5 Organizations Helping People Learn Valuable Skills

No matter how much experience you have in your field, it's never too late to learn something new. In no particular order, here are a few organizations teaching everything from technological know-how to communication skills and intercultural understanding.

First up, at #1, is Pluralsight, which helps companies and entrepreneurs learn various technical skills that are designed to enhance workflow. The Utah-based company was co-founded in 2004 by Aaron Skonnard.

Through its industry partners, such as Google and Microsoft, Pluralsight offers a variety of widely-accessible courses. Some of these include programs related to software development, cybersecurity, and data analytics. The classes are created by experts from various fields.

For #2, we have VitalSmarts. It specializes in helping businesses that are looking to improve the overall performance of their employees. The agency accomplishes this by facilitating virtual training sessions. During these classes, students receive real-time feedback from their peers and instructors.

Additionally, VitalSmarts provides courses that are based on behavioral science principles. The goal of these programs is to help individuals develop repeatable skills that are useful in the workplace. These include fostering accountability, forming productive habits, and learning to communicate effectively.

Coming in at #3 is Together for Humanity, a non-profit organization that works closely with school communities to foster students' interfaith and intercultural understanding. It has teams working in various parts of Australia, such as New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.

TFH teaches social skills and spreads cultural awareness through its programs and workshops. Many of these are focused on introducing teachers and students to people from diverse backgrounds. Through these meetings, which are held in friendly and supportive settings, the group aims to educate the participants about themes related to equality, inclusivity, and openness.

Next up at #4 is Productive Flourishing. It was founded by Charlie Gilkey, a philosopher and a former logistics officer for the US Army. Under his leadership, the company delivers customized strategies designed to help businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs grow and become more productive.

Aside from one-on-one business coaching, Productive Flourishing also provides learning sessions tailored for teams and entire corporations. In addition, the agency offers calendar planners and books written by Gilkey.

Lastly, at #5, we have Skillsoft, which has facilities in multiple countries around the world. The company offers cloud-based and science-backed content and services that are aimed at improving the skills and performance of employees.

Over the years, it has produced over 160,000 learning tools in more than 20 languages. Many of these come in the form of videos, books, and courses. They cover a wide range of subjects related to various business topics such as customer service, social media marketing, and brand management. After completing a program, participants are awarded with a digital badge.