Maria Flynn is president and CEO of Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit that drives transformation in the American workforce and education systems.

Maria’s commitment to JFF’s vision of equitable economic advancement for all and her leadership in workforce policy have made her a national authority on the future of work, the role of technology in the labor market, career pathways for learners and workers underserved by the education and workforce systems, and employer engagement.

As CEO, she has strengthened JFF and overseen a period of unprecedented growth as it has evolved into a leading-edge organization.

Before joining JFF in 2007, she was a member of the federal government’s Senior Executive Service. In the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, she oversaw the development of policies for training programs, supervised the agency’s research and evaluation strategy, and managed the development of its $12 billion annual budget.

With three decades of experience and a reputation as an expert on workforce development, Maria is frequently invited to speak at national events such as the Milken Institute Global Conference and Fortune, Aspen, and Atlantic events, and is regularly interviewed by major news organizations including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Fast Company. Respected for her policy insights, Maria has testified on workforce system reform before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. She was named to the Forbes 50 Over 50: Impact list for 2022, which features influential women in the business, legal, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors and beyond.