Colorado’s Next Generation of Technology Superstars
From Helen Young Hayes, Founder & CEO
I’m overjoyed to share an extraordinary milestone with you: ActivateWork has surpassed 500 learners! When we launched our free IT training and employment program in May 2020, I could not have imagined achieving this milestone so quickly—or with such life-changing outcomes. Our graduates have increased their incomes by an average of 92%, and over 90% are retained in employment beyond 12 months—a remarkable achievement in any industry. But numbers alone don’t capture the full story. ActivateWork alumni are saving for their children’s college education, achieving six-figure incomes, and purchasing their first homes. At ActivateWork, we are not just building careers—we are supporting Coloradans to transform their lives.
2024: A Year of Challenges and Opportunities
Amidst the backdrop of a stabilizing economy and moderating inflation, the tech industry in 2024 navigated a mix of challenges and opportunities.
- Headwind: Economic uncertainty, high interest rates, and previous inflationary pressures dampened overall tech spending and hiring.
- Crosswind: The surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) investment reshaped priorities, drawing resources from other areas of technology while emphasizing projects and recruitment in areas such as generative AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity. Despite these shifts, overall tech hiring is up in 2024.
- Tailwind: AI emerged as a powerful productivity tool, enhancing processes across job functions and across industries—including our own. AI now supports our learners’ job searches and strengthens our professional skills assessments and training.
In addition to these crosscurrents, the following trends are notable in 2024:
- Durable (professional) Skills: Adding to previous research, a new DICE industry survey reports that four out of the top ten skills for IT professionals are durable skills: communication, management, problem-solving, and project management. Interestingly, trustworthiness is the fastest-growing personal qualification month over month.
- Generative and Domain-Specific AI Skills: The explosion of AI investment and Machine Learning (ML) has created a surge in demand for professionals with expertise in AI. AI jobs now represent 26% of total tech job postings, an increase of 156% from October 2023.
- Data Analysts: As companies rely more heavily on mining large data to inform decisions, data analyst roles have been growing rapidly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for data scientists will grow by 36% from 2023 to 2033.
- Cybersecurity Analysts: Cybersecurity continues to be a top priority for organizations, with a particular focus on roles that address compliance and risk management. A Wall Street Journal report noted that there are sufficient workers to fill only 82% of open cybersecurity positions in the U.S., resulting in over 448,000 unfilled jobs nationwide.
- Skills-Based Hiring: More IT companies are shifting to skills-based hiring methods, preferring to consider track records and previous projects over traditional hiring criteria to gauge current skill set and potential. Over 89% of companies surveyed are happy with their change to a skills-based hiring method, especially since tech workers without a traditional college degree are 20% more likely to stay in their jobs.
How We Are Navigating These Trends
ActivateWork is at the forefront of addressing these shifts through innovative training programs and partnerships
- Leveraging AI for Skills Development: Both general and application-specific AI skills have been added to all our curricula to equip our learners with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-driven landscape. The goal is not to just stay current; it’s about giving our learners a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving job market.
- Cyber Analyst Pathway: This year, we launched a dedicated pathway for Cyber Analysts, and next year we will add a Cyber - Governance, Risk, and Compliance training to meet growing employer demand.
- Data Analytics Curriculum: We are finalizing a robust curriculum for Data Analytics resulting in a CompTIA Data+ industry-recognized credential, shaped by insights and input from our employer partners to align with real-world needs.
- Hands-On Technical Training and Certifications: To keep our learners ahead of shifting trends in the workplace, we are adding more hands-on labs, skills-based assessments, and industry-recognized certifications to augment our technical training.
A Long-Term Concern: Growing IT Skills Shortage Costing $5.5 Trillion
The rapid pace of technological advancement is fueling a global IT skills shortage, creating far-reaching consequences for businesses and economies alike. A recent report by the International Data Corporation (IDC) reveals that nearly two-thirds of North American IT leaders attribute missed revenue growth, quality issues, and declining customer satisfaction to a lack of skilled talent. The outlook is sobering: by 2026, more than 90% of organizations worldwide will face the impact of this crisis, with costs projected to reach $5.5 trillion due to product delays, weakened competitiveness, and lost business opportunities.
