In the third of our 3-part series, Sam Caucci and Shelly Kurtz discuss real-world examples of upskilling, where a fresh approaches are delivering measurable results for both employers and workers. Sam and Shelly challenge outdated assumptions about who benefits from game-based learning, showing that engaging, skill-building experiences resonate across generations. They discuss the outcomes, lessons learned, and what other organizations can take away to strengthen their own workforce development strategies.
This interview is the third in a 3-part series. Watch episodes 1 and 2, and sign up for email updates to be alerted when new series are released.
Meet Our Speakers
Sam Caucci
Sam Caucci is the Founder and CEO of 1Huddle, a tech company that helps companies find, train and retain workers using science-backed, quick-burst mobile games. Sam has managed and coached sales and leadership teams for publicly held, private sector, and franchised companies across the globe and has designed and delivered talent development programs for over 500 global brands including UEFA, Loews Hotels, ESPN, U.S. Air Force, Nike, Novartis, Madison Square Garden, Major League Soccer, YUM Brands, and more.
Sam served as a member of the Workforce Innovation and Economic Policy Committees for the Biden-Harris Presidential Campaign. He is a board member for the City of Newark’s Workforce Development Board. Sam is the author of the bestselling book Wasted Talent: How Greed, Exploitation and the Promise of the Future of Work Failed Workers and a Plan to Fix It. He has been featured in several prominent media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business, Fox News, The Huffington Post, ESPN, Yahoo Finance, Forbes and Bloomberg.
He lives in New Jersey with his wife Jahmila and daughter Nico.
Shelly Kurtz
Shelly Cano Kurtz is a professor in the School of Business at Pacific Lutheran University, where she is dedicated to preparing students for meaningful, adaptable careers in an ever-evolving workforce. With a focus on workforce development, organizational leadership, and applied business practices, Shelly brings both academic insight and real-world perspective to her teaching and community engagement.
Her work centers on bridging the gap between education and employment—helping students, employers, and communities align skills with opportunity. She is especially passionate about fostering inclusive pathways into the workforce, supporting career readiness, and equipping future leaders with the tools to navigate change.
Through her research, teaching, and partnerships with regional organizations, Shelly contributes to conversations on how higher education can respond to shifting labor market demands and create sustainable, people-centered workforce solutions.
