Five Ways to Build a ‘Culture of Opportunity’

Staring down a surprise $26,000 bill after his first semester in college, Terrence Cummings was certain his dream of higher education was dashed. He persevered, using that experience as his career North Star. Now his goal is to ensure that money alone isn't the reason people can't return to school. Cummings is the chief opportunity officer at Denver educational technology unicorn Guild, a career opportunity platform that is building a "future of work that works for everyone." On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Cummings details the journey that took him from dreaming about film production to helping millions of Americans progress in their jobs. He also shares how a chance encounter involving burgers and fries helped flip his own career. Table of Contents 0:59: A fake scholarship and a real $26,000 bill 3:16: Ensuring that others don't face that same nightmare 4:10: How to create a "culture of mobility" 6:27: The role of storytelling in career progression 7:36: Hamburgers and leadership lessons 12:50: How to remove luck from career and personal growth 17:21: Attributes of a good coach 18:27: "I would break the cycle of poverty in my family" 21:20: Show notes and credits