A collaborative 3-part series exploring Washington’s evolving talent landscape.
The Talent Exchange is a new series uniting HR leaders, early talent recruiters, and postsecondary partners to explore the breadth of talent pathways across Washington. Through lunch sessions and a culminating summit, the series surfaces data, insights, and perspectives to help employers connect more effectively, and engage with students and graduates statewide.
Each session will offer a different lens — from workforce trends to cross-sector dialogue — creating space for shared learning and relationship-building that may lead to more inclusive and connected hiring practices across the state.
What the Numbers Say
Date: September 9th, 2025 | Location: McKinsey Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
The first event in The Talent Exchange series sets the stage with a clear-eyed look at Washington’s talent pipeline. This session brings HR leaders, recruiters, educators, and policymakers together to explore statewide data on skills, strengths, and gaps.
Through a featured data presentation and interactive discussion, participants will gain a grounded understanding of where Washington’s workforce stands today—and what those trends mean for employers, postsecondary institutions, and the state’s economic future.
Agenda
11:30am to 11:55am – Lunch and Networking
11:55am to 12:30 pm – Presentation
12:30 pm to 1 pm - Audience Q&A
Speakers
Jake Bryant, McKinsey
The Future of the First Hire
Date: October 31st, 2025 | Location: Rainier Tower Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Building on insights from the first Talent Exchange session, this event shifts the focus to early-career roles. Economic shifts, recent layoffs, and the rise of generative AI have reshaped how employers think about entry-level hiring and what it takes to prepare the next generation of talent.
Participants will explore how companies are adapting, what barriers prevent more inclusive early-career hiring, and how education and training systems can better align with employer needs. Together, we’ll examine what “entry-level” really means today—and what it will mean in the years ahead.
Agenda
11:30am to 11:55am – Lunch and Networking
11:55am to 12:30 pm – Panel
12:30 pm to 1 pm - Audience Q&A
Speakers:
Emily Mucken, Consultant – Moderator
Mark Peterson, DocuSign
Ali Yousaf, Helion
Steve Muenzberg, TLG Aerospace
The Summit: From Insight to Impact
Date: February 3rd, 2026 Location: Northeastern University 225 Terry Ave N, Seattle Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
The Talent Exchange Summit: convenes employers, postsecondary leaders, and policymakers to move from conversation to coordinated action.
Building on insights from the Talent Exchange series, this culminating summit focuses on aligning industry needs, education pathways, and policy levers to strengthen Washington’s talent ecosystem.
Why It Matters - Washington has the talent and the employers, but not the bridge.
Rapid changes in technology and workforce demand are exposing gaps between what industry needs and how talent is being prepared. This summit centers on closing those gaps through earlier alignment, shared responsibility, and practical coordination across sectors.
Agenda
9:00 to 9:30am - Breakfast + Networking
9:30am to 9:35am - Welcome
9:35am to 9:45am - Keynote by Dr. Sue Kane
9:45am to 10:30am - Panel: What Industry Needs, What Education Can Deliver
Angie Mason Smith, WA STEM (Moderator)
Nate Humphrey, SBCTC
Susanna Niu, MeeBoss
Paul Pitre, WSU
10:30am to 10:45am - Break
10:45am to 12:00pm - Action Labs | Campus Evolve Platform Demo + Discussion
12:00pm to 12:20pm - Break
12:20pm to 12:50pm- Lunch + Fireside Chat: "The Next Horizon"
Shiro Karori, Year Up United Business student
Sarah Bartel, Accenture
12:50pm to 1:00pm - Closing
1:00pm to 1:30pm - Networking
What to Expect
A focused, solution-oriented program featuring:
A framing keynote on the state of Washington’s talent landscape
A candid panel on industry needs and education delivery
Action Labs designed to surface practical next steps
A forward-looking fireside chat on what’s possible when systems align
A closing Call to Action to capture commitments and momentum
Who should Attend
Employers and HR leaders
Postsecondary and workforce leaders
Policymakers and ecosystem builders