The Skills Imperative: Aligning Higher Ed with Workforce Realities

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Ben Nelson, Founder and CEO of Minerva Project; Chris Parrish, Co-Founder and President of Podium Education; Geordie Hyland, President and CEO of American College of Education; and Ebony Lee, Chief Strategy Officer of Kaplan North America. The conversation was moderated by Scott Fleming, Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

The panel explored how higher education must evolve to meet the rapidly shifting demands of the workforce. Panelists discussed how institutions are building stronger connections with industry partners and embracing innovations like microcredentials and experiential learning models to ensure graduates are prepared with the skills employers need most. The conversation highlighted real-world strategies for reshaping the higher ed-to-workforce pipeline, offering insights into how leaders are helping students transition successfully into a dynamic labor market.