You’re invited to the live launch of 'The Paper Ceiling'

STARs are workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes, such as community college, partial college completion, military service, workforce training programs, skills bootcamps, and learning on the job, rather than through a bachelor’s degree.

Millions of STARs with in-demand skills and experience are too often overlooked for higher-wage jobs. They don’t lack the skills, they just lack a bachelor’s degree. This can leave companies stuck on a talent treadmill, struggling to build a reliable pipeline of skilled workers. Natural allies separated by an insidious and invisible barrier.

Now that barrier has a name: “the paper ceiling.”

On Sept. 21, join me for launch of a new national campaign - led by Opportunity@Work and the Ad Council along with a coalition of 30+ partners - that will cover those topics, and more, as we explore how to shatter the "no degree means no skill" myth as we elevate the 70+ million STARs in the U.S.

I’ll be joined by companies, policymakers, talent developers, workforce advocates and STARs themselves that will discuss their unique perspectives.

At this event you’ll hear from:

• Byron Auguste, CEO and Co-founder, Opportunity@Work
• Bertina Ceccarelli, CEO, NPower
• Papia Debroy, SVP of Insights, Opportunity@Work
• Meg Garlinghouse, Vice President, Social Impact, LinkedIn
• Carla Grant Pickens, CDIO, IBM
• Jesse Haines, Director, Grow with Google
• LaShana Lewis, L.M. Lewis Consulting
• Steve Lohr, Reporter, New York Times
• Kathleen McLaughlin, Chief Sustainability Officer at Walmart and President of The Walmart Foundation
• Kenny Ngyuen, CEO and Co-founder, ThreeSixtyEight
• Lisa Sherman, President and CEO, Ad Council
• Secretary Marty Walsh, U.S. Department of Labor

"The Paper Ceiling" campaign aims to shatter the myth that no degree means no skill as it inspires companies to champion skills-based hiring. RSVP now.

I hope to see you there.

All the best,

Byron