Cardinality.ai & Underdog Dreams Launch Train and Hire Program:
Empowering Gritty Individuals to Reskill for Tech Careers in the Pursuit of Prosperity

By Derrick Stephens, Solutions Engineer, CCWIS SME

MBA, LCSW, QS

By Kaushik Govindharajan, Senior Consultant, Solutions Architect

B.S in Electrical Engineering, M.S. in Data Science

According to the Harvard Business Review, Reskilling in the Age of AI, “the average half-life of skills is now less than five years, and in some tech fields it’s as low as two and a half years. For millions of workers, upskilling alone won’t be enough.”

I never imagined that reading the five words, "upskilling alone won’t be enough," would ignite a series of decisions and events that ultimately led me to leave my role as the Innovation of Immersive Learning Manager with the Institute of Child Welfare at Florida State University. In November 2023, I began my reskilling journey to acquire new skills and use them to change careers. Over the next six months, in pursuit of prosperity, I sought sponsorship and support from my network, completed courses on Udemy, and earned a Fundamentals of Deep Learning certificate after attending an 8-hour workshop at NVIDIA GTC Conference 2024.

My opportunity finally came in April 2024 after a chance conversation with Carole Hussey, a thought leader in the Health and Human Services tech sector. She learned about my lived experiences growing up in foster care and as a kinship caregiver, along with my desire to transition into a tech career. She told me about Cardinality.ai, an AI case management SaaS solutions company she described as “a disruptor that is going to change the landscape of child welfare, and introduced me to their visionary CEO, Thiag Loganathan. After a few interviews, I joined the team—because of my lived experiences and despite my lack of traditional tech experience. Eight months in, it is a great fit for both of us. For many, reskilling for a career in tech is less about capability and more about opportunity—having access to training programs, resources, coaching, and time. The reality is that opportunities to reskill in technology are often limited to those already within the industry or fortunate enough to work for companies that invest in workforce development. For individuals from underserved communities in particular, the cost of reskilling—both financial and logistical—can feel like an insurmountable barrier. As a result, tech progression has left behind a significant segment of the population.

In August 2024, to my surprise, Thiag approached me with a concept after watching a video about my journey and my non-profit, Underdog Dreams, to partner with Cardinality.ai in developing and leading a Train and Hire program.

“Accelerating opportunities is my life's mission. The frequency and quality of opportunities, paired with the guidance of mentorship, often represent the greatest challenges one must overcome on the path to prosperity.”

Thiag LoganathanCEO, Cardinality.ai

Inspired by this shared vision, we began shaping a program that would break down barriers and create transformative opportunities for individuals striving to change their futures.

Cardinality is recognized as a leading GovTech company (2020-2025) and as the AWS State & Local Government Partner of the Year (2022). We were also awarded the ‘Rising Star’ award at the 2024 SLEDIE awards by e.Republic. Cardinality eliminates service barriers with tech that’s pre-built for HHS. And, our configurable solutions enable agencies to modernize existing systems up to 200% faster than custom solutions.

This program is designed to provide reskilling opportunities and create a pathway to prosperity for gritty individuals seeking a career in tech. By leveraging participants' life experiences, we teach foundational technology skills and provide professional development through leadership coaching, equipping Train and Hire program graduates to thrive in the tech economy. Success for the program is not just about job placement—it’s about transformation. At its core, the program is driven by a philosophy inspired by Angela Duckworth’s concept of Grit—the relentless pursuit of long-term goals through perseverance and passion.

"There's talent everywhere -- I'm glad to be an instrument through which they can apply effort and convert it into skill, and further onto achievement"

Kaushik Govindharajan Senior Consultant, Solutions Architect

In October 2024, we welcomed our first program participant, Winnie, a 26-year-old aspiring tech professional from Maryland. Winnie learned about the Train and Hire program through Thiag during an evening when she was his Lyft driver. As they talked about IT, Winnie shared her aspirations of working in the tech field and explained that, despite earning a Salesforce certification, she struggled to secure a position because most companies required prior experience. Recognizing her determination, Thiag encouraged her to email him the next day and connected her with the program team. Since joining, Winnie describes the experience as transformative and deeply rewarding.

Since then, the program has grown to 5 candidates in the first cohort. Participants begin by completing an 8–12 week certificate program, depending on their chosen career pathway. Currently, they can choose from three career tracks: Project Coordinator, Business Analyst, or Test Analyst. Upon graduating, qualified candidates are offered an opportunity to transition into a 6-month paid internship. The ultimate goal is to upskill participants to the level that they can contribute as full time employees at Cardinality, and give them opportunities on real projects.

Now, with a cohort of five individuals from diverse backgrounds such as hotel management, driving Lyft, and even bartending, each candidate brings unique experiences and thoughts of making a meaningful impact through technology. Their journey with us marks the start of a transformative experience—one that will shape their careers and positively influence their families.

Additionally, Cardinality.ai and Underdog Dreams are committed to identifying Train and Hire candidates from the local communities in the regions where we implement government systems modernization projects across various counties and states. By empowering individuals with lived experiences, we aim to enable them to make a tangible difference and improve the lives of those in their families and beyond. In 2025, we plan to establish a comprehensive program calendar while continuously improving and, more importantly, influencing our network. We aim to partner with other similar programs, and like-minded organizations in creating pathways to prosperity for the many gritty individuals reskilling with hopes of transitioning into a career in tech.

If your organization shares our vision and would like to partner with us—whether to help scale this program or hire talented graduates—let’s work together to create meaningful change. Your support can help us open doors for determined individuals and foster a brighter future for communities everywhere.

Likewise, are you someone ready to take the next step toward a transformative career in tech? Are you a gritty individual eager to reskill and embark on a journey toward prosperity? If this sounds like you, we’re looking for you. Here’s your invite to explore the opportunities offered through our Train and Hire program.

Reach out to us today at info@underdogdream.com and join us in empowering the next generation of tech leaders. Underdog Dreams is a 501(c) non-profit that believes in the boundless potential of At-Promise Youth and Families.