About Us

The Future of Workers Initiative

Hopelessly devoted to ensuring America’s workers have a seat at the innovation table. 

» The Future of Workers Initiative is a worker-centered storytelling and education project that helps people understand how technology is reshaping work — and how workers can lead those changes. We bring together workers, organizers, and community members to share stories, map risks and opportunities, and co-create practical standards for fair and dignified work.

We also work with investors, founders, CEOs, and boards to translate worker insights into concrete standards, policies, and decision-making tools.

  • Stories & Conversations – podcast, written profiles, listening sessions.
  • Tools for Workers – explainers, standards, bargaining ideas.
  • Bridging to Power – Industry Futures Forums and guidance for institutions.

The Future of Workers Initiative is a nonpartisan project focused on worker education and storytelling. It is independent from any electoral campaign.

Our Team

The people here to support you are:

»From her first job as a Sandwich maker at Wendys to being a Therapist in juvenile detention facilities, to researching and building technology, and analyzing labor and tech trends,  Wilneida has always grounded her work within the lives and experiences of everyday working families and people. «

has studied technology’s impact on politics in East Asia and Latin America and has developed tech applications in collaboration with lawyers and philanthropic organizations like the Ford Foundation. She is currently the Director of Research and Policy at Coworker and advises on corporate governance, risk management, and responsible innovation. She co-founded the Startups and Society Initiative and the Responsible Innovation Founders’ Summit and holds a PhD in Comparative Politics, an MPhil in International Relations, and a Masters in Public Administration.

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Lead Economics Researcher

»From ballet dancing to connecting the dots across emerging socio-economic and technological trends, Zoe’s unwavering dedication to human rights and socioeconomic equity is bolstered by her belief in global interconnectedness, driving her commitment to impactful change.«

She recently completed the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, enhancing her leadership skills and understanding of societal issues through diverse experiences in government, nonprofits, and businesses. A former professional ballet dancer, she brings discipline and creativity to her research, focusing on economic trends. Zoe produces insightful reports and whitepapers, offering practical policy solutions. Her work with NGOs and advocacy groups reflects her dedication to fostering a more equitable global future, connecting her diverse past experiences with her current endeavors. Zoe holds a BA in Global Studies from UCLA.

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Director of Industry and Worker Engagement

»Liaya has worked in almost every industry that is currently being shaped by technology—call centers, banking, insurance, health, and the gig economy. Liaya’s commitment to worker engagement has been recognized by the NY Times and local news after she unexpectedly found herself organizing hundreds of unemployed workers unable to access benefits outside of the unemployment office in Atlanta. «

Liaya is a dedicated professional whose background in empathetic listening, customer service, and advocacy, combined with her experience as a resilient mother of two grown children, equips her with a unique commitment to serving others. Passionate about social change, policy advocacy, and empowering marginalized communities, Liaya has provided advocacy for unemployed workers in Atlanta and is a frequent collaborator with the NGO Coworker.   Liaya holds a Bachelors in Human Services & Psychology.

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Yashwinie Shivanand

Future of Worker Fellow

Yashwinie is our inaugural Future of Workers Cross-Sectoral Leadership fellow.

Yashwinie is involved in trustworthy AI governance across domains. She is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, an Expert on the UN’s Policy Network on Artificial Intelligence Multistakeholder Working Group, and a civil servant with the Government of Canada.

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