127 - SOAR’s Joanne Gallagher on Micro-Credentials, AI Adoption, and Closing the Skills Gap

The InNOLEvation® Mindset Host Mark McNees interviews Joanne Gallagher, founder and CEO of SOAR (Strategic Optimization and Research), a Tallahassee-based management consulting firm offering professional credential training in project management, change management, agile, and new AI/generative AI courses, as well as consulting engagements with large firms. Gallagher shares her path from Montreal and work at Deloitte and KPMG in health and human services transformation to moving to Tallahassee during her husband Glenn’s illness and naming SOAR in tribute to his wish to see her “soar.” They discuss the unexpected infrastructure burdens of entrepreneurship, workforce development needs, and the growing value of targeted micro-credentials. The conversation centers on AI’s impact on jobs and education. 00:00 Welcome And Introductions 00:24 What SOAR Does 01:32 From Canada To Consulting 02:58 Why Tallahassee 04:35 Loss And Meaning Of SOAR 08:39 Jumping To Entrepreneurship 10:38 Founder Story And FSU 16:39 Microcredentials And Skill Gaps 18:15 AI In Education And Work 19:49 Feedback Loop AI Gamification 22:15 Frameworks And Future Skills 26:48 Layering Credentials In Degrees 32:37 Workforce Development Pivot 35:19 Iteration And Project Frameworks 37:02 Student Feedback Loop 38:06 Cloning Your Teaching Voice 39:30 AI In State Government 40:56 Custom Apps Replace SaaS 42:35 Jobs Wealth And Anxiety 45:09 Advice For New Graduates 48:36 AI As A Power Tool 53:52 Policy Data Centers Ethics 01:01:49 Skills Gap Micro Credentials 01:11:42 Mindset And Founder Lessons 01:15:12 Podcast Wrap Up