from the chair
Shaping the Future Workforce
Paula Linnen
These are transformative times for employees and organizations . The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we work and how we interact with one another , reshaping the economic , social , and professional landscape . We ’ ve reinvented what work looks like , what meetings look like , and maybe even what we , ourselves , look like .
As we evolve ourselves and our companies , it may be an ideal time to evolve our commitment to workforce development . As a first-generation college graduate , I can attest to the life-altering benefits of having great mentors . I grew up surrounded by a culture that did not view college as an accessible , affordable , or natural path . There were very few people in my life who could help me get to or through college . Fortunately , I landed a job working for an extraordinary business leader who took me under her wing and gave me far more responsibility and opportunity than was the norm for my age , education , or even gender ( this was more than 40 years ago ). She introduced me to a world I did not know existed and ignited my love for business , education , and entrepreneurship .
She opened doors for me by introducing me to people I would not otherwise have met . She helped me understand that context mattered , particularly for situations that required finesse . She challenged my thinking in ways that helped me think and act more strategically . She provided me the guidance and encouragement I sought , and the job itself provided the financial support I needed to pay for my college education and graduate debt free .
Throughout my career , I ’ ve thought of this mentor often , most recently at the AWB Evening of Excellence awards . As I chatted with half a dozen young professional women at the event , one noted she was there because her mentor couldn ’ t attend and suggested she take her place . This small favor — the repurposing of what you and I consider a common opportunity — gave her an opening to meet and interact with those she might not have had access to otherwise . She was also energized and optimistic because the dream job she had been seeking for three years had just been offered to her , thanks in part to her mentor .
As business leaders , we can shape the future workforce by illuminating pathways , re-routing opportunities , opening doors , facilitating introductions , and inviting others to have a seat at the table so that our successors can have that experience . We can serve as mentors , call others to mentor , and foster a culture that encourages new experiences for those eager to learn .
At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ( PNNL ), we hosted more than 1,500 interns last year . My colleagues — 364 PNNL mentors — delivered fulfilling , well-rounded experiences , built STEM interest and acumen , and launched young people into their STEM careers through mentoring and despite all the challenges of a pandemic . One day , these interns might land at PNNL — or maybe at your company — and it ’ s gratifying to think that this investment and our work with the AWB Washington Workforce Portal will soon pay extraordinary dividends for Washington State .
As we fight perhaps the greatest labor challenge of our time , you and I can prepare others to thrive in this new reality . Together , we can build a future workforce that is more diverse , more equitable , and more prepared because of the advice and opportunities we provide .
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