Have tech bros figured out the importance of soft skills? They are increasingly in demand in the sector, and those working in it are starting to take notice

The rise of generative artificial intelligence systems has transformed the software development industry, thanks to the ability to generate code from text-based inputs. The field has advanced very rapidly and the impact of tools like ChatGPT and Claude, among others, is increasingly evident.

In this context, relational and communication skills are becoming increasingly important within the tech sector, where until recently a certain engineering-driven approach to problem-solving had dominated.

This was recently covered by the Wall Street Journal, which reported on an event held in New York, attended by around fifty young entrepreneurs from the technology industry: the gathering was conceived as a kind of intensive course dedicated to skills that artificial intelligence still struggles to replicate, including the so-called soft skills.

In the startup world, venture capitalists, that is, those who typically fund companies that are innovative on paper and have high growth potential, no longer bet solely on a single piece of software or a particular technology, but above all on the team tasked with developing the project and steering its evolution over time. In this light, knowing how to communicate effectively during negotiations, handling critical moments with clarity, or conveying trust and credibility during a pitch, for instance, can influence the perceived value of a startup just as much as the product or service it offers.

It is no coincidence that many tech companies are investing more and more in coaching programmes and management training. In a landscape where artificial intelligence tools have made the computing field more democratic and accessible, the notion that soft skills are secondary to technical expertise is gradually fading.

Should there be more humanities graduates at the top of tech companies?

A number of experts argue that the limited presence of humanistic expertise within the technology industry, which historically developed around technical and scientific disciplines, contributes to a series of issues that are becoming increasingly apparent in the sector. The companies themselves seem to partly acknowledge this imbalance, to the point that for some time now their hiring processes have placed greater value on candidates coming from humanities backgrounds.

The attempt to place less emphasis on technical and scientific skills within tech companies has not, however, produced any visible change at the leadership level, where an engineering mindset in the analysis and solving of problems still very much prevails. And this is partly a problem, given that the executives of major Big Tech companies in Silicon Valley and beyond now wield enormous power and influence over politics and society.