PHX Reporter

The University of Phoenix is set to host a webinar in partnership with Jobs For the Future (JFF). Titled “Finding Balance: Hard Skills vs Soft Skills for Professional Growth,” the event is scheduled for Monday, March 31, at 11:00 pm PDT/AZT (12:00 pm MDT, 2:00 pm EDT). The session will include a panel discussion featuring University of Phoenix Vice President of Information Technology, Shannon T. Wilson, Vice Provost of Strategy, Marc Booker, Ph.D., and JFF’s Director of Field Implementation, Meena Naik. It is free and open to the public.

The webinar aims to help attendees understand the importance of both hard and soft skills in their professional development. As noted by recent workforce studies from McKinsey and Deloitte, there’s a growing emphasis on skills in the workplace. The University of Phoenix’s 2024 Career Optimism Index study found that 74% of American workers believe they need to keep learning new skills to remain competitive, while 66% feel they must enhance their skills to progress in their careers.

“Hard skills and durable skills are critical to working adult learners and their professional growth in any industry," says Shannon T. Wilson. "We look forward to leveraging our perspectives and experiences to help understand different types or sets of skills and their application, relevant workforce trends and sharing insights from our expectations and predictions for the evolution of skills in career planning."

The event will cover definitions and distinctions between hard and soft skills and how they can collectively contribute to professional growth. It will also address how to balance these skills in light of current workforce trends.

University of Phoenix and JFF have developed an action-based framework to offer strategies to colleges and employers aiming to support career advancement through building professional social capital.

Marc Booker, overseeing academic initiatives at the University of Phoenix, has been recognized for his work in higher education. Notable honors include the 2024 UPCEA’s Business and Operations award, the 2024 Thomas A. Bilger award from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and a 2020 Hall of Fame recognition from Blackboard.

Shannon T. Wilson, a technology leader at the University, has extensive experience in aligning technological innovations with strategic business goals, ensuring operational success and growth through technology.

Meena Naik, an advocate for a skills-first approach to economic mobility, collaborates with organizations to implement best practices in skills-first learning. Her work aims to modernize legacy systems and test new opportunities for dual transformation.

Registration is open for the “Finding Balance: Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills for Professional Growth” webinar.