At ActivateWork, we are tackling this challenge through two key strategies designed to grow the overall IT workforce (rather than merely shift existing talent among employers). The Tech Talent Partnership (TTP) brings together businesses, educators, and training organizations to align education and training programs with industry needs, creating broad, new training pathways that provide underrepresented individuals access to sustainable IT careers while helping employers meet critical talent demands.
In addition, apprenticeships are proving to be a game-changer. By blending paid on-the-job training with classroom learning, apprenticeships allow employers to develop a future-ready workforce tailored to their specific needs. At the same time, workers gain a debt-free entry point into high-demand tech careers, positioning them for long-term success.
Together, these strategies are expanding Colorado’s IT workforce to meet the demands of tomorrow while creating lasting economic opportunity and prosperity for all. Thank you for standing with us in this vital work.
ActivateWork Featured in Paul Fain's Work/Shift Newsletter
This story originally appeared in The Job by Work/Shift, a newsletter about the connections between education and work by veteran journalist Paul Fain. Read the original version here.
Curating a Match
Recruit, Train, and Coach
ActivateWork isn’t a coding bootcamp, although it offers tuition-free tech training. Instead, the Denver-based nonprofit describes itself as a bridge between companies and a diverse pool of job seekers.
“We bring employers to our learners,” says Helen Young Hayes, ActivateWork’s founder and CEO. “Employers need to be open to the thought that they might not have it all figured out.”
The group focuses on unemployed or underemployed workers. It recruits through digital media and at workforce centers, the Denver Rescue Mission, and other community organizations. Candidates participate in an eight-hour behavioral and aptitude assessment before they can enroll in ActivateWork’s 15-week training program. Only 20% are accepted.
Roughly two-thirds of training participants lack a bachelor’s degree. With a median age of 30 to 35, 70% are people of color. A third are women, and 22% are immigrants or refugees.
The group’s approach to training is based on the model of its partner, Per Scholas, a well-established tech skills development nonprofit. ActivateWork offers courses in software engineering, security fundamentals, IT support, AWS re/Start, and full-stack Java developer. Some of the 12- to 15-week tracks lead to a CompTIA A+ certification. All are free to learners—ActivateWork covers those costs through philanthropy and employer placement fees.
Its corporate partners tend to be open to hiring for potential, skills, and passion, says Hayes, not just pedigree. “Employers that have a long-term strategic approach versus a short-term reactive approach to solving their IT talent gaps,” she says.
So far 214 students have completed the program. The group is on pace to train 650 learners over the next three years. Graduates see an average annual wage gain from $20K to $46K.
Participants receive coaching for the first year after they are hired into a job. The support is designed to help them make the adjustment into a new role, in part to reduce turnover for ActivateWork’s employer partners.
Hayes says the group curates the match between employers and graduates.
“We coach our individuals on how to develop social capital and set the stage for them to develop close connections through our alumni gatherings,” she says.
Federal Support
ActivateWork has created three federally registered apprenticeships for graduates, which it offers to employers as a “turnkey” approach to on-the-job training. The group’s goal is for half of its graduates to move into an apprenticeship, which Hayes describes as the “surest and shortest path to economic mobility.”
The IT office of Jared Polis, Colorado’s Democratic governor, recently hired three apprentices who are graduates of ActivateWork’s software engineering course.
Hayes is a former investment banker who at one time oversaw $50B in assets as a portfolio manager for Janus Capital, a Denver-based mutual fund company. She would like to see the federal government invest more in work-based learning and backs a proposal for a new workforce training grant.
The concept would draw money from higher education subsidies to create an annual employer grant of $10K for each trainee who splits their time between work and formal training. Hayes also says she would like to see government support for low-income learners who are enrolled in accredited workforce programs that provide evidence-based upskilling, employment, and economic mobility.
