Chief Operating Officer Raghu Krishnaiah and Vice President Nathan Jones share insights on a skills-based approach to workforce learning and development

University of Phoenix leadership Raghu Krishnaiah, chief operating officer, and Nathan Jones, vice president of Product for Workforce Solutions, will serve as session speakers at the upcoming Breakfast Club event hosted by BetterWork Media Group’s Chief Learning Officer, being held June 7, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. EDT. University of Phoenix is a sponsor of the event, titled “A Blueprint for a Skills-Based L&D Strategy.”

The University of Phoenix’s 2023 Career Optimism Index® study found that 70% of American workers say if their company gave them more opportunities to apply new skills, they would be more likely to stay throughout their career. Coupled with the latest industry research in learning and development, this points to benefits of a skills-based approach for talent development, such as stronger and more equitable talent attraction, acquisition and retention strategies, a more agile workforce, and being more well-equipped to address the goals and objectives of the business.

The Breakfast Club event provides a conversation among Krishnaiah and Jones and leaders in learning and development about how learning programs can identify their organizational definition of skills, and best practices and approaches emerging from across the learning and development industry that effectively help managers gain the skills they need to successfully lead and engage their teams. Krishnaiah and Jones will share insights from the University of Phoenix approach to skills as an employer, an institution of learning, and a provider of education and upskilling solutions for employers.

“Focusing on skills in the workforce helps to empower individuals and team leaders to align individual talent development with strategic business initiatives,” states Krishnaiah. “A skills-based strategy can more efficiently support individuals as well as their team leaders to identify pathways to enhance their careers, and in turn, has a direct impact on an employer’s business success and talent retention. This additionally contributes to creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.”

Krishnaiah’s career as a seasoned change agent and strategist spans more than 20 years of progressive P&L management, strategy, sales and marketing, product, operations, technology, human resources, and data-analytics responsibilities. As the Chief Operating Officer at University of Phoenix, Krishnaiah is instrumental in the transformation of the University and responsible for all operating strategy and results. Krishnaiah earned both a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.

“It’s important to reframe the conversation from skills ‘gap’ to skills ‘opportunity,’” states Jones. “There are tangible benefits of creating a skills-based culture of continuous learning, development and growth; this transformation offers a powerful opportunity to uplift an entire organization.”

As vice president of Product for Workforce Solutions at University of Phoenix, Jones enables organizations to solve their most pressing talent and business challenges with education. In his more than 19 years with the University of Phoenix, he has held leadership roles in Employee Development, Enrollment Management, Academic Operations, Product Leadership, and Workforce Solutions. He now combines that experience with the unique capabilities of University of Phoenix to deliver a range of talent acquisition, upskilling, and employee development solutions for employers.

The Breakfast Club has been connecting leaders over breakfast to strengthen the link between learning and development and business strategy for over 17 years. In 2021, the Breakfast Club returned as a virtual, mini-event series hosted by Chief Learning Officer and Talent Management featuring top CLOs and learning and talent leaders. Each mini-event lasts about 2 hours and consists of a 60-minute panel discussion with L&D and talent practitioners, a 20-minute FASTtalk presentation, and a 20-minute breakout session for attendees and speakers to discuss the day’s themes, followed by closing remarks from a member of CLO’s editorial team.

Learn more here about the Breakfast Club and the June 7 session sponsored by University of Phoenix.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About Chief Learning Officer

Chief Learning Officer is dedicated to serving as a platform and vehicle for C-suite and senior-level learning and development professionals to connect and advance in the profession and their personal careers. We are by CLOs, for CLOs.

About BetterWork Media Group

BetterWork Media Group manages Chief Learning Officer and Talent Management, serving workforce communities of C-suite and senior-level practitioners, executives, scholars, consultants and solution providers in corporate learning and talent management. BetterWork Media Group provides a unique platform to connect, support and empower workplace communities via award-winning content, research, events, webinars and digital media. BMG's founders have more than 70 years of collective experience in the media industry.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230602005347/en/

“A skills-based strategy can more efficiently support individuals as well as their team leaders to identify pathways to enhance their careers, and in turn, has a direct impact on an employer’s business success and talent retention."