Horizons

In this episode of the Horizons Podcast, we explore the American dream of climbing the corporate ladder. Abigail Disney of Hollywood’s dream-making family takes the stage at JFF’s Horizons conference, calling out corporate leaders for perpetuating a fairytale of upward mobility for all and challenging them to reshape the US economy for the benefit of all workers. Host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield continues the conversation started by Disney with special guest Ashley Black, Managing Director, Equity Strategies for Delta Airlines. Black shares the industry leader’s blueprint for a more equitable and sustainable future of work for its frontline staffers. Together they explore the routes that Delta is taking to help its workers’ dreams take flight.

In this episode of the Horizons Podcast, we look at who is getting ahead in the U.S. workforce, who's still lagging behind, and why. As income skyrockets in major cities, small towns and rural areas are seeing far less growth offering residents little chance at upward mobility. Women are back to work after the pandemic, but their climb to the top of the ladder remains languid. And workers without college degrees are still waiting for a workforce that values their skills. Host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield and special guest Jed Kolko, United States Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs move the conversation forward from the stage at this year’s Horizons Summit.

Guest Speakers from the stage at Horizons include:

• Karin Kimbrough - Chief Economist, LinkedIn
• Richard Reeves - Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and President of the American Institute for Boys and Men and JFF Board member.

Investing in human potential sits at the center of the Horizons podcast’s season opener. This is a primary focus of JFF’s North Star, a bold new initiative to get millions of people, facing systemic barriers to advancement, to work in quality jobs in ten years. Host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield and special guest Adrian Haro, of The Workers Lab, move the conversation from the stage to the studio as they dig deeper into some of the themes presented by Jobs for the Future President and CEO Maria Flynn at this year’s Horizons summit with a special lens on a significant population in our workforce – gig workers. 

Tameshia Bridges Mansfield

Vice President, Workforce and Regional Economies

Jobs for the Future

Adrian Haro

Chief Executive Officer

The Workers Lab

Maria Flynn

President and CEO

Jobs for the Future

In this final episode of season 2 of the Horizons podcast, host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield and special guest Maria Flynn, President and CEO of JFF, dissect some of the efforts that are in motion to create a more equitable workforce post-pandemic and how the approach of dual transformation can help address the change that’s needed now and in the future.

The lessons from the pandemic could not be more clear. Disparities in wealth, education, opportunity, and safety proved devastating for millions of American workers who are now demanding change. So, how do today’s businesses build a better tomorrow?

Guest Speakers from the stage:

Panelists:

● Rachel Romer, Cofounder and CEO, Guild

● Brent Parton, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary/Acting Assistant Secretary for

Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

● Tyra Mariani, President Schultz Family Foundation & Member JFF Board of Directors

Moderator: Hari Sreenivasan, Host Amanpour & Company, PBS & CNN International

In this episode of the Horizons podcast, collaboration is key. Experts from the education, business, and non-profit sectors explore effective ways to work together to create pathways to success for all Americans and, by extension, build a more robust workforce. Host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield talks to special guest Anthony Carnevale, Research Professor and Director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, to advance the conversation and provide a unique political perspective.

Panelists:

• Emily Allen, Senior Vice President of Programs, AARP Foundation
• Michael Baston, President, Cuyahoga Community College (Former President, Rockland Community College)
• Joseph Fuller, Professor, Harvard Business School & Senior Fellow, The Burning Glass Institute 

Moderator:  Steve Lohr, Reporter, The New York Times 

In this episode, non-traditional students take the stage to share their stories of struggle and triumph. More than 70% of Americans pursuing higher education are considered non-traditional, yet many grapple with securing pathways to success between the classroom and work. Host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield and special guest Kai Drekmeier from InsideTrack explore how traditional education and workforce systems can help set up all students for success. 

Guest Speakers from the stage:

Panelists:

• Christina Hasaan, Temple University and Hope Center Graduate.
• Frederick Shegog, Founder of The Message LLC, 
• Evan Meredith, Graduate of Climb Hire

Moderator: Lisette Nieves, President of the Fund for the City of New York

In this episode, we hear from a group of ambitious entrepreneurs who are betting that they can use the power of business to help build a sustainable workforce by addressing the needs of workers and employers at scale. Host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield is joined by special guest Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, CEO of Craft Education System and Chancellor of Reach University. Together, they carry the conversation forward from JFF’s annual Horizons conference, where entrepreneurs harnessing the power of business to build a better workforce took the stage.

Guest Speakers from the stage:

Panelists:

Thomas Brunskill, CEO & co-founder of Forage

Muriel Clauson, CEO & founder of Anthill

Hamoon Ekhtiari, CEO of FutureFit AI

Moderator:

Jena McGregor, Senior Editor at Forbes

Guest:

Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, CEO, Craft Education System and Chancellor, Reach University.

