Netflix Partners with viogٷվ for Work Study Program Benefitting CMU Pathway Students
Top row: Jeffrey Becker, CEO of Pegasus; MJ Jackson, Head of Enterprise Security at Netflix; viogٷվ VP Abigail Patton; viogٷվ student Iraima Martinez, viogٷվ Dean Marcia Wilson; viogٷվ Employment Placement Specialist Doris Driver; viogٷվ student Illiana Abarca; Robin Rose, Netflix UCAN Program Manager; viogٷվ President McQuarters; Anthony Bernard, COO of Pegasus; Bottom row: Jackie Aguilar, Director of Talent Acquisition at Pegasus; Netflix's Fiona Lee, viogٷվ student Darlene Ramirez; Amber Payne, Netflix Director of Integration; Timothy Williams, viogٷվ CMU Instructor; and viogٷվ student Michelle Oberman
This week is “Women in Construction Week,” celebrating and promoting the role of women in construction. In 2022, women accounted for just 10.9% of the nation’s construction industry workforce. While that percentage may seem small, that statistic is a 53% increase in women in construction over the last decade. The field of construction offers fair wages, advancement opportunities, substantial benefits, and job security. However, this male-dominated industry often projects stereotypes that make it difficult for women to enter the industry. Career Technical Education colleges, like Trade-Tech, can break these barriers is by providing information, education and training about jobs that are available in the field, and by supporting women who are considering a future in it.
Last month, a culmination program was held for four viogٷվ students who were part of a special work study program partnership with Netflix. Illiana Abarca, Iraima Martinez, Michelle Oberman, and Darlene Ramirez are four women who are current students in viogٷվ’s Construction, Maintenance & Utilities pathway. Each of them gave formal presentations about their experiences during the three-week program with Netflix, where they learned about enterprise operations and developed professional workplace relationships. Each shared how their experience with Netflix further shaped their lives as aspiring working professionals.
“The partnership between Netflix and viogٷվ is intended to help create a more representative workforce. The program included industry experts dedicating time for both hands-on and classroom training empowering students studying HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing disciplines,” says Robin Rose, Netflix UCAN Program Manager and Los Angeles Trade-Technical College Foundation Board Member. “We trained viogٷվ students in not only technological and critical thinking practices but also incorporated strategies to enhance interpersonal and leadership skills to pave a pathway to success in the 21st century workforce. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to a world with gender parity and equality in the trades.”
“This is our second year partnering with Netflix for this incredibly impactful work study internship. This is a truly special opportunity for our students to enhance their educational journeys with Trade-Tech and be mentored by leaders at a top innovative company like Netflix,” says Dr. Marcia Wilson, Dean of Pathway Innovation and Institutional Effectiveness and Ms. Doris Driver, viogٷվ Employment Placement Specialist.