Agenda

Mar 26, 2025 8:00 AM

Networking Breakfast and Registration

Mar 26, 2025 9:00 AM

Opening Plenary. Connecting the Global Skills Economy

Kick off with HolonIQ's signature interactive and data-driven approach to the global skills landscape. This opening plenary from HolonIQ envisions the future of education and workforce development, highlighting the groundbreaking trends, transformative technologies, and innovative models reshaping global talent pipelines and unlocking new possibilities for equitable growth.

Maria Spies

Co-Founder at HolonIQ & Chief Innovation Officer at QS

Patrick Brothers

Co-Founder at HolonIQ & Executive Director at QS

Mar 26, 2025 9:45 AM

Opening Panel: The Future of Skills and Economic Opportunity—Breaking Barriers, Unlocking Growth

This high impact opening panel explores the U.S. skills economy, identifying key barriers, opportunities, and strategies to strengthen workforce resilience and economic mobility. With deep expertise in higher education, workforce and education policy, and philanthropic investment, our panelists will highlight key drivers for advancing skills-based pathways. Moderated by Maura Pally (Blackstone Charitable Foundation), this conversation brings together Maria Flynn (Jobs for the Future), Ted Mitchell (ACE), and Julie Lammers (ASA) to set the stage for the day’s deep dives and workshops, providing a strategic foundation for action.

Julie Lammers

Executive Vice President at American Student Assistance

Maria Flynn

President and CEO at Jobs for the Future

Ted Mitchell

President at the American Council on Education

Maura Pally

Executive Director at Blackstone Charitable Foundation

Mar 26, 2025 10:30 AM

Networking Break

Mar 26, 2025 11:00 AM

Advanced Manufacturing Skills Leadership Council

Invitation Only and co-hosted by inSpring

Mar 26, 2025 11:00 AM

Policy Landscape for Skills-First Initiatives

This panel will explore the evolving policy landscape for skills-first initiatives, focusing on how federal, state, and institutional policies can support the transition to a skills-based labor market. Panelists will discuss policy levers that enable skills-based hiring, credentialing infrastructure, and workforce development strategies that align education and training opportunities with the demands of new and emerging industries.

Karishma Merchant

Associate Vice President, Policy & Advocacy at Jobs for the Future

Taylor Maag

Director of Workforce Policy at Jobs for the Future

Amanda Winters

Program Director of Postsecondary Education at National Governors Association

Brianna McCain

Vice President at JPMorganChase Policy Center

Mar 26, 2025 11:00 AM

Workshop. Enhancing the Value and Recognition of Short-term Credentials.

In today's rapidly evolving job market, the demand for short term credentials has grown significantly. These credentials offer a flexible and efficient pathway for individuals to gain specific skills and knowledge required by employers. However, ensuring the quality and value of these credentials is paramount. This workshop aims to explore the quality indicators necessary for short term credentials to be recognized and trusted by employers, to help educational solution providers articulate the value of their programs and to help learners find and evaluate the program or paths that are right for them. Join American Student Assistance (ASA) and Jobs for the Future (JFF) in a workshop that promises to be a valuable opportunity for all stakeholders involved in the creation, implementation, and recognition of short-term credentials. By focusing on quality indicators, we aim to enhance the value and trust in these credentials, ultimately benefiting learners, employers, and the broader educational landscape. This session will examine practical approaches to filling these gaps without a national dataset. It will explore what a ""good enough"" solution could look like, enabling learners to access and understand available credential and program data.

Judy Goldstein

SVP Marketing and Communications at American Student Assistance (ASA)

Jeff Bulanda

VP The ASA Career Navigation Center at Jobs for the Future (JFF)

Mar 26, 2025 11:00 AM

Workshop. PartyRock Your Learning: Hands-On AI for Industry-Ready Skills

Discover how AWS is transforming skilling through hands-on learning experiences. In this dynamic session, you will learn about emerging AI trends in education and see real examples of how students are gaining industry-ready skills through AWS-powered university programs. Experience building your own generative AI application using AWS PartyRock in a hands-on workshop.

