Transforming Workforce Education with McDonald’s Lisa Schumacher - Next Practices Weekly

On January 23, 2025, i4cp’s Next Practices Weekly series welcomed Lisa Schumacher, Director of Education Strategies and Workforce Policies at McDonald’s, to explore the company’s innovative Archways to Opportunity program. Joining i4cp’s Tom Stone and Lorrie Lykins, the session provided valuable insights into how McDonald’s is reshaping workforce education and creating life-changing opportunities for its employees.

The conversation focused on McDonald’s pioneering approach to workforce education through Archways to Opportunity. Since its inception in 2015, this groundbreaking program has empowered over 83,000 employees by addressing their diverse educational needs. With offerings that range from English language learning and high school diploma completion to college tuition assistance and personalized career advising, Archways to Opportunity is a cornerstone of McDonald’s workforce development strategy. 

In this session:

• Empowering employees through education: McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity program supports employees at all stages of their educational journey, from earning a high school diploma to achieving a college degree.
• Enhancing retention and promotion: Participants in Archways are 2.5 times more likely to be promoted and demonstrate double the retention rate of non-participants, showcasing the program’s business impact.
• Leveraging strategic partnerships: Collaborations with institutions like Career Online High School and Western Governors University enable McDonald’s to deliver scalable and cost-effective education solutions tailored to workforce needs.
• Fostering a learning culture: By aligning workforce education initiatives with business objectives, McDonald’s has demonstrated how investing in employees strengthens organizational performance and community impact.

McDonald’s transformative approach to workforce education exemplifies the power of investing in employee growth. From boosting retention and promotion rates to changing lives through education, the Archways to Opportunity program serves as a model for organizations aiming to build a culture of learning.

Don’t miss future sessions of Next Practices Weekly—register today to gain actionable strategies for your workforce.