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Mindset Over Skillset: Preparing Students for an AI-Powered Future with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation Episode 147

The Future Of Work

Release Date: 06/10/2025

Transcript - Building the Future of LA Transit with Ali Mir, West Regional Planning Lead, Senior Vice President Episode 160

The Future Of Work

Ali Mir [00:00:00]: Our communities are well versed in what they need. So how do we allow our communities and how do we empower our communities to be front and center in developing the solutions to the problems that they know that they have. And a huge part of that is workforce development and a pipeline of talent from the very communities that are in need of planning solutions, design solutions, engineering solutions. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:27]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. And we are...

Building the Future of LA Transit with Ali Mir, West Regional Planning Lead, Senior Vice President Episode 160

The Future Of Work

What does it really take to transform the way Los Angeles moves—and who gets to design the future of our city’s transit? In this episode of The Future Of Work podcast, host Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Ali Mir, Senior Vice President and West Regional Planning Lead (WSP) and a leader in regional planning, to uncover the stories and strategies behind LA’s public transit evolution. From his own transformative experience as a student riding every mode on the LA Metro—and realizing just how diverse and essential ridership is—to incorporating solution-based innovation related...

Transcript - Revolutionizing Higher Education for Working Learners in a Rapidly Evolving World with Eloy Ortiz Oakley, President and CEO of the College Futures Foundation Episode 159

The Future Of Work

Eloy Ortiz Oakley [00:00:00]: Far too often, we assume as educators what they need instead of actually asking them, the employers and folks in the community, what they need. So we need to do all of those things, and we need to do it in a way that is as intentional as the way that we have been designing our curriculum for the last five decades. We have to have the same intentionality around designing curriculum in the multiple other ways that we now know work and work well for working learners. Christina Barsi [00:00:34]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and...

Revolutionizing Higher Education for Working Learners in a Rapidly Evolving World with Eloy Ortiz Oakley, President and CEO of the College Futures Foundation Episode 159

The Future Of Work

The demographic of students in California is changing and education must change with it. Dr. Salvatrice Cummo is joined by Eloy Ortiz Oakley, President and CEO of the College Futures Foundation, to unpack the challenges facing a massive and underrepresented sector of today’s learners—students primarily over the age of 25 who are working at the same time as attending school. They cover the impact of outdated educational models, the rapid pace of technological change, and the urgent need for flexibility and employer partnerships. Tune in for a forward-thinking discussion on disrupting...

Transcript -Community Colleges Leading Economic Resilience - Future of Work Conference Panel Discussion Episode 158

The Future Of Work

Tony Cordova [00:00:00]: All roads lead to workforce. Everything that we do really is intended to be able to provide an opportunity for our students, our community members, our adult learners, whatever that is, they're learners, to be able to provide them an opportunity to get into these careers. And I say careers because it's more than just a job. I mean, we can get a job anywhere. We could go to McDonald's and have a job, but it's not that sustainable career that's going to be able to provide benefits, security, food on the table for our family and put us into that. So that's one of the core...

Community Colleges Leading Economic Resilience - Future of Work Conference Panel Discussion Episode 158

The Future Of Work

We dive into a dynamic panel captured at the 7th annual Future of Work Conference 2025, presented by Pasadena City College. Leaders from education, workforce development, and local government shared invaluable insights on building resilience, navigating recovery, and creating pathways to sustainable careers. Moderated by Leslie Thompson, Director of Operations - the panel featured insights from Tony Cordova - Vice Chancellor of Workforce & Equity Development of California, Monica Banken - Policy Deputy at the office of Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Lizzy Okoro Davidson - Director of the...

Transcript- Episode 157: From Crisis Response to Workforce Readiness: Lessons in Regional Renewal from the Future of Work Conference with Mayor Victor Gordo

The Future Of Work

Victor Gordo [00:00:00]: Our ultimate goal is to prepare people for the workforce of the future. And the workforce of the future is mixed. It's not just, you know, formal degrees in education. It's like I said, it's people who can work with their hands, who can be a part of the construction industry, the landscaping, you name it. Christina Barsi [00:00:24]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education....

From Crisis Response to Workforce Readiness: Lessons in Regional Renewal from the Future of Work Conference with Mayor Victor Gordo Episode 157

The Future Of Work

After the LA fires, how do we move past emergency response and into building sustainable crisis prepared communities who know how to bounce back? At our 7th annual Future of Work Conference, PCC led the conversation with local community leaders and experts on rebuilding after an unprecedented disaster. In this special excerpt from the conference, Dr. Salavtrice Cummo, discusses firsthand insights about building resilience and fostering renewal with Victor Gordo, Mayor of Pasadena. Tune in for an honest look at how thoughtful collaboration, listening to community needs, and investing in people...

Transcript- Episode 156: Building Resilient Communities: Insights Into The Upcoming Future of Work Conference with Dr. Salvatrice Cummo and Leslie Thompson

The Future Of Work

Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:00]: When we remove these barriers and we have our systems start speaking to each other a little bit better, we naturally build our communities a little stronger. They become more adaptable and in the long run, more equitable access to the resources and the programming that we have across all agencies, across all systems. Christina Barsi [00:00:25]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting...

Building Resilient Communities: Insights Into The Upcoming Future of Work Conference with Dr. Salvatrice Cummo and Leslie Thompson Episode 156

The Future Of Work

With the LA fires so prominent in recent memory, one question looms large: how can communities move beyond immediate recovery to create long-term systems that withstand future shocks? Today Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at PCC, and Leslie Thompson, Director of Operations, sit down to open a conversation on building a framework of resiliency and collaboration that will sustain the community for years to come. With the seventh annual conference on the horizon, the conversation dives deep into this year’s critical theme: rebuilding and resiliency in...

More Episodes

What if the biggest barrier to success in tech isn’t access, but mindset? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation, about what it truly takes to thrive in an AI-driven world. Tara unpacks why resilience and adaptability are just as vital as technical skills, how simulation-based learning can reshape education, and why women are most at risk of being left behind. Together, they explore how community colleges, mentorship, and real-world problem-solving can unlock opportunity for all. The future of work isn’t just about tech, it’s about who’s empowered to shape it.

You’ll learn:

Why AI literacy starts with confidence, not code, and how to build both.
How educators can move beyond “toy problems” and toward real-world innovation.
What emotional and cognitive resilience look like in a rapidly evolving workforce.
How women are being left behind in fast-growing tech sectors, and how to fix it.
Why simulation learning may be the most powerful classroom tool we’re not using.

About the Guest:

Tara Chklovski is the founder and CEO of Technovation, a global nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls and underserved communities through technology education. With a background in physics and aerospace engineering, she transitioned from academia to social entrepreneurship to address the gender and racial disparities in STEM fields. Tara has helped over 130,000 students across 100+ countries build confidence, tech skills, and purpose. Her work has been recognized by Forbes, the UN, and the White House, and she continues to lead global conversations on how education and innovation intersect to shape a more inclusive future of work.

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