Microsoft Elevate and the Rise of Credentialed AI Talent Worldwide with Naria Santa Lucia

9 snips

Sep 25, 2025

Naria Santa Lucia, General Manager of Elevate at Microsoft, oversees global education and skilling programs that have impacted over 100 million learners. She discusses how this unique moment in workforce development is driven by AI reshaping vital skills. Naria elaborates on the importance of credentials for equity in career pathways and how public-private partnerships scale AI education. She also shares insights on integrating AI tools in classrooms and the growing need for human skills alongside technological advancements.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

AI As A General-Purpose Workforce Shift

Generative AI is a general-purpose technology that will permeate work, learning, and daily life.
Microsoft views this as a once-in-a-generation workforce moment requiring broad access to skills.

INSIGHT

Seventy Percent Skill Change By 2030

LinkedIn predicts up to 70% of current job skills will change by 2030, largely due to AI.
That magnitude of change creates urgency to reskill broadly and equitably.

ADVICE

Use Public-Private Partnerships To Scale

Combine technology, skilling, and policy through partnerships to scale AI readiness.
Partner with governments and nonprofits to align incentives and reach communities at scale.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Send us a text

Naria Santa Lucia is the General Manager of Elevate at Microsoft, where she leads global education, workforce, and skilling programs that have already reached over 100 million learners. With 20+ years of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and international organizations, she has partnered with the UN, World Bank, and Ministries of Education worldwide to advance AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability skills.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why Microsoft calls this a once-in-a-generation workforce moment
How Elevate combines global reach with local trust
Which AI and human skills will define the future of work
Why credentials are central to equity and career pathways
How public-private partnerships drive scale and impact

✨ Episode Highlights
[00:02:04] Why this is a unique moment for workforce development
[00:04:24] 70% of job skills may change by 2030
[00:07:55] Inside Microsoft’s Elevate global skilling initiative
[00:10:14] Public-private partnerships to scale AI education
[00:13:29] Teachers using AI and Copilot in the classroom
[00:18:50] Designing for users, developers, and organizations
[00:24:21] Credentials as signals of AI readiness
[00:28:11] Teachers in Jordan earning pay bumps with AI certifications
[00:33:17] The rise of human skills in the AI era
[00:37:19] Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and organization

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow our Podcast on:
Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 30 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.