General Assembly Tech training company transforms thinkers into creators

By Grace Huseth

Ever thought about changing careers and embarking into the ever growing fields of technology, business and design?

General Assembly provides innovative training and helps individuals make strategic career connections in the in-demand fields of today’s rapidly changing technological economy. The company, which has 20 campuses worldwide, opened at Ponce City Market because of Atlanta’s reputation for having one of the most aggressive startup cultures in the country.

“Atlanta has seen a huge growth in terms of the startup scene, with the number of startup incubators and a lot more visibility into that world. It’s a nationwide trend, but it has been accelerated here in Atlanta in the course of the past five years,” said regional director Peter Franconi.

In addition to small startups, larger Atlanta companies are pushing for more tech savvy employees. Franconi said Atlanta’s Fortune 500 companies that have not been historically tech driven, are going through a transformation to figure out how to stay relevant when it comes to technology. For instance, the Delta’s Fly Delta app provides quick access to boarding passes and Home Depot’s mobile app views store maps and checks inventory.

Students seek out General Assembly’s events, workshops and classes as a bridge to get jobs with these top startups and companies. Some are free meetups, where General Assembly becomes a gathering space for industry leaders to exchange ideas, while complete courses can change a student’s career path entirely.

General Assembly prepares classes in technology and design by consulting existing