New York City is a place where ambition meets opportunity and dreams take shape. In October, Transfr gathered thought leaders from education, training, workforce development, policy, non-profits, and more to discuss how we will build the future workforce. In one fantastic day, packed end-to-end with compelling panels and inspiring speakers, attendees from across the country shared their community impact success stories, educated each other on the latest developments in their industries, discussed how they were using Transfr solutions to get results, and built relationships for future collaboration.
Transfr CEO Bharani Rajakumar opened the day with a keynote address. Later, best-selling author, award-winning filmmaker, and renowned inspirational speaker Chris Gardner took to the stage to fire up the crowd with his vision for “Permission to Dream 2.0” (and announced his official partnership with Transfr). Throughout the day, customers participated in engaging and informative panel discussions with lots of Q&A.
After all these powerful panels, product updates, and peer education sessions, attendees left feeling engaged, energized, and inspired to continue our shared mission to build the future workforce of every industry.
Customers take center stage to share success stories
There’s no better way to understand the impact that Transfr partners are driving in their communities than by hearing it directly from them. To that end, the day was full of customer panel discussions featuring workforce development experts, instructors, professionals from the justice system, elected officials, and others involved in creating meaningful change in people’s lives across the country. You can view these innovative discussions via these video links:
- “Transformative Policy and Programs for a New Economy,” a panel with elected officials and industry leaders, tackled how programs, partnerships, and technologies can equip Americans with the skills needed to secure well-paying jobs with upward mobility.
- “Transforming Communities Through Impact-Driven Initiatives” delved into how organizations can work together to build their local communities with accessible career pathways that can boost job retention and community growth.
- “Transforming Education for a Brighter Future for All” discussed how to best prepare Generations Z and Alpha for tomorrow’s working world via innovative career pathing and training approaches.
- “Transforming Lives with Second Chances” explored how Second Chance Employment initiatives help justice-impacted individuals with training and job placement assistance.
CEO Bharani Rajakumar charts bold direction for future of learning
Taking center stage, CEO Bharani Rajakumar shared an inspiring vision for the future of education and workforce development, highlighting the transformative potential of immersive learning to reshape opportunities for learners and communities alike.
Today, Transfr serves clients in 48 states and over 1,300 locations and over 400,000 learners interacted with more than 800,000 simulations spanning 16 career clusters. Transfr’s impact is clear: 6,800+ career placements in 8 high-growth industries. However, Bharani took the opportunity to look beyond the present, articulating a bold future:
“What if we collectively could create a future where your zip code didn’t govern your future possibilities?”
Rooted in his own experience with public school education, Bharani painted a compelling picture of what’s possible when access to skills and opportunities is democratized.
Transfr updates: Product and beyond
Central to Bharani’s vision is Transfr’s focus on building seamless pathways that connect classrooms to careers. At the heart of this ecosystem is Career Exploration, which serves as the gateway for learners. Transfr Trek, our multi-modal learning experience, empowers individuals to explore careers through mobile tools, interactive content, and immersive “day-in-the-life” simulations. By engaging learners early and enabling them to make informed career decisions, Transfr Trek unlocks pathways into high-demand industries.
But exploration is only the beginning. Transfr’s Pre-Employment Programs (PEPs) provide the practical training and credentials learners need to transition into meaningful employment. These turnkey programs offer a direct path from exploration to employment, aligning skills with employer demand and transforming learners into job-ready candidates.
“Blue-collar jobs like HVAC technician and electrician can lead to extraordinary opportunities,” Bharani explained. “These aren’t just careers — they’re stepping stones to becoming business owners and entrepreneurs.”
This integrated approach ensures that learners are equipped to succeed in well-paying, high-growth industries, many of which do not require a 4-year college degree. From technician roles to skilled trades, Transfr opens doors to careers that provide both stability and upward mobility.
Multi-Modal Learning: Empowering learners, simplifying pathways
A cornerstone of Transfr’s strategy is its multi-modal learning ecosystem, combining VR simulations, mobile learning tools, and curriculum resources. This approach meets learners where they are, delivering an engaging and accessible educational experience. Transfr’s VP of Learning Intelligence, Yun Jin Rho, PhD, highlighted the impact of this approach:
“In a recent study, learners using VR achieved mastery with 40% less practice compared to traditional in-person training.”
This efficiency is critical in addressing the growing skills gap. Transfr’s programs allow learners to gain mastery faster, reducing barriers to entry for jobs in critical fields while empowering educators and employers with actionable tools to track progress and outcomes.
There’s more coming from Transfr in 2025, so stand by for the latest exciting developments. Speaking of excitement, we couldn’t end our one-day XR Futures festivities without one more exciting announcement.
Introducing Chris Gardner — Transfr’s Chief Evangelist
Another XR Futures highlight was unveiling author and entrepreneur Chris Gardner as Transfr’s official Chief Evangelist (in addition to his CEO of Happyness). This announcement was made in conjunction with the rollout of “Permission to Dream 2.0: Pathways to Success,” a game-changing partnership between Chris and Transfr designed to help get more people from all walks of life onto their pathways to upward mobility.
Chris will work with institutions nationwide to help learners and job seekers access Transfr’s programs to prepare for well-paying careers in high-growth industries, many that don’t require four-year degrees. You can hear him speak on this directly in his session “How Your Dreams Can Transform You.”
“I chose to partner with Transfr because they are creating pathways to success for our youth and adults,” says Chris. “Together, we are giving students not just the permission to dream but the tools to make those dreams a reality.”
Creating a future without limits
Bharani’s vision is grounded in Transfr’s mission to democratize access to opportunity. With nearly 10 million job openings annually in high-demand roles that do not require a college degree, Transfr is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. By equipping learners with skills aligned to employer needs, Transfr is creating a world where education is a pathway to freedom, not a privilege bound by geography or resources.
“We’re not just creating tools,” Bharani said. “We’re unlocking potential. Together, we’re reshaping lives, communities, and the future of work.”
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