Building and Scaling an Inclusive Workforce Development Pipeline
On December 19, 2023, MIT Sloan Executive Education hosted a LinkedIn Live event titled "Building and Scaling an Inclusive Workforce Development Pipeline." This session, featuring Kate Isaacs, Malia Lazu, and Tom Giordano, focused on the urgent need for collaborative efforts in workforce development to achieve regional economic growth and competitive advantage.
The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice.
You can watch a recording of the session here.
Finding and keeping talent is a big pain point for companies today. However, the problem can’t be solved by individual companies alone. Instead, it takes companies working together in partnerships with local workforce leaders. During the event, they discussed questions about power, equity, and authenticity.
The central theme revolved around the collective action of businesses, not just singular efforts, to address talent retention and development challenges. The panelists emphasized the importance of reflecting on power, equity, and authenticity to foster a diverse and skilled workforce.
Dr. Kate Isaacs, a co-founder of the BILT Lab, highlighted the need for organizations to adapt to rapid global changes and trends like reshoring of work, decarbonization, and addressing wealth inequities. Tom Giordano, with his extensive experience in public affairs and fundraising, stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration in addressing societal and business challenges. Malia Lazu, an expert in diversity and inclusion, underscored the significance of creating a company culture that's attractive and inclusive to all, especially marginalized groups.
They also touched upon the critical need for companies to develop 21st-century skills in their workforce, such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and distributed leadership. There was a strong call for leaders at all levels to engage in self-reflection, embrace vulnerability, and foster an inclusive culture where diverse thoughts and perspectives are valued.
Actionable Takeaways
Foster Collaborative Efforts: Engage in partnerships with local businesses and community leaders to address workforce development.
Embrace Global Trends: Adapt to changes such as reshoring, decarbonization, and addressing wealth gaps.
Cultivate Inclusive Cultures: Build company environments that attract and retain diverse talent.
Develop 21st-century Skills: Focus on critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills in your workforce.
Encourage Self-Reflection in Leadership: Promote vulnerability and open-mindedness among leaders to understand and address biases.
Utilize Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with various sectors to understand and meet the needs of a diverse workforce.
Prioritize Psychological Safety: Create safe spaces for employees to contribute their ideas and perspectives.
Invest in Communities: Look beyond charity and focus on sustainable, impactful community investments.
Adapt to Societal Shifts: Recognize the changing expectations of younger generations in terms of workplace culture and values.
Embrace Learning by Doing: Engage in programs like MIT Sloan's BILT Lab to practically apply these concepts.
This event marked a crucial step in understanding the complexities of workforce development and the collective action required to build an inclusive, skilled, and competitive workforce for the future.
Firsthand Learning
Want to take a deeper dive? Use promo code LINKEDINLIVE10 to save 10% when registering for the related Executive Education course:
Businesses for Inclusive Local Thriving Lab
Start Date: March 18, 2024
