Skillable is a company that focuses on validated experiences and challenge-centric learning to transform how organizations upskill their customers, partners, and employees. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Skillable Executive Chairman and Co-founder Corey Hynes, a network engineer and software developer turned entrepreneur, to learn more.
Pulse 2.0: Could you tell me more about your background?
Corey Hynes: I began my career installing and supporting networks but quickly became a trainer due to a love of teaching. I trained many people on different technologies, including development, data, security, networking, and design. I then focused on creating high-value technology certifications as an author and expert across many technology areas. Following this, I began creating learning content for companies such as Citrix and Microsoft. As part of this effort, I devised new ways of using Virtual Machine technology to automate the setup of classrooms at a large scale for conferences and training events. This led to the formation of holSystems, which eventually became Learn on Demand Systems and then Skillable.
My primary responsibilities as executive chairman include overseeing and operating our board of directors and managing several board committees. I also direct our general M&A strategy and overall strategic product direction. I work closely with our product and technology teams on new ideas and innovation, as well as helping to drive a compelling product roadmap. Lastly, I help elevate the company’s market profile through speaking, writing, and similar activities.
Pulse 2.0: What has been your favorite memory working at Skillable?
Corey Hynes: My favorite memories are of our annual in-person all-hands meetings. Regardless of where they are, being a 100% virtual company, it is always special to see the entire company come together in one place. The energy and enthusiasm are palpable, and it is always humbling to see the people who work hard every day to make the company successful.
Pulse 2.0: How has the company’s technology evolved since launching?
Corey Hynes: Skillable lives on the cutting edge of technology and constantly evolves. That said, our evolution is in three major areas.
Our platform must evolve as software evolves to support new types of software. In recent years, we launched support for Docker software and Azure, AWS, and GCP native software. We are constantly exploring new software types.
As the company grows, we are constantly evolving the experience of the authors and users of our platform, making it easier to create labs and improve the user experience when taking labs.
As skills become the currency of tomorrow’s workforce, we constantly add new data and technology to assess skills through hands-on activities that produce high-fidelity evidence.
Pulse 2.0: What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones?
Corey Hynes:
1.) The launch of Cloud Slice to bring hands-on experiences to Azure, AWS, and Google
2.) Achieving an average of 1,000,000 lab sessions per month
3.) Investment rounds by Quad Partners (minority) and Shamrock Capital (majority)
4.) Named 5x to the Inc. 5000, its list of fastest-growing companies
Pulse 2.0: What differentiates the company from its competition?
Corey Hynes: Skillable differentiates itself from its competitors in several ways. First, our self-service platform gives customers complete control over creating and publishing scored hands-on experiences.
There is a rich toolset that is significantly more advanced than similar platforms. Secondly, our scale and depth of experience are much larger than similar platforms. We deploy more types of labs faster and have done so for a longer period. Lastly, our scoring engine allows any software to be scored to create high-fidelity evidence of skill, making that data available to users. This scoring measures tasks performed in actual software to ensure that real skill exists.
Pulse 2.0: What are some of the company’s future company goals?
Corey Hynes: Hands-on is the best way to develop any skill and the most accurate way to validate performance. Skillable started as a way to build and validate technical skills faster, and our long-term goal is to become the single vendor for hands-on learning and validation of any skill. We are currently focused on delivering the best hands-on learning experience platform.
All digital and software skills are best learned by doing. Only by using software in the manner it was intended, in a realistic scenario, will you truly learn and grow. Likewise, only by challenging yourself in the same way can you truly demonstrate that you have those skills. Skillable’s goal is to take this premise and deliver it anywhere digital and software skills are required to do a job, acquire a job, or grow in a job. Not just for the technology sector but every industry from healthcare to manufacturing, to finance and engineering. And not just for existing employees but also for future employees who have skills but perhaps need the experience or credentials necessary to prove skills.
Skills and abilities are the currency of the future workforce. Skillable is the solution enabling individuals to leverage that currency for career placement and growth and for organizations to confidently grow knowing the skills they need exist in their workforce.