In this episode, Tameshia Bridges Mansfield is joined by special guest Zoe Weintraub, senior vice president of Executive and Community Partnerships at Guild Education. How do we reimagine the workforce – the opportunities and challenges -- as corporations shift to skills-based hiring and expand access to on-the-job training? Mansfield and Weintraub carry the conversation forward from JFF’s annual Horizons summit, where leaders across the private sector discussed shifting systems to attract and retain a diverse and talented workforce.

Guest Speakers from the stage:

• Monique Baptiste, Executive Director, Corporate DEI Talent Advisor, JP Morgan Chase & Company
• Lydia Logan, Vice President for Global Education and Workforce Development at IBM
• Ryan Stowers, Executive Director at the Charles Koch Foundation.
• Moderator, Cat Ward: Vice President of Employer Mobilization, JFF 

In this episode, host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield and special guest Sarah Miller of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta carry forward the conversation from JFF's annual Horizons summit. They discuss the challenge of financing the future of work and how today's future of learning -- with or without a college degree -- can prepare workers for sustainable careers and a viable U.S. labor market.

This podcast was recorded on December 1, 2022. The comments offered by Sarah Miller are her opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta or the Federal Reserve System.

Guest Speakers from the stage:

• Troy Blackwood, Head of Structured Investments, Google
• Jukay Hsu, CEO and Founder, Pursuit
• Nitzan Pelman, CEO and Founder, Climb Hire
• Moderator: Jake Edwards, Vice President of Impact Investing, Social Finance

Click here to learn more about Horizons 2023.

In this episode host, Tameshia Bridges Mansfield examines the future of work and learning as experts in education, workforce development, and business ask the important question – what constitutes success? Most Americans do not have a college degree. So how do workers gain the crucial skills employers need? And how do employers ensure that America is building a viable workforce? The Horizons Podcast takes topics from the stage at JFF’s annual Horizons conference and carries the conversation forward.

Bridges Mansfield interviews special guest Lee Lambert, Chancellor, and CEO of Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.

Guest Speakers from the stage at Horizons include:

• Meghan Hughes, President of Community College of Rhode Island
• Julie Peller,  Executive Director of Higher Learning Advocates
• John Katzman, CEO of Noodle
• Maurice Jones, CEO of OneTen
• Bertina Ceccarelli, CEO of NPower.

In this episode, host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield and her expert guests explore the economic benefits of Fair Chance Hiring to businesses and the US economy. Each year more companies are committing to hiring people with criminal records, still hundreds of thousands of workers are still being left out of the workforce costing our economy billions. The Horizons podcast takes topics from the stage at JFF’s annual Horizons conference and carries the conversation forward. Bridges Mansfield interviews guests:

Lucretia Murphy, Director of JFF’s Center for Justice and Economic Advancement Deepti Rohatgi, Executive Director of Slack for Good

Guest speakers from the stage at Horizons include:

• Ken Oliver, Executive Director of the Checkr Foundation
• Larry Miller, Former President & current Chairman, Nike Brand
• Ken Kuwamaura, Talent Acquisition & Manager Effectiveness at Union Pacific Railroad
• Sean Hosman, Co-Founder Persevere

Learn more at https://horizons.jff.org/podcast

Wrapping up Season 1 of Jobs for the Future’s Horizons podcast series, host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield and JFF President and CEO Maria Flynn take a look back to explore what it means to See Beyond—the theme of JFF’s 2022 Horizons summit, which takes place June 7-8 in New Orleans. Be sure to listen in as Maria and Tameshia explore key themes that emerged in the first seven episodes in preparation for two days of conversations among Horizons attendees from across the learn and work ecosystem. The urgent topics they address include the need for all stakeholders to collaborate on efforts to drive change in our workforce and education systems, and questions about the role artificial intelligence will play in education. And be on the lookout for Season 2 of JFF’s Horizons podcast, which will begin in the fall.

Learn more at https://horizons.jff.org/podcast. 

In this episode of JFF’s Horizons podcast, host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield shares insights from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Appearing together for the first time in a Horizons 2021 session titled “Advancing Equity and Opportunity at Scale,” the three members of President Joe Biden’s cabinet discussed strategies for developing education, training, and workforce development initiatives that lead to well-paid jobs and economic opportunity for all Americans. “Cabinet Secretaries Commit to Scaling Equity and Opportunity” includes the following speakers:

• Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
• Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh
• Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo

Learn more at https://horizons.jff.org/podcast. 

 In this episode, host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield explores Jobs for the Future’s bold concept “The Big Blur,” which blends educational pathways across high school, postsecondary education, and career development opportunities to make it easier for all learners to obtain the skills they need to succeed in the workforce, regardless of their zip code or background. Listeners will hear highlights of the Horizons 2021 session “The Big Blur: Reimagining the Transitions Between Grade 11, Postsecondary, and Career,” including insights from the following speakers:

• Joel Vargas, Vice President of Programs, JFF
• Kim Hunter Reed, Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education
• Russell Lowery-Hart, President of Amarillo College
• Michael Matsuda, Superintendent of Anaheim Union High School District
• Lande Ajose, Vice President and Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California
• Kyle Hartung, Associate Vice President, JFF

Learn more at https://horizons.jff.org/podcast. 

