Throughout my career as a manufacturing leader and a trustee in higher education, I’ve been deeply involved in shaping educational and career pathways for young people.
It wasn’t until I was the mother of a teenager who was being asked to choose a career direction as a freshman in high school that I had the startling realization that our students are woefully unprepared to make career choices or choose a major.
Students are graduating high school without a clear understanding of the reality of what career options are available to them. The gap between education and the workforce has widened and it is high time to address it.
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The moment that had a startling impact was when my daughter‘s friend asked her what our family business did. She confidently said, “We make parts to cool toilets.” But there were two things wrong with her response. First, we were not in the toilet business and secondly, nobody wants a cold toilet.
What the company does is make parts that cool refrigerators, buildings, cars and electronics. The fact that my daughter didn’t know what our family business did was an epiphany.
I realized at that moment what I had previously feared as an employer was in fact true. Few students know what their family members do in their jobs, let alone the range of careers that are out there for them.
I had another enlightening experience later that week around my kitchen table with a group of my daughter’s friends. One boy was adamant he wanted to be a stockbroker because he had seen Gordon Gekko in the movie “Wall Street” and thought that was the job for him.
When I explained the difference between stockbrokers and private equity professionals, he was completely unfamiliar with the concept. This is not an isolated case; many students don’t understand what specific roles involve, even in industries they might be interested in. It’s a major barrier to making informed decisions about their futures.
Career pathways are about finding a passion
Traditional career guidance has largely focused on academic success, and while that’s undoubtedly important, it often overlooks the critical need for career readiness. When students graduate, they are expected to hit the ground running either in the workforce or higher education but many struggle because they’ve never had the chance to explore real-world opportunities or connect with mentors in their field.
The system has failed them by not providing access to the tools they need to discover their passions and build meaningful relationships that can lead to professional success. The system has provided tools but they aren’t good enough.
Schools do the best they can with the limited tools they have, but a one-and-done assessment and its results isn’t nearly enough. Finding a passion and a path isn’t an overnight exercise.
As a society, we’ve long accepted the traditional career development model, relying on “speed dating” career fairs, classroom presentations and cookie-cutter advice. But for today’s students, especially Gen Z, these conventional methods are no longer enough.
The world is changing at an ever-accelerating pace, and so are the pathways to success. The rise of digital tools and evolving job markets demand a new approach—one that is dynamic, transparent and inclusive.
Today’s students, especially those in high school and college, live in a digital-first world. They are used to having information at their fingertips and engaging in social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Yet, despite being constantly plugged into these networks, many still lack access to crucial career resources.
To bridge this gap, we need to harness the power of digital tools, creating interactive, student-led platforms that allow young people to explore careers in a fun and engaging way; platforms where students can explore job categories, dive into specific industries and participate in virtual career days where they hear directly from professionals.
By giving students access to real professionals—not just abstract job descriptions—we can help them see what successful career pathways look like and how they can build them.
The future of work isn’t waiting
Educational institutions need to stop relying solely on outdated methods and embrace a more dynamic, accessible approach. They must move beyond the classroom and create opportunities for real-world learning experiences.
This means investing in platforms that connect students with mentors, offer internships and foster networking. It also means allowing students to explore careers at their own pace and on their own terms.
I believe that by breaking down the barriers to career exploration, we can ensure that every student—regardless of their background or level of support—has the tools they need to succeed. It’s about offering access to information, creating opportunities for connection and fostering a culture of mentorship and exploration.
If we do this right, we can create a generation of confident, well-prepared individuals ready to take on the challenges of the modern workforce.
This is a call to action for schools, parents and businesses alike: it’s time to invest in the future by building transparent, accessible and meaningful career pathways for students. The future of work isn’t waiting and neither should we.
