Ep 35 · Ryan Craig | Managing Director, Achieve Partners
Feb 13, 2025
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Ryan Craig, Managing Director at Achieve Partners and author of "Apprentice Nation", dives into the future of education and workforce alignment. He shares his journey from law to online learning, emphasizing the need for sustainable business models in education. Ryan tackles the disconnect between higher ed and the job market, spotlighting apprenticeships as vital pathways. He also explores how AI is transforming workforce expectations and the importance of skill-based training. Expect a mix of personal anecdotes and sharp insights!
Ryan Craig highlights the necessity of integrating work experience into education through apprenticeships to better align with employer demands.
His experiences with innovative educational ventures emphasize the critical importance of sustainable business models for lasting impact in the education sector.
Deep dives
Ryan Craig's Journey into Education
Ryan Craig's journey into the education sector began during his time at Yale, where he explored online education opportunities. His initial foray into this field emerged through a connection with media entrepreneur Peter Price, who was launching an online university at NBC in the late 1990s. Following this, Craig gained experience at Columbia University, where he helped establish Fathom, an initiative aimed at creating an online platform for universities. These early experiences instilled in him a passion for working within educational institutions and laid the groundwork for his future endeavors.
The Evolution of Online Education Investments
At Warburg Pincus, Craig led the firm’s education investment arm and was pivotal in the success of Bridgepoint Education, which launched during the rapid growth of online universities. He recognized the potential for for-profit universities to fill gaps in traditional education, but also learned lessons about the importance of having a viable business model. The challenges faced at Fathom, including its lack of a sustainable business strategy, highlighted that even innovative ideas can falter without solid operational foundations. These experiences shaped his investment approach, emphasizing the need for well-structured solutions in the education market.
Addressing Childhood Obesity through Wellspring
Craig founded Wellspring, a network of therapeutic boarding schools aimed at combating childhood obesity, focusing on integrated behavioral health interventions. This initiative combined evidence-based approaches in diet and physical activity while addressing underlying psychological issues through cognitive-behavioral therapy. He recognized the urgency of addressing childhood obesity during its early days and championed immersive programs that produced lasting change in participants' lives. The success of Wellspring underscored his commitment to creating impactful educational solutions that effectively addressed serious social issues.
Transforming the Pathway from Education to Employment
Craig's work at Achieve Partners aims to bridge the gap between education and employability, addressing the widening skills and experience gaps. Recognizing that traditional higher education is often misaligned with current job market demands, he emphasizes the importance of integrating work experience into educational programs. This approach involves utilizing apprenticeships and co-op programs that provide students with real-world experience before graduation, ensuring they are competitive in the job market. He advocates for a transformative shift in higher education to include work-integrated learning models that align with employer expectations and the evolving economy.
Entrepreneurs. Educators. Investors. Policymakers. Hosted by GSV Founder & CEO Michael Moe, Ed on the Edge covers the "who" and the "how" of driving change in the global education landscape.
Previously, Ryan led the Education & Training sector at Warburg Pincus. His prior experience in higher education was at Columbia University. Ryan also founded and built Wellspring, a national network of boarding schools and summer camps for overweight and obese children, adolescents, and young adults. He began his career at McKinsey & Co.
Ryan received bachelor's degrees summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University, and his law degree from the Yale Law School.
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