By John Hancock, President and CEO, Junior Achievement of Georgia

The literature on the future of work is clear. From school systems to HR experts to world class business consulting firms, the narrative is consistent. The future of work will demand a set of skills and competencies in order for people to be ready to solve progressively complex problems in both collaborative and self-directed manners. Regardless of one’s aptitudes, interests, or academic degrees, certain core competencies will be critical, especially for people who want to grow careers and make transformative change. In a labor market that is becoming more digital and technical, value will be enhanced by those who perform higher-level human skills beyond automated systems and digital machines. Said differently, the more technical the world becomes, the more important people will become.

Junior Achievement (JA) is a uniquely positioned business-connected education organization specializing in creating and running world-class experiential education programs for young people. For more than a century JA has been a bridge between business and education, exposing students to industries and careers to help better prepare them for what lies ahead. Over the past ten years, JA of Georgia has been particularly responsive to workforce trends by creating immersive models that leverage business simulations and business case methodology – not as extracurricular or add-ons but as centerpieces of the educational experience. First through our JA Discovery Center programs and even more directly through our 3DE Schools model, we are keenly focused on building in young people these core competencies that the future of work will demand. These include:

• Creativity and Innovation - Understanding what it means to fill a market need by developing new ideas and creating value

• Cultural Agility - Creating and reshaping a customer experience and being adept and comfortable working with different kinds of people

• Critical Thinking - Making effective decisions by analyzing and applying data

• Effective Collaboration - Collaborating with others and building teams toward achieving goals and managing change

• Engaging Communication - Communicating successfully while representing ideas and brands

• Self-Direction - Setting goals, taking action, and tackling adversity

Sahit Mamidipaka, a 3DE alumnus who is now a freshman at Georgia Tech, recently affirmed the importance of such competencies with these words:

“Without me realizing it, the time I spent engaged in the 3DE model – creating innovative case challenge solutions, critically thinking about real-world business problems, effectively collaborating with my classmates, and communicating with corporate business representatives – I grew to deeply shape my love and perception towards the business world beyond the classroom. I appreciate it in my innate hunger to achieve and build my network. I appreciate it because of the natural comfort and ease I seem to have while talking to executives. I appreciate it when I'm able to confidently give public speeches to large crowds. I appreciate its impact on my love for the city and my vision for the future. 3DE was an influential experience that prepared me with a host of soft skills and competencies, gifted me with a love for networking, and continues to shape my dreams and future.”

Our purpose is to give young people a window on their futures through authentic, real-world experiences that fuel their fascination, make their world bigger, and make clear that there is indeed a place for them in the future. The future of work is changing, and we at JA are doing our part to help young people master the competencies that will ensure their readiness for long term success.