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Laura Taylor-Kale researches, writes and speaks about the impact of technological and demographic change on organizations. From 2017-2018, she was an International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) where she was deputy director of CFR’s independent task force on the future of the U.S. workforce and co-author of the task force’s published report “The Work Ahead: Machines, Skills and U.S. Leadership in the Twenty-First Century.” Laura is also a 2018 Zhi-Xing Eisenhower Fellow and traveled to China to meet with business and policy leaders to study Chinese innovation in artificial intelligence. Laura served in the Obama Administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing in the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2016-2017. In this position, she managed a team of fifty international trade specialists and oversaw a broad portfolio of programs and trade policies aimed at increasing global opportunities and the international competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers. Prior to her role at the Commerce Department, Laura served as a senior advisor to the President and CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Laura joined the Obama Administration from the World Bank where she held positions as an advisor to the U.S. executive director and special assistant to the vice president for sustainable development. From 2003-2012, Laura was a career Foreign Service officer in the U.S. Department of State where she was posted in Afghanistan, Cote d’Ivoire, India, and the Bureau of Economics and Business Affairs. She holds a BA in Economics and Anthropology from Smith College, an MPA with a concentration in demography and international economic development from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and an MBA in finance and management from the New York University Stern School of Business. She is currently a PhD student at Stanford University’s Department of Management Science and Engineering in the Center for Work, Technology and Organizations. Her research is focused on augmentation and the impact on organizational structure of human collaboration with artificial intelligence enabled machines.
Joseph Fuller is a Professor of Management Practice in General Management and co-leads the school’s initiative, Managing the Future of Work. He currently teaches the General Management Processes and Action course in the second year of the MBA program and formerly headed The Entrepreneurial Manager course in the program’s first year. A 1981 graduate of the school, Joe was a founder and first employee of the global consulting firm, Monitor Group, now Monitor-Deloitte. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of its commercial consulting operations until 2006 and remained a Senior Advisor to the firm until its acquisition by Deloitte in 2012. During his three decades in consulting, Fuller worked with senior executives and policymakers on a wide variety of issues related to corporate strategy and national competitiveness. He has particularly deep experience in industries with a heavy reliance on technology, such as life sciences, ICT and the defense and aerospace industries. He is currently researching the evolution of the role of the CEOs and the C-suite in public companies.
Skillful is looking for an effective and dynamic leader to help Indiana job seekers and employers thrive in a dramatically changing economy and make the labor market work for the 63% of Hoosiers who do not have a 4-year college degree. Do you share our passion for connecting employers who are looking for qualified workers with job seekers so that both prosper? Do you believe that people should be considered qualified for jobs based on the skills they have and that hiring practices can be changed to open opportunities to a larger and more diverse talent pool? Do you share our view that Indiana’s workforce system—including employers, higher education, and government—can and should be a testing ground and role model for the nation? Do you thrive in nimble, creative, fast-paced start-up environments? Do you bring a demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop partnerships, raise money, launch initiatives, and create meaningful impact for communities? Then you should contact the Skillful Initiative, which seeks a founding Executive Director of Skillful Indiana. Skillful Skillful, a non-profit initiative of the Markle Foundation, Microsoft, LinkedIn, state governments, and other partners, is working to achieve a skills-based labor market to help millions of Americans overcome barriers to obtaining better jobs in today’s digital economy. Skillful helps employers achieve the workforce they need by providing data, tools, and resources that enable the adoption of skills-based hiring and training practices. Skillful’s work with career coaches and digital services enables job seekers to learn what skills are in demand and access training at any stage of their career. At the same time, Skillful aligns employers and educators so that their training programs teach the skills required to succeed in today’s economy. Now, after seeing the impact that can be made at the state level, through our work in Colorado, Skillful is expanding on-the-ground operations to Indiana. Skillful will bring national expertise, an on-the-ground team, and partners—including Microsoft and LinkedIn—to collaborate with the State of