MindSpark
Katie Manzanares holds a Master of Arts in Information Learning Technology from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Katie has extensive experience in education and instructional design, having worked as a teacher in various grades and schools, as well as in roles such as Education Technology STEM Specialist and Learning and Development Specialist. Katie is currently employed as a Sr Instructional Designer at Pearson. In addition to their educational background, Katie also has experience as a small business owner, where Katie developed and marketed handbag designs.
MindSpark
MindSpark is the catalyst and intermediary between education and industry, and driven by mobilizing diverse ecosystems to create sustained economies through education. In a recent report by McKinsey and Company, it was suggested that 800 million existing jobs worldwide could disappear by 2030; in other words, nearly one third of the global workforce would have to seek other employment. While automation is likely to replace the majority of jobs, it is becoming more and more evident that the need for an adaptable workforce that possesses creativity, critical thinking and emotional intelligence is critical now more than ever because these are the skills that automation cannot replicate. Quite frankly, this is why we exist. Our programs empower schools to transform their climate and culture, while utilizing their greatest asset -- human capital -- to solve the problems they encounter, engage in critical conversations with experts in the field and connect students to industry mentors and authentic problems and scenarios at a very young age.