How SkillUp & WhereWeGo Are Helping Millions of Workers Discover Great Careers

In the spring of 2020, during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, SkillUp was founded with a clear purpose: to help un or underemployed individuals rapidly upskill and find fulfilling jobs. The challenge was clear—how do we connect workers to training programs and career pathways that provide stability and mobility? Around the same time, at WhereWeGo, we were focused on launching our first product with a nearly identical mission. It made sense that we’d eventually cross paths.

When SkillUp approached us at the end of 2020, we had already launched our training navigator for New Orleans—a tool designed to guide workers to relevant, high-quality training programs. SkillUp saw the potential in this navigator and wanted to use it, but they also had bigger goals and a vision for where it could go. From the beginning, it was clear that this wasn’t just about customizing a tool; it was about co-creating something that could grow with their mission and support workers on a national scale.

On a Personal Note:

From the very beginning, working with SkillUp has felt like a true partnership. We’ve not only built technology together—we’ve built trust, shared a mission, and pushed each other to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The SkillUp team has consistently challenged us to think bigger, stay focused on impact, and never lose sight of the workers who rely on these tools.

One thing that stands out is their marriage of ambition with an obsession with what’s best for the worker. They are fearless in their pursuit of scale and impact, but not at the expense of the people they serve. Whether it’s refining job-matching APIs, shaping messaging to ensure accessibility, or pushing for deeper research into gateway career pathways, every decision is driven by a commitment to helping workers navigate real challenges and find meaningful opportunities.

We’re grateful for the trust they’ve placed in us and for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated, thoughtful, and mission-driven leaders. It’s rare to find partners who so fully align in values and vision, and we look forward to continuing this work together to make a real difference in the lives of millions of workers.

A Shared Mission and Complementary Strengths

We were drawn to SkillUp’s clear focus on helping workers, and they were drawn to our background as former teachers. Having worked directly with students and job seekers, we understood the need for solutions that centered on the user experience and addressed real-world challenges. This alignment wasn’t just about technology—it was about creating tools that gave workers a chance to take actionable steps in their career journeys.

Starting with the Navigator

Our first project together was to adapt the training navigator to meet SkillUp’s broader goals. They wanted a tool that would help workers filter through a vast number of training programs and find the ones that fit their needs. It had to be easy to use, accurate, and scalable.

Working closely with Jason Cheng, SkillUp’s Senior Vice President of Product & Analytics, we expanded the navigator, pulling live data on training programs, filtering them based on worker preferences, and presenting options in a clear, worker-first interface. Jason’s close involvement ensured that everything we built tied back to SkillUp’s strategy and larger aspirations.

Expanding the Partnership

As SkillUp’s needs grew, so did our collaboration. Desiree Jewell, their SVP of marketing and communications, and her team were instrumental in ensuring the navigator reached the workers who needed it most. Her team and their efforts, paired with the technology we built, has helped SkillUp reach millions of users and establish itself as a key player in workforce development.

Elissa Salas’ team’s detailed heuristics and research into “gateway jobs”—roles that provide immediate opportunities for career growth without requiring a 4 year degree—helped us shape tools that weren’t just about finding any job but the right job. Their insights hold the platform accountable to the worker-first ethos that binds SkillUp and WhereWeGo. She and her team make the platform more intentional and useful for workers looking to advance their careers.

And SkillUp CEO Steve Lee’s leadership set high standards and pushed us to aim for excellence. He was always looking ahead, challenging us to think beyond what we had and consider what could be possible for workers and the organizations supporting them.

The Impact

Together, we’ve connected over 3.5 million workers to training programs and career opportunities. The tools we’ve built now drive 100,000 visitors monthly, creating pathways for workers to access the resources they need to build their futures. These numbers represent real lives impacted, which is what this work is all about.

Looking Ahead

What started as a New Orleans-based training navigator has grown into a comprehensive suite of tools that help workers find jobs, connect with training providers, and navigate career transitions. This partnership has taught us that building effective tools means staying focused on the people we’re serving, solving real problems, and being flexible enough to adapt to what comes next.

Our work with SkillUp is ongoing, and we’re excited to continue building tools that make a difference for workers, employers, and training providers alike.

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