We are asking our young people to compete in a world that has changed faster than we have prepared them for it.
Jobs are going unfilled. Employers are searching for talent, and too many students are still moving through school without a clear sense of direction or a plan to stand out.
In today’s economy, success belongs to those who bring a competitive advantage. Something real. Something relevant. Something that connects what they know to where opportunity exists. The question for Talbot County is no longer whether our students will work hard. It is whether we are equipping them to compete.
That is exactly why Mark C. Perna is coming to Talbot County on April 13 and 14. His message is not just for students. It is for parents, educators, and employers—anyone invested in helping young people find their way forward.
We asked Perna to be candid. Here is what he had to say.
Q1: Let’s start here. You have said that today’s students need a competitive advantage to succeed. What does that actually mean and why is it no longer optional?
A: Quite simply, the world has changed. Academic knowledge alone used to be enough to ensure success, but today’s workforce also requires technical competency (hard skills) and professional (soft) skills. These things, especially professional skills, are no longer a given and employers are hungry for talent that brings the complete package. Academic knowledge, technical competency, and professional skills together create a powerful competitive advantage that everyone needs.
Q 2: When you look at a student who is truly positioned to succeed, what do they have that others do not? What does that advantage look like in real life?
A: The number-one trait that sets a young person apart is their adaptability. As technology disrupts traditional ways of working and our education and employment landscape shifts, it’s the people who can roll with these punches who will thrive. Adaptable people are resourceful, creative, positive, and proactive. They’re always ready to learn.
They also tend to have a plan for the future—even though they know that plan may change. They’ve thought about their goals and created a path to reach them. And when the path takes a detour, they’re okay with that because they’re adaptable. Adaptable people always find a way forward.
Q 3: We continue to move students through a system that often separates learning from real opportunity. Why is that disconnect so costly, not just for the student, but for the broader economy?
A: Many kids have no idea why they’re in school. They know they have to go to school, but they don’t know the end game, they’ve never been told how today’s learning connects to tomorrow, and many are simply not motivated to work hard for a future they can’t envision. This leads to challenges like low engagement, chronic absenteeism, and other negative behaviors.
This sets many young people on a path without a destination that they actually want to reach. They drift along without that inner spark to push them to reach their full potential. Economically, this is a serious under-utilization of the human capital that powers a vibrant community.
Q 4: If we are honest, many students graduate without a clear sense of direction. Where are we falling short, and what can parents and community leaders do to help change that?
A: Career exploration needs to start sooner, and it needs to be woven throughout everything that is already being taught. It cannot be relegated to a single, short course or experience that is siloed from everything they’re doing on a daily basis. They need to know that school does have a purpose that can matter to them. Embedding career conversations into everyday work can foster that.
However, to speak the language of this generation we must start the career conversation with lifestyle rather than career. What kind of lifestyle—grand, modest, or laid-back—do they want to live? And then based on that answer, the question becomes: What kind of career intersects with my lifestyle aspirations and my interests? That’s when meaningful dialogue and self-discovery can really get off the ground.
Q 5: The world has shifted in profound ways in just a few short years. What has changed most in terms of how young people should be preparing for their future?
A: Professional skills are the currency of the future. These are often called soft skills, human skills, or power skills, and they all mean the same thing: the traits and habits that contribute to positive interpersonal relationships and a strong work ethic. Skills like critical thinking, conflict resolution, adaptability, punctuality, problem-solving, teamwork, and many more will always be in demand—and they never expire.
Employers actively seek candidates with these skills because they’re much harder to instill than technical skills. Technical competencies can be trained on the job, but professional skills are the preconditions for success at any level. My advice is to focus on the skills that make you a great human and a valuable part of a team. As AI pervades our world, your human skills will be the one thing that can’t be automated.
Q 6: We hear constantly from employers: “We cannot find people to work.” From your vantage point, what is really driving that challenge and how can Talbot County businesses respond?
A: There could be many factors at play here. I would ask: Have you made the transition to skills-first hiring where degrees are required only when absolutely essential to the job? Have you thought creatively about expanding your talent pool? Are you creating the kind of work culture that people want to be part of? Is there any purpose for your workforce beyond the paycheck? Have you done anything to strengthen the pipelines between education and employment? What kind of partnerships have you built with your local school district and higher education?
