# Employee Education Drives Workforce and Business Growth

By Ron Stefanski · Published 2025-01-22 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Education Technology on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/employee-education-drives-workforce-and-business-growth-part-1
Creator hub: DisruptED

> Companies leveraging education benefits gain competitive advantage while helping employees escape the burden of student debt

## Key points

- Employer education benefits serve as a competitive differentiator in talent attraction and retention.
- Employee education programs help workers address student debt while building skills relevant to the business.
- Linking workforce education to business strategy produces measurable growth outcomes for organizations.

Block Field

The landscape of employee education and workforce development is undergoing rapid disruption. Employers are stepping in to bridge the skills gap, offering education as a benefit to attract and retain talent while addressing critical workforce needs. With U.S. student loan debt reaching $[1.77 trillion](https://www.fool.com/research/student-loan-debt-statistics/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) as of late 2024, corporations are innovating to provide employees with opportunities to advance without financial burden. This shift raises critical questions about how companies can effectively balance ROI with meaningful support for their workforce.

> This shift raises critical questions about how companies can effectively balance ROI with meaningful support for their workforce.

How are corporations reshaping employee education for frontline and non-traditional workers while ensuring business outcomes?

On this Part 1 of a 2 part episode of [*DisruptEd*](https://marketscale.com/shows/disrupted/), host [Ron Stefanski](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronjstefanski/) dives into the rapidly evolving intersection of education, workforce development, and technology with [**Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashatberr/), president of [**SkillsWave**](https://skillswave.com/). Together, they explore how innovative learning models and partnerships are transforming the role of corporations in upskilling their employees.

**Key Takeaways from the Conversation**

- **The Evolution of Education as a Benefit**: Companies like **Starbucks** and **McDonald's** pioneered this movement by offering tuition assistance and programs for frontline workers, shifting corporate culture from exclusive executive MBAs to widespread educational access.
- **Aligning Learning with Business Goals**: Organizations are now prioritizing education programs that directly impact business outcomes, such as increasing employee retention, improving productivity, and reducing external hiring costs.
- **Navigating a Disrupted Learning Landscape**: With the erosion of state support for higher education and changing workforce needs, both learners and employers are asking new questions about the ROI of traditional degrees versus skills-based education.

### About the Guest

**Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich**, Ph.D., is an accomplished leader in higher education and innovative learning models, with expertise in eLearning systems and workforce upskilling. As President of **SkillsWave** and former Senior Vice President at **D2L**, she has driven corporate partnerships and scalable learning solutions, enhancing talent development for major organizations and universities. Sasha's career includes key roles at **Louisiana State University** and **Pearson**, where she spearheaded online education initiatives, team building, and operational growth, solidifying her reputation as a transformative force in education and technology.

Tags: Education as a benefit, employee education programs, Employee retention, Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich, SkillsWave, workforce development

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