Indiana and local stakeholders to address current and emerging workforce challenges. Workforce development is a top priority shared by Indiana state leaders, employers, higher education institutions, and other stakeholders, making Indiana a strong and ready partner for Skillful. In the next decade, Indiana will need 1 million skilled workers to fill open jobs and support economic growth. Skillful Indiana will implement skills-based practices across the workforce ecosystem to meet this economic need and place more Hoosiers on better career pathways. For more context, see skillful.com. Job Summary: The Skillful Indiana Executive Director will serve as a leader in workforce development across the state, collaborating closely with the Governor of Indiana, business leadership, educational institutions, and non-profits. We are looking for a founding Executive Director to build and lead the Skillful Indiana team and establish the Skillful model in Indiana on a sound, sustainable, and effective operational footing. The Executive Director of Skillful Indiana will shape and implement Skillful’s operations and build partnerships to ensure long-term effectiveness and sustainability. As the leader of Skillful Indiana, the Executive Director will inform and establish, with the Skillful CEO, Skillful Indiana’s strategic and operating priorities, lead day-to-day management of operations, and have primary responsibility for building an energized, inclusive, high-performing team. The Executive Director will also serve as a member of the national Skillful Leadership Team, working alongside colleagues in Colorado, New York and elsewhere to draw upon their expertise for the success of Skillful Indiana, and share back learnings and expertise to strengthen Skillful overall. The Executive Director will also collaborate with Markle’s national Rework America Task Force to provide their ‘on the ground’ insights from Indiana to shape Task Force efforts and to take advantage of their national initiatives in Indiana as appropriate. The full strategic and operating plan for Skillful Indiana is still being refined and will be shaped by the incoming Executive Director. However, the following program components have been created in partnership with leaders across state government and other critical stakeholders. Employer, Higher Education, Career Coaching and Data Impact Initiatives: Leveraging approaches and resources developed in Colorado and nationally, Skillful Indiana will focus on driving impact through: Employers: Training Indiana businesses to embed skills-based methods within recruitment, hiring, and career advancement practices. Higher Education: Collaborating with higher ed leaders, faculty, and research institutes to map the skills required of current/future occupations and integrate systems that promote upskilling and lifelong learning. Career Coaches: Launching the Indiana Governor’s Coaching Corps and a virtual coaching community of practice to support frontline workforce development professionals. Data & Technology: Accelerating the use of innovative digital tools and platforms that strengthen the workforce ecosystem and enable the implementation of skills-based practices. Partnering in the Workforce Regions to Drive Change: Skillful will partner with Indiana Workforce Boards in the twelve workforce regions to implement impact initiatives. Starting in a few regions then scaling statewide, Skillful Indiana will assist the Workforce Boards with local challenges and opportunities and gather insight from innovative local approaches to share with state leaders. Skillful Indiana will leverage existing regional networks and stakeholders, such as industry associations, higher ed, and non-profits, to drive impact. Job Responsibilities: Design and drive strategy and operating initiatives: Manage and oversee the overall operations of Skillful on the ground in Indiana. This includes the maintenance, continuous improvement, and expansion of Skillful methods and tools to meet the needs of Hoosiers. In addition, the Executive Director will have the lead role in formulating and executing Skillful’s operating plan initiatives and budgets to achieve our impact objectives. Build strong partnerships with Indiana ecosystem players and serve as key external voice and representative for Skillful in the region, acting as ambassador, thought partner, and advocate with all critical stakeholders. Uphold Skillful’s partnership-driven, B2B model for driving transformation to a skills-based labor market. Manage and continue to develop key partnerships of Skillful including: State government leaders Large employers and key employer groups Education and training providers Local and regional Workforce system leaders Non-profits working to drive workforce initiatives Active philanthropies in this space Identify sustainable funding sources and business model for Skillful Indiana that enables Skillful to scale its impact over time, including liaising with prospective funders for Indiana programs including foundations, corporations and others with support from the Markle team; and exploring other models to sustain Skillful IN activities. Define and drive delivery against key impact metrics with an emphasis on transparency, learning, and continuous improvement of operations. Provide day-to-day guidance and leadership to team members to ensure strong execution of key initiatives and clear linkages of their work to making a difference in Indiana. Actively