Scratchin' The Surface of Workforce Development

Courtney Taylor
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This podcast is for people looking for a free resource as they tackle the profession of workforce development. We will 'scratch the surface' of many topics with the hope of stirring better conversation in this profession, leading to better professionals to ensure better outcomes for our human capital. We will laugh and have fun, while tackling tough topics.

  1. 02/11/2025

    Let's get into it...Contract Training

    Send us a text In this episode I discuss realities of contract training in public workforce development from my perspective.

    1 h 6 min

  2. 28/09/2025

    Myths and Real Partnerships Within Workforce Development

    Send us a text In this episode of 'Scratching the Surface of Workforce Development,' I addresses the importance of moving past 'false professionalism' to foster genuine communication. I delve into various myths and truths about workforce development, including misconceptions about the role of the federal government, the necessity of both technical and soft skills, and the cultural reliance on four-year degrees as the primary path to success. I emphasize the critical role of community development and local initiatives in workforce development, the importance of integrating soft skills into education, and the potential of apprenticeships when properly implemented. I also highlight the need for meaningful partnerships between employers and educators and the importance of continuous learning. We continue to advocate for a more honest discussion about the varied paths to success, particularly for women and minorities in the trades.

    1 h 11 min

  3. 31/08/2025

    Resilience, America's Talent Strategy, and ACTION.

    Send us a text Welcome to Season 3 of 'Scratching the Surface of Workforce Development.' Season 1 we learned how to do this, season 2 we survived life so it's definitely not my best work. But season 3? Season 3 is going to bring some real examples of things that are working.  Stay tuned.  This episode reflects on personal and professional challenges as I discuss the ups and downs of my life over the past few months, including significant family events while the world continued to move. I continue to emphasize  resilience, honesty, and a relentless focus on making a difference in people's lives. I also spend some time highlighting the importance of collaboration between workforce development professionals, economic developers, and industry leaders. I spend some time discussing the need to streamline systems, challenge bureaucratic inefficiencies, and ensure that training aligns with real job demands. The episode also touches on the 'American Talent Strategy' and its potential impact on workforce training and coordination between federal, state, and local entities. Thanks for sticking with me!

    1 h 11 min

  4. 11/06/2025

    Fluffing the numbers?

    Send us a text In this episode I describe how I wish we treated data and requests as workforce developers. How I wish funders could be realistic and not encourage the habit. And, in general, some of my pollyanna views of where I wish my industry could go...

    34 min

  5. 09/02/2025

    Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes

    Send us a text Join me as I chat about all things current in workforce and the need to determine what needs to change. I discuss federal and state policy here and my viewpoints on where we are as a policy and a profession. Glad to be back after a long, unscheduled break!

    56 min

  6. 29/09/2024

    What I want for my profession.

    Send us a text As I experience more and more, I continue to come back to some simple realities of things I hope for my profession, the one we rarely name-Workforce Development. Here I share some of these thoughts.

    55 min

  7. 04/08/2024

    Episode 11 Networking and Business Development in Workforce

    Send us a text Workforce developers typically pride themselves on how much 'work' they do in a day. Their jobs require it. But, when do we network? When do we take the time to build relationships outside of those we are directly responsible to? Rarely in some cases. These relationships are critical for so many reasons. They're also vital to the business development process that's often overlooked for our obsession with checking boxes.  In this episode I talk a little about networking specifically with economic developers and developing business with industry partners in uncertain times...again, just scratching the surface! Join me for the final episode for season 1, I'll take a short break through August (this was recorded in July) and see you all again in late September.

    39 min

  8. 30/06/2024

    Episode 10 - Constructing the Workforce

    Send us a text There are critical occupations required to support most export industries. Where do they stand in your community?

    53 min
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This podcast is for people looking for a free resource as they tackle the profession of workforce development. We will 'scratch the surface' of many topics with the hope of stirring better conversation in this profession, leading to better professionals to ensure better outcomes for our human capital. We will laugh and have fun, while tackling tough topics.

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