Charles Koch Foundation

Couldn't make it to the Human Potential Summit? We got you covered! Check out our key takeaways from the summit in Denver. This gathering included employers, education innovation drivers, thought leaders, and policymakers all focused on how to transform the future of work based on individual potential. We were so excited by the conversations that were started there and the movement that is now building. “This is what the Human Potential Summit is all about: seeing the gifts, skills, strengths, creativity, and experience that people possess and empowering them to contribute in new and meaningful ways.” - Ryan Stowers https://lnkd.in/e_YRpRbj

“I didn’t know what I was doing [college] for.” That’s what Benjamin Moreno told The Wall Street Journal’s Rachel Wolfe. Moreno is not the only twenty-something who has uttered these words. Many students are going through the motions of school, not connecting their curriculum to any sense of purpose.   Aimlessness in school can result in aimlessness at work. When half of all Americans want to quit their jobs, something is wrong. As Richard Reeves told Wolfe, young men like Moreno want to know their capabilities are valued by their families and society. They need more than a paycheck — they need purpose.   Part of the problem is that, for generations, we have told young people the only work that matters comes after earning a four-year degree. Collectively, we have diminished the value of shop floor workers, information technology technicians, homebuilders, and mechanics.    College leads to fulfilling careers for some, but it is not the only path.    Organizations like SkillUp Coalition, Per Scholas, Make It Movement, HBI (Home Builders Institute), and unCommon Construction connect individuals to non-degree paths that leverage each person’s interests and aptitudes, and lead to fulfilling careers.    The good news is Moreno told Wolfe, “I want to try again. And I want it to be for me.”    To help individuals like Moreno, employers, educators, philanthropists, and solution providers need to partner to build other pathways that give young people the chance to discover and develop the skills they need to enjoy a career where their contributions matter.    https://lnkd.in/gdG-bCjy

Human Potential Summit was a hit… - “Chief Skills Officer” presentation from Interplay Learning CEO Doug Donovan with Eric Helland (MasTec) and Jeff Rodenberg (The Walsh Group - Walsh Construction & Archer Western ) - 600+ attendees thanks to huge sponsorships from Stand Together and the Charles Koch Foundation (pic with Brennan Brown ) - Idea Marketplace post-it note exercise on “Which organizational capabilities will best evidence a world-class skills development lifecycle in 2030?” Care about the skilled workforce and want to make an impact in your organization? We are conducting this post-it exercise and much more at several upcoming events around the country - www.iti.com/tour

You gone know my name by the grind I put in.. #HumanPotentialSummit

Be sure to pre-order your copy of Job Moves by our partner Michael Horn!

"At a basic level, the Center helps us look into tough questions without allowing us to talk past each other. We really have to understand what the person sitting across from us is talking about. We have to contemplate their arguments. St. Anselm and the Center provide a kind of refuge from politicization while still allowing us to engage in politics. It’s really been a blessing to be here." The mission of St. Anselm Center for Ethics in Society is to improve collaboration among individuals, organizations, and communities to address important societal challenges. It achieves this mission by fostering the values of hospitality, humility, listening, learning, community, and a respect for the common good. The Center has served nearly 2,000 students, including Michael “Mac” Connors, a politics major and a member of St. Anselm’s class of 2025. We spoke to Mac about what drew him to this program and his experience with the Center. https://lnkd.in/eC8gf4Ms

And that’s a wrap from Denver! On the final day of the Human Potential Summit, Byron Auguste of Opportunity@Work challenged attendees to shift from being aware of every person's potential in the workplace to taking action and leveraging that potential. We also heard from Michael Horn on how employers can rethink talent development and retention. Aneesh Raman and Maria Flynn also discussed how AI presents us with a unique opportunity to be more human and unleash our contribution in the workplace. As Aneesh said, “Companies are going to win because of talent, not technology.” The momentum from this summit will only grow. The connections established and the partnerships that were born this week are just getting started. We look forward to what comes next because transformation can only happen collectively. “The HOW depends on working together.” – Byron Auguste #HumanPotentialSummit

“Not all of us are blessed with the same talents and gifts. But that’s a good thing because not all of us want the same things…. We’re trying to create an environment where we can explore the unique talents and gifts we each have.” – Scott Pulsipher On day two of the Human Potential Summit, we heard from thought leaders like Scott Pulsipher of Western Governors University on rethinking what higher education is all about, Roy Spence of the Make It Movement on the power of marketing and individual purpose, Colorado Governor Jared Polis on the steps his state and several others are taking to bring the skills-first movement to the public sector, and Dr. Angela Jackson on how employers who seek to establish win-win relationships with their hires and employees are the ones finding lasting success. The day also featured interactive sessions, during which summit attendees were challenged to co-create, problem-solve, and share ideas about rethinking work and learning practices. Business leaders, training providers, entrepreneurs, and foundations were encouraged to collaborate and then take action in the weeks and months after the gathering. As Martin Ritter said when asked what his advice was for other companies considering adopting a new approach to their talent, “First, just do it. We built the plane while we were flying – don’t overthink it. It’s going to be rewarding emotionally and financially, and it’s something that has a big impact on society. Secondly, think big. Not in terms of size – but, if you’re thinking just in terms of your company, that might not be the right approach. It’s part of an ecosystem, and we all have to be part of it.” #HumanPotentialSummit

🔜 Time is ticking, and applications will close this week! Apply for Round Four of the Catalyze Challenge today! Does your organization offer transformative career-connected learning solutions for learners aged 11-22? Are you advancing opportunities for young adolescents to explore careers or activating industry partnerships? Does your solution or program have demonstrated impact and is ready to scale? If your answer is yes, hit the link below for more information and apply for the challenge today. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eG9NYKzr

“Taylor McLemore has asked us to be vulnerable, innovative, and collaborative. If we respond to that challenge, this summit won’t just be informative, it will be the beginning of something transformative. Let’s make it so.” – Ryan Stowers On the first night of the Human Potential Summit, we heard the vision for this gathering: an opportunity to collaborate and rethink how our society views individual potential and work. The critically essential conversations that will take place over the next three days between employers, educators, innovators, thought leaders, policymakers, and philanthropies will help empower people and unlock human flourishing through meaningful work. As Taylor McLemore said in his opening remarks, “The world doesn’t need another conference… But here’s what we do need: a movement.” #HumanPotentialSummit