shad ahmed

Chief Operating Officer
Opportunity@Work

Shad Ahmed is the Chief Operating Officer of Opportunity@Work, a nonprofit social enterprise that seeks to expand access to career opportunities so all Americans can work, learn, and earn to their full potential. He is the co-author of an NBER working paper that explores the extent to which tens of millions of workers who are skilled through alternative routes, or STARs, can fill much of US industry’s “skills gap.” Shad's thought leadership work on economic mobility also includes a co-authored a Wall Street Journal op-ed on: "The Disparate Racial Impact of Requiring a College Degree" and an AARP contributed piece on: "Five Steps to Build a Better Labor Market in the Future of Work."

He was previously Vice President of Growth & Business Operations at Medallia, where he designed, launched and led several teams as the software company tripled in size. Prior to Medallia, Shad was an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he specialized in strategy and organizational work and focused on public-private partnerships in education, labor market and economic development with clients across the private, social and public sectors. Originally from Texas, Shad currently lives in San Francisco with his wife and 2 young children.