Kate Buchanan

Kate leads Autodesk's future of work practice focused on lifelong learning for the most in-demand skills of the future - enabling the workforce of today and tomorrow to adapt and thrive. Her role is strategic, impactful, and cross-functional. She's responsible for creating and implementing a global strategy, managing global executive level initiatives, and elevating multi-stakeholder integration for optimal value creation. She believes that employees prosper by adopting a mindset of continuous learning, acquiring the most in-demand skills, and securing the most fulfilling roles. Prior to this role, Kate held various leadership positions focused on creating positive impact in the world through impact investing and emerging market startup ecosystem innovation. Kate led Autodesk Foundation's global marketing and thought leadership efforts, was a director of strategic partnerships at the Aspen Institute, and a senior manager at Grameen Foundation. She started her career as a consultant. Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Providence College and a Master of Arts in Social Enterprise from American University's School of International Service.

  • Close-up candid/action shot of a young man wearing a blue blazer, glasses, button-down shirt and a striped blue tie, holding a microphone in his right hand and his left hand in front of him, fingers curled as if grabbing something, presenting at a Generation workshop or event.

    Our investment in Generation

    The Autodesk Foundation welcomes Generation—a global nonprofit network helping learners and workers achieve economic mobility through employment—to its Work and Prosperity portfolio.

    Funding

  • Our investment in BluLever Education

    The Autodesk Foundation welcomes BluLever Education—a startup addressing South Africa’s labor shortage by training the next generation of skilled artisans—to its Work and Prosperity portfolio.

    Funding
  • Families and workers from Better Builder (FWF grantee) in Austin, Texas — Three women standing side-by-side, smiling and posing for group photo, wearing matching blue "We Build Texas" t-shirts and adhesive name-tags. The woman in the middle is leaning on a pair of crutches.

    Our investment in The Families & Workers Fund

    The Autodesk Foundation welcomes The Families and Workers Fund—a nonprofit supercharging the green infrastructure workforce—to its Work and Prosperity portfolio.

    Funding
  • CH! Co-founders Evette Ellis (left), Chief Workforce Officer, and Kameale Terry (right), CEO, standing next to an EV charging station on a sunny day.

    Our investment in ChargerHelp!

    The Autodesk Foundation welcomes ChargerHelp!—a startup training the next generation of electric vehicle supply equipment technicians—to its Work and Prosperity portfolio.

    Funding
  • Student wearing "Senior" hoodie, smiling while experimenting with light project in a classroom with other students sitting at desks/tables and instructor standing in the background.

    Our investment in Stacks+Joules

    The Autodesk Foundation welcomes Stacks+Joules—an early-stage nonprofit learning provider operating in New York City—to its Work and Prosperity portfolio.

    Funding
  • Person smiles holding construction hat

    Our investment in Education Design Lab

    The growing skills gap between the demands of employers in high-growth fields and the skills being taught to learners at public post-secondary institutions is widening. An overlooked solution lies in local community colleges. They play a crucial role in educating diverse student populations with the technical and power skills to thrive in in-demand careers of…

    Funding

  • Seeding local workforce innovation in skilled trades 

    Image courtesy of Jamie Kelter Davis, Revolution Workshop Impact investing and corporate philanthropy have unique roles to play in ensuring local workforce ecosystems thrive. Corporate philanthropy is uniquely suited to de-risk promising innovations including solutions solving workforce challenges. This is especially true for the manufacturing and construction sectors which are becoming increasingly digitized, resulting in…

    Future of Work