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Based on Julia Ivy, PhD Psych, PhD Mgmt‘s research paper, “Employability of Skilled Immigrants and the Future of Work: Research Agenda”

As we navigate the rapid evolution of the workforce—defined by AI, hybrid models, global collaboration, and a rising demand for diversity—the spotlight is increasingly turning toward global talent. But what if we’re systematically ignoring one of our most powerful resources?

According to Dr. Julia Ivy’s recent research presented at the 2025 Western Academy of Management, skilled immigrants—those with advanced degrees, global experience, and an intrinsic drive to integrate—hold untapped potential that aligns perfectly with the demands of the future of work. Yet, they often remain undervalued, underutilized, and underemployed.

The Paradox of Talent

The issue isn’t a lack of skill or education. In fact, many skilled immigrants hold multiple degrees and bring with them diverse professional experiences. Still, their employability suffers due to systemic barriers. This is what Julia Ivy refers to as the “skill paradox”—a phenomenon where more skilled immigrants are less likely to find employment equivalent to their qualifications compared to local candidates (Dietz et al., 2015, as cited by Julia Ivy, 2025).

Even more startling: 79% of immigrants with a master’s degree or higher are overeducated for the jobs they hold in the U.S. (Chiswick & Miller, 2009, as cited by Julia Ivy, 2025).

The Future of Work Demands What Skilled Immigrants Offer

The transformation of work is not a passing trend—it’s a full-scale reshaping of how we define roles, value contributions, and measure success. Future-ready workplaces are looking for:

• Diversity and global perspectives

• Adaptability and cross-cultural intelligence

• Digital fluency and innovation

• Purpose-driven action and inclusion

These are precisely the attributes skilled immigrants bring to the table. As Julia Ivy notes, they are “in sync with the needs of organizations” striving to thrive within Industry 4.0 (Julia Ivy, 2025).

So Why the Disconnect?

It boils down to contextualization. Immigrants often lack local references, networks, and “job signaling” that can communicate their value in culturally recognizable ways. This creates a gap—not in capability, but in communication and perception.

She explains, employability is not just about possessing skills. It also depends on how well individuals position themselves in the job market and navigate the process of identity-building within a new professional context.

What Can Be Done?

Julia Ivy calls for a new research and practice agenda to bridge this gap. But more urgently, there’s a call for action:

• Educational institutions must support international graduates beyond enrollment, helping them signal their value effectively.

• Employers should reevaluate what counts as “relevant” experience and recognize the transferable depth of global talent.

• Governments and workforce development agencies should stop treating highly educated immigrants as afterthoughts in policy and support.

• Communities must foster ecosystems of mentorship, career coaching, and inclusive hiring pathways.

A Call to Reimagine Talent Pipelines

Julia Ivy’s work challenges us to reimagine not just how we hire, but who we consider as the future of our workforce. It’s not about charity or accommodation—it’s about strategy.

Skilled immigrants are not a challenge to be solved; they are a competitive edge waiting to be recognized.

Warsaw, Poland

In theory, experience should make job hunting easier.
In reality, mid-career immigrant women often feel invisible.

Research from the OECD and Migration Policy Institute reveals a troubling trend: more than 30% of highly educated immigrants in Europe are underemployed or working well below their qualification level. Among women, the numbers are even more striking. They face not only barriers of language and culture, but also invisible ceilings shaped by unfamiliar hiring systems, lack of local networks, and under-recognition of foreign credentials.

The Financial Times, in a 2023 investigation, called it “brain waste”—a quiet, global crisis in which women with advanced degrees and years of leadership experience end up in entry-level jobs, if employed at all.

“I had two degrees, ten years of management experience, and I still couldn’t get a single callback,” shares one anonymous participant in a Polish-based reintegration forum. “It felt like none of what I had built mattered anymore.”

