🤝 Advancing System Alignment: The Power and Pitfalls of Collaboration in Workforce Development
A Perspective from Schade Consulting LLC on Workforce Pell, Workforce Realigned, and Stakeholder Engagement
At Schade Consulting LLC, we believe that workforce development is most effective when it’s relational, inclusive, and outcomes-driven. As new policies like the Workforce Pell and frameworks like Workforce Realigned reshape the landscape, we see an opportunity to deepen collaboration while honoring the time, trust, and experience of stakeholders.
✅ The Promise of Collaboration
Co-Creation Builds Relevance
We’ve seen firsthand that when educators, employers, and community partners co-design strategies, the resulting programs are more aligned with real-world needs and more resilient to change.
Workforce Pell Expands Access
By extending Pell Grant eligibility to short-term training programs, this law opens new doors for learners seeking economic mobility. It also challenges institutions to rethink how they deliver career-connected education in partnership with employers (source).Relational Impact Drives Sustainability
At Schade Consulting, we use Return on Relationship (ROR) metrics to capture the value of trust, transparency, and shared purpose—especially as stakeholders navigate new funding models and accountability structures.
⚠️ The Tensions We Must Navigate
Stakeholder Fatigue Is Real
When engagement feels extractive or unfocused, participation can diminish. We’ve seen this in convenings where roles are unclear or outcomes are delayed.Competing Priorities Across Systems
Workforce Pell and Workforce Realigned demands alignment between short-term training, long-term career pathways, and employer needs. Without intentional facilitation, these priorities can clash.Resource Strain and Power Imbalances
Inclusive engagement takes time—and without equitable design, some voices may be sidelined. We advocate for engagement mapping and capacity-aware strategies to ensure all stakeholders are heard.
📊 Workforce Realigned: Investing in What Works
Understanding what works and what does not will help identify which investments will deliver the most impact. Also referenced in Forbes: Stop Paying for Failure
The release of Workforce Realigned, Volume II, marks a pivotal shift in how workforce development is financed and evaluated. This collection of 21 case studies—authored by policymakers, employers, educators, and practitioners—spotlights outcomes-based models that tie every dollar to measurable, sustained economic gains.
Key innovations include:
Apprenticeship pay-for-success programs
These models shift risk away from workers and toward institutions, ensuring that funding is contingent on employment outcomes.
Employer-Led Training Initiatives
Employers co-invest in programs, aligning curricula with labor market demand and improving placement rates.Shared Accountability Structures
These frameworks foster deeper collaboration and incentivize long-term success across sectors.
At Schade Consulting, we see these models as a natural extension of ROR principles—validating relational investments and reinforcing the importance of trust in driving measurable impact.
🔄 Reinvigorating Engagement
To sustain energy and avoid fatigue, we recommend:
Designing for Impact, Not Just Input
Engagement should lead to visible change—whether in program design, policy shifts, or learner outcomes.Using ROR Metrics to Track Relational Value
These tools help stakeholders see the impact of their time and trust, beyond traditional KPIs.Tailoring Engagement to Capacity
Not every stakeholder needs to be at every table. Strategic mapping helps distribute effort and protect bandwidth.Building in Recovery Space
Engagement cycles should include reflection and renewal—especially in fast-evolving contexts like Workforce Pell implementation.
🔗 A Visual Guide to Alignment
To illustrate how these elements intersect, we created a visual roadmap connecting Workforce Pell, Workforce Realigned, and stakeholder engagement:
In this Venn diagram:
Workforce Pell and Stakeholder Engagement overlap on access and accountability
Stakeholder Engagement and Workforce Realigned meet on outcomes-based models
All three converge at collaboration, the driving force behind sustainable impact
At Schade Consulting LLC, we remain committed to helping partners navigate this evolving terrain with clarity, creativity, and care. Whether you're redesigning programs, facilitating cross-sector partnerships, or measuring relational impact—we’re here to support the journey. We understand the complex environment the ecosystem faces, and we know one size does not fit all. Let us design a strategy that speaks directly to your priorities.
Welcome to Schade Consulting: Where Relationships Ignite Real Change 🔥
At Schade Consulting, we believe that every gathering holds the potential to spark something extraordinary.
We don’t just convene people—we design purposeful experiences that inspire creativity, honor every voice, and transform dialogue into collective action. Whether we're facilitating community workshops, guiding strategic planning sessions, or supporting workforce transformation, we center human connection in everything we do.
Why We Exist
Our work is grounded in a core belief we call Return on Relationship (ROR)—the idea that the true measure of success isn’t just what gets done, but how people feel along the way. When relationships are strong, collaboration becomes deeper, outcomes more meaningful, and impact longer lasting.
How We Collaborate: A Flow that Builds Trust and Multiplies Impact
We approach collaboration as a deliberate and evolving process—what we call the Value Creation Flow. It’s more than a framework; it’s a living cycle that starts with deep listening and ends with amplified impact. Here’s how it shows up in our work:
Authentic Convening
We create inclusive spaces where stakeholders—from students to CEOs—feel seen, heard, and safe. These are not just meetings; they’re launchpads for trust and relational momentum.Collaborative Innovation
We guide co-creation across roles and sectors, breaking silos and building shared ownership. Ideas don’t come from the top—they emerge from the middle, the margins, and the lived experiences in the room.
Actionable Strategy
We translate insights into strategy, with an eye on implementation and accountability. Trust is not a byproduct—it’s a driver. When people trust the process, they invest in the outcomes.Measurable Impact
We help partners track what truly matters: belonging, engagement, equity, and transformation. These are the proof points of relational return—and the fuel for future gatherings.
This flow isn’t static. It loops forward—strengthening networks, reinforcing relationships, and turning each touchpoint into a foundation for more resilient systems.
Our Vision
We envision a world where collaboration is courageous, facilitation is community-centered, and strategy is driven by people—not just plans. A world where every convening is a catalyst for creativity, connection, and change that lasts.
Our approach to consulting is human-focused with a sense of building value for the return on relationship. Success in the Value Creation Flow is rooted in relationships—but it’s not just a “feel-good” notion. At Schade Consulting, you’re translating trust into tangible outcomes. Here’s how success shows up across each stage of the flow, with both qualitative and quantitative markers:
📍 1. Authentic Convening
💡 2. Collaborative Innovation
🔧 3. Actionable Strategy
📈 4. Measurable Impact
Let us Convene | Collaborate | Consult with your team! We look forward to continuing this conversation—amplifying insights, sharing real-world models, and co-creating a Skills Economy that works for everyone.
Contact Sarah Schade, Owner/Chief Consultant at sarah@schadeconsultingllc.com