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The Future Of Work

The Future Of Work

Christina Barsi 182 Episodes Jun 30, 2026

Pasadena City College presents The Future Of Work, a podcast exploring the disconnect between education and workforce demands. Host Christina Barsi leads conversations with policymakers, business owners, educators, and students on how to close that gap. Topics include industry-education partnerships, equity, and expanding internship opportunities. The show aims to shape a better future for students and society.

Episodes

Explore Our Wildfire Recovery Webinar Series & Catch Up on our Library of Episodes!
Explore Our Wildfire Recovery Webinar Series & Catch Up on our Library of Episodes! Jun 30, 2026 00:56 The Future of Work podcast is taking a small summer break, with new episodes coming your way in the fall. We encourage you to take this time to catch up on any episodes you may have missed from our library of over 150 plus conversations and to check out our new webinar series focused on Wildfire Recovery. From everyone here at Pasadena City College, we are wishing you a fun and safe summer and we'
Bridging Recovery and Workforce with PCC’s Wildland Fire Academy & Mathew Barboza, Dean of Business and Enrollment Management Episode 170
Bridging Recovery and Workforce with PCC’s Wildland Fire Academy & Mathew Barboza, Dean of Business and Enrollment Management Episode 170 Jun 23, 2026 23:04 What does it take to turn a crisis into an opportunity for community resilience and meaningful careers? In this episode of The Future of Work podcast, our host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, talks with Pasadena City College’s Dean of Business and Enrollment Management, Mathew Barboza, to discuss the rapid launch and far-reaching impact of the college’s Wildland Fire Academy.Sparked by the urgent needs foll
Transforming Access and Equity in Healthcare Workforce Development with Van Ton-Quinlivan, Founder & CEO of Futuro Health Episode 169
Transforming Access and Equity in Healthcare Workforce Development with Van Ton-Quinlivan, Founder & CEO of Futuro Health Episode 169 Jun 9, 2026 29:48 How can we build a healthcare workforce that truly reflects and serves our diverse communities? Our host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, talks with founder and CEO of Futuro Health, Van Ton-Quinlivan. Together, they tackle some of the most pressing challenges in today’s healthcare labor market—from meeting critical workforce shortages to designing inclusive, accessible pathways into stable, middle-class car
Making Recovery Equitable & Inclusive with Anish Saraiya, Director of Altadena Recovery for L.A County Supervisor Kathryn Barger Episode 168
Making Recovery Equitable & Inclusive with Anish Saraiya, Director of Altadena Recovery for L.A County Supervisor Kathryn Barger Episode 168 May 26, 2026 26:54 What does true community recovery look like one year after disaster strikes—and how can we ensure that no one gets left behind?In this episode, our host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, sits down with Anish Saraiya, Director of Altadena Recovery and Deputy Supervisor for Planning and Development with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. With a background in civil engineering and public infrastructure
How To Build an Inclusive Workforce with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President at Jobs for the Future Episode 167
How To Build an Inclusive Workforce with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President at Jobs for the Future Episode 167 May 12, 2026 26:57 What if volunteering, raising kids, learning on the job, and real life experience counted just as much as a college degree? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President overseeing Job for the Future's strategic presence in California, about what it really means to create a workforce that works for everyone. Parikh shares how community c
How To Develop Soft Skills for Future Tech-Driven Jobs with Tara Chklovski, founder/CEO of Technovation Episode 166
How To Develop Soft Skills for Future Tech-Driven Jobs with Tara Chklovski, founder/CEO of Technovation Episode 166 Apr 28, 2026 29:43 What if the biggest barrier to success in tech isn't access, but mindset? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation, about what it truly takes to thrive in an AI-driven world. Tara unpacks why resilience and adaptability are just as vital as technical skills, how simulation-based learning can reshape education, and why women
How Women-Owned Businesses Lead Pasadena's Post-Fire Economic Rebuild with Lizzy Okoro Davidson, Director at Pasadena Women's Business Center Episode 165
How Women-Owned Businesses Lead Pasadena's Post-Fire Economic Rebuild with Lizzy Okoro Davidson, Director at Pasadena Women's Business Center Episode 165 Apr 14, 2026 31:51 A year after the devastating Los Angeles fires in January 2025, Lizzy Okoro Davidson returns to the podcast to share how the Pasadena Women's Business Center has become a key leader in rebuilding efforts—championing strategies rooted in equity, tactical support, and economic opportunity for women entrepreneurs. Together, our host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of the Economic and Workforce
Sustaining the Rebuild: PCC's Continuing Commitment to Community Recovery Episode 164
Sustaining the Rebuild: PCC's Continuing Commitment to Community Recovery Episode 164 Mar 31, 2026 31:33 What does it actually take to create a sustainable and equitable recovery plan after a disaster? In this episode, host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and co-host, Leslie Thompson, Director of Operations at Economic and Workforce Development at PCC, dive into the real, hands-on ways Pasadena City College is leading the region's re
The Nation's First Goods Movement Training Campus at Port of Los Angeles with Gene Seroka, Executive Director of Port of L.A Episode 163
The Nation's First Goods Movement Training Campus at Port of Los Angeles with Gene Seroka, Executive Director of Port of L.A Episode 163 Mar 17, 2026 28:22 We are diving into the evolving landscape of the Goods Movement with Gene Seroka, Director of the Port of Los Angeles. Our host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo and Gene Seroka have a candid conversation about the challenges and innovations shaping the goods movement sector and how turbulent changes in trade policy, tariffs, and technology are impacting supply chain management. They also discuss the importan
Breaking Barriers: Reimagining Career Pathways for the Next Generation with Jesse Diaz Director of Market Development Los Angeles at Propel America Episode 162
Breaking Barriers: Reimagining Career Pathways for the Next Generation with Jesse Diaz Director of Market Development Los Angeles at Propel America Episode 162 Mar 3, 2026 35:11 For many students, alternative career pathways are the key to unlocking systemic barriers and breaking through rigid environments that keep economic mobility out of reach. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Jesse Diaz, the Director of Market Development Los Angeles at Propel America to unpack how to build more equitable career opportunities. As a first-generation Latino college graduate and lifelong
Breaking New Ground in Kern County: Shaping Careers and Community with Chris Kelley President of Hard Rock Casino Tejon Episode 161
Breaking New Ground in Kern County: Shaping Careers and Community with Chris Kelley President of Hard Rock Casino Tejon Episode 161 Feb 17, 2026 26:43 What does it take to introduce a brand new industry to a community? That is the challenge Chris Kelley, President of Hard Rock Casino Tejon, is tackling in opening the Hard Rock Casino Tejon in Kern County. With more than 20 years of experience in gaming and hospitality, Chris shares inspiring insights on Hard Rock's partnership with the Tejon tribe, the creation of thousands of jobs, and the impa
Building the Future of LA Transit with Ali Mir, West Regional Planning Lead, Senior Vice President Episode 160
Building the Future of LA Transit with Ali Mir, West Regional Planning Lead, Senior Vice President Episode 160 Feb 3, 2026 29:42 What does it really take to transform the way Los Angeles moves—and who gets to design the future of our city's transit? In this episode of The Future Of Work podcast, host Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Ali Mir, Senior Vice President and West Regional Planning Lead (WSP) and a leader in regional planning, to uncover the stories and strategies behind LA's public transit evolution. From his own t

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