Turning Identity Into Strategy: A New Approach

To address this challenge, Dr. Julia Ivy, strategy expert and author of the BE-EDGE methodology, is hosting a free in-person session in Warsaw titled:

“Rebuilding Yourself in Emigration: How to Find Your Professional Path When Everything Has Changed.”

Rather than pushing vague positivity or resignation, BE-EDGE offers a practical system:

• Build your credibility with case-based consulting experience

• Engage with local networks strategically

• Deliver unique value by connecting your background to market needs

• Gain trust and visibility—even in a new environment

Ivy’s method is particularly powerful for women who feel disoriented but deeply capable—those who no longer want to feel “lost in translation” when it comes to their career.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Time: 14:00–16:00
Language: Russian

This event is free, and designed especially for Russian-speaking women navigating their mid-career transition in a new country. Register here

The Value of Experience in a Shifting Career Landscape

In today’s dynamic workplace, the definition of a “career move” is evolving. Traditional paths vertical promotions, lateral transfers, or complete pivots are no longer the only options. Instead, professionals are increasingly pursuing nonlinear growth that allows them to build outward from their existing expertise.

McKinsey & Company ’s 2021 report on the future of work found that skills-based career reinvention is rapidly becoming the standard, especially for professionals mid-career and beyond. But here’s the missed opportunity: while many professionals have deep, hard-earned knowledge, they rarely get to share it in ways that generate long-term value for themselves or others.

Your experience is more than a list of responsibilities. It’s a story, a system, and in many cases, a blueprint others would pay to learn from if only it were made accessible.

Experience as Intellectual Capital: From Operational Knowledge to Income

Professionals with 10+ years of experience have led teams, navigated crises, delivered growth, and implemented change. But how do you translate all of that into leverage not just in job interviews, but in how you show up in your industry?

The answer lies in turning that lived experience into intellectual capital something that works for you even when you’re not actively doing the work. Creating a consulting-style course is one such strategy.

Research from LinkedIn for Learning shows that learners are significantly more engaged with courses that are built around real scenarios, not theory. Today’s learners want to hear directly from people who have done the work, not just studied it. That means professionals like you are in demand, not just for what you do, but for what you can teach.

Turning your expertise into a course allows you to:

• Showcase your thinking and methods in a tangible, scalable format
• Mentor and develop rising professionals in your field
• Build a digital asset that earns you income — without trading time for money

This isn’t about becoming a full-time teacher or influencer. It’s about positioning yourself as someone who has something to say and something to offer.

A New Kind of Career Asset: Introducing BCC Masters

To support professionals in this transition from expertise to structured value, BE-EDGE created the BCC Masters program. BCC which stands for Becoming a Case Consultant.

BCC Masters is not a course you take, it’s a course you create.

It’s designed for experienced professionals who want to build consulting-style learning experiences around their real work, and earn passive income by teaching others how to solve similar challenges.

With BCC Masters, you’ll:

• Develop a case-based consulting course, with step-by-step guidance
• Share your challenge with learners who want hands-on, applied experience
• Use our platform to host, promote, and deliver the course
• Get paid every time someone learns from your story

In a competitive job market, this isn’t just a creative project, it’s a strategic asset. One that enhances your visibility, strengthens your credibility, and creates income from what you already know.

Explore how BCC Masters can help you turn your next career move into a legacy.

BCC Masters

On July 1st, a select group of driven professionals and aspiring immigrants gathered for a Business Breakfast in Warsaw with Dr. Julia Ivy, a celebrated strategist, academic, and expert in personal career design. The event brought together members of the international expert community who are actively seeking ways to adapt, grow, and thrive professionally in new environments.

Held in the heart of Warsaw, Poland, the breakfast provided a welcoming space for those exploring new paths in unfamiliar markets. Many attendees are immigrants themselves or in the process of emigration, eager to recalibrate their careers in line with new realities. It was no surprise that the room was filled with individuals described as “hand-picked” thoughtful, inspiring people motivated by personal growth and a deep desire to make an impact in their new environments.

