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
62 Reaching for the STARs in Celebration of Workforce Development Month
ACT celebrates Workforce Development Month (https://www.nawdp.org/what-is-workforce-development/workforce-development-month/) with a powerful keynote from LaShana Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lashanalewis/)—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.
Connect with LaShana Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lashanalewis/)
More STARs Stories with Opportunity@Work (https://www.opportunityatwork.org/star-stories)
Rural STARs Joint Research Partnership with ACT and Opportunity@Work (https://site.act.org/rural-stars)
Webinar from ACT’s Center for Impact in Learning featuring LaShana Lewis (https://site.act.org/act-equity-speaker-february-2025)
The Next ACT Summit at Nashville (https://site.act.org/act-summit)
Workforce Development Month Resources from NAWDP (https://www.nawdp.org/what-is-workforce-development/workforce-development-month/)
13 Aug 2025
61 - Employer Engagement for a Skills First Future
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 Pathway to Work
Issac on Linked In (https://www.linkedin.com/in/agbeshie-noye)
Resources from Episode 61
Show Notes and Transcript for Episode 61 (https://actinc.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/300000000Wu5/a/Qm000004wC3J/YUbf_AcgQKmop5Qkdu3wbqq.nnb1DmoPvYtDgNpNd0E)
Skills First Future Resources from SHRM (https://www.shrm.org/foundation/skills-first-future)
ACT Workforce Solutions (https://www.act.org/workforce)
ACT Work Ready Communities (https://www.workreadycommunities.org/)
(https://www.workreadycommunities.org/)
17 Jun 2025
60 - Put It Where the Goats Can Get It - How to Simplify AI in Workforce Development
Host Jasen Jones interviews DJ Burrel, Joshua Cox, and Davin Jackson about simplifying AI's role in workforce development, breaking down complex topics to provide practical insights for navigating the future of work.
Who has been a guest on Ready for Work
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
DJ Burrel
Joshua Cox
Davin Jackson
Heidi Black
Dakota Pawlicki
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
1,131,350
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 68 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
73
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
68
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