In both cases, she says, quality controls are a must, including the decertification of underperforming training programs.
The Kicker: “No funding for organizations that do not provide employment,” says Hayes.
ActivateWork Promotes Kathryn V. Harris to President and Chief Operating Officer
For Immediate Release
Contact: Holly Shrewsbury
pr@activatework.org
720-320-0097
DENVER, COLO. — Thurs., March 30, 2023 — ActivateWork, a Colorado nonprofit that connects employers to a diverse pool of exceptionally trained I.T. talent, announced today that Kathryn V. Harris has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. Harris has served as Managing Director and COO for the past three years.
“As ActivateWork continues to shape the future of Colorado workers by developing a talent pipeline of skilled professionals from overlooked communities, both operational excellence and effective leadership are crucial to our success. Kathryn is driven by purpose and values, and I’m confident she is the right person to lead ActivateWork in our mission to positively impact people’s lives and the economy of our state,” said Helen Young Hayes, CEO and Founder of ActivateWork. “Kathryn is the rare combination of a dynamic, decisive leader and a warm, authentic ambassador. She’s creative, dedicated, and a relentlessly productive hands-on project manager. I look forward to the future of ActivateWork. We’ve made great strides in no small part due to Kathryn’s efforts and our greatest impacts lie ahead.”
Harris joined ActivateWork in 2019. She was responsible for launching their tuition-free IT skills training program that addresses Denver’s tech workforce shortage while improving economic mobility for marginalized populations. Under her leadership, ActivateWork has achieved all goals including graduation and job placement rates, and has grown employer partners from zero to more than 35. She was instrumental in the launch of their nationally-recognized apprenticeship program that is now one of the top three in the state.
Harris began her career at Accenture and has spent two decades in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, including roles as Executive Director of the Grand Foundation, Development Director for the Rose Community Foundation and President/CEO of Qualistar Colorado. She is a founding board member of Colorado Inclusive Economy and the Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative. Harris received a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College and earned a certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from Boston College.
About ActivateWork
ActivateWork is a nonprofit recruiting, training and coaching firm that connects employers to a diverse pool of exceptional talent. Traditional hiring processes leave valuable talent out; ActivateWork helps employers solve talent gaps by finding promising candidates in underrepresented communities and preparing them to excel in new careers. For more information, visit www.activatework.org.
Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology Hires Three Apprentices Through ActivateWork’s Newly Registered Software Development Apprenticeship Program
DENVER, COLO. — Mon., March 13, 2023 — ActivateWork announced today that three graduates of their training program were hired as developer apprentices by the Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) through a new partnership. The apprentices are recent graduates of ActivateWork’s Software Engineering course and will serve up to 18 months in their roles.
“The Governor’s Office of Information Technology is building the talent of tomorrow with apprentices to serve all Coloradans today. Registered apprenticeship programs are an inclusive model for workforce and career development,” said Anthony Neal-Graves, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director at OIT. “We are eager to work with three of the graduates from ActivateWork’s training program, which prepared apprentices for their roles and will ensure ongoing professional coaching and support to set them up for success.”
According to the 2022 Colorado Tech Industry Report from Colorado Technology Association, every year an average of 41,550 tech jobs need to be filled to accommodate for growth and retiring workers, and software developers account for almost 12 percent of the tech workforce. Denver-based non-profit ActivateWork connects employers to a diverse pool of exceptional talent and has three registered apprenticeships. The Software Development apprenticeship is the newest, and OIT is the first organization to hire apprentices within the program. ActivateWork’s other apprenticeships include Cybersecurity and DevOps, and all provide earn-while-you-learn career pathways to Coloradans. Through the apprenticeship programs, ActivateWork is helping Colorado employers to build their own talent pipelines with diverse, qualified candidates.