Today’s young people have tremendous potential that has yet to be unleashed. We need to connect the dots between the lifestyle they want to live and how real-world job opportunities in their community can support that lifestyle. This doesn’t start once they graduate; it should be part of the conversation all throughout high school and even sooner.
Q 7: Is this a workforce shortage, or is it a failure of alignment between education, expectations, and opportunity? Be candid.
A: Education as a whole has not kept up with what the workforce needs. Employers have become too dependent on the college degree as a litmus test rather than an essential qualification.
All of this stems from the way that education and employment are fundamentally siloed from one another. Education does its thing; employers do theirs. And somewhere in the middle, young people are supposed to find their way. We have to find a way for educators and employers to get on the same team through real partnerships that create value for everyone in the ecosystem.
Q 8: How much of this problem is cultural? Have we, as a society, overemphasized certain pathways while undervaluing others that offer real opportunity and stability?
A: “College for all” was the narrative when I was growing up—and it hasn’t changed much in the intervening decades. But what happens when we have a glut of college graduates? The value of the college degree is driven down, even as communities struggle with a shortage of skilled trades workers and other fields where college isn’t always necessary. At the same time, the price of college has skyrocketed, creating a lose-lose situation for many college graduates whose degree is worth less, but costs more.
Embedded in our cultural heritage is the mistaken notion that college is the “best” path and every other postsecondary training option is somehow lesser. This is simply not the case, and I believe more people are waking to that fact. All this said, I’m pro-college when a student knows what they want, goes with purpose, and gets it done. College is absolutely valuable and necessary for those students. But that’s not everyone, nor should it be.
Q 9: Employers are frustrated. Students are uncertain. Parents are trying to guide both. What should each of these groups be doing differently, starting now?
A: Employers need to turn that frustration into positive action and reach out to partner with their local school system. How can they support what happens in the classroom every day and help it connect better to the world after graduation? How can they show students that they offer a great work culture and real opportunities?
Students need to realize it’s okay not to know their career direction right now. But that shouldn’t paralyze them or stop them from taking steps forward. They should start building a competitive advantage now in order to reach the life they envision for themselves. That means doing your best at school even when it’s hard, being curious about the world, and working on your human skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and more. All of this puts you in a good position to succeed once your career passion finds you.
Parents can be an amazing asset in their child’s education and career journey, but that starts with overcoming a potential awareness gap. Our kids need to know more than just what we’ve experienced in our field of work. There are so many more choices and opportunities out there now. We should be talking to our students about what kind of life they want and then support them in finding their perfect intersection of lifestyle and career.
Q 10: If a student in Talbot County asked you, “How do I stand out?”, what would you tell them, plainly and directly?
A: Carve out time to envision and build your dream. It’s really easy to build the dreams of others, by consuming endless entertainment and social media and videogames. Our world is built that way, and it’s not wrong to enjoy these things. But if that’s all you spend your free time on, how is that helping you build your own dream? Become the kind of candidate that can’t be forgotten. This has nothing to do with your GPA, by the way. It’s everything to do with your human skills. These are the skills that will demonstrate your value in future educational and employment opportunities.
Q 11: What is at stake if we do not get this right for our young people, for our businesses, and for communities like ours?
A. Right now student engagement is at an all-time low and mental health challenges are at an all-time high. This is a generation that wants a purpose to believe in, something that matters. If we don’t help them find it, we’re going to lose them. Of course there will be some who excel, who find their way to productive lives and careers despite a system not really built to help them. But the majority will struggle with lackluster performance that falls so far short of what they could accomplish. These are our future workers and leaders—do we really want them to stay stuck? Of course not.
Q 12: And finally, what gives you confidence that Talbot County can get this right and build a generation that is not just ready for work, but ready to lead?
A: I hold two firm beliefs. One is in the greatness of the younger generations. Contrary to all the negative stereotypes, they’re full of untapped potential. When we find the lever that moves them, they’re unstoppable. Talbot County’s youth are no exception.
The second belief is in the movers and shakers I have met here in Talbot County. When I first spoke here in 2023, I knew this was a place where visionary thinking—and action—could thrive. Being willing to rethink the way we have always done things is the first step in real transformation, and it’s a skill very much in evidence in Talbot County. I’m honored to be part of the stellar work you’re doing, and I’m excited to take it to the next level together.
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About Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.
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