Have you ever left an event more energized than when you arrived? That’s exactly how our VP of Growth, Jess Weems Thibault, felt after attending this year’s EDTECH WEEK.

EDTECH WEEK is a gathering of hundreds of speakers, investors, and attendees, all united by a shared mission: to inclusively tackle the most pressing challenges in preK-to-gray education through programmatic and technological innovations.

According to their website, it’s “the ultimate fusion of innovation, collaboration, and growth.”

This theme resonated throughout the week, and Jess shared some of her biggest takeaways:

Takeaway 1: Energetic Collaboration

When asked about the atmosphere at EDTECH WEEK, Jess immediately described it as “communal.”

The culture of collaboration in the edtech industry is unique, and it was on full display at EDTECH WEEK. Founders, funders, researchers and other key stakeholders came together to address the challenges facing education and workforce development.

Jess had several insightful conversations with B2B leaders, where collaboration was the common thread. New B2B companies have sprung up to serve edtech companies and help them better meet the needs of shared end users.

In most of these discussions, leaders acknowledged that interoperability is now the norm, further highlighting the interconnectedness of the industry.

This spirit of “reaching across the aisle” is proving to be a winning formula, and EDTECH WEEK provided the perfect space for these collaborations to flourish—a trend that Jess expects will continue well into the future.

Workforce Development stood out as the area where collaboration is the most essential to impact. Many workers, especially those juggling busy schedules, families, and other obligations, struggle to find time to obtain new degrees or certifications. Institutions and employers are utilizing online and mobile learning platforms to deliver co-designed content that develops opportunities for growth and economic mobility.

For example, the U.S. Naval Community College offers stackable degrees that lead to an associate’s degree or further, allowing service members to grow their skills and advance their careers in a way that aligns with their highly demanding schedules.

You’ll recall from our blog about ASU+GSV 2023 that we discussed the growing focus on workforce development, corporate training, credentialing, and educating non-traditional student populations. It’s obvious this trend will continue to gain momentum and remain a key priority for the edtech community.

Takeaway 2: Fractional Talent Hits the Mark

With our lens of talent strategy, Jess noticed a rising demand for fractional placements, especially among early-stage startups.

Fractional placements enable these startups to bring in experienced talent to their C-suites, helping build a strong foundation for newer companies. Whether it’s defining customer profiles, figuring out a product-market fit, or setting up operational systems, fractional employees provide the expertise needed during the critical early stages of a company’s growth.

Many startups are currently caught in this conundrum: they start with direct-to-consumer selling to supply revenue and immediate user feedback, but then need to pivot to enterprise/institutional sales to grow and attract investors. Jess spoke with several startup founders who find themselves in this position and it is a challenging leap to make. Initiating a fractional search was a common conclusion as short-term, go-to-market (GTM) expertise can be incredibly valuable at this growth juncture.

On the flip side, fractional employees benefit from flexibility—choosing when, where, and how they work—while continuing to share their knowledge to address major challenges in education. It is a role that many veterans of our industry enjoy.

In this blog, we talk more about fractional placements and how they could benefit your company. If this type of contractor could be valuable to someone in your network, let us know.

Takeaway 3: Steady Growth

Regardless of the stage your company is in, one constant is top of mind: growth.

Whether it’s securing funding, expanding your team, or expanding revenue, the call for sustainable, steady growth was a recurring theme at EDTECH WEEK.

The boom and bust of COVID-19 relief and ESSER funding is over. OPMs are forever changed and universities are looking for new models of online program leadership. Efficacy is now front-and-center when evaluating edtech innovations.

Lasting impact is the product of sustainable growth. And, as always, HireEducation is grateful for the role we get to play in finding talent for these endeavors.

A lot happened at EDTECH WEEK, and luckily, Edtech Insiders provided a great rundown. We’ll be using that, along with Jess’s key takeaways, to grow and help other companies do the same.

At HireEducation, growth is at the core of what we do. Whether it’s helping candidates take the next step in their careers or helping hiring managers find the perfect fit to elevate their company, we’re here to support your journey.

Looking for innovative and collaborative ways to grow? Let’s talk.