Skip to content
MarketScale
‹ Back to IndustriesEducation Technology

Employee Education and Workforce Training: Unlocking Mid-Market Potential Through Technology and Upskilling

Mid-market companies can unlock significant competitive advantage by investing in employee upskilling and leveraging technology-driven workforce training programs. Strategic education initiatives not only improve talent retention but also directly strengthen the bottom line. The article explores how technology platforms are making scalable, cost-effective training accessible to organizations at the mid-market level.

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Education Technology teams put it to work with Executive Thought Leadership.

Promoted content from DisruptED on MarketScale.

By Ron Stefanski · Education as a BenefitEducational Assistance ProgramsMid-sized Businesses Challenges and OpportunitiesSasha Thackerberry-voinovich
Share

Key takeaways

01

Mid-market companies that prioritize upskilling gain measurable competitive advantages over peers who do not invest in workforce development.

02

Technology platforms are democratizing access to employee training, making enterprise-grade learning tools available to smaller organizations.

03

Investing in employee education improves retention, reduces hiring costs, and strengthens overall business performance.

Get featured

Want to get featured in MarketScale Education Technology?

Create a free MarketScale workspace and get your company's expertise featured across our Education Technology coverage. No credit card, no demo required.

Request an invite

Integrating education and workforce training as an employee benefit has become a pivotal strategy for talent acquisition and retention. While industry leaders like Walmart, McDonald's, and Starbucks have long championed such programs, mid-sized and smaller enterprises often face barriers to implementation. A study found that education reimbursement programs deliver a 129% return on investment, meaning for every dollar spent, companies gain an additional $1.29. This makes the case clear that upskilling is not just a perk but a business imperative.

Education reimbursement programs deliver a 129% return on investment, meaning for every dollar spent, companies gain an additional $1.29.

How can mid-market companies effectively adopt and benefit from educational assistance programs?

Part two of this episode of "DisruptED" features host Ron Stefanski continuing to engage with Sasha Thackerberry-Voinovich, CEO of SkillsWave. The discussion delves into the challenges and opportunities mid-sized businesses face when implementing education benefits, emphasizing the importance of aligning these programs with cutting-edge technology and measurable business outcomes.

Key Takeaways from the Conversation:

  • Technology as a Driver: Innovative platforms streamline the implementation of educational and workforce training programs, enabling scalability and efficiency for businesses of any size.
  • Investment with Impact: Upskilling initiatives not only reduce turnover but also foster innovation and competitiveness in a disrupted workforce landscape.
  • Tailored Learning Paths: Personalized education tracks align employee career growth with organizational goals, enhancing engagement and retention.

Sasha Thackerberry-Voinovich is a renowned leader in corporate upskilling and education innovation. As the CEO of SkillsWave, she bridges the gap between education providers and businesses, driving transformative workforce development. Sasha holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Kent State University and has held key leadership roles at D2L, Louisiana State University, and Pearson, bringing unparalleled expertise to the table.

DisruptED

Part of this channel

DisruptED

Education, workforce, and manufacturing futures with Ron J. Stefanski.

Visit the channel

Your experts belong here

Every story in MarketScale Education Technology starts with a company putting its implementation leads, instructional designers, and district partners on the record. Buyers are already reading this topic. The only question is whose experts they find.

Procurement teams read long before they ever call, and your implementers get to answer their questions first.

Get your team featuredSee how it works15 minutes, straight to a calendar.

About the author

RS
Ron Stefanski

Follow Education Technology Insights

Get new expert content in your inbox.

Education Technology: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Education Technology buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. See how AI describes your company today, and where competitors show up instead.

Free workspace

You just read one Education Technology expert. Your company is full of them.

This article was produced through MarketScale. The same platform turns your implementation leads, instructional designers, and district partners into the articles, video, and social content Education Technology buyers are searching for. Create a free workspace and see it with your own people. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Education Technology Insights

Student success programs are colliding with student portals, and colleges are starting to run both like one system

Student success programs are colliding with student portals, and colleges are starting to run both like one system

Colleges are integrating student success programs with student portals to streamline their operations. The new SDX maturity model provides a framework for enhancing these digital journeys. Campus-level expansions are crucial for effective support program implementation.

  • 01Colleges are merging student success programs with student portals to create a unified system.
  • 02The SDX maturity model is a tool to improve digital journey management in education.
  • 03Campus-level expansions are essential for the successful implementation of support programs.

Aug 23, 2026

Johns Hopkins is staffing a 24-FTE success coaching program as data-driven advising shifts from pilot to operating model

Johns Hopkins is staffing a 24-FTE success coaching program as data-driven advising shifts from pilot to operating model

Johns Hopkins University is expanding its student success program by implementing a 24-FTE success coaching model. This initiative combines dedicated coaching structures with integrated data systems and automated outreach to enhance student advising. The program marks a transition from a pilot phase to a fully operational model aimed at improving student outcomes.

  • 01Johns Hopkins University is launching a 24-FTE success coaching program to industrialize student success.
  • 02The program integrates data systems and automated outreach with structured coaching to improve student advising.
  • 03This initiative transitions from a pilot project to a full operational model, enhancing student outcomes.

Aug 23, 2026

The Education Department’s 2026 guidance and rules are forcing edtech contracts to carry explicit “purpose, proof, and process” language

The Education Department’s 2026 guidance and rules are forcing edtech contracts to carry explicit “purpose, proof, and process” language

In 2026, the Education Department is implementing new guidance and rules that require explicit 'purpose, proof, and process' language in edtech contracts. These changes affect how districts and colleges must document the value of edtech solutions, ensure civil-rights compliance, and manage student-debt risk. The aim is to increase accountability and transparency in the use of educational technology.

  • 01Edtech contracts must include clear 'purpose, proof, and process' language.
  • 02Schools and colleges need to enhance documentation of edtech value and civil-rights compliance.
  • 03New guidelines aim to mitigate student-debt risk associated with educational technology.

Aug 23, 2026

Explore More Education Technology Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Education Technology.

Browse Education Technology Hub

About the Expert

RS
Ron Stefanski

Host, DisruptED

Ron Stefanski is the host of DisruptED, a show focused on innovation and disruption in education. He is also an entrepreneur and online business educator who has built and sold multiple content websites. Stefanski regularly covers topics at the intersection of technology, learning, and workforce development.

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Education Technology and beyond.

Book a 15-minute demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512