Taking the Future of Credentialing from Conversation to Practice with Pam Young Brown

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, PhD, ICE-CCP speaks with Pam Young Brown, a product strategy consultant working at the intersection of skills assessment, credentialing, and workforce development. Drawing on her experience leading certification and learning products at Amazon Web Services and the Graduate Management Admission Council, Pam shares a practical perspective on where credentialing is headed and what it takes to build programs that remain meaningful as skills, technology, and workforce expectations evolve.  As organizations move from talking about the future of credentialing to actually building it, Pam explains why modernization must start with customer needs, clear outcomes, and a realistic view of organizational risk. The conversation covers shorter skill shelf lives, lifelong learning, microcredentials and badges, employer trust, technology-enabled assessment experiences, the role of AI in exam development and security, and how credentialing organizations can balance innovation, speed, rigor, and credibility.  What you’ll learn: Why the pace of change is forcing credentialing organizations to rethink how quickly programs evolve How shorter skill shelf lives are reshaping certification, microcredentials, and lifelong learning Why credentialing should tell a broader story about a person’s skills, experience, and growth What learners and employers need in order to understand and trust newer credentialing models How technology can improve exam development, security, and candidate experience when tied to a clear strategy Why speed and efficiency should not come at the expense of quality, validity, or reliability How organizations can balance incremental improvements with more disruptive innovation Where to start when moving from future-of-credentialing conversations to practical action Who should listen: Credentialing and certification leaders modernizing their programs Assessment professionals balancing innovation, rigor, and trust Product leaders building skills assessment or workforce learning solutions Workforce development teams focused on upskilling and future-ready talent Organizations exploring microcredentials, badges, or new skill recognition models Employers and talent leaders evaluating how credentials signal capability Teams trying to move from strategy discussions to practical implementation About the guest: Pam Young Brown is a product strategy consultant working at the intersection of skills assessment, credentialing, and workforce development. She was previously the product leader for the certification program at Amazon Web Services and director of product management at the Graduate Management Admission Council.  At AWS, Pam revamped the AWS Certification portfolio, expanding into AI certifications, accelerating time to market, and introducing new microcredentials to meet the evolving needs of tech learners. At GMAC, she led the digital transformation of the test prep product portfolio, forging new partnerships and launching digital learning offerings to support candidates preparing for graduate management education.  With over a decade of experience shaping credentialing products at two of the most recognized names in assessment, Pam brings a practitioner's perspective on where the industry is headed and what it takes to build credentials that are meaningful and future-ready.