ASU+GSV Summit

The profound and intertwined economic, racial, and public health challenges facing our country demand action.

For this year’s ASU GSV Summit, JFF called on business, education, investment, and technology leaders to seize this opportunity and collaborate in radically new ways to support our most vulnerable workers and families.

We hosted six sessions, on September 29 to October 1, that focused on action for leaders from across the education and workforce systems.

Session Details

Career Navigation Technology 2020: The Impact Potential of Investment

Session 1 of 2

For the well over half of American workers in entry-level or mid-skill jobs—especially the 86 percent who don’t have a college degree—the process of finding a job and building a career is chaotic, seemingly random, and ultimately broken. JFF’s new Career Navigation Technology 2020 market scan, developed in partnership with Tyton Partners with generous support from Walmart, shines a light on new innovations, trends, and opportunities that support workers, business talent needs, and the American economy.

In this session, leading investors will dive deep into the incentives and dynamics spurring investment in this complex marketplace, and highlight both the impact and business potential of worker-focused navigation technologies and tools.

Career Navigation Technology 2020: Innovators on the Leading Edge

Session 2 of 2

For the well over half of American workers in entry-level or mid-skill jobs—especially the 86 percent who don’t have a college degree—the process of finding a job and building a career is chaotic, seemingly random, and ultimately broken. JFF’s new Career Navigation Technology 2020 market scan, developed in partnership with Tyton Partners with generous support from Walmart, shines a light on new innovations, trends, and opportunities that support workers, business talent needs, and the American economy.

In this session, we continue our previous conversation with investors, and speak with leading innovators to highlight important advances in worker-focused career navigation technology. We’ll discuss how empowering all workers with the best career navigation tools is good for business and can help power the American economy.

A Better Approach to Layoffs: How Companies are Turning Harsh Realities Into New Opportunities

Nearly 40 million people have been laid off as a result of COVID and related shutdowns. The economic impact has been staggering for individuals and their families, and it has forced companies’ talent leaders to make some of the most challenging choices of their careers.

Like so much of what we’re collectively facing this year, layoffs are a harsh reality. Can they be better? Can we make the moment people exit a job into a moment of opportunity?

We can. And, innovating companies are leading the way. Join us to hear who’s driving innovation and impact through “ethical offboarding”. Together, we’ll explore approaches to downsizing that improve the future economic prospects of former employees, fostering long-term employee performance, engagement, and loyalty. This session will equip talent leaders with a tactical roadmap to tackle a difficult talent challenge in a way that helps former employees, businesses, and communities recover stronger from this crisis.

The Challenge of Change: Sparking Innovation in the U.S. Workforce System

How can we expand opportunity for learners and workers with radically new approaches to upskilling, career navigation, and learning supports? Join panelists from JFF, New Profit, MIT Solve, and XPRIZE to learn more about how they’re bringing together diverse groups of entrepreneurs, workforce professionals, and nonprofit leaders to rapidly upskill and reimagine how the U.S. approaches workforce development in this moment of massive change.

Impact Investing in a Time of Crisis

Crisis calls for innovation. The public health crisis and economic shock brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic—and the acute impact the upheaval on both fronts has had on the most vulnerable members of our society—calls for innovation now in this time of great economic stress. During this time, economic inequalities and disparities will likely deepen and leave millions more without access to quality employment opportunities. This is a momentous challenge. But it also represents a significant opportunity to have a meaningful social impact by investing in technologies and solutions that help underserved adults develop valuable skills and gain access to meaningful work.

Lions and Tigers and Debt, Oh My! Trends in Innovative Finance

Strides are being made to address crippling student debt through innovative finance models. Hear from leaders in the field about the trends playing out amidst a backdrop of policy and practical dynamics.