Bricks to Blueprints: A Woman's Journey from Construction Sites to Building Learning Ecosystems
A Pivotal Moment on Main Street
The sight of brick dust spewing from scaffolding on Main Street was the tipping point for me. In 2014, witnessing the negligent restoration of a beloved local building sparked a deep-seated frustration that propelled me into action. With a unique background in adult learning and first-hand experience in construction from my family’s restoration and carpentry business, I realized the invaluable contributions that I would make to the construction industry. More than that, I recognized the profound impact of comprehensive onboarding and career development for growing construction companies - and its business impact on founders, families, and other stakeholders.
Meet Manja: Founder of Boost LD
Hi, I'm Manja, the founder of Boost LD. My journey toward specializing in adult learning spans over two decades. It all began when I was a violin teacher and evolved into becoming a corporate learning and development strategist in the financial sector. Later, I became a learning consultant, supporting clients across various industries. This diverse experience has honed my expertise in nurturing skill development in adults. Even during the challenging climate of the COVID-19 pandemic, my team and I built a thriving full-service learning design business dedicated to serving mid-sized, growing construction companies.
Boost LD: Your Learning Design Partner
At Boost LD, we are passionate about enhancing business efficiency and developing people within skill-based trade companies. We firmly believe that these companies can only achieve robust growth when equipped with a solid learning ecosystem – this forms the core of our work.
Building a Learning Ecosystem
A learning ecosystem encompasses the technology, learning strategy, content, learning culture and more importantly, how those elements interact with your people. This ecosystem is what allows your company to efficiently onboard new hires, nurture skills development, assess learning outcomes, and provide essential job resources. The results? Improved business performance, regulatory compliance, engaged employees, and reduced turnover rates.
A Fresh Approach to Construction Training
This ecosystem is what allows your company to efficiently onboard new hires, nurture skills development, assess learning outcomes, and provide essential job resources. The results? Improved business performance, regulatory compliance, engaged employees, and reduced turnover rates.
Why Skilled Trades?
My passion for skilled trades stems from my formative years, growing up around my father's heritage construction and carpentry business. Witnessing the challenges and rewards of running a skilled trades business firsthand instilled a deep appreciation for heritage architecture, home building, and restoration. Moreover, my involvement in the industry has shed light on the real problems posed by the growing skills gap and the looming labor market shortage predicted by 2030. I am determined to be part of the solution.
Closing the Labour Gap
According to a July 2023 report by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in the U.S., the number of open construction sector jobs currently averages between 300,000 to 400,000 every month with the number projected to increase by 2030 due in part to an aging workforce and growing demand for housing. At Boost LD, we're currently developing engaging modules for high school students to inspire a new generation of tradespeople. Moreover, we're bundling technology best suited for trades organizations with ready-made orientation and onboarding modules, encapsulating regulatory and compliance training. Our goal is to support closing labor shortage gaps and prepare a new generation of workers for success in the skilled trades.
Interested in creating a thriving learning ecosystem for your business?
Contact Boost LD today to collaborate, partner, and revolutionize your approach to learning and development.
