Upskilling

In this interview, Dr. Penny Smith-Mickey shares the story behind Mickey’s Popcorn, its commitment to workforce development, and how the company scaled into a growing enterprise leveraging apprenticeships. As a small business, Mickey’s Popcorn is a shining example of how employers can use skills-based practices to drive value for their business and employees.

The AI-driven transformation of our economy, workplaces, and society isn’t coming — it’s already here. And right now, our people, programs, policies, and workforce training strategies are struggling to keep pace.

Evidence of skills proficiency, supported in ways that are fraud-proof and trustworthy, are foundational to the long-term success and scaling of Skills First talent management practices. And validated skills are what employers want and need.

Look at these mailboxes. I walked by them and considered what they represented. People would take the time to write a letter—to consider their words, to connect with someone who mattered, to share something meaningful. And for those receiving, they’d peek through the glass to see if something was there (just perhaps once a day). And, once received, take the time to read, reflect, and absorb. It was deliberate. It required thoughtfulness and patience. It built relationships.

The question is not “Should SMBs invest in upskilling?” They must for their own continued competitiveness, for the good of their employees, and for the good of our society and economy. The question is “How should SMBs invest in upskilling?”

Forward-thinking organizations are recognizing that investing in both technical and durable skills is more than an HR strategy—it’s a competitive advantage.

At UpSkill America, we are focused on helping employers design and develop education programs that leverage best practices and ensure employees have the support they need to succeed.

We are pleased to share our recent work highlighting the importance of access to AI skills, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to build their knowledge in this burgeoning field.

Be sure to follow UpSkill America on LinkedIn to stay up to speed on all the exciting work coming in 2025.