Dylan Gambardella: Empowering the Next Generation to Own Their Dream Careers
Ladderworks is a publishing platform of diverse picture books and an online curriculum with the mission to empower over a million kids to become social entrepreneurs. Our current series features interviews by our interplanetary journalist Spiffy with inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders, and Changemakers who are advancing the UN SDGs.
Spiffy here with the scoop on the entrepreneurial leaders of Planet Earth. As the only interplanetary journalist stationed on this blue planet, I’m thrilled to present this galactic exclusive with Dylan Gambardella, the co-founder and CEO of Next Gen HQ. Let’s learn what’s happening there and how Dylan is making a positive impact in the world.
Spiffy: Hi Dylan, thanks a million for talking to me today. Tell me, what challenge are you addressing through Next Gen HQ?
Dylan: Thanks for having me, Spiffy! We are on a mission to empower the next generation to own their careers. We believe everyone has the power to succeed at work and in life. We build tools to serve individuals in their career journeys.
Spiffy: What motivates you to do it?
Dylan: I am blessed to have been raised by parents who showed my sister and me what's possible through education and hard work. Now, I'm driven to empower others to pursue their highest ambitions, as my parents did for me. If, with our tools, we can help someone find their dream career and improve their odds of success by just a percentage or two, that's the most motivating possibility in the world.
Spiffy: What would you say is the impact of your work?
Dylan: We empower the next generation to own their careers. We help users find aligned career paths and lead them through the entire job search process. This includes networking and upskilling. We leverage AI to save users valuable time and energy.
Spiffy: Tell me about a recent organization milestone or initiative. What impact does it make on your community?
Dylan: Since launching our latest tool—thejobforme.com—in July, we have helped over 20,000 individuals discover their dream careers.
Spiffy: That’s amazing! Thanks for speaking with me today, Dylan—it’s been an honor!
Dylan Gambardella is an entrepreneur passionate about using technology to solve meaningful problems. He is the co-founder and CEO of Next Gen HQ, the author of “Now That's Momentum", and a startup investor. He is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and has been featured in publications including Forbes, Inc, Adweek, Entrepreneur, CNBC, USA Today, and Cheddar. He is a keynote speaker who has spoken in front of tens of thousands on global stages, including two TEDx talks. Dylan graduated from Duke University. (First published on the Ladderworks website on November 7, 2023.)
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Ladderworks LLC.
© 2023 Ladderworks LLC. Edited by Anushree Nande. Spiffy’s illustration by Shreyas Navare. For the Ladderworks digital curriculum to help K-3 kids advance the UN SDGs, visit Spiffy's Launchpad: Creative Entrepreneurship Workshops for K-3 Kids and their caregivers here.