Mike Erickson

Technical Training Specialist - Global Learner Engagement at Amazon Web Services

Tekla Moquin

Skills to Jobs Leader at Amazon Web Services

Alli Matz

Senior Business Development Manager at Amazon Web Services

Mar 26, 2025 11:30 AM

The Workforce Equation: Balancing Skills Development and Job Requirements

How do employers know what skills their workforce has—and identify what’s missing? Balancing skills development with job requirements is an ongoing challenge, and this panel will explore strategies for identifying, measuring, verifying, validating and developing workforce skills that meet current and future demand. Leaders from nonprofits, corporations, and foundations will share how they are developing talent, supporting skill growth and alignment, and ensuring workforce development goes beyond buzzwords to real impact.

Kennon Harrison

Head of Corporate Workforce Partnerships at ETS

Kristina Francis

Executive Director at JFFLabs

Matt Gee

Director, U.S. Programs Data at Gates Foundation

Simone Rodriguez

Chief of Staff to the CEO at Cognizant

Mar 26, 2025 12:00 PM

Future of International Education & Global Talent Pipelines

As regions, nations, states and cities around the world compete for economic leadership in the 21st century, access to high-skilled talent has become a defining factor in global competitiveness. Explore the future of international education and how countries are leveraging global talent mobility to secure the workforce needed for STEM, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and other critical industries. International education has played a pivotal role in turbocharging economic growth in the U.S. and other leading nations, driving innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. As the demand for high-skilled workers accelerates, countries must rethink policies on education, immigration, and workforce development to attract and retain top global talent.

Dominic Berardi

Vice President, Government Affairs at Shorelight

Rebecca Peters Corley

Director, Semiconductor Public Policy at Samsung Electronics America

Matteo Quacquarelli

Vice President, Strategy & Analytics at QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Mar 26, 2025 12:30 PM

Networking Lunch

Mar 26, 2025 1:30 PM

Closing the Health Skills Gap: Innovating for Inclusive Care

This session addresses the critical skills gaps impacting healthcare globally. Learn how innovative training methods, digital learning platforms, and cross-sector collaboration can equip healthcare workers to provide accessible and equitable care for all communities.

Geoffrey Roche

Director, Workforce Development, North America at Siemens Healthineers

Olga Yakusheva

Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Chris Hoehn-Saric

Co-Founder at inSpring

Mar 26, 2025 1:30 PM

Workshop. From Degrees to Skills: How WGU Scales Skills-Based Education for Workforce-Ready Graduates

Institutions must evolve to align credentials with workforce needs as education shifts toward a skills-first model. Join Western Governors University (WGU), the nation’s largest university, for this interactive session that explores scalable strategies for integrating skills-based learning, driving institutional transformation, and strengthening career pathways. Engage in collaborative discussions and leave with actionable insights to future-proof learning and student success.

Sarah DeMark

Vice Provost, Academic Portfolio at Western Governors University

Samantha Coen

Senior Manager, Skills Architecture at Western Governors University

Angela Hernandez

Senior Lead Skills Architect at Western Governors University

Charlotte Morrissey

Senior Lead Skills Architect at Western Governors University

Mar 26, 2025 1:30 PM

World Future Skills Index

This session will explore the findings of the QS World Future Skills Index 2025, with a spotlight on the US. It will examine how education systems, job markets, and economies worldwide are adapting to future skills demands, and what it takes for countries to drive sustainable, skills-led economic growth.

Matteo Quacquarelli

Vice President, Strategy & Analytics at QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Mar 26, 2025 2:00 PM

Green Skills. Education for Climate Action

Enabled by the World Bank’s report "Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action", this session explores how education can be a powerful driver of climate action. Join us for a discussion on embedding green skills into curricula across education, and how institutions can both address climate challenges and build innovations for resilient futures.

Alejandro Caballero

Principal Education Specialist at IFC The World Bank Group

Valeria Vecchi

Investment Officer - Global Health & Education at IFC The World Bank Group

Mar 26, 2025 2:30 PM

Building a Workforce That Works: Strategies to Align Education, Credentials, and Employer Needs

Hear from workforce development leaders across US states about how economic development is changing, the critical role of talent as a business attraction asset, and how states are investing in the next generation of workers as a pathway to individual and collective economic mobility.

