Celebrating an Exciting New Chapter for Aneesh Sohoni and OMD

OMD Works: Hire OMD Scholars

OMD Works is a training and work-based learning program that connects scholars and employer partners. Fully customizable, OMD Works offers skills development and work-based learning programs that support OMD Scholars’ career development while solving your organization’s workforce challenges.

The girls sit at the table and smile

WHAT OMD WORKS OFFERS EMPLOYERS

01

Access to new, motivated, diverse talent

OMD Scholars span a variety of socio-economic, neighborhood, class, and racial backgrounds. Not only are many the first in their families to attend college, many also hold down jobs while taking classes and commuting across the city to get to school. OMD Scholars and Alumni are a pool of highly motivated, diverse candidates who have opted into a program that pushes them to achieve their goals.  

02

Customized talent pipelines and training and soft skills development programs

Employers work with OMD to design programs tailored to their specific needs, ensuring that participants are trained in the skills and competencies required for their industries. This alignment can lead to more efficient training processes and higher employee performance. 

03

Staff and Manager Upskilling and Leadership Development

When you work with community college students like OMD Scholars, you bring in highly motivated talent with new ideas and energy to push your team forward. Plus, programs like apprenticeships encourage a culture of continuous learning and development, which can drive innovation and adaptability within the workforce, keeping your organization competitive and innovative. 

How Employers Support OMD Scholars

01

Career Exposure Opportunities

Encourage students to explore different career options and identify pathways by hosting or taking part in OMD events like: 

  • Career Exploration Panels 
  • Speed Networking 
  • Wisdom in the Workplace  
02

Career Readiness Opportunities

Find your next group of applicants, interns, or apprentices and ensure they’re prepared by partnering with OMD to provide customized training and guidance programs like:   

  • Pre-work-based learning training programs that prepare students for on-the-job experience 
  • Targeted training programs in topics like generative AI and entrepreneurship 
  • Workshops and one-on-one sessions with OMD staff to help drive professional development deliverables like LinkedIn profiles and resumes  
03

Career Experience Opportunities

Pave the way for skilled employment by providing OMD customized and supported work-based learning opportunities like:  

 

  • Apprenticeship programs  
  • Internships  

Interested in getting involved?

Fill out our employer interest form and someone will be in touch.  

Fill out our employer interest form

Learn more about how we partner with employers and corporations:

PARTNER WITH OMD

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Volunteer Opportunities for Staff

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Investments in the OMD Mission

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David Scherer

David Scherer, Treasurer

One Million Degrees Co-founder 

David is principal of Origin, co-chairs the Investment Committee, and oversees investment analysis, acquisition and asset management. He has more than 20 years of experience in real estate investing, finance, and asset management. In 2006, he co-founded One Million Degrees, which has raised $20 million to help low-income community college students graduate and successfully enter the workforce. David has served as the organization’s Board Chair for the past 12 years, as the organization has grown from 30 to 1,000 students served per year. He also serves as the President of the Harvard Club of Chicago and is on the Advisory Board of Invest for Kids.  

Rose Lizarraga

Rose Lizarraga

OMD CO-Founder & President & CEO, Lysa LLC

An award-winning documentary filmmaker and freelance writer, Rose’s career also includes 10 years spent developing new product and brand strategies as well as marketing and advertising campaigns at Leo Burnett, Foote, Cone & Belding, M&M/Mars and other small businesses.  More recently, she worked as a writer/editor for Modern Luxury Inc., publishers of magazines such as CS and Angeleno.  Rose graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with dual degrees in English and Political Science.  She is a founding member of the Daniel M. Kerrane, Jr. Foundation, former Board Vice President of the Fairy Godmother Foundation, and currently serves on the Chicago committee for Human Rights Watch.

Michael B Golden

Michael B. Golden

One Million Degrees Co-Founder 

A former national award-winning broadcast journalist, Michael Golden has also served as a political campaign manager and communications strategist for U.S. Presidential, Senate and Congressional races. Michael is a fellow at the British-American Project and the Open Society Institute. In 1999, Michael’s investigative and public affairs reporting for NBC earned him honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the AP, and the Edward R. Murrow Awards. In 2011, Michael co-founded Newsbound, Inc., a media and software company based in San Francisco, CA. He is also a co-founder of the Complete the Degree back-to-college initiative in Chicago, Illinois. Michael serves on the board of the ADL and on the governing board of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, as well as the Illinois Commission to Eliminate Poverty. He received his B.A. from Indiana University, and his M.S. in Public Services Management from DePaul University.