Ready for Work – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Ready for Work

Jasen Jones, ACT Work Ready Communities

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/37d. Total Eps: 64

We all have a stake in making our communities more competitive. Closing the skills gap and driving economic growth starts at the grassroots level. Tune into the Ready for Work podcast for a discussion about strengthening the workforce ecosystem. Make ACT Ready for Work your go-to source for ideas to revolutionize your workforce. Provided by the experts. Curated by ACT. Learn more at act.org/readyforworkpodcast

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Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - careers
13/10/2025
#75

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://www.workreadycommunities.org/
50 shares
https://www.act.org/workforce
21 shares
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/act-events/workforce-summit.html
15 shares

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/act-workforce/
9 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-lefebvre-9647868/
5 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamluskcoppage/
3 shares

https://twitter.com/ACT
12 shares
https://twitter.com/JasenCJones
11 shares
https://twitter.com/marylefebuary
2 shares

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RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 43%

Publication history

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62 Reaching for the STARs in Celebration of Workforce Development Month

Episode 62

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 • Duration 22:24

ACT celebrates Workforce Development Month with a powerful keynote from LaShana Lewis—technologist, advocate, and Chair of Opportunity@Work’s Stars Advisory Council. Recorded live at ACT’s Atlanta Summit, LaShana shares her personal journey and the systemic barriers faced by STARs—those Skilled Through Alternative Routes. Her story highlights the urgent need for inclusive, skills-based hiring and the role of ACT’s Work Ready Communities in building skills-driven pathways.

Workforce Development Month Resources from NAWDP

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61 - Employer Engagement for a Skills First Future

Episode 59

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 • Duration 26:39

Episode 61 features Isaac Agbeshie-Noye from the SHRM Foundation, who discusses the Skills First Future initiative and its role in helping employers adopt skills-drivenpractices and expand nationwide opportunities through Learning and Employment Records (LERs). The conversation explores common myths surrounding skills-firsthiring, the challenges employers encounter, and strategies to overcome them.

Isaac highlights key tools available at SkillsFirstFuture.org, including the Skills Action Planner and SHRM’s new specialty credential. The episode provides practical insights for HR professionals and their collaborations with educators and workforce leaders aiming to build a high-performing talent ecosystem. Listeners will discover how small adjustments can lead to significant outcomes and why the shift toward skills-first hiring is gaining momentum across various industries.

Voices of Excellence:

Isaac Agbeshie-Noye, Program Director

SHRM Foundation

Widening Pathways to Work

Issac on Linked In

Resources from Episode 61

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52 - Transforming Data to Destiny for Life-Changing Career Guidance

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 • Duration 12:13

Richard Portelance from EdGate discusses the importance of data in career planning and the need for a lifelong learning repository to support modern pathways with better integrations of profile details. Identifying the fractured nature of current career tools and the necessity for better visualization of career pathways, Richard highlights the role of educational standards and AI’s potential with machine learning to map career pathways efficiently, empowering both learners and advisors.

Richard Portelance, EdGate
Richard on LinkedIn
Show Notes and Resources (PDF)⁠
⁠ACT Work Ready Communities⁠
⁠ACT Workforce Solutions
⁠2024 ACT Workforce Summit
⁠Tear the Paper Ceiling Storytelling Campaign
⁠Inquire on WRC Storytelling and Poster Exhibition

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51 - From Disparity to Prosperity - Transforming Minnesota’s Workforce

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 • Duration 14:40

Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at Real Time Talent, discusses Minnesota’s educational and workforce challenges. Despite high labor force participation, Minnesota faces significant racial disparities in education and a talent shortage. Olson highlights the misalignment between workforce needs and available skills, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships and data-driven solutions. Real Time Talent collaborates with various stakeholders to address these issues, focusing on aligning educational programs with labor market demands and promoting equity. Olson underscores the importance of employer involvement in creating effective workforce solutions and the role of Real Time Talent in facilitating these efforts.

Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at Real Time Talent
Erin Olson on LinkedIn
Show Notes and Resources (PDF)
ACT Work Ready Communities
ACT Workforce Solutions
2024 ACT Workforce Summit
Tear the Paper Ceiling Storytelling Campaign
Inquire on WRC Storytelling and Poster Exhibition

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50 - Work Readiness at the Speed of Motlow

Episode 50

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 • Duration 15:54

Known for his innovative approach to education, Dr. Michael Torrence of Motlow State Community College in Tennessee is a champion of emerging technologies, workforce development, and community engagement. He's passionate about creating scalable opportunities for students, fostering relationships with industries, and preparing the next generation for the future. From transforming homeless students into successful professionals, to pioneering digital credentialing systems, Dr. Torrence shares his dynamic FRED Talk from the ACT Workforce Summit stage.

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49 Employer-Driven Universities with Innovative Solutions for Adult Learners

Episode 49

Monday, June 24, 2024 • Duration 12:28

In Episode 49 of Ready for Work, we continue our series of FRED Talks from the ACT Workforce Summit. Tracy Robinson from the University of Memphis shares her experience working with adult learners and the challenges they face in balancing education with other life responsibilities. The University of Memphis has made significant changes to accommodate adult learners, just in time for employer giant FedEx to seek the university’s help. It’s a successful model that the University replicated with the City of Memphis, a regional hospital chain, and Nike, among others.

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48 Storytelling Accelerates Workforce and Economic Development

Episode 48

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 • Duration 13:16

Will Coppage is a creative community developer. From the main stage of the ACT Workforce Summit, Will helped us explore the concept of wonder in art and its power to draw us in repeatedly. Will shows us how this principle applies to community development, emphasizing the importance of fostering creativity, maintaining a positive community appearance, and promoting workforce skills. The episode concludes with exciting news of a storytelling event at the 2024 Workforce Summit in Atlanta.

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47 - Excellence in the Fusion of Economic and Workforce Development

Episode 47

Thursday, March 7, 2024 • Duration 23:42

Episode 47 features Tonia Saunders, who leads both workforce and economic development in Lucas County, Ohio. This Work Ready Community (WRC) integrated the two disciplines, emphasizing the role of collaboration with neighboring counties to enhance the region's competitiveness. Tonia shares insights on tackling workforce challenges, leveraging community partnerships and innovative strategies to serve the manufacturing and healthcare industries effectively. The episode highlights the success of Lucas County's WRC initiative, showcasing how it drives economic growth and improves employment opportunities through targeted employer engagement and comprehensive support services. This conversation underlines the importance of synergy between workforce and economic development in achieving regional prosperity.

Voices of Excellence in Episode 47:

Tonia Saunders, Director

Work Ready Lucas County and Lucas County, Ohio Planning and Development

Show Notes and Resources:

46 - Braided Funding and Alignment for Program Sustainability

Episode 46

Thursday, February 29, 2024 • Duration 24:25

Braided funding and alignment of partnerships are key when creating sustainable systems and programs for your community. Lyndsie Gibbs and Alex Lovrien from Metropolitan Community College in Omaha join us on Episode 46 of Ready for Work. The partnerships across this Work Ready Community grew a small, data-driven, proof of concept into a $10M venture that has eliminated financial barriers so individuals can access quality training, education, and gainful employment. Listen in for best practices on braided funding, opportunities and obstacles, tips to get started, and lessons learned.

Voices of Excellence in Episode 46:

Lyndsie Gibbs, Director of Career Skills and Workforce

Metropolitan Community College of Omaha LinkedIn

Alex Lovrein, Director of Workforce Training

Metropolitan Community College of Omaha LinkedIn

Links and Resources:

45 - Skilled Through Alternative Routes - Why STARs Matter to the Workforce

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 • Duration 31:03

Join us in Episode 45 to discover a groundbreaking partnership between ACT and Opportunity at Work. Georgia Gillette, VP of Strategic Alliances at Opportunity at Work, shares insights on STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) and the Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign. Discover the challenges faced by STARs, the impact of hiring misperceptions, and the mission to bridge the gap between job opportunities and workforce skills. Explore the data-driven strategies, success stories, and a comprehensive playbook aimed at closing skill gaps with STARs.

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Ready for Work – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Ready for Work – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

LinkedIn67

Twitter16

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

LinkedIn67

Twitter16