Table of Contents
Key Points:
- David Steward, founder and chair of World Wide Technology, launched a major workforce readiness initiative to address the talent gap between urban and rural communities.
- The initiative, announced at the Horizons Summit, involves a collaboration with AstrumU, JFF Labs, and ETS Solutions to create verified skills profiles for individuals.
- The partnership will conduct outcomes-based research on career paths to provide insights and help employers and educational institutions address workforce gaps effectively.
David Steward, the founder and chair of World Wide Technology, has launched a workforce readiness initiative. This effort aims to address the talent gap between urban and rural communities.
Steward announced the initiative at the Horizons Summit in Washington, D.C., on July 23. This collaboration includes three major organizations: AstrumU, where Steward serves as chairman, JFF Labs, the innovation arm of Jobs for the Future, and ETS Solutions, a global education and talent solutions provider.
Bridging the urban-rural divide
The partnership focuses on creating equal opportunities in the workforce by verifying skills and enhancing readiness.
“Talent is distributed equally; opportunity is not. That is true in rural America and in our urban centers. This partnership reflects our joint pledge to make talent and opportunity equal for all and improve workforce readiness across the nation,” Steward stated.
He emphasized his personal commitment to the cause, saying, “To whom much is given, much is required.”
The three organizations will work together to develop verified skills profiles for individuals. This effort will bridge the gap between talent and job opportunities.
It aims to offer a clear view of today’s diverse talent pool, thus providing employers and educational institutions with the tools to address workforce gaps effectively.
Innovative approach to workforce development
The initiative also includes outcomes-based research on the career paths of individuals. This research will provide valuable insights into the current talent landscape.
It will help employers and educational institutions make more informed decisions, leading to a more robust and inclusive workforce.
Steward emphasized, “For me personally, this reflects my personal commitment to finding an eternal return on investment in the spirit of, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’”
By combining the expertise of AstrumU, JFF Labs, and ETS Solutions, this initiative aims to impact workforce readiness. It seeks to bridge the talent opportunity gap and ensure a more equitable distribution of opportunities across the nation.
Ranked as the world’s 233rd richest individual, Steward’s $10.4-billion net worth solidifies his standing as one of the world’s wealthiest Black billionaires and as the second-richest Black billionaire in the United States, trailing behind Smith, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, who is worth $11.4 billion at the time of drafting this report.
