Episode 158: How Can We Support Career Pivots?
How Can We Support Career Pivots?
In this episode of Work and the Future, economist and keynote speaker Linda Nazareth talks to Kerry McKittrick, Executive Director of the Project on Workforce at Harvard University.
They discuss:
- Why career pivots are becoming the norm
- What we can learn from the experience of low wage workers when it comes to pivoting around work
- Why informal networks are more important than ever and how more workers can develop them
- Why educational institutes will increasingly need to help students develop soft skills in order to navigate the workplace
Host:
Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’.
As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.
Guest:
Kerry McKittrick is the Executive Director of the Project on Workforce, where she works at the intersection of research, policy, and practice to transform the systems that connect people to education, work, and economic opportunity.
Kerry’s work focuses on how education and workforce systems can help people navigate pathways to meaningful careers. Her research on postsecondary transitions, state and federal workforce policy, career navigation, and career and technical education has informed policy and practice nationwide. Kerry serves on multiple advisory boards focused on expanding economic opportunity and was selected as a 2025 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow, where she is part of a national cohort of cross-sector leaders working to improve the lives of children and families.
Prior to joining the Project on Workforce, Kerry served as a Senior Policy Advisor to Congressman Jim Langevin, where she led federal policy spanning education, workforce development, and child welfare issues. She also served as a Senior Manager at Jobs for the Future, where she partnered with executive leadership to develop and oversee cross-organizational strategic initiatives. Kerry started her career in politics as the successful campaign manager for Massachusetts State Representative Ken Gordon.
She holds a master’s degree in Education Policy and Analysis from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she was distinguished as a Leadership in Education Fellow, and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Brown University. She is a frequent speaker on education and workforce transformation.
Here is the link to the report discussed:
Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:
Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.
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