Episode #256: Why Upskilling Working Professionals is the Focus for Tech-Adjacent Career Growth

The Higher Ed Geek Podcast

This week, we’re featuring a conversation with Sara Leoni, CEO of Ziplines Education, about how her company partners with universities to offer industry-aligned certificate programs designed to upskill adult learners into tech-adjacent careers. Sara shares insights on the evolving workforce, the need for flexible, accessible education, and the importance of addressing regional disparities in education and employment opportunities. They also discuss the significance of building community through learning and the role of universities in providing career pathways for mainstream America.

Guest Name: Sara Leoni, CEO at Ziplines Education

Guest Social: LinkedIn

Guest Bio: Sara Leoni is CEO and founder of Ziplines Education, a market-driven education company that partners with universities to deliver industry-focused certificate courses that prepare professionals for today’s digital-first workforce. The company recently announced its $6.4 million Series A funding to help close the skills gap. With a career spanning more than 20 years, Sara thrives on building, focusing, and motivating high-performing teams to solve big programs, while delivering significant growth in high-impact businesses. As a sought-after thought leader, she has been a speaker at industry-leading events and conferences, such as the ASU+GSV Summit; Dreamforce, Salesforce’s annual international event; and UPCEA Annual Conference, the premier event for thought leaders and practitioners in the fields of professional, continuing, and online education. Prior to launching Ziplines Education, Sara was CEO of Rafter, a $50 million course-material, technology-management company that served hundreds of colleges nationwide, where she spearheaded efforts saving students half a billion dollars.

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Dustin Ramsdell
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