“We are excited to partner with OIT to launch this software development registered apprenticeship program to help them solve their IT talent gap and create a new economic mobility pathway for other employers in Colorado,” said Kathryn V. Harris, COO at ActivateWork. “Not only do our apprentices have their employer mentors and supervisors, but ActivateWork also provides a career coach and an apprenticeship coordinator to create comprehensive supports for each apprentice. Apprenticeships allow employers to build an evergreen talent pipeline with the exact skills they need for their in-demand roles. We applaud OIT for leading the way, leveraging this promising strategy to solve persistent talent gaps.”
Each OIT apprentice completed a 15-week Software Engineering pre-apprenticeship boot camp through ActivateWork, where they were immersed in full stack development and software development life cycle topics for more than 400 hours. Their graduation from the program qualifies them to enter the apprenticeship with the aptitude and skills to become a junior software developer.
The apprenticeship program addresses business needs by providing talent for hard-to-fill roles and solving the need for equity and inclusion in tech. CEO and Founder of ActivateWork, Helen Young Hayes, explained, “We recruit people from underrepresented communities and provide rigorous, industry-informed IT skills training paired with durable soft skills, preparing them for successful careers. We know that on a national level, 93% of apprentices transition into permanent employees; we’re confident our apprentices will experience similar success rates.”
The OIT Developer Apprentices will work as part of the office’s existing developer teams.
Photos available upon request.
About ActivateWork
ActivateWork is a nonprofit recruiting, training and coaching firm that connects employers to a
diverse pool of exceptional talent. Traditional hiring processes leave valuable talent out. We
help employers solve talent gaps by finding promising candidates in underrepresented
communities and preparing them to excel in new careers. For more information, visit
Colorado Voices on Tech
A Conversation With Helen Young Hayes
Listen to the article on Buzzsprout.com
February 24, 2023
In this episode, we spoke with Helen Young Hayes – founder and CEO of ActivateWork and a leading force in Colorado’s Inclusive Economy Initiative. With an impressive portfolio of titles, Hayes started the organization in 2016 to help connect underrepresented populations with full-time, full-benefit careers in their communities.
Helen shares her approach to connecting diverse, qualified talent to leading employers in the Colorado tech community – not only to advance economic and professional success but to transform lives through learning the mastery of new habits, mindsets, and disciplines.
9NEWS Leader of the Year Finalists
Read about 9NEWS Lead of the Year Finalists
Feb 9, 2023
DENVER — 9NEWS has announced the finalists for this year's Leader of the Year award, and you can help select the winner.
The three finalists answered questions at the Meet the Finalists panel Thursday evening at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. You can watch the full event in the video player above.
Voting will open to determine the 2023 winner will open Feb. 10.
This year's finalists are:
- Helen Young Hayes, Founder & CEO of ActivateWork
- Elsa Holguín, President & CEO of the Denver Preschool Program
- Vanecia Kerr, Chief Impact Officer of Mile High United Way
The winner, chosen by a vote, will be announced at the Leading Colorado luncheon on March 9.
Since 1999, 9NEWS has recognized outstanding leaders in our community, with the 9NEWS Leader of the Year award.
Past winners have included:
2022: Lydia Prado, executive director of Lifespan Local.
2021: Jesse Ogas, CEO and executive director of Firefly Autism.
2020: Jerome Davis, regional vice president of Xcel Energy Colorado.
The Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, an affiliate of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, partners with 9NEWS to honor individuals for their leadership and commitment to our state.
Now Is The Time to Lean Into DEI
Mon., Jan. 16, 2023
The headlines are disturbing. Major employers as diverse as Walmart, Ford, Tesla, Amazon, and Re/Max have announced massive layoffs. The vast majority of CEOs expect a recession in 2023, and 50% of companies are planning layoffs.
With the dual threats of economic weakness and high inflation, how should we as leaders balance short-term headwinds with long-term Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals? Past economic cycles reveal that DEI efforts are first on the chopping block. Is now the time to pull back?
