Building a New Kind of Talent Pipeline through Collective Problem-Solving with Anne Jones, Co-Founder of District C

Off the Assembly Line

It's no secret that today's workforce is experiencing a gap in the talent pipeline and in-demand skill development. A 2019 survey of 600 HR leaders showed that 64% perceive a skills gap in their company, a surprising increase from 52% in last year's survey. As companies scramble to address recruitment strategies and the upskilling and reskilling of employees, a growing body of educators and entrepreneurs are turning their attention to K12 students, well before they enter college or the workforce. One of these change-makers is Anne Jones, who, along with her husband Dan Gonzalez, founded District C, a non-profit that aims to build a "new kind of talent pipeline" by giving students the greatest lever to long-term success: the ability to leverage the talents of diverse teams to solve complex problems. District C works with local businesses to provide student teams with real challenges that they’re currently facing, and then empowers student teams to deliver an actionable solution to the business (which 94% of businesses actually use!). Anne and I talk about the mindsets and tools behind collective problem-solving, and how to get started no matter where you are.
Connect with Anne and District C:
Website: https://www.districtc.co/

Twitter: @AnneJ_NC and @DistrictC17
Instagram: @DistrictC17
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/district-c
Chapter Guide:
0.00 - Intro to the episode
1:52 - The Skills Gap and the need for collective problem-solving
4:07 - Under the hood of collective problem-solving: What successful teams do well
7:05 - The role of coaching in building problem-solving skills
8:51 - Building an ecosystem goes beyond schools
12:14 - The District C approach centers on the student experience
17:48 - Real-world metrics for success and the impact to students and businesses
20:22 - The role of the school system in preparing the talent pipeline
25:50 - Core mindsets and tools you can bring to students right now
29:31 - Where does District C go from here?
33:40 - How should entrepreneurial educators think about complex problems and momentum?
38:32 - Who are you giving an A to Anne?
40:50 - Get connected with Anne and District C
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Special thanks to Scott Holmes for our intro music

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