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MillerKnoll: Developing Operations Leaders from Within and Beyond — A Case Study in Structured Talent Development
October 9, 2026
UpSkill America, and Economic Opportunities Program
Haley Glover
Senior Director, UpSkill America
For many manufacturers, building a capable leadership pipeline is a persistent and familiar problem. Turnover pushes people into roles before they are ready. External hires struggle to stick. And the institutional knowledge that makes an organization distinctive is hard to pass on at scale.
This case study examines how MillerKnoll built structured pathways for manufacturing associates address these business problems. The programs they created allow associates to grow into operations leadership and office-based roles. Through Bridge, Propel, and Career Academy, participants gain hands-on experience, dedicated coaching, clear expectations, and access to real opportunities across the company.
UpSkill America, an initiative of the Economic Opportunities Program, supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America’s front-line workers.
About the Economic Opportunities Program
The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.
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Bridge, Propel, and Career Academy are built on a practical philosophy: that MillerKnoll has great talent already inside the organization. Finding that talent, developing it, and aligning it to the right opportunities is key to its success. T
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