Who We Are
Colorado Succeeds was founded in 2006 by a group of CEOs who saw the need for a non-partisan business advocacy organization focused solely on education and workforce development. As end consumers of the education and talent development system, Colorado Succeeds members advocate for policies that improve outcomes for learners, and support innovative programs in and out of the classroom.
Mission
To apply our business expertise, influence, and capital to improve Colorado’s schools.
Vision
All of Colorado’s learners are educated to their greatest potential, and all of Colorado’s businesses have the talented and innovative homegrown workforce they need to thrive.
What We Do
Shape and advocate for PUBLIC POLICY that removes barriers to innovation, incentives best practices, measures outcomes, and places the learner first.
Supercharge POLICY IMPLEMENTATION by providing technical assistance and support to education providers and employers.
FUND education and workforce development best practices to bring them to scale.
Core Values
Collaborative
At Colorado Succeeds, we build trusting relationships with our colleagues, investors, partners, and community members by listening, learning, and supporting one another. Together, we are stronger and can contribute more.
Leadership
At Colorado Succeeds, we take responsibility for finding the potential in all people, processes, and systems, and we have the courage to develop that potential, even when it may be difficult or uncomfortable.
Entrepreneurial
At Colorado Succeeds, we are motivated to innovate; create and test new solutions; and challenge the status quo in pursuit of transformational results. We work to see around the corner and take the initiative to act before others do. We are able to act and react as necessary, even when limited information is available.
Accountable
At Colorado Succeeds, we accept responsibility for our actions, words, attitudes, and impact. We own our commitments, mistakes, and continuous improvement.
Relentless
At Colorado Succeeds, we are determined to make the most of every moment. We have a bias towards action and a sense of urgency to achieve our goals. We are tenacious, tireless, and never discouraged in the pursuit of impact for all learners.
Colorado Succeeds is committed to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) as its core motivator, strategy, and value. Systemic inequities in education have for too long determined the type and quality of educational opportunities students can access and experience, and the Colorado Paradox is still very much a reality. While more than half of the state’s residents have a postsecondary degree, only 22% graduated from Colorado’s K–12 public schools. According to the Colorado Talent Pipeline Report, 97% of Colorado’s top in-demand jobs require some level of formal postsecondary education or training, and only about 1 in 5 high school graduates obtain that type of credential.
Through strategies in policy, practice, and philanthropy that center students and families who face systemic inequities, Colorado Succeeds works to remove barriers to ensure equity in accessing experiences, opportunities, and resources they need to reach their greatest potential. Colorado Succeeds is committed to engaging the perspectives of diverse communities to learn, understand, and form the basis of our future actions. Succeeds is committed to finding ways to ensure these education stakeholders and their ideas are at the table, co-creating, supporting, and leading efforts that are best for Colorado’s students and families.
Colorado Succeeds holds itself to continuous improvement, including advancing equitable policy agendas, more visibly and consistently sharing its commitment to equity, centering equity in decision-making and strategy development, and clearly defining and demonstrating progress towards equity outcomes.
The questions we ask ourselves when making decisions include:
- Is this rooted in an evidence-based problem and have an evidence-based solution?
- Who is at the table, who’s missing? Do we have diversity of identities, experiences, perspectives, skills, and spheres of influence required to effect systems change?
- What hidden biases or barriers within our ideas might perpetuate systemic inequities?
- What must be done to ensure students and families furthest from opportunity can access what they need to reach their full potential?
- How does our background, perspectives, experiences, or power impact the decisions we make?
- Is this nonpartisan and/or does it appeal to bipartisan supporters?
- Does this infuse innovation and agility into the system or solution?
- Are there mechanisms for rigorous measurement, accountability, and continuous improvement?