Innovators in Action

This career exploration and readiness program’s formula for learner success combines social capital, self-discovery to launch career pathways for first-gen grads

Rather than limiting herself to the pool of computer science graduates she typically saw, Techtonic’s CEO Heather Terenzio started her own training program to build the diverse tech talent pipeline she was looking for. Techtonic Academy, her company’s apprenticeship program, is breaking down barriers to technology careers while at the same time filling her industry’s talent gap.

In an industry that requires rapid adaptation to changing tasks and technologies, workers have no time to waste in learning new skills. Pluralsight provides personalized, AI-driven training programs to IT workers, helping them, in the words of Dr. Angela Payne, Pluralsight’s senior director of instructional design, “reduce the distance” to their next stage of skill development.

The story of one learner’s journey through education and employment is told across several data sets. Enrollment and graduation outcomes tell one part of the story, with labor market information and employer data filling in the blanks. Brighthive, led by CEO and founder Matt Gee, is connecting siloed data systems so learners, employers, and educators alike can make better informed decisions about preparing tomorrow’s workforce.

Assess and learn human skills — in just 10 minutes a day. GLEAC, designed by SallyAnn Della Casa, collaborates with schools, businesses, and governments to provide custom, artificial-intelligence-driven training in skills like persuasiveness, thinking on your feet, and creativity.

Climb Hire creates new pathways for hidden talent from historically overlooked communities to obtain highly-coveted tech jobs. The program, led by CEO and founder Nitzan Pelman, combines targeted training and hands-on practice with a special focus on building professional skills like networking.

Launching a career in software engineering takes more than skills. With Code Nation, led by CEO Becca Novak, high school students build their confidence and social capital by learning from mentors in the industry.

“Who you know shapes how you get by and get ahead.” Hear more from Julia Freeland Fisher, Director of Education Research at the Clayton Christensen Institute, about the importance of social capital for gaining equitable access to work opportunities.

Through a rigorous program in technology and leadership skills, i.c. stars prepares its graduates for competitive careers. But the support doesn’t end when the new job begins. The program, led by co-founder and CEO Sandee Kastrul, also provides two years of continued coaching to ensure grads’ long-term success.

SV Academy prepares program grads to break into the technology industry. But the program doesn’t just serve learners. Co-founder Rahim Fazal designed SV Academy with employers’ needs in mind, which has been key to the organization’s success.

Internships are a gateway to promising careers, but they can be tough to squeeze into a schedule already packed with classes, work, and other responsibilities. The University of Cincinnati Co-op combines learning and work, and, as program leaders Gigi Escoe and Helen Chen explain, is fueling better academic and career outcomes.

Creating more equitable access to good jobs starts by helping employers recognize the skills of an untapped talent pool. Skillist, co-founded by Ananth Kasturiraman and Caroline Fay, facilitates the right fit between employers and employees through skills-based hiring.