Joining an Exponential Organization: My Journey with Reach University

In July 2024, I embarked on an exciting journey by joining Reach University . I immediately realized I had joined what can only be described as an Exponential Organization (ExO)—a type of organization designed for high growth, scalability, and massive impact. This concept, brilliantly defined by Salim Ismail , has resonated with me for many years. I first met Salim in 2009 at a gathering focused on innovation in education in San Francisco, and we’ve remained connected ever since. Although I haven’t explicitly sought his permission to borrow his terms, it’s abundantly clear that Reach embodies this approach, especially when considering its bold vision for the future of education.

At the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2023, Reach University President Joe E. Ross made a transformative pledge: Alongside nearly 30 bipartisan state, university, and employer partners, Reach committed to expanding 3 million apprenticeship degrees by 2035. For context, you can watch the full pledge here.

What Joe declared that day is what Salim would call a Massive Transformational Purpose (MTP). This bold and inspiring vision has the power to reshape industries, economies, and lives. This commitment to apprenticeship degrees has the potential to address critical workforce shortages while providing pathways for millions of Americans to gain affordable, job-embedded degrees. For a university to take on such a mission reflects not just an ambition but an understanding of how education and the workforce are interconnected in driving the future of our nation.

Salim’s principles of Exponential Organizations revolve around harnessing abundant resources, rapidly scaling solutions, and leveraging disruptive technologies to achieve unprecedented impact. Reach University embodies many of these traits—collaborating with diverse partners across sectors and states to create a scalable, inclusive model for education. What excites me most is how the university’s mission is not just about degree attainment but transforming communities and industries.

To truly achieve this MTP, Reach University has committed to principles that Salim himself would recognize: leveraging external networks and platforms, making data-driven decisions, and embedding innovation into every layer of the institution. We are creating pathways for employer partners to not only fill their workforce pipelines but to actively transform the lives of their employees through education, empowering them to become both students and practitioners within their jobs.

As Joe reminds us, this is a big responsibility for any university, and I am humbled to be part of this journey at such a pivotal time. Reach’s commitment to 3 million apprenticeship degrees by 2035 isn’t just a pledge—it’s a movement with the potential to reshape education and workforce development on a national scale.

As I reflect on the coming years, I can only say that I’m in awe of Reach’s Exponential Organization traits, its Massive Transformational Purpose, and the commitment from our partners, staff, and future candidates. Together, we are working toward a shared vision for the future of education and workforce transformation.

I look forward to years of work, collaborating with brilliant minds nationwide to ensure we fulfill this bold vision and help guide our nation toward a future where education is accessible, affordable, and embedded in the workforce.

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