share learnings from Indiana participate in Skillful’s overall scaling strategy and bring to IN the learnings from Skillful’s national activities. Collaborate with Markle’s Rework America Task Force to create a two-way flow of insights that strengthens both initiatives. Build and lead a high-performing, diverse that operates with dedication, positive culture, and creates growth opportunities for team members. Support team members to build their skills and create an environment that fosters individuals’ professional development so that individual and collective impact is enhanced. Critical Skills and Competencies Considered Effective Operational Leadership: Demonstrated ability to drive outcomes against aggressive performance goals in different environments including stints in the private sector (given how important the understanding of and changing employer behavior is to the role). Fundraising or Business Development: Experience in fundraising or similar activity that provides evidence of the ability to convert enthusiasm into resources and commitments. Operations Management: Experienced manager who can provide effective day-to-day leadership of the team/partner initiatives and thoughtful management against performance goals and budget to deliver results. Relationship and Partnership Management: Strong relationship building skills at all levels of an organization. Well-connected and strong reputation within Indiana or proof from another context that you can build this very quickly through your own network. Team Leadership: Strong leader who gets those around them excited about achieving big goals. Demonstrated ability to thrive and lead in a small, analytically rigorous organization that values direct, honest, and respectful transfer of ideas. Transformational change agent: Proven track record of impact in leading or supporting complex programs, business expansion and/or public transformational initiative. Workforce Knowledge: Strong knowledge of the workforce ecosystem, including who the key public and private stakeholders are, and understanding of current trends in workforce development. Technology and Data Literacy: Basic understanding of the intersection between technology, data, and workforce development. Ability to collaborate with and learn from stakeholders working in data and tech to implement skills-based practices. Position Details: Title: Executive Director, Skillful Indiana Location: Indiana (specific location TBD) Reports to: Beth Cobert, CEO, Skillful Term: Full-time Degree or Credential Requirements:None! We value candidates who can demonstrate capability and articulate how prior experiences have given them the skills to perform the role. How to apply: Please submit your cover letter and resume or CV to Jessica Goodin at the link below. Markle is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations and marital status.
A national nonprofit has chosen Indiana as the next state for its Skillful initiative, designed to help workers, especially those without four-year college degrees, find good jobs in a changing economy. The New York-based Markle Foundation is working with partners including Microsoft Philanthropies, Walmart and Purdue University on the workforce development effort. Skillful, which began in Colorado, helps workers partner with companies to identify skills they already have and find better pathways to internal or external training programs to fill the gaps. Other partners in the effort include the Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation, LinkedIn, Purdue Extension and the Governor's Workforce Cabinet. Governor Eric Holcomb calls Skillful coming to Indiana a "game-changer." He says Skillful will be a "force multiplier - strengthening and building upon workforce efforts already underway to connect people with the skills they need for high-wage, high-demand jobs." Skillful says it uses data and technology platforms to analyze and provide transparency about the the value of educational and training programs. The goal is to give educators a better picture of what skills area employers need, and giving those businesses a better idea of what skills are present in the local talent pool.
INDIANAPOLIS (WOWO): A partnership between the state of Indiana, Microsoft, and others looks to connect Hoosiers with good jobs in a changing economy. Governor Eric Holcomb today announced Skillful Indiana, a partnership that includes Skillful (A Markle Initiative), Microsoft Philanthropies, Walmart, the Lumina Foundation, and both Purdue University and Purdue Extension. The idea is to bring more investment, job training, tools, and other methods to boost the state’s Next Level Jobs workforce development plan.
(INDIANAPOLIS) - A job training nonprofit is setting up shop in Indiana to put booster rockets under the state's efforts to beef up its skilled workforce. Skillful will work with employers, job seekers, colleges and state workforce development staffers to help match Hoosiers with jobs and build their skills to make them more marketable. The initiative sponsored by the New York-based Markle Foundation will work to help businesses reach a broader pool of recruits and increase in-house training programs, and train job coaches at WorkOne offices, Purdue Extension, and Indiana nonprofits. And Skillful will work with universities to anticipate high-demand jobs of the future. Governor Holcomb calls Skillful a "force multiplier" for efforts the state has already put in motion.
Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the Markle Foundation, and Microsoft Announce Skillful Indiana: Bringing New Investment, Partners and Innovation to Indiana’s Next Level Workforce Agenda With support provided by Walmart, and in partnership with Lumina Foundation, Purdue University and Purdue Extension, Skillful Indiana will bring practical tools to connect Hoosiers to good jobs in a changing economy. Skillful Indiana will help people identify high-demand jobs and the skills they need to fill them, and help employers find and keep the talent they need to grow; strengthen the skills of career advisors across the state; and collaborate with local workforce development boards to support Hoosiers and Indiana businesses. INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Eric J. Holcomb, Indiana Governor; Zoë Baird, CEO and President of the Markle Foundation; Beth Cobert, CEO of Skillful (a Markle initiative); and Mary Snapp, Head of Microsoft Philanthropies announced that Skillful will begin operations in Indiana, bringing investment, training, tools and innovative methods to augment Governor Holcomb’s Next Level workforce development plan. The launch of Skillful Indiana brings together the Markle Foundation, Microsoft Philanthropies, LinkedIn, Walmart, Lumina Foundation, Purdue University and Purdue Extension with the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and local workforce development boards to create better pathways to good jobs for Hoosiers. Skillful Indiana will work with Indiana businesses and the state’s innovative educational community to equip Hoosiers with marketable skills that are the new currency of the digital economy. First established in Colorado, Skillful is dedicated to enabling all Americans – particularly those without a four-year college degree – to secure good jobs in a changing economy. Skillful engages employers, educators, policymakers and workforce development organizations to create a labor market in which skills are valued, and people can more easily access the information and education they need to secure good jobs. Skillful, with its strategic partner Microsoft, selected Indiana for expansion after careful consideration as it possesses critical elements and needed infrastructure for success, including strong support from the Governor and Indiana’s workforce ecosystem. “Adding Skillful to the Hoosier state is a game-changer when it comes to skilling up our workforce,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Here in Indiana, we’ve built a strong pro-growth business climate and have a fully-funded infrastructure plan, but we also need to ensure every Hoosier is prepared for this ever-changing economy while attracting more people to fill the jobs of tomorrow. Skillful Indiana will serve as a force multiplier—strengthening and building upon workforce efforts already underway to connect people with the skills they need for high-wage, high-demand jobs.” “Markle is bringing Skillful’s unique model to Indiana to help create a labor market that provides equal dignity for people who have developed skills in many different ways: on the job, from neighbors, in a related job in another sector or from more formal post-secondary education,” said Zoë Baird, CEO and President, the Markle Foundation. “By helping employers show the skills they need, and everyone to see more clearly the great ways to train at every stage of a career, we will open up opportunity to thousands more Hoosiers. Employers will see the talent in their own communities and workers will be inspired to become lifelong learners who can keep pace with the evolving needs of a digital economy.” In the next decade, Indiana will need more than 1 million skilled workers to fill open jobs and support economic growth. Working with its national and local partners, Skillful is tailoring Skillful Indiana’s programs to the unique strengths and needs of the state: employer programs for Indiana’s distinctive mix of large and small, urban and rural employers; education initiatives tailored to Indiana’s innovative higher education system, and investment in career coaches as an important support for Hoosiers navigating educational and job opportunities. Skillful will bring to Indiana innovations developed in its first state, Colorado, as well as those shared within the Skillful State Network, a coalition of 20 governors, including Governor Holcomb, who have made innovation in workforce development a state priority. The Skillful State Network was born out of the tremendous interest Skillful received from other states based on its work in Colorado. The Skillful State Network provides a forum to share Skillful’s approach, tools and assets quickly. States like Indiana have always been laboratories for innovation and today are leading the transformation to the digital economy. “We are incredibly impressed with the extraordinary work going on in Indiana. With Skillful Indiana, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring additional resources, national partners and road-tested programming to contribute to the exciting things happening here,” said Beth Cobert, Skillful CEO. “Microsoft and LinkedIn partnered with Markle to develop the Skillful model in order to ensure more Americans can benefit from the digital economy. Working with our Indiana partners, Skillful Indiana will advance a new mindset of lifelong learning and increase opportunities for jobseekers to gain necessary skills and connections to employers,” said Mary Snapp, Head of Microsoft Philanthropies. Skillful Indiana will focus on accelerating a skills-based labor market through the following: Working with employers to expand opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds