Co-authored by Julian L. Alssid and Kaitlin LeMoine
The world of work is changing rapidly, and with it, the way we think about talent development must evolve. In our April 2024 blog, Rebranding Workforce Development for the Future of Work and Learning, we introduced a new model that breaks down traditional silos and fosters continuous upskilling and career mobility.
But what does this shift look like in practice? We turned to the experts—the leaders, innovators, and changemakers featured on our Work Forces podcast—to uncover real-world examples of how organizations are reimagining talent development for the modern economy.
Putting the Learner First
Imagine a college that monitors and tailors each student's journey based on their unique goals and aspirations. That's the vision of Albert Lewis, Jr., Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President at Northwest State Community College. Drawing from his background in entrepreneurship and sales, Al believes that the focus of higher education programs and offerings should always be on how to best serve the customer. He explains, “...the approach I've taken in the higher ed field is…what are the needs of the community? What are the needs of students? What are the needs of the workforce? And simply pull people together to address those needs in a way that helps students move forward in their careers, for organizations to get the talent that they're looking for, and for the community to be better off by having employed folks ready and able for work." With a solid understanding of the needs of each of these constituents, Al believes the institution can then develop a strategy to address those needs holistically.
This customer-centric approach also involves offering flexible learning options, personalized support services, and a variety of pathways to success. It's about empowering learners to take ownership of their education and career development. The focus on the learner's holistic experience is echoed by Jill Buban, Chief Growth Officer at Arizona State University's EdPlus, who emphasizes that "...really thinking about having that learner at the center isn't only [about] the academics and the student support, but it's that journey that they're taking…." As Jill readily acknowledges, technology and use of artificial intelligence in various capacities will continue to play a key role in supporting the learner experience, especially in large complex institutions and organizations.
Communicating Pathways
Too often, learners and workers lack clear guidance about the skills they need and the educational and professional opportunities available to them. In our conversation with David Hernandez, Vice President of Education at IPC, a global industry association for electronics manufacturing, he stressed the importance of communicating these opportunities clearly and early on in order to change the narrative around and interest in manufacturing careers. When visiting k-12 classrooms he describes "You can tell [students], listen, you're going to be working to build these things that are going to go on the space shuttle that we're going to send into outer space...The entire modern world is run by electronics. How is that not a sexy career?" David advocates for showcasing the exciting and impactful work being done in industries like electronics manufacturing, highlighting how these careers contribute to technological advancements and societal progress.
Communicating opportunities for upskilling and further development is equally essential for learners who are already employed. Lisa Schumacher, Director of Education Strategies and Workforce Policy at McDonald's, shared the importance of regular communication and storytelling as a way to broaden the reach of their Archways to Opportunity program across a franchise organization. She describes “... the communication piece, you know, is critical because [employees] have to hear those messages [about Archways to Opportunity] on a consistent, regular basis…” Consistent messaging and success stories help prospective learners envision themselves in employer-sponsored learning experiences, broadening upskilling opportunities and overall impact.
Connecting across Silos
In our last article, we stressed the importance of working across k-12, post-secondary education and industry to develop industry-aligned, future-focused learning experiences. While many models support this effort, our conversations with John Colborn, Executive Director of Apprenticeships for America, and Amy Williams, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, highlighted the role of apprenticeships and dual enrollment in linking learning experiences across the education landscape and in industry. John Colborn explained that when building apprenticeships, links to community colleges and workforce are critical. He explains, “So if you're in a community college, you know that you can be a really critical part of that classroom experience in apprenticeship…If you're a workforce development board, we've seen over and over again the power of boards to be able to use their convening power to organize employers and to focus attention on opportunities for apprenticeship...” The design of apprenticeships allows diverse stakeholders to come together and draw upon their respective strengths.
Similarly, when speaking with Amy Williams, she described the importance and complexity of working across secondary and post-secondary education to bring dual enrollment programs to life. She explains, “...in the dual enrollment landscape, really, you are talking about merging… secondary and post-secondary. That's a complex process. You have to not just merge them, but you have to meet the requirements of both, which is something that constantly we have to attend to and runs into some pretty sticky areas from time to time.” Amy also described the connection to career and the workforce system more broadly, leading to the challenge of navigating three different systems. In the absence of a national entity that owns dual enrollment, Amy explained that NACEP works across k-12, post-secondary education, and workforce to understand the complexities that emerge when implementing dual enrollment programs, build national alignment around best practices, and elevate the importance and impact of programs.
Shifting the Paradigm: A Collaborative Effort
These real-world, grounded stories and examples demonstrate that the shift towards a more integrated, learner-centric, and agile talent development system is already underway. It's a collaborative effort involving educators, employers, policymakers, and learners themselves. The future of work is uncertain, but one thing is clear: investing in talent is essential for building a thriving economy and there are so many leaders implementing innovative models to lead us into that future.
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