At the center of this gathering was Dr. Julia Ivy, whose personal story deeply resonated with the participants. Originally from Belarus, Julia is no stranger to the challenges of starting over. As an immigrant herself, she faced the daunting task of not only adapting to a new country but also building her career from the ground up. Through years of navigating academia, business consulting, and personal transformation, she developed the BE-EDGE methodology, a framework that helps people design careers that fit their values, skills, and aspirations in any market they find themselves in.

Julia’s experience offered a unique and deeply relatable perspective for attendees. In their feedback, participants repeatedly highlighted her “super-professionalism,” her openness in sharing hard-won lessons, and the “indescribable atmosphere” she created a blend of intellectual depth, practical insight, and emotional connection. For many, it was more than a professional event; it was a moment of clarity and renewed purpose.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the BCB community for organizing and hosting this impactful event. And a special thank you to Dr. Julia Ivy, PhD Psych, PhD Mgmt for sharing her journey and expertise, and for inspiring others to design meaningful careers, no matter where they begin again.

Whether you are an immigrant building a new career, a consultant seeking global relevance, or a professional searching for a strategy that fits your personal journey, BE-EDGE community is here for you.

All photo credits goes to Andrei Z.

Many aspiring marketers face a frustrating gatekeeper: entry-level roles demand experience—even though you’ve never been hired. Below are real Reddit stories and how BE‑EDGE turns that cycle around.

Read more

We’re excited to announce that our Position-Focused Strategy course is now officially live on Udemy!

This course, designed by Dr. Julia Ivy, is your personal guide to positioning yourself as a unique and in-demand professional in today’s competitive job market. Whether you’re a fresh graduate, mid-career shifter, or looking to stand out for your next big opportunity, this course will help you develop your personal positioning strategy backed by real-world tools and insights.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to identify and craft your unique value to employers

• How to map out industries and roles that match your personal edge

• Tools to align your passion, credentials, and market demand

• Practical case consulting experience to elevate your professional profile

Why take this course?
Because job seekers with a clear positioning strategy don’t just apply for jobs—they attract them. With expert guidance and hands-on activities, you’ll walk away with a concrete plan to position yourself as the top candidate for roles that fit you.

Start learning today on Udemy:
How to Position Yourself as a Professional in the Job Market

Want to explore more strategy course?
Check it out at be-edge.learnworlds.com
Learn More about the Four Strategy Courses 

In a crowded job market, many students struggle to answer the question: “What real value can I bring?”

At the same time, local organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and leaders face real challenges but often lack the resources to access strategic support.

What if both problems could be solved together?

That’s exactly what the BE-EDGE Consult-a-thon was built for. It’s not a competition. It’s not a classroom exercise. It’s a living bridge between global talents and community need.

The Consult-a-thon in Action

Over the 2 intensive weekend, students will step into the role of consultants. They meet with local business owners and community leaders who are facing tough, often urgent challenges — from growing a nonprofit’s reach to helping a restaurant bounce back post-pandemic.

Each student team chooses a project that aligns with what matters to them personally. They go deep — researching, strategizing, and building a prototype or plan that can be implemented immediately. And they don’t stop at recommendations. They pitch their solutions directly to the clients, take feedback, and often follow through.

For Students: The Future of Work Starts Here

The future doesn’t belong to those who simply have degrees. It belongs to those who can solve real problems, adapt fast, and communicate their value clearly.

BE-EDGE’s Consult-a-thon gives participants exactly that:

• Real stakes: They work on live cases, not hypotheticals.
• Real skills: Research, design thinking, teamwork, and communication.
• Real impact: Clients walk away with something they can actually use.
• Real relationships: Many students gain internships, long-term connections, and career references from the experience.

It’s career prep with soul and substance.

For Communities & Partners: Access to Global Talent That Cares

Every organization that joins as a Case Client brings a genuine challenge and leaves with new possibilities.

