INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skillful Indiana, a Markle Foundation initiative, today welcomed 35 exceptional career coaches from across Indiana for the first convening of the Skillful Governor’s Coaching Corps, an 8-month training and leadership development program. The program is designed to strengthen and support Indiana’s career coaching professionals so they can serve Indiana job seekers more effectively in a changing economy. The participants represent a diverse mix of organizations: public workforce centers, adult educational institutions, K-12 schools and non-profits from all 12 Indiana workforce regions. Together they serve approximately 3500 individuals per month, including dislocated workers, veterans, the underemployed and first-time job seekers.
“I am proud of Indiana’s talented career development professionals who play a pivotal role in our workforce and education communities,” Gov. Holcomb said in announcing the program in January. “With Skillful Indiana launching the Skillful Governor’s Coaching Corps, Hoosiers will have access to career coaches who will offer new tools, resources and training opportunities so job seekers can flourish in a changing economy.”
The role of career coaches is increasingly important as technology transforms the economy, upends sectors and reshapes jobs. Career coaches help job seekers and incumbent employees recognize the skills they have, the training they may need, and the employment opportunities within their reach. They also help employers see the talent in their own communities and inspire employees and job seekers to become lifelong learners who can keep pace with the evolving needs of a digital economy.
The Skillful Governor’s Coaching Corps is a signature initiative of Skillful Indiana, which brought together the Markle Foundation, Microsoft Corp., LinkedIn, Walmart, Lumina Foundation, Purdue University and Purdue Extension with the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and local workforce development boards to create better pathways to good jobs for Hoosiers.
“We are thrilled to partner with Governor Holcomb to help Hoosiers adapt to the rapidly changing economy,” said Bill Turner, executive director of Skillful Indiana. “In this economy, the support of a career coach is invaluable as people seek to hone their skills, acquire new ones and navigate training and employment options. Through the Skillful Governor’s Coaching Corps, we will help these extraordinary coaches connect more Hoosiers to rewarding work and bring what they learn from the Corps back to their organizations.”
The Skillful Governor’s Coaching Corps establishes a new model for career coaches’ professional and personal development. The free program consists of:
- 90+ hours of expert training in leadership, coaching, and technical skills directly related to coaches’ daily work.
- Expert insight into the future of work and economic trends
- Access to data and tech tools to help coaches connect individuals to quality jobs
- 1-on-1 and team coaching to support personal and professional growth.
- Deep relationship building with high-achieving peers.
- Intimate access to a network of industry professionals, workforce experts, and State leaders to support daily work and long-term growth.
Over the 8-month program, Skillful Governor’s Coaching Corps members will:
- Work in Action Teams to develop new practices and technologies to improve career services, pitching their recommendations to State leaders for adoption.
- Attend up to 5 multi-day retreats with expert instruction in leadership, the future of work, technology, problem solving, and skills-based coaching, then employ new skills in their daily work.
- Participate in and lead webinars related to workforce policy, economic trends, and best-practice tools and approaches in coaching.
In addition to the Skillful Governor’s Coaching Corps, Skillful Indiana will launch an online Skillful Coaching Community of Practice later this spring. The Skillful Coaching Community of Practice will be a virtual community, powered by Microsoft Teams, for Indiana career coaches to network, share and learn from each other. As an extension of the Corps, the online Skillful Coaching Community of Practice will offer resources and foster discussion to help coaches strengthen their skills and explore new and better ways to connect Hoosiers with training and employment opportunities. Those who provide guidance to Indiana job seekers or workers at an education, workforce development, or nonprofit organization are encouraged to register for the upcoming online Skillful Indiana Coaching Community of Practice.
To see a complete list of the Skillful Governor’s Coaching Corps members, please visit skillful.com/career-coaches
About Skillful, Skillful Colorado, Skillful Indiana and the Skillful State Network
Skillful, a nonprofit initiative of the Markle Foundation, is dedicated to enabling all Americans – particularly those without a four-year college degree – to secure good jobs in a changing economy. In partnership with Microsoft and others, Skillful is developing skills-based training and employment practices in collaboration with state governments, local employers, educators and workforce development organizations. Skillful and its partners are working to create a labor market in which skills are valued, and people can more easily access the information and education they need to keep pace with technology’s impact on work. Skillful currently operates in two states, Skillful Colorado and Skillful Indiana, bringing investment, training, tools and innovative methods to augment local workforce development efforts. It formed and facilitates the Skillful State Network, a collaboration among 20 state governors to accelerate the development and deployment of effective skills-based practices to transform their labor markets. Skillful is grateful for support provided by Microsoft, Lumina Foundation and Walmart, and its partnerships with the states of Colorado and Indiana, Purdue University and Purdue Extensions and many great local organizations committed to strengthening their local workforce and creating better opportunities for all.
