Role: Lead Program Manager
Tech stack: Airtable, Figma, Google Suite, Zoom, Canva

Workforce development in the tech industry
‍Workforce development programs are essential for economic growth and individual advancement, as they address both employer needs and support meaningful (i.e. livable wage) career pathways for job seekers. These programs ensure that job seekers have access to quality education and training that is aligned with in-demand and high-growth industries like tech.There are a range of challenges that workforce development and career & technical education (CTE) initiatives face, especially in the STEM field, but for our first Pivot cohort, we focused on addressing two common challenges: content relevancy and strategic partnerships. The goal here was to ensure that our curriculum is not only relevant to current industry needs, and taught by experienced professionals, but that we consistently collaborate with our employer stakeholders who can speak to required skill sets and open roles at their company.

‍Building the Program
‍For our first cohort, we partnered with Atlanta’s Office of Technology and Innovation (ATL Tech Hub) to align with the department’s vision of uniting technology, entrepreneurs, companies, and talent to build a future-forward city in Atlanta. It was important that we partnered with a city that had similar goals as Techsgiving to ensure there was a drive, on both sides, to build.

Research
‍The build for the Pivot Program was rooted in three things: personal experience, data, and research.

To start, many of us in the organization, including myself, have been in the same position as our participants—coming from non-technical backgrounds and seeking ways to enter tech roles or enhance our skill sets. Developing this program from a user’s perspective allowed us to empathize with participants, draw on our personal insights, and validate our solutions. It was so important to make sure our solution was grounded in real experiences.

Next, we referenced a range of CTE and workforce development academic journals and articles to understand the landscape and pain points. Among other resources, we referenced the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies to inform our program's focus. We prioritized four of the eight pillars: career & self-development, communication, teamwork, and technology.

Finally, we leveraged existing survey data from the Techsgiving community to identify the specific challenges of those looking to enter or advance within the tech field.

Program Goals
-Support professionals looking to transition into the tech industry.Provide 100 Grow with Google certificates to Atlanta residents, evenly split between Project Management and User Experience Design.
-Create cohort learning pods for each certificate track, facilitated by industry experts.
-Achieve a 4.0/5 program CSAT  (Customer Satisfaction) upon cohort completion.

Student Objectives
-Actively participate in and attend weekly cohort sessions.
-Collaborate in small groups to build a wireframe solution for a given problem statement.
-Present final project using UX terminology and learnings.
-Successfully complete the Grow with Google certificate.

Launch insights
Within 48 hours, we received over 200 applications. By the time we closed the application form a week later, we had over 400. Here are some key data points from the applicant pool:
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-55% of applicants were full-time employees, with the second-highest group being unemployed (18%)
-Even split between reasons for joining the program: expand my network, get a job in the tech sector, learn technical skills, and learn professional development skills

Among other data points, this confirmed a strong demand for workforce development opportunities in the tech industry, especially those at no-cost to the participant. Additionally, the need for inclusion of professional development curriculum and support.

Cohort
For a quick breakdown of the cohort, We hosted weekly sessions with each cohort that reinforced the week’s Coursera lesson, and provided additional insights to any open questions. Some weeks we invited guest speakers to lead sessions and share their industry knowledge and experience. Each cohort wrapped up with a final group project aimed at introducing participants to industry-specific collaboration and problem-solving techniques.  For example, the UX cohort was tasked with developing a high-fidelity wireframe to address and resolve a given problem statement.

In addition to the weekly sessions, we conducted monthly professional development workshops, featuring guest speakers and recruiters from partner companies such as Google and Amazon. These workshops focused on essential skills like networking and job search techniques.To wrap, we hosted an in-person graduation ceremony at Atlanta’s City Hall, where we acknowledged and celebrated the accomplishments of the cohort.

Ongoing Research
‍During the first month of the cohort, we interviewed over 50 program participants to gain a deeper understanding of their goals and how the program could effectively support them. We wanted to make sure the program genuinely addressed the needs of the participants, rather than relying on assumptions. As an example, based on the application data mentioned earlier, 55% of applicants were employed full-time. So we adjusted the weekly workload to be more manageable — instead of assigning three modules per week, we reduced the tasks to one or two in hopes of accommodating professional schedules.

Moving Forward: Enhancements and Future Directions
‍We collected and reviewed an extensive amount of qualitative data both during and after this program. While this hands-on approach may not be scalable in the long term, it's so important to build a solid foundation for future cohorts right now, while we can.Early data indicates a successful first cohort, with outcomes surpassing some of our initial goals.

‍Wrap data
-4.2 CSAT for overall program
-4.72 CSAT for instructors
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Here are some quotes from participants: “I came into the program not being 100% clear on what I wanted to do. But after completing this program, I’m more clear because I know what I do not want. Which lets me know, I’m closer to my goals.” - Cohort participant

“My time in the cohort has helped me confidently revamp my portfolio and position myself for success...” - Cohort participant

As we continue to iterate on the program, there are a few enhancements we’ve identified to immediately work on:
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-Developing program benchmarks to assess participant progress and program effectiveness.Implementing progressive onboarding to gradually introduce participants to the new skill set and program structure, reducing cognitive load.
-Continuing to do things that don’t scale and maintain a personalized approach for as long as possible. The white glove service of workforce development is crucial for participant growth and success.

Reflecting on my time building this program, it's pretty great to see how our research and collaboration have made a real difference. Our goal is to make the Pivot Program a valuable resource for Atlanta residents, and in cities beyond, as they look to advance their tech careers.

We’re just getting started!

References

Stateline, Sophie Quinton. "States want more career and technical training, but struggle to find teachers." PBS NewsHour, 9 Apr. 2017.

Edgerton, Adam K. "Career and Technical Education: A Primer." Congressional Research Service, 21 Jun. 2022.