Common Group

If you're tracking my posts here, you know that I love to go to conferences and SXSW EDU is at the top of the list for many reasons. But I realize not everyone can make it to Austin in early March. That's why I am delighted to share our Live March Madness Panel from the Podcast Stage @ SXSW EDU as the latest episode of Trending In Ed. ??????? Links to the episode are in the Comments. ?????? I was joined by a powerhouse panel: Mike Yates from The Reinvention Lab at Teach For America brings the fire on #AI, the evolving role of #socialmedia and #NewMedia, and some amazing #storytelling and #audienceengagement for the pod. Mike's work with AI and his surprising takes elevate the conversation. Don't miss it. Jennifer Stredler the Managing Director at Common Group provides her expertise on the vital connections between education, workforce development, and talent strategy. Jenn's perspectives on the future of #CTE and the changing dynamics of #employerengagement are paradigm shifting. Absolutely worth tracking what she and Common Group are doing. Julia Shatilo, the Programming Director at SXSW EDU, offers a unique lens on how these trends are shaping the conference itself and the broader education ecosystem. Julia's insights into the evolution of conversations around AI, #highered, and #GenZ were truly illuminating. We tackled some of the biggest questions in education today: How can we leverage AI for good while addressing ethical concerns? What does the future of higher education look like, and how do we ensure equitable access and opportunity? How do we prepare learners for the future of work in an age of rapid technological change? How do we learn to flexibly flip to different mental models? Thx Ivy for kicking off Q&A! This is what we do at Trending in Ed and Palmer Media. We're committed to bringing you insights from the leading edge of education, technology, and the future of work. We help find voice in complex times. Listen to the full episode, and be sure to subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts! Special Thanks to the SXSW EDU team: Greg Rosenbaum Liz Hillman Stein Val Link and Kayla Meyers. Love to my fam for the support: Robin Naughton, PhD, Dana Gastich French, UpRiver Education and Matthew! Big ups to Dana Stephenson Dr. Jenny Nash Lindsay Whorton for the time and their insights. Recording one-on-one interviews with you definitely helped me plug into the #zeitgeist Anne-Laure Le Cunff, PhD and Jay Flores brought genuine insight, magic, and science in their sessions. I need to get each of you on future episodes! Speaking of which, Kumar - I look forward to recording our rain-check. You too, Ronald - we need to flex that podcasting voice! I loved being at #SXSW and am looking forward to bringing this energy to ASU+GSV Summit and THE AI SHOW @ ASU+GSV in San Diego in April. Lmk if you're out there - we can connect. #SXSWEDU #education #edtech #AI #futureofwork #podcast #TrendinginEd #educationtrends

??? There are 2???opportunities to join Catalyze at SXSW EDU 2025! Join other educators, innovators, organizations and funders to advance career-connected learning. Gain insights into successful programs, share ideas and learn from Catalyze’s director, Dr. Michelle Cheang, Ed.D. (she/her/ella). We're looking forward to building a strong learning community together. Find all the details and save the dates at the link in the comments below. ?? #SXSWEDU #Austin #careerconnectedlearning #skills #education

I'm headed to SXSW EDU this morning and am so looking forward to representing Common Group as part of the Trending in Education's 5th Annual March Madness of Learning Trends 2025 podcast along with Mike Yates, Julia Shatilo, and Mike Palmer. We'll be talking all about the latest topics in education and the future of work. If you're at SXSW EDU, come join us at 4pm CT today (3/3) at the Hilton (Salon A). I also can't wait to experience the various Catalyze sessions this week, and to spend time with Catalyze grantees, funders, and members of the program's community; there's much to celebrate and share from the program's work in Career-Connected Learning! Excited to see old friends and new as we kick-off this spring's workforce/ education conference circuit!

Fantastic summary of What Works in Workforce from New America. TLDR knowing time and attention is especially scarce at the moment: ?? Career navigation is more impactful than training within the workforce system (let that sink in for a moment) ?? Big difference between "in-demand jobs" and those that create opportunity for people (in-demand is often code for low wage, no progression) ???? Apprenticeship are still the gold standard but stymied by limited demand from industry and support from policy makers ??High quality sector strategies (i.e. clusters within one industry) produce high quality outcomes (shout out to the OG Project QUEST, Inc.) ?? Career pathways and youth apprenticeship showing promise but have yet to gather evidence at scale. Shout out to Arnold Ventures for funding this, needs to be read by as many people as possible.

Join Danielle Kendall and myself at the 2025 Strategic School Staffing Summit as we share our early findings from Common Group's research on technology barriers and enablers to strategic school staffing. We're excited to get participant 1) input on the tricky tech issues that come with traditional school models that are amplified when implementing strategic staffing solutions and 2) feedback and recommendations for potential solution prototypes. Join us Feb. 5–6 for a virtual event hosted by Arizona State University’s Next Education Workforce?, you’ll hear from nearly 100 speakers, engage with other leaders building, researching, and supporting team-based models, and explore real-world examples of what it takes to scale strategic school staffing nationwide. Be part of the movement to improve working conditions for educators and contribute to stronger outcomes for students. Register today at https://lnkd.in/grqSWGbi

At the Human Potential Summit, I had the honor of facilitating a panel discussion featuring Lisa (Hunt) Schumacher, Director of Education Strategies & Workforce Policy at McDonald's, and Brian Aquart, Vice President of Workforce & Community Education, at Northwell Health. Both brought a wealth of experience and vulnerability to the table, sharing their insights on building sustainable talent pipelines and the real challenges they navigate along the way. Here are my takeaways: ? ?? Understand Operational Realities: Workforce programs must recognize the unique constraints of their business models, and those of their employer partners, and design programs that align with these realities for long-term success.? ?? Carry Lessons Forward: Even when programs don’t succeed, they provide valuable insights and allow teams to redirect resources toward strategies with greater potential impact. ??Strong Alignment Across Stakeholders: Successful partnerships often start with a shared vision at the leadership level, but alignment at the top must extend throughout all layers of partnering organizations for efforts to thrive.? ?? Flexibility is Sustainability: Effective programs must be nimble enough to adapt to the constraints of multiple stakeholders, and partners who can co-create and iterate together are more likely to succeed. Read the full article for more insight into these powerful lessons that can help create more sustainable and impactful workforce solutions. #futureofwork #humanpotentialsummit #opportunitygap

The Northwell School of Health Sciences in Queens has begun accepting applications for its inaugural class. With Bloomberg Philanthropies and NYC Department of Education, we’re reimagining healthcare education. We’re investing in today’s young people by creating more equitable pathways to healthcare careers and leadership roles, building a system that provides health and wellness in NYC and every community we serve. Learn more about the application process below. Enrollment ends December 4. Northwell Health