Described this week in a news release from the organization, the new Coaching Lab will provide infrastructure, expertise and resources to pilot projects that aim for measurable results and broad replication. The Coaching Lab’s initial partners include regional nonprofits and government organizations.
“At a time when learners and workers face mounting barriers to stability and economic progress, we have to innovate under pressure — experimenting, adapting quickly and finding ways to deliver greater impact with limited resources,” Ruth Bauer, president of InsideTrack, said in a public statement. “Our aspiration is to evaluate promising approaches in real-world settings and accelerate the spread of solutions that work.”
The lab will work with several established organizations in education and workforce training, including the Center for Caregiver Advancement, to reduce burnout and grow success for frontline care workers; the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, to help adult learners with their degrees and credentials; and Cuyahoga County and the Ohio National Guard, to pilot a “pay for success” model ensuring that public funds support programs with measurable outcomes and upskill National Guard members.
Other early initiatives supported by the lab include a project by the Youth Mental Health Corps to support mental health services and introductions to careers in behavioral health, and Ventura County’s Workforce Development Board work expanding youth career coaching.
The news release said the Coaching Lab will continue to partner with institutions and organizations to test the effectiveness of similar initiatives in the future. The lab will help with piloting new projects, refining existing ones and building a community to discuss what works.
“Through our work with InsideTrack, we have seen how coaching helps young adults navigate challenges, gain clarity and take concrete steps toward their career goals,” Fiona Yung, program officer at the Schultz Family Foundation for veterans and youth, said in a public statement. “The Coaching Lab is an exciting next step — a space where innovation meets real-world practice, and where testing, refinement, and evaluation can help proven ideas grow to reach more people at scale.”
