Activate founder Helen Young Hayes appointed to new role

Activate Helen Young Hayes has been appointed to the Business Experiential-Learning Commission by Governor Jared Polis. Hayes will serve an initial term of two to three years.

Created by former Governor John Hickenlooper, the Commission’s vision is to integrate work-based learning opportunities into Colorado’s talent development network. Members include business leaders, policymakers and education experts.

The 16-member body is focused on several priorities, including: scaling in-school youth apprenticeship opportunities; addressing the state’s demographic equity gap and building educational assets for every worker.

A 20-year veteran of the financial industry, Hayes founded Activate in 2016 to help employers find and keep loyal and engaged employees, while connecting untapped talent with long-term career opportunities.

She previously served as portfolio manager of the Janus Worldwide and Overseas funds, building and investing a $50 billion franchise in global and international equities. Hayes was also the 2018 winner of the Denver Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business Mile High Leader Award.

This past summer Hayes launched the Colorado Inclusive Economy, a new movement aimed at rebuilding the state’s economy to work more effectively for all Coloradans. Employers who join the movement commit to hiring and advancing employees of color, developing more supportive workplace cultures and investing in workforce development to create a more diverse and skilled pipeline of talent.

“I’m proud to be working on the Commission and helping to expand economic opportunity for a wide range of residents,” said Hayes.