InStride named a 2023 Most Innovative Company by Fast Company

LOS ANGELES, CA — May 26, 2020 — The Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation is proud to announce that after reviewing multiple applicants, they have selected Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships at Instride, to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort of Exceptional Women Awardees.

"Michelle is an expert in the education field, understands education’s importance to overall societal impact, and has an intense ongoing commitment to collaboration and partnerships," said Larraine Segil, Chair and CEO of The Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation, "We are delighted to select her to join the other women leaders in our EWA group."

To read the full press release, please visit PRWeb.

Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships, Instride, has been selected to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort of Exceptional Women Awardees

The Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation selected Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships at Instride, to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort.

ROCHESTER, NY & LOS ANGELES, CA — April 4, 2023 — Rochester Regional Health has launched a new strategic workforce education program for its more than 19,000 employees. The Advance U Education Program will support career mobility for Rochester Regional employees, with tuition paid upfront by the health system. This latest addition to Rochester Regional’s robust array of workforce development programs reflects the health system’s commitment to creating career-long advancement opportunities for its employees. In its vision to “lead the evolution of healthcare to enable every member of the communities we serve to enjoy a better, healthier life,” Rochester Regional understands that its most powerful asset is an educated, engaged workforce.

Starting April 4, Rochester Regional’s Advance U will be available to employees across the health system’s hundreds of New York locations. The program will support Registered Nurses (RNs) to obtain BSN degrees (bachelor’s of science in nursing), and will provide entry-level employees the opportunity to gain skills and earn certifications in in-demand career fields such as Medical Assisting or Medical Coding. In the future, Advance U will grow to include additional education opportunities to help Rochester Regional team members advance their careers with the organization.

Advance U is the newest addition to Rochester Regional’s continuing investments in workforce education and career development. The health system’s Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing since 1964 has prepared students to launch careers as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). The College of Health Careers Associates in Nursing Program opens an LPN-to-RN pathway. In addition, Rochester Regional continues its longstanding Clinical Laboratory Technology Program at Rochester General Hospital, and its Certified Nursing Assisting and Certified Home Health Aide Training programs.

For Rochester Regional team members, Advance U removes the financial burden of education for career advancement. The health system will cover 100% of tuition for degrees and certifications earned through Advance U. The cost of higher education can be a significant barrier to healthcare jobs, particularly for employees in entry-level roles with limited discretionary income to invest.

“The first step to any career is getting that first opportunity. At Rochester Regional Health, we want our employees to grow and advance with us, so that whatever role they start in can be a stepping stone to a lifelong career with our health system,” said Dr. Richard “Chip” Davis, Rochester Regional Health CEO. 

Rochester Regional is the second largest employer in Rochester and provides essential care for communities across New York. For many of its entry-level employees, their job with Rochester Regional is their first; by offering upfront tuition coverage for skills and certification courses, the organization hopes that the first job marks the beginning of a long and robust career at Rochester Regional.

Advance U was designed in partnership with InStride, a global leader in strategic workforce education.

“In healthcare, unlike many other industries, a significant number of roles require professional certification,” said InStride co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan Lau. “Rochester Regional Health is investing in their employees by providing the education they need to earn those certifications at no cost to them while they work. With the Advance U Education Program, Rochester Regional Health is not only filling the roles they need today, they are also building the workforce their system will need in the future.”

Advance U Education Program will provide education and upfront tuition coverage  for critical roles across the health system

Rochester Regional Health launches Advance U Education Program to fill clinical roles and deliver best-in-class patient care

Rochester Regional Health's Advance U Education Program will provide education and upfront tuition coverage for critical roles across the health system.

LOS ANGELES — March 2, 2023 — InStride has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023. 

This year’s list highlights the businesses at the forefront of their respective industries, paving the way for the innovations of tomorrow. These companies are setting the standard with some of the greatest accomplishments of the modern world. In addition to the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, 540 organizations are recognized across 54 sectors and regions. 

“InStride is leading the movement to transform businesses and their employees' lives through workforce education,” said Vivek Sharma, CEO of InStride. “We are thrilled to be recognized by Fast Company as an organization moving the world forward by driving meaningful business and social impact through employer-sponsored education.”

Legacy approaches to workforce development such as tuition reimbursement are no match for today’s evolving workplace environment and the scale of the reskilling challenge. Approaching workforce education in a new way, InStride enables companies to realize the full potential of employee education. Since its founding in 2019, InStride has provided 57,000+ employees with access to life-changing, employee-sponsored education programs from top academic institutions while helping prevent employee learners from accruing $628.7+ million in student loan debt. 