On the contrary, companies should remain committed to diversity and inclusion, especially during recessions. New McKinsey research reveals that companies with authentic DEI programs increasingly outperform during both downturns and upswings, while companies lacking diversity are increasingly disadvantaged.
“Combatting inequity and creating opportunity for all is not just smart business, I believe it’s the moral imperative of our day. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The time is right to do what is right.”
Diverse and inclusive companies outperform in numerous ways. Recent academic studies show that diverse work groups have better anticipation, coping, and adaptation skills and are more resilient during downturns. They have more strategic agility and better problem-solving skills to navigate economic uncertainty. Diverse teams are more innovative, spot opportunities faster, and are 45% more likely to gain market share and 70% more likely to capture new markets.
A large new study on 1600 companies reveals that companies with inclusive cultures outperformed the S&P 500 significantly during the Great Recession (+14% versus -35%). These companies also enjoyed 4x the performance of the S&P from the period of 2006-2019.
With 10.5 million US job openings, the war for talent still rages on—with 2 jobs for every jobseeker in Colorado. The best-performing companies acquire assets during recessions, while others shed them. Top talent is no exception. Three out of four job seekers and employees prize diversity in the workforce, and diverse companies will continue to win the talent war.
Not just a recruiting aid, successful DEI efforts help companies maintain morale and avoid the reputational harm of backtracking on equity. Truly inclusive cultures are more successful at retaining key talent.
There are myriad reasons to lean into DEI, but the most compelling is that it’s the right thing to do. Time and again, downturns have most severely impacted women and people of color. Colorado, the 12th most prosperous state, ranks 37th for the racial inclusivity of our economy. And the COVID pandemic dramatically widened the disparity in employment, income, and wealth experienced by under-resourced Coloradans.
Combatting inequity and creating opportunity for all is not just smart business, I believe it’s the moral imperative of our day. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The time is right to do what is right.”
Now is the time to recommit to authentic diversity, equity, and inclusion. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize.
Helen Young Hayes is the Founder and Board Chair of the Colorado Inclusive Economy, a 150-member CEO-led movement to build multicultural workforces from the top down and inside out. She is also the Founder and CEO of ActivateWork, a nonprofit recruiting, training, employment, and coaching organization that launches economic mobility and IT careers for exceptional and diverse technologists. Helen was the recipient of the CWCC Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business Award in 2021.
ActivateWork: A Graduation of Diverse Learners
As seen in the September 2022 issue of Neighbors of Northwest Arvada
By Jeannette Schultz
Last July 1, Denver-based ActivateWork graduated three classes of 58 learners from technology courses suchas Security Fundamentals, QA Test Automation, and Desktop Support.
“Our triple graduation celebrates our impressive learners’ passion, curiosity, and perseverance. We celebrate each graduate’s courage to pursue broader horizons through the transformative power of technology,” said Helen YoungHayes, Founder and CEO of ActivateWork.
Mission:
ActivateWork’s mission is to help underserved individuals achieve their fullest potential through the dignity of work. Founded in 2016, the organization is dedicated to transforming ambition into lasting success by launching individuals into flourishing careers in IT and healthcare.
Partnering with Per Scholas, ActivateWork’s graduates completed 15-week courses focused on troubleshooting and maintaining computers, software, networks, and mobile devices. These courses also allowed students to earn CompTIA’s industry-recognized A+ and NETWORK+ certifications.
“It is bitter-sweet, half of me can’t wait to see all the great things these learners will accomplish, but the other half will miss our conversations,” said Michael Savage, Career Development Manager of ActivateWork.
Graduates are eager to start their technology careers. One graduate reminisces on finding the program fortuitous. “When I first heard about the program, I thought it was too good to be true. This program fell into my life: tuition-free, textbooks provided, testing vouchers covered. We had career coaching and participated in MSU Denver’s Cyber Range. This was more than just a boot camp,” said Yiana Michalakopoulos, a recent graduate who completed the Security Fundamentals course.