Whether it’s a community development office or a family-run food business, partners get:

• Fresh eyes and new thinking from globally diverse student teams
• A tailored action plan — whether it’s a marketing strategy, financial prototype, or user experience redesign
• Energized partnership: Many choose to continue working with students after the Consult-a-thon ends

This isn’t charity. It’s collaboration.

Why This Model Works

The magic of the Consult-a-thon isn’t just in the results. It’s in the mindset it cultivates.

• Students start seeing themselves as creators of value, not just job seekers.
• Organizations start viewing young talent as collaborators, not just interns.
• Everyone walks away with clarity, confidence, and often, a renewed sense of purpose.

This Is What The Future of Work Looks Like

It’s human-centered. It’s impact-oriented. And it’s already happening — right here at BE-EDGE.

If you’re ready to turn learning into action, talent into transformation, and connection into real community impact…

Join the next BE-EDGE Consult-a-thon You won’t just gain experience you’ll make one.

Want to Become a Partner Organization?

Whether you’re a nonprofit, a community group, or a small business — if you have a meaningful challenge and are open to collaborating with bright, purpose-driven talent, we’d love to work with you.

Partner with us here and become part of the next BE-EDGE Consult-a-thon.

Your Experience Matters More Than You Think

At BE-EDGE, we believe that everyone is a problem-solver—not just consultants. Whether you’ve led a team, managed a home, fixed complex business issues, or guided others through personal growth, your lived experience holds value.

That’s the idea behind our newest program:
Level 3 of Becoming a Case Consultant (BCC) Masters

This course helps people who are skilled in something—anything—to turn that knowledge into a structured, practical course that solves real problems for others. No consulting background? No problem. No fancy tech skills? We’ve got you covered.

You Don’t Need to Be a Teacher to Teach

Many hesitate to share what they know because they’re not “educators.” But you don’t have to be. BCC Masters guides you to:

• Identify a real-world problem you’ve solved

• Turn your process and insight into a story others can learn from

• Create a micro-course with easy step-by-step coaching

You’ll get clear instructions, templates, and support—so you never feel lost or overwhelmed. If you can talk someone through how you solved something, you’re already more than halfway there.

And the best part? You’ll be helping others while building something of your own.

Make a Difference with Your Voice—Start Today

Becoming a Case Consultant through BCC Masters is about more than just making a course—it’s about sharing your voice to help others grow. If you’ve ever thought, “I wish someone had told me this sooner,” this is your chance to be that person for someone else.

Ready to begin your journey?

Learn more and apply here

Still unsure or want to talk it through with someone first?
We’re happy to help—contact us here and we’ll guide you step by step.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start.
And we’ll walk with you the rest of the way.

Employers Are Dropping Degree Requirements—in Favor of Demonstrated Skills

A recent feature in The Times highlights a global trend: companies like IBM, Google, Accenture, Kellogg’s, and Siemens are eliminating degree requirements, focusing instead on practical competence and portfolio work. Between 2021 to 2024, LinkedIn reported a 14.2% increase in job postings not requiring degrees, and nearly half of UK employers no longer view degrees as essential.

In the UK, Neal Clifford, CEO of Kurt Geiger chose to scrap degree requirements altogether, saying “it takes away the paper ceiling” and allows talented candidates to shine based on real-world ability, not academic pedigree.Read more

We’ve reached the second and final weekend of the 2025 BE‑EDGE Consult‑a‑thon, and something truly special is unfolding. Over the past week, four teams of emerging consultants have partnered with local organizations to tackle real-world challenges—and now, they’re preparing to deliver their final presentations.

This is more than a simulation. It’s consulting in action, guided by the BE‑EDGE method, and grounded in one of its most powerful principles: Excite with Impact.

Why this matters — Excite with Impact

The last step of the BE‑EDGE method, “E” for Excite, is all about delivering ideas that spark change and doing so with impact.

