performance product teams. He compares the strengths of the Taylorist vs. lean management approaches, explains how culture contributes to high-performing teams, and introduces a well-documented case study of a company changing a culture for the better. | 34 mins | May 3rd, 2019 | Some quick advice on basic high-performance teams. |
| Working on a Cross-Functional Team by Doug Rose | Understanding cross-functional teams and how they allow employees to work better together. Plus, see how to overcome common challenges and maximize your team's performance. As you'll learn, cross-functional teams can be more productive, as well as a fun and rewarding way to work together to quickly deliver your product. | 1 hr 4 mins | May 14th, 2019 | Some useful tips but way too much fluffiness. Speaker can use some energy in presentations. PDU credit |
| Collaborative Design: Managing a Team by Lauren Bacon | This kind of teamwork requires clear roles and responsibilities, well-defined parameters, opportunities for input, people-management skills, and more. In this course, veteran web entrepreneur Lauren Bacon provides a proven framework for bringing people together collaboratively to create extraordinary outcomes. | 42 mins | May 15th, 2019 | Some basic concepts on teams collaborating on an idea. Not sure I learned much |
| Managing Team Creativity by Drew Boyd | Discover nine simple tips to boost your creative output at work and learn how to think about the world in a different way, break problems down into manageable parts, divide and conquer a problem, and evaluate ideas systematically | 20 mins | May 15th, 2019 | Too basic and a boring speaker. Everything you need to know is in the description. |
| Managing Technical Teams by Bob McGannon | Bob McGannon outlines the critical elements for successfully managing a technical team. Since you are dealing with highly skilled workers, it is important for you to focus on WHAT needs to be accomplished, rather than HOW to accomplish goals. Other critical skills include knowing your role and what decisions to make, balancing the needs of your stakeholders and customers while allowing for creativity within your team, supporting and rewarding differing creative styles, and much more. | 54 mins | May 4th, 2019 | Just some basic info that I didn't find too useful |
Leadership Skills
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chief Technology Officer Career Guide by Drew Falkman | Sharing management tips and techniques, including how to hire a great team, create a healthy corporate culture, enhance team communications, and get rid of toxic employees. Next, he covers product and project management—explaining how to guide an efficient product life cycle—and examines technology challenges like choosing a platform and supporting research and development | 2hr 28 mins | Nov 4th, 2019 | A real good introduction with practical information to what a CTO should do. Can watch multiple times to get all info. |
| Coaching for Results by Lisa Gates | Learn the three basic types—coaching to improve performance, develop careers, and encourage high performers—and apply different techniques to get results. She also helps you avoid some of the common coaching traps and develop a coaching habit. | 1hr | June 4th, 2019 | Useful techniques provided and the re-enactments of each coaching type really help convey the points well. PDU Credit |
| Effective Listening by Tatiana Kolovou and Brenda Bailey-Hughes | How to assess your current listening skills, understand the challenges to effective listening (such as distractions!), and develop behaviors that will allow you to become a better listener—and a better colleague, mentor, and friend. | 1hr 8mins | June 1st, 2019 | I thought they made many good points on how to listen correctly. The video re-enactments emphasized the points well. |
| Facilitation Skills for Managers and Leaders by Prakash Raman | Develop the core skills of a facilitative leader, such as developing your emotional intelligence, active listening, asking powerful questions, engaging productive conflict, and being flexible in your own thinking so as to make room for your team's input. | 43mins | June 5th, 2019 | This course had some good examples on how to empower the teams. The chapter on the difficulty of letting go of control (delegation) and how managers should listen and not provide their own solutions/opinions really resonated with me. |
| Delegating Tasks to Your Team (2013) by Britt Andreatta | The course reveals what delegation can do for you and your team and introduces a four-phase model to delegate tasks and manage projects large and small. The phases include evaluating the task, handing the task over, supporting task completion, and closing the task. In between, learn how to pick the right level of autonomy for each task and the best ways to avoid micromanagement. | 50 mins | May 3rd, 2019 | Good tips on delegation and pitfalls. Process for delegating work effectively is good. PDU credit |
| Transformational Leadership by Henna Inam | Leaders create cultures of innovation, engagement, and growth. Henna shares specific practices any leader, or aspiring leader, can leverage to discover values, identify a purpose, and define a vision. Learn how to lead with integrity and empower others to be their best | 1hr 7mins | June 4th, 2019 | Some of the advice is too basic/generic, with a lot of jargon words. |
Product Management