Fast Company’s editors and writers sought out the companies making the biggest strides around the globe. They also judged nominations received through their application process.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides a firsthand look at the inspiring and innovative efforts of companies across all sectors of the economy.

“What a strange and thrilling year it has been to honor this year’s Most Innovative Companies. This year’s list compiles some of the most cutting-edge groundbreakers who are changing our world every single day, from legacy organizations like McDonald’s to upstarts like MrBeast and institutions such as NASA. Everyone on this list does something completely, uniquely different, yet, they all have one thing in common: innovation,” said Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan.

Fast Company will host its third annual Most Innovative Companies Summit on April 19 and 20. The virtual summit celebrates the Most Innovative Companies in business, and provides an inside look at cutting-edge business trends and what it takes to innovate in 2023. Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March/April 2023) is available online here, as well as in-app form via iTunes, and on newsstands beginning March 14. The hashtag is #FCMostInnovative.

InStride drives business and social impact through strategic workforce education. As the global leader in these programs, InStride works with corporate partners like Amazon, Labcorp, Medtronic, Magna and more, providing their employees with access to top-tier academic institutions, strategic learning paths and an innovative technology platform. Follow InStride on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com. 

InStride, the leader in strategic workforce education programs, joins the ranks of OpenAI, Disney, Tiffany & Co. and more

InStride Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023

InStride has earned a spot on Fast Company's 2023 list of Most Innovative Companies in the Education category.

LOS ANGELES — January 11, 2023 — Built In today announced that InStride was honored in its 2023 Best Places To Work Awards. Specifically, InStride earned a place on two of Built In’s Los Angeles lists: Best Places to Work and Best Midsize Companies. The annual awards program includes companies of all sizes and honors both remote-first employers and companies in large metropolitan markets across the U.S.

“InStride is thrilled to be recognized as an employer of choice by Built In LA,” said Stephen Chu, Chief Legal and People Officer, InStride. “Creating a positive culture where our employees can thrive is a crucial step for us to accomplish our mission of bringing high quality, tuition-free education to working adults.”

Built In determines the winners of Best Places to Work based on an algorithm, using company data about compensation and benefits. To reflect the benefits candidates value most, the program also weighs criteria such as remote and flexible work opportunities, EDI programs and other people-first cultural offerings.

“It’s my honor to congratulate this year’s Best Places to Work winners,” says Sheridan Orr, Chief Marketing Officer, Built In. “These exemplary companies understand their people are their most valuable asset, and they’ve stepped up to meet the modern professional’s new expectations, including the desire to work for companies that deliver purpose, growth and inclusion. These winners set the stage for a human-centered future of work, and we can’t wait to see that future unfold.”

About Built In
Built In is creating the largest platform for technology professionals globally. Monthly, millions of the industry’s most in-demand professionals visit the site from across the world. They rely on our platform to stay ahead of tech trends and news, learn skills to accelerate their careers and find opportunities at companies whose values they share. Built In also serves 2,000 customers, innovative companies ranging from startups to those in the Fortune 500. By putting their stories in front of our uniquely engaged audience, we help them hire otherwise hard-to-reach tech professionals. www.builtin.com

About Built In’s Best Places to Work
Built In’s esteemed Best Places to Work Awards, now in its fifth year, honor companies across numerous categories: 100 Best Places to Work, 50 Best Startup Places to Work, 100 Best Midsize Places to Work, 100 Best Large Places to Work and Editor’s Choice: 100 Best Hybrid Places to Work. The program honors companies – remote, hybrid and in-office – with the best total rewards packages across the U.S. and in the following tech hubs: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC.

InStride Earns Multiple Spots on Built In’s Best Places to Work List for Four Years Running

Built In Honors InStride In Its Esteemed 2023 Best Places To Work Awards

InStride earns a spot on Built In's Best Places to Work Awards list for the fourth year running.

InStride is the premier global provider of strategic enterprise education for companies that need to align their talent & workforce needs with business objectives.

Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships, Instride, has been selected to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort of Exceptional Women Awardees

Recent press releases

Rochester Regional Health launches Advance U Education Program to fill clinical roles and deliver best-in-class patient care

InStride Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023

Built In Honors InStride In Its Esteemed 2023 Best Places To Work Awards