Byron Auguste
Cofounder and CEO, Opportunity@Work
Economist Byron Auguste is the cofounder and CEO for Opportunity@Work - which is sparking a national movement for the STARs talent category - the 70+ million U.S. workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs), rather than a bachelor’s degree. To this end, Opportunity@Work launched the "Tear the Paper Ceiling" Ad Council campaign - which led to commitments from 60+ national corporate, technology, and non-profit partners to adopt new systems and standards for skills-based hiring. Opportunity@Work has led a broad, bipartisan movement of 20+ states to replace unnecessary degree requirements with indicators of relevant skill.
Prior to Opportunity@Work, Auguste served as a White House economic policy advisor to President Barack Obama and today, serves as a Member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship for U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Auguste also advised Fortune 500 companies and global institutions for 20 years at McKinsey & Co.
Named one of Forbes’ Future of Work 50 leaders “rethinking the world of work,” Byron has been tapped by Bloomberg, CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and NBC’s Today Show for his expertise, speaking on the future of work, labor markets, and economic policy at the U.S. Federal Reserve, Fortune CEO Initiative, American Enterprise Institute, Aspen Institute, and World Economic Forum.