Future of Work: The Next Generation

Luis Santiago went from working at McDonald’s in the “Badlands” neighborhood of Philadelphia to running his own company and pulling in six figures. And he got from Point A to Point B without a four-year college degree. The secret? Luis is a master HVAC technician in a skilled trades industry which has grown less and less popular as a career path in the U.S. over the last few decades.

Katherine Berry was living out her dream life - or so she thought. After graduating a year early from USC Business School, Katherine landed a big-time sales gig at a well-known tech company in San Francisco. But then the pandemic hit. Suddenly, new roommates (her parents) and the inability to unplug (60-70 hour work weeks) had Katherine’s anxiety levels at an all-time high.

Rob Abasolo was a copywriter at an ad agency who was struggling to find the creative freedom that initially attracted him to the industry. So, he decided to quit. His career pivot? It turns out big life changes can sometimes come in small packages. Find out how Rob is thriving as a short-term rental entrepreneur building tiny homes all across the country.

Annette & Daniel Fortner are Digital Nomads, people who embrace a location-independent, technology-enabled lifestyle that allows them to travel and work anywhere in the internet-connected world. In 2017, they sold all their possessions and became full-time world travelers picking up odd jobs online. With the low cost of living, they work fewer hours; but is the digital nomad life sustainable?

Jake 28, from Los Angeles, CA lives, works and sleeps in his Honda sedan. By day, he drives all over Los Angeles, delivering food for companies like DoorDash, GrubHub and UberEats. At night, he sleeps on a custom-made bed that unfolds over the passenger seat. As a recovering addict with social anxiety disorder, Jake could never see himself trapped behind a desk or in a crowded kitchen.

Ten years after graduating from chiropractic school, Courtney Acree has $400,000 in student debt. She stays busy managing her hours as a chiropractor, as well as the time and travel that comes with her second job as a flight attendant. Courtney is one of approximately 13 million Americans with two jobs, but the reason she works almost 60 hours a week isn’t purely financial.