What we do:
ActivateWork provides world-class IT training and credentials, provided by Per Scholas, a national partner organization. The tuitionfree IT training and employment program is a win-win for individuals, employers, and the Denver community. By efficiently and effectively upskilling Coloradans from underrepresented communities, the IT curriculum solves for:
1. The million-person IT talent shortage in the US. This talent gap grows every year; the US simply doesn’t graduate enough computer sciences students, to meet the demand for tech talent.
2. The rapid obsolescence of the skills of millions of Americans due to Artificial Intelligence and the acceleration into a digital economy.
3. The post-pandemic desire for economic mobility and flourishing careers among workers previously employed in low-wage, dead-end jobs.
4. The uneven nature of Colorado’s prosperity. Colorado ranks 8thin overall prosperity but 37th in racial inclusivity of our economy. Communities of color are not participating equally in the state’s success and prosperity.
5. The tech industry’s desire for more diversity in the workforce. Currently, only 36 percent are women and 18 percent are Black and Hispanic.
6. The economic development cost to Colorado of unfilled tech jobs. With 23,000 cyber openings, Colorado’s economy is missing out on $2.3 billion in annual earning capacity.
7. Accelerating demand for cybersecurity and data protection.
ActivateWork is a nonprofit recruiting, training, and coaching firm that connects employers to a diverse pool of exceptional talent. The organization helps employers solve talent gaps by finding promising candidates in underrepresented communities and preparing them to excel in new careers.
Visit ActivateWork.org for more information.
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.1 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Boost High-Tech Jobs and Businesses in Colorado
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Contact: John Atwood JAtwood@eda.gov
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $3.1 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Boost High-Tech Jobs and Businesses in Colorado
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing $3.1 million in the state of Colorado to support the growth of high-tech business and cybersecurity workforce development. These grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan.
- The University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, will receive a $2 million grant to launch a smart cities incubator and accelerator with the goals of diversifying and building the regional economy and positioning the region as a smart technology innovation hub. Smart Cities certificate programs will be offered for undergraduate students and mid-career professionals for different types of careers. The EDA investment will also be used to support the development, testing and deployment of smart city technologies via the purchasing of 5G equipment to create a ’living lab’ for testing prototype products and services. The University of Colorado Denver has structured the project to serve underserved populations including students of color, women and first-generation Americans, and the project will help them attain quality jobs in the growing Smart Cities ecosystem. This EDA grant will be matched with $500,000 in local funds and is expected to create 239 jobs, according to grantee estimates.
- Activate Work, Inc, Denver, will receive a $1.1 million grant to support a training and job placement program for Coloradans seeking employment in the cybersecurity industry. The project will support underserved, low-income Coloradans seeking training and employment in high-demand cybersecurity careers through a tuition-free bootcamp and continued career coaching. This EDA grant will be matched with $279,254 in local funds and is expected to create 98 jobs, according to grantee estimates.
“President Biden is committed to supporting communities as they seek to create new opportunities to spur business growth and create jobs,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These EDA investments will provide the resources Coloradans need to spur growth in the critical high-technology and cybersecurity sectors.”
“The Economic Development Administration is dedicated to working with communities to support their locally-driven strategies to recover and rebuild from the pandemic,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “These investments will support Colorado as it develops new industries that will drive a resilient 21st Century economy.”
“This new investment will help save people money and get Coloradans into good paying jobs. Colorado’s thriving Latino community is a key to our economic success and a driving force behind our state’s strong workforce and critical industries. We thank the Biden administration and Secretary Raimondo for these important grant funds that will help make our professional services work force even stronger,” said Governor Jared Polis.
“This funding will create opportunities for programs in Colorado to expand their ground-breaking work in areas like cybersecurity as they lead our nation in building a 21st century economy that works for everyone,” said Senator Michael Bennet. “I look forward to seeing these investments come to life in Colorado.”
These projects are funded under EDA’s American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDA’s most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs. Effective May 26, 2022, EDA has officially closed all of its American Rescue Plan programs for applications. The $3 billion program funding will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.