Nick Moore

Director, Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Transformation at State of Alabama

Peter Beard

Vice President, Policy and Programs at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Stacy Caldwell

President and CEO at CredLens

Lane McBride

Managing Director & Senior Partner at BCG

Mar 26, 2025 2:30 PM

Health Skills Leadership Council

Invitation Only and co-hosted by inSpring

Mar 26, 2025 3:00 PM

Networking Break

Mar 26, 2025 3:30 PM

Manufacturing 4.0. Unlocking Human Potential in the Advanced Manufacturing Revolution

Explore how advanced manufacturing is reshaping workforce skills, emphasizing the synergy between human innovation and automation. Industry leaders discuss training strategies, emerging roles, and collaborative approaches to maximize human potential in technology-driven manufacturing.

Anshul Sonak

Head and Global Director - Intel Digital Readiness Programs at Intel

Darby Westfall

Founder at Leapfrog Systems

Deontée Gordon

CEO at TechBirmingham

Imran Oomer

Co-Founder at inSpring

Mar 26, 2025 3:30 PM

Workshop. Career Readiness Reimagined: A Case Study in Leveraging AI for Student Agency

The widening gap between higher education and the modern job market demands a proactive, data-driven approach to student career readiness. Join 1Mentor and the University of Virginia as they provide a deep dive into UVA's CareerConnect initiative to demonstrate how institutions can use real-time data to empower students in identifying, developing, and articulating their skills, thereby better aligning academic experience and career aspirations. Powerful new data-driven tools for advisors, department chairs, and deans will also be highlighted. Participants will examine key challenges, explore actionable solutions, participate in a peer-led dialogue, and walk away with a concrete plan for their own institutions.

Kemi Jona

Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation at University of Virginia

Martín Serrano

Director of Product Innovation at 1Mentor by QS

Esteban Veintimilla

Director of Partnerships at 1Mentor by QS

Mar 26, 2025 3:30 PM

Workshop: From Classrooms to Careers - OpenAI Education in Action

Join OpenAI for a hands-on 90-minute workshop designed for education leaders seeking to harness AI to redefine learning and workforce preparation. Explore how custom AI solutions are reshaping how college communities engage with knowledge, and gain insights from a university professor pioneering AI-driven transformation in business education. Leave the session with concrete strategies to drive AI adoption, enhance student outcomes, and position your institution for the future.

Angela Virtu

Professorial Lecturer, Information Technology and Analytics at American University

Keelan Schule

Solutions Engineer at OpenAI

Siya Raj Purohit

Education GTM at OpenAI

Mar 26, 2025 4:00 PM

India and the Global Skills Economy, Challenges and Opportunities

India is central to the global skills economy, producing one-third of the world’s STEM graduates annually. With 1.4 billion people and a dynamic education market, it is poised to address talent shortages while driving innovation and growth. This session explores the flow of Indian talent and its impact on reshaping industries worldwide, visualizing key data and insights in a high-impact, fast-paced executive briefing. The session will examine challenges and opportunities in upskilling and re-skilling India’s workforce over the next 5–10 years, focusing on AI, digital skills, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and other strategic and critical industries. By addressing gaps and fostering innovation, India can lead in skills development and shape the future of work globally.

Patrick Brothers

Co-Founder at HolonIQ & Executive Director at QS

Mar 26, 2025 4:30 PM

Advancing Responsible AI: A Global Consortium for Ethical AI Adoption in Higher Education

The Responsible AI Consortium (RAIC) is a global initiative, connecting a network of forward-thinking institutions dedicated to promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Higher Education. It serves as a platform for collaboration among universities and business schools worldwide, fostering thought leadership, practice-sharing, and research on AI integration in higher education. Join this session to hear from founding members about the initiatives and impact of the Consortium.

Nunzio Quacquarelli

President at QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Enzo Peruffo

Dean at Luiss Graduate School & Professor of Strategy at Luiss Guido Carli University

Maria Spies

Co-Founder at HolonIQ & Chief Innovation Officer at QS

Mar 26, 2025 5:00 PM

Closing Networking Reception

Future of Skills & Work Forum

Industry Skills Leadership Councils

Future of Skills & Work Forum

Industry Skills Leadership Councils

Early Career Navigation Roundtable

Tuesday, March 25

Wednesday, March 26

Thursday, March 27

Join Leaders from Industry and Higher Education