Mantella joins Colorado Gov. Polis and national leaders to reimagine the future of talent development

President Philomena V. Mantella represented Grand Valley  on the mainstage at the GlobalMindED Conference in Denver, where she joined Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and other national thought leaders in a panel discussion on the future of talent development and America’s competitive edge.

The panel, titled “Reimagining the Future of Talent Development,” explored cross-sector strategies to support learners across the continuum – from early education through workforce advancement. The session drew more than 800 leaders from education, industry and nonprofit sectors.

Mantella opened the discussion by expressing appreciation to Polis and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for their visionary leadership in demonstrating how states can lead in talent innovation.

“The future of talent development will be designed together – not in silos,” Mantella said. She emphasized Grand Valley’s role as an anchor institution within a thriving regional workforce and innovation ecosystem. Drawing on GVSU’s founding story, she shared the university’s success in bringing together business, community and education leaders to drive inclusive growth.

Other distinguished panelists reinforced this collaborative vision:

• Greg Robinson, former NASA program director, stressed the importance of cultivating creativity and passion in students.
• Karen Chung, vice president at AARP, noted that by 2034, the number of Americans over 65 will surpass the college-aged population, underscoring the urgent need to tap into this underutilized talent pool.

Mantella also spoke about the evolving educational model. “We must educate for a lifetime: designing learning experiences that honor individual strengths, recognize diverse assets and center the learner as an active participant in their journey.”

REP4 Alliance: students at the center

In a separate session, Mantella led a discussion alongside LuWanna Williams, executive director of REP4, and Elizabeth Doyle, executive associate for Philanthropic Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives.

The session, “REP4 Alliance Reinvents Education: Students at the Center,” highlighted GVSU’s role as founder and convener of the REP4 Alliance, which empowers high school and college students to shape the future of education.

“We are scaling new solutions as an alliance of 10 institutions representing nearly 300,000 learners,” said Mantella.

“By listening to those most affected – our students – we’re designing change with them, not for them. They’re not just beneficiaries of innovation; they are the architects of it.”

About GlobalMindED

GlobalMindED is a global network of cross-sector leaders working to close equity gaps in education and career opportunity. The annual conference provides a platform for bold ideas, collaboration and actionable solutions in inclusive leadership and lifelong learning.