The Career Ecosystem Era in Higher Education

How to 'Hack' a Career Ecosystem

Sensemaking. Leveraging blank spaces. Navigating the curricular maze. These are among the concepts Scott Carlson unpacks in the book Hacking College with co-author Ned Laff. In this episode, Jeremy and Scott discuss philosophical approaches to systematically helping students make the most of college and practical tips for academic advisors, senior leaders, and career centers to continue finding beauty in their work as they develop their career ecosystem. Hacking College is a must-read for any campus building out a sophisticated career ecosystem. 

An Institutional Career Learning Pledge

What aspects of career learning should not be left to chance in the college student experience? President Pescovitz and her campus community have embedded career learning into multiple aspects of the student experience, and have recently launched the OU Pledge, an initiative to ensure that every Oakland University student receives hands-on or experiential learning. They are embracing the career ecosystem era, leaning into career readiness and affordability, and joining college and university leaders across the country who are seeking to institutionalize the career learning that matters most to students and families.

Top 5 Most Important Career Readiness Trends for Higher Education in 2026

Welcome to 2026! In this no-guest episode, Jeremy Podany elaborates on the five most important career readiness trends shaping higher education in 2026. He explores what the field is moving away from, toward, and doubling down on, as well as the spark that is needed to catalyze it all. The episode highlights why career learning is no longer optional, how ROI pressures are accelerating change, and what senior campus leaders can and must do now to prepare every student for long-term career success. This is a forward-looking conversation for anyone responsible for the future of student career outcomes.

The Big Dilemma: Reach

Jeremy is joined by two of his consulting colleagues from The Collective as they openly discuss the dilemma many colleges and universities face when trying to reach more students within their current career center model. They discuss how to refine ecosystem efforts to effectively support students' learning. 

Conceptualizing and Activating a Career Ecosystem with Faculty (Part 2)

Many faculty at Metro State University in Minneapolis, MN, have come together in a community of practice to cultivate a more integrated career ecosystem to benefit their students. In part two of this series, two faculty members dig into what they developed, how they integrated career readiness, the results they are seeing with students, and the joy and further curiosity it has brought them.