DisruptED in the D: Educational Outtakes with Jason Aubrey and Dr. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich (Ep. 1)
In the first episode of DisruptED in the D, Jason Aubrey and Dr. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich discuss how surging tuition costs and persistent skills gaps are compelling higher education institutions to reconsider the traditional four-year degree model. The conversation explores alternative credentialing, workforce alignment, and the structural changes needed to make education more accessible and relevant. Host Ron Stefanski frames these challenges as central disruptions reshaping the future of learning.
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Key takeaways
Rising tuition costs are pressuring institutions to offer more flexible, affordable alternatives to the traditional degree.
Skills gaps between graduates and employer expectations are accelerating demand for alternative credentials and competency-based education.
Higher education leaders are being forced to rethink curriculum design, delivery models, and institutional partnerships to stay relevant.
The rising cost of education and its declining return on investment have become a pressing concern. Over the past few decades, tuition costs have skyrocketed beyond inflation, making it harder for students to justify traditional four-year degrees. Meanwhile, employers are still using degrees as hiring proxies despite increasing discussions about skills-based hiring. In this evolving landscape, how can education be restructured to meet both workforce demands and student needs?
How can education move beyond traditional degrees to focus on skills, affordability, and real-world impact?
In this episode of DisruptED, host Ron J. Stefanski sits down with Dr. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich, the President of SkillsWave, and Jason Aubrey, the CEO of Skilltrade, to explore the shifting paradigm of education. They discuss the historical challenges of traditional learning models, the role of AI in curriculum development, and how hybrid and employer-sponsored learning models can redefine workforce readiness.
The main topics of conversation are…
- The ROI of Education Needs a Rethink: The traditional one-to-many lecture model is outdated, and many degrees no longer directly correlate with careers. Skills-based hiring is gaining traction as a more effective way to match education with job market needs. The focus must shift to skills that drive career success.
- Hybrid and Employer-Sponsored Education: Companies like Skilltrade and SkillsWave are introducing AI-driven, immersive learning experiences combined with hands-on training to make education more practical and cost-effective.
- AI's Transformational Role in Learning: From adaptive learning models to AI-driven curriculum development, technology is making personalized, outcome-focused education a reality.
Dr. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich is a leader in upskilling and EdTech, currently serving as the President of SkillsWave, where she drives corporate workforce development through AI-powered learning models. With a career spanning executive roles at Pearson, D2L, and Louisiana State University, she has led large-scale education initiatives, improving online learning, enrollment growth, and employer-sponsored education programs. Her expertise in digital education strategy and skills-based hiring continues to shape the future of workforce training and education technology.
Jason Aubrey is a workforce development and EdTech leader, currently serving as the CEO of Skilltrade, where he focuses on upskilling solutions for healthcare and allied health industries. Previously, he led MedCerts to a successful acquisition by Stride, Inc. and served as the CEO of ClearGage, driving innovation in healthcare financing. With experience in scaling tech-enabled businesses globally, he has a proven track record in corporate strategy, private equity leadership, and skills-based workforce transformation.
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