Creating short-term pathways to tech jobs is important, according to Connor Diemand-Yauman, co-founder and co-CEO, Merit America. He explains, “Merit America prepares low-wage, working adults for skilled careers at scale.”

WorkingNation sat down with Diemand-Yauman at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego.

Diemand-Yauman says a new initiative that supports students working toward Google Career Certificates in IT and data analytics is transformational.

“It allows providers like Merit America to invest in learners now, despite the fact that the revenue that we might get from those learners is delayed – meaning that the fund is structured in a way where we get paid if learners get a job making above $40,000 per year. It allows us to take that deferred revenue and invest now in our growth.”

Diemand-Yauman says recognized certificates are addressing barriers often faced by people without college degrees.

He was inspired to co-found Merit America after volunteer teaching in a jail facility. Diemand-Yauman says he realized through a conversation with an inmate that opportunities for him were limited because he was justice-involved with no postsecondary degree.

Learn more about Merit America.