Title: Future Proof: Leading to an Equitable Economic RecoveryDescription: This episode of JFF’s Horizons podcast explores strategies for achieving an equitable economic recovery following the pandemic. Host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield shares clips from four sessions from Horizons 2021 that highlight partnerships, agility, collaboration, and employer leadership as key elements of efforts to “future-proof” an equitable economy. Listeners will hear insights from the following speakers: 

• Joe May, chancellor, Dallas College
• Cat Ward, managing director, JFFLabs
• Gayatri Agnew, senior director and head of Accessibility Center of Excellence, Walmart
• Scott Galloway, professor of marketing, New York University Stern School of Business
• Mara Lockowandt, senior program manager, JFF
• Tyrone Roderick Williams, former deputy executive director, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
• Julius Austin, coordinator, Sacramento Promise Zone, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
• Lauren Kennedy, executive director, North Valley Housing Trust

Learn more at

https://horizons.jff.org/podcast

. For more information about JFF’s Recovery Playbook, visit

https://www.jff.org/what-we-do/impact-stories/corporate-leadership/recovery-playbook-impact-employers/

.

This episode of JFF’s Horizons podcast explores the exciting yet unpredictable world of artificial intelligence, or AI. Host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield shares clips from two Horizons 2021 presentations that portray AI as a double-edged sword of a technology. Listeners will hear insights from Tod Loofbourrow, CEO and Chairman of ViralGains and chair of JFF’s board of directors; MIT professor Cynthia Breazeal, a roboticist, entrepreneur, and founder and director of the Personal Robots group at MIT’s Media Lab; Catie Cuan, a dancer and robot choreographer who’s pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering at Stanford; and award-winning technologist Noelle Silver, the CEO of the AI Leadership Institute.

Learn more at https://horizons.jff.org/podcast 

 As the world continues to change at a rapid pace, the job market is changing, too. With these changes comes the need for educational institutions and other non-traditional talent pipelines to keep up with the seemingly constant growth and evolution. In this episode, Tameshia discusses the challenges many young people are still facing when it comes to building a successful career, or even choosing the right path to begin with.

Reviewing clips from three different Horizons 2021 conversations, Tameshia discusses how there is an urgent need for policy changes, increased investment, and a more equitable and cohesive journey from educational institutions to the workforce. The episode will explore what’s still standing in the way of career success for many people, and how we can work together to help to streamline the process of career navigation.

The journey from learning to earning can be ambiguous and unstructured. To complete the trek successfully, you have to engage in what’s often called career navigation.

Knowing how to approach career navigation is especially important for young people—our country’s future talent. And that’s the topic JFF addresses in the third episode of our Horizons podcast. Host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield first shares insights from Gorick Ng, author of The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right. Then workforce development experts Suzan LeVine and Mary Alice McCarthy explore youth apprenticeship. And finally, David Coleman, the CEO of the College Board, talks about rethinking the impact of the SATs.

Learn more at https://horizons.jff.org/podcast

In the second episode of the JFF Horizons podcast, Tameshia Bridges Mansfield shares highlights from Horizons presentations that explore the need for the stakeholders in the learn-to-work ecosystem to work together. This month's episode includes insights from a community college system leader who says measuring results is the overlooked key to identifying effective training programs and career pathways. And another education thought leader calls for the full integration of the education and workforce development systems.  Guests include:

Dr. Michael Baston, president of Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY, and co-chair of JFF's Policy Leadership Trust

Lisa Gevelber, chief marketing officer of the Americas region at Google and vice president of Grow With Google

Kaya Henderson, CEO, Reconstruction

Sabari Raja, co-founder and CEO, Nepris

To listen to the full sessions from this episode, visit jff.org/horizons

In this episode of Horizons, Tameshia Bridges Mansfield shares highlights from two powerful discussions about promoting Black talent in the workplace. The first clip features Dalila Wilson-Scott, executive vice president and chief diversity officer of Comcast sharing her perspective on corporate efforts to increase Black, Latinx, and Indigenous worker advancement over the past year. In the second clip, we’ll hear from Maurice Jones, CEO of OneTen, a new coalition of leading executives who are coming together to reskill, hire, and advance 1 million Black Americans over the next 10 years. To listen to the full sessions from this episode, visit jff.org/horizons

Presented by Jobs for the Future (JFF), the Horizons podcast series shares highlights from JFF’s annual Horizons summit. Listen and learn along with host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield, JFF’s vice president for workforce innovation, as we revisit key themes from the conference like building connection, diversity, and innovation in the workforce. Look for new episodes of Horizons every month and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. To listen to the full sessions from this episode, visit jff.org/horizons