These Learning Leaders Are Redefining Workforce Development

Degreed

Tuesday, March 25th, 2025

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The future belongs to those who continuously learn, adapt, and innovate. At Degreed, we’re proud to celebrate organizations that embrace this mindset—through learning and integrated, skills-based talent strategies that drive meaningful business impact.

That’s why our annual Degreed Visionary Awards recognize trailblazers in workforce development.

Announced today, this year’s winners are redefining agility, leadership advancement, and AI transformation.

Join us here we share—and celebrate—their achievements.

Capgemini – Business Booster Award

For: The Generative AI Campus

Capgemini faced a dual challenge: Build a workforce that’s ready to help clients put Gen AI to work and integrate AI into internal operations. The solution? The Generative AI Campus, an ambitious, large-scale learning initiative powered by Degreed.

Built and deployed in only 10 weeks, Generative AI Campus made AI learning available to 340,000 global Capgemini employees, giving them what they needed to be AI-ready for internal and client-facing initiatives. With 23 tailored learning plans, 68 curated Pathways, and more than 1,300 content pieces, the program resulted in:

• 310,000 employees accessing AI learning resources—the fastest adoption in Capgemini history.
• 91,000 employees trained on AI tools in just six months.
• 50,000 AI-related certifications awarded, solidifying the Capgemini position as a leader in AI expertise.

Embedding AI fluency, Capgemini strengthened client trust, enhanced efficiency, and drove a 200% increase in AI-driven client project engagements—proving skills are a key competitive advantage.

Citi – Productivity Propeller Award

For: I LEAD Through Innovation

The Citi I LEAD program has been a staple of leadership development since 2010. In 2023, leadership gave it a bold new direction—focusing on measurable business impact.

The new I LEAD Through Innovation program combined structured learning, executive sponsorship, and four months of hands-on project work, all woven together by Degreed. This approach has led to:

• More than $5 million in business impact across 59 projects designed to increase revenue, decrease costs, and optimize regulatory work.
• An 85% increase in job-relevant skills.
• A 96% expansion in professional networks.
• 41% of participants were promoted within two years, accelerating leadership growth.

Infusing learning into real-world business challenges, Citi turned leadership development into a strategic driver of innovation, retention, and revenue growth.

Tata Communications – Efficiency Enabler Award

For: Build Not Buy Skills Programming

Facing high turnover and rising talent acquisition costs, Tata Communications flipped the script—investing in internal talent mobility rather than external hiring. A “Build Not Buy” strategy, built on Degreed, automated upskilling and career progression at scale.

Key achievements include:

• A 97% transition from in-person workshops to digital and blended learning.
• A 26% reduction in training costs.
• $900,000 saved in hiring costs.

Embedding AI-powered learning pathways, Tata Communications supported 55 key roles and 20 future-critical skills with structured, scalable learning—ensuring its people remain future-ready.

84.51° – Learning Expert of the Year

For: Using Data to Drive Decision-Making

84.51° reimagined learning among its data scientists to build leaders, boost innovation, increase workforce agility and mobility, mitigate risk, and provide executives with more actionable insights. The company’s data-driven approach integrated custom skill taxonomies, personalized learning journeys, and real-time performance analytics.

Key results include:

• More than $40,000 saved in external training costs by shifting to internal expertise.
• $1 million in technology cost savings linked to initiatives enabled by Pathways-based learning.
• A four-times increase in Pathway minutes completed.
• 90% of data scientists engaged in at least one skills badge in 2024.
• 78% of data scientists completed at least one skills badge in 2024.

With automated reporting, AI-driven insights, and targeted training, 84.51° transformed learning from reactive to strategic, ensuring every skill investment contributes directly to business growth.

State Street – Client Ambassador of the Year

The Client Ambassador of the Year Award is selected from all award applicants across all categories, recognizing an organization that serves as an exemplary model for other clients. The winner of this award demonstrates a commitment to innovation with Degreed, championing skills-based learning and driving meaningful impact across their workforce.

For: The SkillsFIRST Program

The State Street SkillsFIRST initiative reimagined career development, shifting from traditional training to a skills-based approach designed to drive talent mobility, employee engagement, performance management, leadership development, and innovation. By integrating Degreed with Workday, State Street used skill data in Degreed to trigger career planning in Workday—and gave leadership information needed to make strategic talent decisions.

Key impacts included:

• 25,000 employees onboarded into SkillsFIRST, covering 50% of the workforce.
• 1,200 additional internal promotions in only six months.
• An 11% increase in employee engagement.

Focusing on career Pathways, internal mobility, and leadership development, State Street reduced hiring costs, improved retention, and future-proofed its workforce.

Vale – Best Engagement Strategy Award

For: Learning Together (With SAP)

A global mining leader, Vale had a unique challenge: Ensure workforce safety and compliance training across a deskless workforce dispersed across its site operations.

The solution? Valer, a learning ecosystem designed to advance workforce skill development, boost productivity, and foster operational excellence. Its intelligent, AI-driven content recommendations tailored to employee needs, and its strategic, skills-first approach—featuring role-based, curated learning paths—connects the best of Degreed and SAP SuccessFactors.

Results include:

• 99% of deskless employees now included in digital learning initiatives.
• An 85% increase in monthly active users.
• 33-point-higher L&D NPS score than advanced manufacturing market average.

Seamlessly integrating Degreed with SAP, Vale turned training into a strategic enabler of workforce safety, compliance, and efficiency.

Honoring the Future of Learning

This year’s Degreed Visionary Award winners prove that learning isn’t just an HR function—it’s a business strategy. From AI-powered upskilling to leadership development and skills-based career mobility, these organizations are paving the way for a smarter, more agile workforce.

What’s Next?

Learn more. Explore the Degreed Visionary Awards and see last year’s winners.

Want to hear directly from 2025 winners? Join us at Degreed LENS 2025, where learning pioneers will share insights, best practices, and bold visions for the future of work.