Interview with Kathleen Elsig, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Development of GAN Global

Hey there! I am more than happy to announce that EIDOS is partnering up with GAN (Global Apprenticeship Network). To kick off this partnership, we had the pleasure of interviewing Kathleen Elsig, GAN’s Head of Strategic Partnerships and Development of GAN Global

GAN is a business-driven, multisector alliance determined to fuse education and employment through work-based learning for people, businesses and communities to continuously “future proof” their skills and competencies and thrive in a transforming world of work. 

We are really looking forward to our partnership and all the cool things we have on the works!

A- Let's start from the beginning: Tell us a little bit about GAN’s journey.

GAN was founded in 2013 by multinational companies and international organizations. Its genesis lies in the 2012 call to action by G20 governments and B20 leaders to create economic opportunities, especially for youth, by promoting work-readiness programs and apprenticeships.

Since GAN’s inception the world of work has started a historical and rapid transformation, driven by mega trends such as technology, demographics, globalization, climate change and urbanization. These trends affect the composition of the workforce, the nature of tasks, and the way we work.

The strategy review confirmed that we urgently need a new paradigm in the relationship between education and employment. For this reason, GAN is now focusing our effort on fusing education and employment by promoting work-based learning including apprenticeships as an effective pathway for business, governments and people of all ages to unlock the opportunities created by the transformations in the world of work.

Today or work revolves around four key pillars: Influencing business and government leaders through policy advocacy and communications, Peer 2 Peer learning to enable companies to share and learn together, strengthening the efforts of our 16 Networks around the world, Implementing projects together with our members and networks.

A- What do you think is the value for GAN of collaborating with organizations such as Eidos, that have youth empowering initiatives like that?

I think it’s a partnership made in heaven! GAN brings companies and international organizations to the discussion.

Through partnerships with organizations like Eidos that have many years of experience and dedicated programs that directly involve youth, we bring the important pieces of the puzzle together.

A- One of the biggest challenges we face regarding reskilling is how do we come up with solutions that can work internationally, cross platform and that can reach those who need them the most. What do you think is the key to tackle this?

I think there are two key approaches we need.

First, we need to put human communication at the center.

Through SkillingNow, we’re using social media tools to bring diverse groups together from all over the world to discuss and share their stories about skilling for a future of good work. We’re capturing their stories and experience in podcasts and thought-pieces that we publish through diverse online channels and on our website. I’m really excited that we’ll soon be launching a global twitter summit to support real-time debate, and an Instagram campaign together with a few of our partners that depicts in images and words “humans and our skills at work”.

Secondly, we need to build more multi-sector shared value partnerships that fuse the link between education and employment.

There are numerous companies, educational institutions, businesses, donors and non-profits that are working to build a stronger partnership between education and business. Quite a lot of this effort is taking place in silos. By joining forces, we can create a much larger and more sustainable transformation in the relationship between education and employment and empower many more people and businesses to unlock the new opportunities we’re seeing in the world of work, rather than be threatened by them.

A- Last but not least, we’re always looking for inspiration. What do you feel is GAN’ most important achievement?

As per the African proverb “Alone we go fast, together we go far”.

GAN’s greatest achievement is the organization’s ability to bring together diverse stakeholders at the global and local levels to promote work-based learning and apprenticeships as a viable pathway towards creating a more equitable and inclusive future for all segments of the workforce and fueling business sustainability in an era of transformative change.