Like many of you, I understand what it feels like to lead in a world that rarely slows down. The demands of daily operations (urgent emails, packed calendars, and the constant pull of the immediate) can easily crowd out time for strategic thinking. But if we only focus on what’s right in front of us, we risk missing what’s coming down the road. As leaders, we have a responsibility to not only manage today’s challenges but also shape tomorrow’s opportunities – for our businesses, our people, and our region.
The long-term health of our region depends on our ability to lead with both urgency and foresight. It’s not enough to keep the ship afloat; we must be steering it toward a destination marked by economic vitality, innovation and opportunity for all. That means taking bold, collaborative steps to address our region’s most pressing challenge: workforce readiness.
If we ignore our long-term workforce needs, the consequences are steep. We risk deepening the gap between the skills our residents possess and those our employers require. We risk running out of prepared workers and leaving good-paying jobs unfilled. And ultimately, we risk a future where our region is less competitive and less resilient.
Planning for the future workforce isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Communities that proactively align education, training and economic development don’t just survive; they thrive. They invest smarter, develop stronger talent pipelines, and build a foundation for enduring prosperity. When we don’t plan together, the cost isn’t just measured in lost dollars, it’s measured in lost decades of opportunity.
That’s why Kirkwood Community College is once again leading the charge with our Skills 2027 Survey. For more than a decade, this initiative has gathered insights from businesses of all sizes and industries to help shape regional strategies for talent attraction, development and retention. It’s one of the most important tools we have to understand the evolving needs of our economy and to respond with purpose.
The Skills 2027 Survey is open now through Aug. 29 at www.kirkwood.edu/skills2027. The survey is brief, confidential, and designed to make it easy for every employer in our region to participate.
But the power of this survey lies not just in the data we collect, it lies in the story we tell together. Your responses will help chart a path forward as we partner with economic development organizations, policy leaders and businesses across Eastern Iowa to build a workforce ready for the challenges – and opportunities – ahead.
We are all in this together, and the choices we make now will shape the strength of our region for years to come. By contributing to the Skills 2027 Survey, you’re helping lay the foundation for a workforce that meets the demands of tomorrow. Your voice matters. Together, we can take informed, deliberate steps toward a future where opportunity is built not by chance, but by design.
By listening, learning and planning together, we can shape a future where every business thrives, and every individual has the opportunity to succeed.
Kristie Fisher, Ph.D., is the president of Kirkwood Community College.
