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Our Founders

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Belinda Smith 

Co-Founder & CEO

Belinda partners with enterprises to deliver transformational outcomes through strategic AI integration. With 34+ years of experience in engineering leadership, she brings a proven track record in modernizing legacy systems, optimizing enterprise CRM platforms, and guiding cross-functional teams through cloud and AI adoption. Her approach blends deep technical insight with a business-first mindset—helping organizations streamline operations, reduce costs, and drive innovation at scale. She is passionate about leveraging technology to make both business and social impacts. 

James Smith

Co-Founder 

As retired military officer, James has a background in Talent Management & Skill Development, Leadership and Organizational Development.   As a serial entrepreneur, he has a strong business acumen to leverage technology and teams to solve customer problems. His focus is providing leadership that ensures optimal product market fit and go to market strategies for our software solution that best solves our customers problems. 

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WHAT'S UP?

SEMICONDUCTOR PROJECT

 

We are collaborating with a variety of strategic partners to roll out a Pilot Project (Proof of Concept) to Upskill and connect talent with opportunity in the BIPOC Community in the Semiconductor Sector.  As a result of the CHIPS & Science Act of 2022, we realize that a highly skilled U.S. workforce will be vital to the success of the semiconductor industry.  We are helping to build the next generation of skilled workforce through a dynamic experimental learning program to include an Apprenticeship Pathway for today and tomorrow's workforce as well as upskilling and reskilling the BIPOC community and veterans to help fill the U.S. projected 90,000 plus workers by 2025 and beyond.

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According to Deloitte's article, 'The Global Semiconductor Talent Shortage,' "The ability to identify, recruit, and develop the necessary workforce cannot rely on how companies have operated historically. They need to build new talent pools in new locations, leveraging educational and community partnerships as never before. The speed at which growth is expected as well as the changing skills and capabilities required demand new ways of defining and implementing innovative talent access strategies."

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With an estimated more than 2 million direct employees

worldwide in 2021, Deloitte predicts that more than 1 million additional skilled workers will be needed by 2030, equating to more than 100,000 annually.

THE FUTURE OF WORK
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UPSKILLING & RETRAINING ASSISTANCE ACT

 

The 2020 Upskilling & Retraining Assistance Act raises the amount of tax-free educational assistance that employees can receive from $5,250 to $12,000 for the next two years. Further, the Act covers expenses such as tools and technology required to complete key educational and training initiatives. See Senate Bill 4408, Upskilling & Retraining Assistance Act.

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7 In-Demand Green Skills Right Now in 2024

 

Every major change in the world impacts the labor market, and climate change is no exception. As environmental crises escalate and new challenges emerge—like meeting the 2030 emission reduction target—companies are pushed to invest in sustainable practices. To navigate this shift, it's important to have a workforce equipped with the necessary expertise. That's where green skills come into play.  Read More

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ECONOMICS OF MICRO-CREDENTIALS

 

A recent 2021 Gartner HR Research found that 58% of employees need new skills to successfully do their work.  If organizations don’t provide necessary training, they risk the inability to perform critical business activities, inefficient operations and missed growth opportunities. See more

DE&I HEADWINDS

Pressure is mounting to make

progress on DEI

CEO

Nearly 2,000 CEOs have signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge.

Employees

76% of employees and job seekers say a diverse workforce is important when evaluating companies and job offers, and 37% wouldn't apply to a company that had negative satisfaction ratings among people of color.

Customers

Twitter saw 85% more mentions of inclusive talent processes in 2020 compared to 2016.

MILITARY CYBER SKILLS PROJECT

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Filling 600,000 vacant cybersecurity positions is now the top priority in the Biden administration’s efforts to intensify the protection of digital infrastructure in the public and private sectors. Snags in talent acquisition have left federal and local government, as well as big business, vulnerable to ransomware attacks and hacking.  Read More

PHILANTROPIC SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

 

If you're looking for an opportunity to invest in the Professional Development and future Skill Development of HBCU Students, check out our STRATEGIC SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. 

 

McKinsey report shows that African American workers will be disproportionately affected by automation by 2030

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Apart from its obvious negative impact on African American individuals, families, and communities, the racial wealth gap constrains the entire US economy.  This research suggests that African American workers will be disproportionately affected by automation due to being over represented in jobs that are the most at risk for displacement.  Read Report

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DE&I Business BENEFITS & ROI

 

According to McKinsey report, diversity has an increasingly positive impact on an organization’s overall financial performance. Organizations that make DEI a top business priority attract top talent, increase employee satisfaction, improve decision making, foster creativity, become more customer-oriented and inspire employees to think differently.

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DIVERSITY IS CRITICAL TO CLOSING THE CYBERSECURITY SKILLS GAP

 

The current cybersecurity workforce gap is estimated to be over 3.1 million globally. The workforce needs to grow 89% to effectively defend organizations’ critical assets from increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. While there is no silver-bullet solution to this problem, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is critical to attracting more talent to the profession. 

© 2024 BY KNOWGAP, LLC

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