Latoya Edmond
Latoya Edmond is a seasoned workforce development leader and nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience advancing economic mobility and employment pathways for underserved communities. She currently serves as Executive Director of CareerWork$, a national nonprofit focused on building scalable workforce ecosystems across multiple U.S. cities. In this role, she leads strategy, program development, fundraising, and cross-sector partnerships aimed at connecting individuals—particularly those facing barriers such as unemployment, underemployment, and poverty—to sustainable career opportunities.
Throughout her career, Latoya has built a reputation as a systems thinker and innovator in workforce development. She has held progressive leadership roles across organizations including Philadelphia OIC and other career services institutions, where she specialized in program design, employer engagement, talent development, and workforce innovation. Her work centers on building collaborative ecosystems that align nonprofits, employers, funders, and community partners to address labor market needs while expanding access to meaningful employment.
Latoya holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership with a concentration in Public Administration from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and a certificate in Nonprofit Administration from Temple University. She is also actively involved in professional and advisory boards focused on economic empowerment and diversity initiatives. Beyond her professional achievements, she is a mother who values family, wellness, and intentional leadership, and she is known for encouraging others—especially women—to overcome self-doubt and confidently step into their potential.
• Fundraising Essentials
• Nonprofit Board Member Essentials Certificate
• Seizure Awareness & First Aid Certification
• Non-Profit Administration Certificate
• East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania - M.S.
• 1st Place, Community Impact, Innovative Partnerships
• 2021 Women of Distinction
• Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange
• City & State Pennsylvania 40 Under 40 recognition
• DE&I Board
• Pennsylvania Bankers Association
• Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange
• Economy League of Philadelphia
• Pennsylvania Bankers Association
• City of Philadelphia
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my lived experience growing up in a minority, low-income community, which shaped my resilience and perspective. I also rely on my faith, the support of my family and mentors, and a commitment to strategic relationship-building and systems-focused work that allows me to create meaningful, sustainable impact.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to continue to allow God to order my steps and walk in my purpose. This guidance has been fundamental in how I approach my career and leadership journey.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering my industry that, as cliché as it may sound, believing in yourself—that you are enough and that you know enough—is essential. Many women, especially minority women, experience imposter syndrome and question whether they truly belong in certain spaces. From my experience in executive roles, I’ve learned that everyone is ultimately figuring it out as they go; we are all, in a sense, building the plane while flying it. I would also emphasize the importance of intentional relationship-building—creating connections early and consistently nurturing them over time, as those relationships become a critical part of long-term growth and success.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges I face are the changing hiring landscape and everything that's going on in the world. We have to balance growth and scale with quality and outcomes. We're definitely looking to expand into new markets, but we've seen this seesaw happen where we'll gain momentum in some markets, and then some markets will close just due to the current economy, the funding landscape, and the economic landscape in terms of jobs available. Everything is really changing. The other piece is ensuring that we look ahead to continue to evolve our model so that we integrate digital skills and AI awareness with our programs. Since we focus on entry-level, customer-facing roles, there are some things that could be automated, but our goal is to make sure we're training individuals to learn how to work alongside AI. We work in trust-based professions like entry-level banking and entry-level healthcare, so there's still a human touch, that human element that's going to be needed.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are faith, family, and motherhood, which ground and guide my decisions. I am also deeply committed to service, particularly to underrepresented communities, ensuring my work contributes to meaningful and equitable impact. In addition, I prioritize self-care as a necessary foundation for sustainability, and I place strong emphasis on intentional relationship-building as a way to foster trust, collaboration, and long-term growth.
Locations
CareerWork$
Drexel Hill, PA 19026