Blended Learning Models for Supply Chain Upskilling

• Speaker: Sarah Krasley, CEO & Founder, Shimmy
• When: UK Time 14:30 – 15:30, Thursday, 4th of April 2024

The global fashion industry employs 60 million people worldwide. Their efforts support a supply chain that is fast-paced and cost-sensitive, and their ability to adapt and upskill alongside digital transformation is not just beneficial; it’s essential.

In this talk, Sarah Krasley shared the journey she and her team at Shimmy had been on to integrat tech with traditional training methods to create a blended learning environment tailored for the flexibility and modernity needed in the fashion supply chain in this moment in time.

Industry 4.0 won’t work without data and digital tools, and digitisation efforts on the factory floor are often woefully behind tools for white-collar workers or consumer-facing experiences. Krasley shared the approach her team took to blend human-centred design research, accessible design principles, and deep empathy for production, hiring, and technical trainers to create something fun and empowering for workers (two words not normally associated with industrial technical training).

The webinar covered:

• Bridging the digital divide: strategies for ensuring equitable access to digital tools and resources for all workers, regardless of their starting skill level or background.
• The importance of hands-on, practical training and mentorship in reinforcing digital skills and applying them in real-world scenarios.
• Collaborating with industry partners, educational institutions, and technology providers to create a cohesive ecosystem that supports lifelong learning and career advancement.

Sarah Krasley is a social impact entrepreneur focused on a fair future of work for fashion supply chain workers. As CEO of Shimmy, Ms. Krasley leads the company in its efforts to upskill and reskill the millions of workers in the supply chain who are in danger of losing their jobs to automation.

Prior to Shimmy, Ms. Krasley lead Sustainable Manufacturing at Autodesk where she and her team created software for hundreds of thousands of designers, engineers, and factory owners worldwide. She serves on boards and working groups for the World Economic Forum, the Urban Manufacturing Alliance, and the Americas Apparel Producers’ Network. Sarah has a BFA from Pratt Institute, an MBA from the University of San Francisco and lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.