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Management: Building a Product Roadmap by Ted Grenager and Eldad Persky | Shows how to build a product roadmap for your business—and gain critical stakeholder buy-in. See examples of what roadmaps might look like, and spend time learning the tools and techniques necessary to map the projects for your specific organization. | 48 mins | November 6th, 2019 | A good introduction on product road map planning. Good suggestions on how to get buy-in PDU credit |
Public Speaking, Presentations, Story Telling
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stories Every Leader Should Tell by Paul Smith | Storytelling expert Paul Smith shares the 10 most important stories every leader should be able to tell at a moment’s notice | 46 mins | June 2nd, 2019 | Paul is just an incredible story teller. Worth watching many times over. |
| Leadership Stories Weekly by Paul Smith | Drawing on his exclusive, one-on-one interviews with over 250 CEOs and executives around the world, Paul reveals experiences that led these leaders to learn a critical lesson or gain some invaluable-and often unconventional-wisdom. Each weekly video is centered around a single story. He covers topics such as setting a vision, leading change, and getting more creativity out of an organization | 3hr 12mins | June 1st, 2019 | Really great stories. He will teach you how to look into your own experiences to create powerful stories to lead people. |
| Leading with Stories by Paul Smith | Paul Smith digs into the essential elements of a great narrative, explaining how to craft and deliver compelling leadership stories that inspire and motivate employees. Paul explains the right story structure, how to create emotional engagement, and even how to create a surprise ending that ensures your story will be remembered and acted upon. | 39 mins | May 23rd, 2019 | Same as above |
| Establishing Credibility as a Speaker by Laura Bergells | She shows you how to earn the attention and interest of your audience right away by using key nonverbal and emotional skills. Find out how to make eye contact, read a room, and deal with difficult audience emotions. | 32 mins | June 2nd, 2019 | Some basic tips for learning how to present. I would say this course is geared more to new speakers. |
| Communicating with Confidence by Jeff Ansell | Jeff Ansell provides simple communication tools, strategies, and tips that are easy to use and produce immediate results. He'll help you sound more confident, use body and language to better express ideas, and overcome anxiety. | 1hr 28 mins | May 20th, 2019 | While there are some good tips, I couldn't get over the cheesy presentations/examples he gave.. The tone of voice also sounded fake. |
Negotiations
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negotiation Foundations (2012) by Lisa Gates | The course delivers repeatable strategies for negotiating common issues such as asking for a raise, setting fees, promoting teamwork, and bringing out the best in those you manage. Along the way, discover how to use interest-based negotiation, distributive bargaining, diagnostic questioning, and conflict resolution to handle both simple and complex negotiations. | 39mins | May 20th, 2019 | A quick introduction to some basic negotiation skills. She goes over 6 steps that are part of a successful negotiation. |
| Job Searching, Interviewing, and Negotiating Salary by known actors and speakers | Learn how to treat your job search as an ongoing work in progress by leveraging purpose alignment strategies, interview techniques, and salary negotiation tactics. Get practical insights from actor Bryan Cranston, author and speaker Simon O. Sinek, and other top experts | 23mins | May 20th, 2019 | 6 stories from actors and speakers trying to be motivational or give advice. I didn't find it too useful or interesting. |
Security
| Course | Description | Time | Date Taken | My Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covers the basics of OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect and shows how to use them to authenticate your applications. He covers tokens and scopes; designing and building the key flows; common security considerations; | 1hr 44 mins | December 8th, 2019 | Without a doubt, one of the best technical courses in the library. The way the information is presented and the amount of hands-on labs (43MBs) allow you to take this course without any knowledge of OAuth and come out intermediate-level knowledge. I'll watch again for sure. | |
| Kevin Skoglund explains what an SSL certificate is, how it is used to encrypt communications between a server and a browser, and how to choose the domain scope and validation type. He demonstrates how to install free certificates from Let's Encrypt using Certbot or install purchased certificates from a traditional certificate authority. He shows how to configure the web server to default to HTTPS and how HSTS directives can tell browsers to always use HTTPS | 1hr 25 mins | Nov 5, 2019 | A real good introduction to SSL and its uses. The instructor does a good job of explaining this complex subject to beginners. | |
| Teaches you how authentication works, how to implement it correctly when building web applications, walks you through some of the most common attacks, and shows you how to protect your site. He also demonstrates how to secure your own passwords and digital identity so you can work securely | 1hr 25 mins | Nov 10th, 2019 | As a developer, I found this to be a very basic course on passwords and authentication.. almost for someone who is brand new to computers and security. No need to watch this again. |