In a marketplace where leadership demand is growing faster than traditional talent pipelines can fill, apprenticeships have evolved from a workforce development tool into a strategic driver of executive readiness. These programs open doors for non-traditional candidates, build leadership skills from day one, and offer a direct pathway from the entry-level to the executive suite.
This conversation brings together senior leaders who are leveraging apprenticeships to solve immediate talent challenges and build the leadership bench of the future. We’ll explore real-world models, measurable results, and the partnerships fueling this shift—proving that the future CEO might just be your newest apprentice.
Opening Remarks: Beth Marrion, Senior Managing Director, Accenture
Moderated Conversation: Hardik Bhatt, CEO, SDI Presence; David Jaeger, Program and Operations Lead for the Office of Apprenticeship, Zurich North America; Beth Marrion, Senior Managing Director, Accenture; Daniel Serota, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, Aon; Kristin Richards, Director, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Closed Remarks: Sirena Aranout, Apprenticeship Employer, Zurich North America
Hardik Bhatt serves as the Chief Executive Officer of SDI Presence LLC. In this role, Hardik leverages two decades of key partnerships with global corporate leaders, public sector leaders, startup leaders, investors, and academia to provide strategic direction that helps modernize SDI clients.
David Jaeger is the Program and Operations Lead for the Office of Apprenticeship at Zurich North America, where he plays a key role in shaping workforce development initiatives within Human Resources. A career changer himself, David began his journey at Zurich in 2018 as an Apprentice, transitioning into the cybersecurity field as a Cyber Analyst on the Threat Intelligence team. His background fuels his passion for supporting individuals in defining and achieving their career goals.
Beth Marrion is a Senior Managing Director and Client Account Lead for one of Accenture’s largest global clients. She is a member of Accenture’s Global Management Committee and Client Account Lead for the Americas. With P&L responsibility for four dimensions of Accenture’s business, including Strategy & Consulting; Song; Technology; and Operations, Beth has nearly 30 years of experience in consulting and transformation. She leads large initiatives to reinvent retail businesses, enhance customer experiences, and improve operational efficiencies.
As the Vice President of Government and Public Affairs at Aon, a leading global professional services firm, Daniel creates meaningful and sustainable connections with a wide variety of stakeholders to further Aon’s public service mission and community outreach activities. With over ten years of experience in this role, he leads US public policy and political initiatives for Aon at the federal, state, and regulatory level, and directs Aon’s Political Action Committee.
Kristin Richards is the Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). In this capacity, Richards oversees DCEO’s mission to create a positive economic climate to attract job creators, support Illinois’ skilled workforce, and bolster communities to provide opportunities for all Illinoisans.
As Director, Richards has partnered with the Office of the Governor and state legislature to pass sweeping enhancements to state incentives that support business attraction and development.
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