Horizons

It’s time to realize The Power of Us. The theme of this year’s Horizons Summit is at the center of this season’s final podcast episode. JFF President and CEO, Maria Flynn joins host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield to preview this summer’s gathering of public and private stakeholders including some of the biggest names in education, business, activism and philanthropy. The Horizons 2024 Summit will be held July 22-23 in Washington, DC, a strategic choice in this election year to inspire participants to move beyond bipartisanship to discover mission-aligned policy together.

As the world celebrates Pride Month, Jobs for the Future continues to examine the challenges LGBTQ workers and learners, especially educators, face in joining and being a part of the U.S. workforce. In this episode of the Horizon’s podcast, host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield brings us back to the stage at SXSW EDU, to continue listening in on an enlightening, personal, and passionate conversation between JFF’s Taylor Sprague and special guest Philip McAdoo, a leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion educator and activist.

LGBTQ workers and learners are under attack around the United States despite decades of strides for civil rights, including a 2020 landmark Supreme Court ruling protecting Americans from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In this episode of the Horizon’s Podcast, host Tameshia Bridges Mansfield passes the microphone to her colleague Taylor Sprague, who welcomes special guest Philip McAdoo, a leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion educator and activist. Taylor and Philip share their own experiences fighting discrimination as they walk a tightrope between protecting themselves and staying in the fight for their own professional fulfillment and, for Philip, a calling to help children learn and grow.

Generation Z is reimagining a more equitable and empathetic workplace, challenging employers to redefine work for the benefit of all workers. In this episode of the Horizon’s Podcast, host Tameshia Bridges Manfield passes the microphone to Generation Z host, Alex Edgar, a youth civic engagement expert, and special guest DE&I thought leader Zoë Jenkins as they discuss the future of work from a Generation Z perspective. Edgar and Jenkins move the conversation forward from the stage at JFF’s annual Horizons Summit where moderator Megan Leohardt of Barrons is in conversation with two Generation Z superstars: Mayor Jaylen Smith and green entrepreneur Kristy Drutman.

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 KimbroughChief Economist, LinkedIn Richard ReevesNon-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 AllenMichael BastonJoseph Fuller 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, Lydia Logan, Vice President for Global Education and Workforce Development at IBMRyan 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, GoogleJukay Hsu, CEO and Founder, PursuitNitzan Pelman, CEO and Founder, Climb HireModerator: 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 IslandJulie Peller, Executive Director of Higher Learning AdvocatesJohn Katzman, CEO of NoodleMaurice Jones, CEO of OneTenBertina 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 FoundationLarry Miller, Former President & current Chairman, Nike BrandKen Kuwamaura, Talent Acquisition & Manager Effectiveness at Union Pacific RailroadSean 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: Miguel CardonaMarty WalshGina 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 VargasKim Hunter ReedRussell Lowery-HartMichael MatsudaLande AjoseKyle Hartung 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 MayCat WardGayatri AgnewScott GallowayMara LockowandtTyrone Roderick WilliamsJulius AustinLearn 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