Our Experts
Leaders In the Skills-First Movement
Grads of Life’s mission is to empower companies to eliminate the gap that separates them from the diverse talent our country has to offer. Our values and beliefs include the following:
- The U.S. labor market should function such that all people have access to quality jobs, financial stability, and economic mobility. Due to many factors, including traditional talent management practices, this is not currently the case.
- The private sector has a leading role to play in building a stronger and more equitable America for all through skills-first talent practices
- Our movement is facing a data gap. For a critical mass of businesses to take on skills-first talent practices, there must be more compelling, specific evidence about the ROI of these efforts. This will only be possible if we and other actors in this space continue to invest in uncovering it, and if leading businesses commit to data transparency.
Our experts below are well equipped to speak about these issues.
Ebony D. Thomas
Managing Partner
Ebony leads Strategic Growth and Operations with a focus on building processes and infrastructures that will anchor and enhance Grads of Life’s operational excellence and advisory practice. She began her career on Wall Street and spent over 13 years as a leader specializing in strategic organizational transformation, change management, and business development. Throughout her career, Ebony has served as a thought leader in the development of actionable solutions for an array of clients including the Department of Defense (DoD), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Francisca Williams-Oni
Senior Director, Advisory Services
Francisca spearheads projects focused on market-level changes in industries, with extensive expertise in client engagement and project and stakeholder management. With her background in public health, she has years of experience advocating for marginalized populations, with a targeted focus on advancing skills-first talent and DEI workforce initiatives. She finds great fulfillment in working toward economic justice by collaborating with employers to refine their hiring practices and elevate overlooked young adults for career-track jobs.