That means creating strategies that don’t just look good on paper, but that truly matter to clients and their communities. It means helping local organizations grow stronger while showcasing your voice, your value, and your consulting skillset.

Our participants are doing just that, contributing to local progress and proving their capability as problem-solvers in the real world.

This is consulting with head and heart. Strategy and service. Learning and leadership.

What’s happening this weekend?

• Four local organizations – each with a pressing challenge will receive strategic consulting presentations from their assigned teams.

• Each team of four consultants has spent the past week researching, problem-solving, and refining their solutions with input from mentors and stakeholders.

• This weekend, it all comes together as they present their final recommendations, ready to hand over fresh, practical, and community-conscious strategies.

Real teams. Real issues. Real impact.

Here’s a glimpse at what these talented consultants have been working on:

Team Greater Ashmont Main Street – Jacob, Krisha, Timothy, Gaethan

Team Hyde Park Main Street – Ajay, Kevin, Bilguissa, Liza

Team Greater Grove Hall Main Street – Jack, Eldar, Lin, Philip

Team JP Centre/South Main Street – Jasper, Arjav, Tracy, William

In every case, the consulting teams are not just analyzing problems—they’re helping organizations evolve, thrive, and better serve their missions.

What they gain and give

The beauty of the BE-EDGE Consult‑a‑thon lies in its dual impact:

• For participants: Hands-on consulting experience, confidence in their voice, and a clear demonstration of their value to future employers or clients.

• For organizations: Insightful strategies, fresh perspectives, and the momentum to move forward with clarity and purpose.

• For the community: Stronger local ecosystems, more resilient service providers, and a reminder that real change often begins with collaboration.

To our participants, client partners, mentors, and supporters, thank you for being part of something that is intellectually challenging, emotionally rewarding, and socially meaningful.

As our teams prepare to present this weekend, we celebrate more than just solutions. We celebrate the spirit of Exciting with Impact, of using our skills not only to solve problems, but to uplift people, strengthen communities, and grow as purposeful professionals.

Let’s keep building futures with strategy, empathy, and a whole lot of heart.

The first-ever International “Making Your Consulting Case” (MYCC) 2025 competition wrapped up in Kelowna, BC, spotlighting the next generation of global case consultants. Hosted in this vibrant Canadian city, the event brought together innovative minds from around the world to present real-world strategy cases.

After a series of rigorous presentations and impressive insights, the winners of MYCC 2025 have been announced:

First Place

Iryna Colon
Case: NOVA POSHTA: Expansion into West Europe

Second Place

Jack Jamroz
Case: KYIVSTAR: A Telecommunications Company in the Face of an Invasion

Third Place

Katelyn Guevara
Case: I Did It My Way: Pacific Air’s Journey in Management

Honorable Mentions

Vanessa Kwakye
Case: ALLY PHARMACY: Providing Reliable Healthcare Solutions Across Africa

Julia Adrian
Case: DTEK Renewables – International Extension

Congratulations to all participants for their strategic thinking, bold ideas, and commitment to delivering value. The 2025 MYCC competition has once again proven the power of case consulting to drive meaningful impact in a global marketplace.

Stay tuned for what’s next at BE-EDGE. 

Want to practice your consulting skills while waiting for the next MYCC?

Take our free course on Making Your Consulting Case (MYCC) and start making an impact.

On March 20, 2025, Dr. Julia Ivy will take the stage as a keynote speaker at the Western Casewriters Association 2025 Conference, sharing her expertise on how consulting cases can transform employability. In her talk, Dr. Ivy will explore how career changers and students can use consulting cases to sharpen skills, boost their marketability, and create meaningful professional connections.

Her innovative approach offers practical strategies for leveraging real-world cases to stand out in competitive job markets. Don’t miss the chance to learn from one of the leading voices in employability strategy! Stay tuned for more updates as Dr. Ivy prepares to share her insights at the WCA 2025 Conference!