PowerToFly News: Revolutionizing Diversity in Recruitment and Upskilling

PowerToFly, a platform dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, has become a game-changer in recruitment and talent development. Recent updates, including acquiring Skillcrush and launching innovative tools like “Candidate Search,” demonstrate PowerToFly’s mission to empower underrepresented professionals. By raising over $30 million in funding, PowerToFly continues to advance its efforts to build a more inclusive workforce.

Introduction: PowerToFly’s Vision for Diversity and Inclusion

In today’s competitive job market, organizations are focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) as integral elements of their talent acquisition strategies. PowerToFly, founded in 2014, is at the forefront of this movement, connecting underrepresented talent to high-impact opportunities and providing resources for upskilling. As companies strive to build more inclusive workforces, PowerToFly offers innovative solutions to help businesses achieve their DEIB goals, while also helping candidates access valuable career opportunities.

In this article, we explore the latest developments at PowerToFly, including its new tools, acquisitions, and funding efforts, all of which are driving the company’s growth and influence in the talent recruitment and development space.

The PowerToFly Mission: Connecting Underrepresented Talent

PowerToFly was co-founded by Milena Berry and Katharine Zaleski with the mission to fast-track economic equity by connecting underrepresented talent to roles in various high-visibility sectors. Its focus extends to professionals of all races, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, and veteran statuses. By offering tools and platforms that prioritize inclusivity, PowerToFly is reshaping the landscape of diversity hiring and creating pathways for professionals to access job opportunities that may have previously been out of reach.

PowerToFly’s Groundbreaking Acquisition of Skillcrush

In May 2024, PowerToFly acquired Skillcrush, a platform focused on providing upskilling resources to individuals seeking to advance their careers. Skillcrush specializes in offering accessible, online courses that teach in-demand skills such as coding, digital marketing, and design. This acquisition signals a strategic move for PowerToFly, as it expands its educational offerings and strengthens its position in helping underrepresented talent build critical skills that are essential for landing high-paying jobs.

By integrating Skillcrush’s learning programs, PowerToFly is creating a one-stop shop for both job seekers and employers. Job seekers can now benefit from upskilling opportunities that directly align with the needs of hiring companies, while businesses gain access to a diverse pool of talent that has been trained in the specific skills they require.

Candidate Search: A Game-Changing Tool for Diversity Recruitment

One of the most significant innovations PowerToFly introduced is its Candidate Search tool. This feature allows employers to streamline their diversity recruiting efforts by enabling them to search for candidates based on specific diversity markers such as gender, ethnicity, and veteran status. The tool leverages PowerToFly’s proprietary database of over 3.4 million professionals from underrepresented groups, giving companies access to a robust and diverse talent pool.

This tool helps businesses identify candidates who not only meet their skill requirements but also align with their diversity goals. Candidate Search accelerates the process of finding and shortlisting candidates, which traditionally could take hours on platforms like LinkedIn. Instead, PowerToFly’s system allows recruiters to generate lists of qualified, diverse candidates in seconds. This tool also helps mitigate unconscious bias in the hiring process by providing more data-driven, inclusive search results.

The Importance of DEIB in Today’s Hiring Practices

In recent years, the importance of DEIB has grown substantially. Organizations now recognize that diversity in the workplace is not just a social responsibility but also a key driver of innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Studies show that companies with diverse teams tend to outperform their peers, as they can tap into a broader range of perspectives and ideas. PowerToFly helps businesses embrace this diversity by offering tools and strategies designed to make the hiring process more inclusive and equitable.

By focusing on underrepresented talent, PowerToFly is helping to close gaps in representation within industries that have historically lacked diversity, such as technology, finance, and engineering. The company’s platform empowers candidates from diverse backgrounds to take advantage of high-impact opportunities, which, in turn, helps companies build stronger, more dynamic teams.

PowerToFly’s $30 Million Funding: Fueling Growth and Innovation

PowerToFly’s recent success in securing over $30 million in funding is a testament to the growing demand for diversity-focused hiring solutions. This funding will be used to expand PowerToFly’s platform, enhance its existing tools, and explore new areas for growth. The company’s investors recognize the importance of creating a more inclusive workforce, and this financial backing will allow PowerToFly to continue developing innovative solutions that support diversity in hiring and talent development.

The funding will also be instrumental in further refining PowerToFly’s AI-driven recruitment tools, ensuring that companies can continue to find diverse talent efficiently and effectively. Additionally, it will support the expansion of partnerships with companies seeking to improve their DEIB strategies, ultimately helping more businesses achieve their diversity goals.

The Role of PowerToFly in Upskilling and Professional Development

Beyond recruitment, PowerToFly is deeply committed to upskilling underrepresented talent. By offering educational resources, mentorship programs, and access to professional development opportunities, PowerToFly is helping candidates enhance their skill sets and improve their chances of landing meaningful, high-paying jobs.

The integration of Skillcrush’s upskilling platform represents a major step forward in expanding educational offerings. This acquisition introduces a broad spectrum of learning opportunities, ranging from coding boot camps to digital marketing courses, all tailored to the evolving demands of today’s job market. These programs help job seekers, particularly those from underrepresented groups, develop the skills needed for competitive, high-paying roles.

Alongside its educational resources, the platform also provides mentorship opportunities. These programs enable candidates to connect with industry experts for guidance and career support, which is especially crucial for individuals who lack traditional networking opportunities.

Shaping the Future of Work

As this platform continues to grow and evolve, its influence on the future of work becomes increasingly significant. The company is not only bridging the gap between underrepresented talent and employers, but also disrupting traditional hiring practices that often overlook diverse candidates.

By offering innovative tools that prioritize diversity and inclusion from the outset of the recruitment process, it is actively fostering a more equitable job market. These efforts contribute to a broader cultural shift in how organizations approach hiring, with diversity and inclusion becoming core aspects of decision-making.

Conclusion: Driving Diversity and Inclusion Forward

As more companies realize the importance of diversity and inclusion, this platform is proving to be a vital catalyst for change. Its groundbreaking recruitment tools, strategic acquisitions, and dedication to upskilling are all helping to build a more inclusive workforce.

With recent funding boosts, the company is well-positioned to expand its offerings and ensure that underrepresented professionals continue to have access to vital resources. As demand for diverse talent increases, it is setting a new standard for how businesses can integrate DEIB strategies into recruitment, leading the way toward a more equitable future for all.