Kelley expands partnership with software company

The Kelley School of Business has expanded a partnership with software company Zapoint, which works in social career management solutions.

Zapoint is a tool for businesses interested in training their professionals, and helps strengthen the relationship between employer and employee.

The idea of marrying Kelley and Zapoint emerged when Chris Twyman, Zapoint founder and chief executive officer, acknowledged the organization’s benefits on corporate America.

Twyman decided to connect with universities so future employees would be adequately trained in the expanding job market.

“By combining the award-winning technology that Zapoint brings with Kelley’s world-class learning and assessment content, we have a game-changing formula,” Twyman said.

Zapoint and Kelley executive staff entered into the partnership in October 2012 and will implement the software in Kelley later this year.

Kelley and Zapoint executives worked alongside CareerBuilder, a site that helps  students find jobs based on their location and interests.

The result is the new online program called Moneyball, available through the Careerbuilder site.

Zapoint and Kelley also collaborated with SkillsMapper, a product that helps students plan their career paths and directs them to the steps to execute plans.

Eleni Walters, a senior at Kelley specializing in economic consulting and technology management, said she has not experienced the impact of Zapoint yet but sees benefits based on her internship experiences.

Walters said on-the-job training allowed her to feel a greater sense of control.

“It assisted me in asking intelligent questions, which increased employee morale and retention,” Walters said.

Twyman said he sees the partnership with Kelley as beneficial not only to the school but also the future work force at large. 

“Kelley’s learning and assessment content, combined with Zapoint’s advanced career-pathing technology, will provide companies with a cost-efficient and accessible means of educating their workforce,” Twyman said.

The new businesss model Zapoint created will require further education of the incoming workforce, but Twyman said Kelley students will be well equipped with training from SkillsMapper.

The institution of Moneyball and SkillsMapper will change how Kelley students manage their education and their futures, Twyman said.

Walters said she advises students to continue looking toward real-life experience, even as technological tools continue to expand.

“Do not be afraid to take a risk to go after what you want,” Walters said. “I did not get my internship at ESPN through a career services office or through a previously existing connection.

“I cold-called employees and networked to earn that job, and it was one of the best experiences of my lifetime.”