and deepen their talent pool of qualified candidates by helping them to recruit and hire with a focus on skills, as well as encouraging employers to invest in skill building for their employees on the job, at colleges or online. Working with Indiana’s innovative higher education community so that all are better able to anticipate economic shifts and be responsive to them, as well as supporting the advancement of skills-based credential and data platforms. Investing in the professional development of career coaches at organizations like WorkOne, Purdue Extensions and local non-profits so that they are better equipped to connect Hoosiers to effective training opportunities and quality jobs. Applying data-driven insights and technology tools to all of its efforts so that the very same technologies that are disrupting the economy are put to good use in adapting to it. For example, online tools to create skills-based job postings and to assess the skills of job applicants. “In collaborating with Hoosier employers, current workers, students, parents and teachers, we’re eliminating a one-size-fits-all mentality and embracing new ways of attacking the workforce challenge—like bringing Skillful’s expertise and resources to better prepare a robust, skilled workforce,” said Danny Lopez, Chairman, Governor’s Workforce Cabinet. Find more information on Skillful Indiana, Skillful, and the Skillful State Network. For media inquiries, please contact Collin Roberts, Edelman for The Markle Foundation, 206.227.3439, [email protected] or Courtney Arango, Communications Director, Office of Governor Holcomb, 317.914.3787, [email protected] About The Markle Foundation The Markle Foundation works to realize the potential of technology to achieve breakthroughs in addressing some of the nation’s most pressing issues. Markle challenges itself and diverse partners to deploy their varied expertise to identify solutions and achieve systemic change. Today as advanced technology and automation change the very nature of work, Markle’s priority is advancing solutions towards a skills-based labor market that will enable Americans to transition to the opportunities of the digital economy. Markle’s workforce initiatives include Skillful and the Rework America Task Force. They follow Markle’s success in creating the policy and technology architecture that has enabled improvements in healthcare, national security, and access to the Internet. For more information, visit markle.org, follow @MarkleFdn and @ReworkAmerica on Twitter, and read our book, America's Moment. About Skillful, Skillful Colorado, Skillful Indiana and the Skillful State Network Skillful, a non-profit initiative of the Markle Foundation, is dedicated to enabling all Americans – particularly those without a four-year college degree – to secure good jobs in a changing economy. In partnership with Microsoft and others, Skillful is developing skills-based training and employment practices in collaboration with state governments, local employers, educators and workforce development organizations. Skillful and its partners are working to create a labor market in which skills are valued, and people can more easily access the information and education they need to keep pace with technology’s impact on work. Skillful currently operates in two states, Skillful Colorado and Skillful Indiana, bringing investment, training, tools and innovative methods to augment local workforce development efforts. It formed and facilitates the Skillful State Network, a collaboration among 20 state governors to accelerate the development and deployment of effective skills-based practices to transform their labor markets. Skillful is grateful for support provided by Walmart, and its partnerships with the states of Colorado and Indiana, Microsoft, Lumina Foundation, Purdue University and Purdue Extensions and many great local organizations committed to strengthening their local workforce and creating better opportunities for all. About Microsoft Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. For more information, press only: Microsoft Media Relations, WE Communications for Microsoft, +1 (425) 638-7777, [email protected]
Leighanne Levensaler is senior vice president of corporate strategy at Workday, where she leads the organization responsible for developing integrated business strategies. In addition, Leighanne is managing director and co-head for Workday Ventures, where she oversees Workday’s investments in emerging enterprise technologies. Leighanne brings 20 years of experience and an exceptional level of expertise in technology and business to her current role. Leighanne previously led product management for Workday’s applications including Workday Financial Management and Workday Human Capital Management. Prior to joining Workday in 2009, Leighanne was principal analyst and director of talent management research at Bersin & Associates. Before that, she led the learning consulting practice at SystemLink Enterprise Solutions, and previously held positions at SmartForce, Edutrek International/AIU, and Deloitte Consulting. Leighanne has served on the board of directors for Landit since 2015, and has been on the employer advisory board for Jobcase since 2016. In addition, Leighanne currently sits on the advisory committee for BSA’s foundation, Software.org. Leighanne holds a master’s degree in human resource development from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Clemson University. She was named one of the “Most Influential Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times in 2014 and 2015, and is a member of the 2012 Class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.
