It's no secret that today's workforce is experiencing a gap in the talent pipeline and in-demand skill development. A 2019 survey of 600 HR leaders showed that 64% perceive a skills gap in their company, a surprising increase from 52% in last year's survey. As companies scramble to address recruitment strategies and the upskilling and reskilling of employees, a growing body of educators and entrepreneurs are turning their attention to K12 students, well before they enter college or the workforce. One of these change-makers is Anne Jones, who, along with her husband Dan Gonzalez, founded District C, a non-profit that aims to build a "new kind of talent pipeline" by giving students the greatest lever to long-term success: the ability to leverage the talents of diverse teams to solve complex problems. District C works with local businesses to provide student teams with real challenges that they’re currently facing, and then empowers student teams to deliver an actionable solution to the business (which 94% of businesses actually use!). Anne and I talk about the mindsets and tools behind collective problem-solving, and how to get started no matter where you are.
Connect with Anne and District C:
Website: https://www.districtc.co/
Twitter: @AnneJ_NC and @DistrictC17
Instagram: @DistrictC17
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/district-c
Chapter Guide:
0.00 - Intro to the episode
1:52 - The Skills Gap and the need for collective problem-solving
4:07 - Under the hood of collective problem-solving: What successful teams do well
7:05 - The role of coaching in building problem-solving skills
8:51 - Building an ecosystem goes beyond schools
12:14 - The District C approach centers on the student experience
17:48 - Real-world metrics for success and the impact to students and businesses
20:22 - The role of the school system in preparing the talent pipeline
25:50 - Core mindsets and tools you can bring to students right now
29:31 - Where does District C go from here?
33:40 - How should entrepreneurial educators think about complex problems and momentum?
38:32 - Who are you giving an A to Anne?
40:50 - Get connected with Anne and District C
If you liked what you heard, rate and review Off the Assembly Line
You can find more show details and resources at offtheassemblyline.co and connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn or at rebeccaareed.com.
Learn more about the Teacher Mastermind at http://teachermastermind.com
Follow Off the Assembly Line
twitter @offassemblyline
instagram @offtheassemblyline_podcast
facebook @offtheassemblylinepodcast.
Special thanks to Scott Holmes for our intr