INQUISITIVE…PEOPLE-ORIENTED…RESULTS-DRIVEN. That’s a pretty good summary of what it takes to succeed in workforce development, and, not coincidentally, it’s also a good description of this month’s Apprenticely Insider. Amanda Champlin thrives on helping employers align business needs with strong talent and training pathways through IT apprenticeships.
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I was looking at your educational background on LinkedIn and I see that you got a BA in Sociology from the University of Arkansas. What were you thinking you might want to do with your life at that point?
I actually had a double major, criminal justice and sociology, and at that point I had the idea in my head that I wanted to go to law school. But the truth is, right out of college, I was ready to step into the workforce.
I wanted to get to work, and I started in banking. That wasn’t really based on any career path planning, it was just an opportunity that came along. But I really loved it. I loved the people aspect, meeting different people every day, and I felt like I was helping people, especially once I moved into a loan officer position. It was a great opportunity to help people create stability, and it felt good to use my skills in a way that made a real difference.
Well, let me go back to the beginning. Are you from Arkansas? Did you grow up in Arkansas?
Yes. I’m Arkansas born and raised. I grew up in Little Rock, came to Northwest Arkansas for college, and loved it so much that I decided to stay and have been here ever since.
So tell me about your family and the forces, or the people, that you think shaped who you are today….
I’m the youngest of three girls. Each of us has had our own path, but our parents had high expectations for us when we were growing up, and they also encouraged independence. I really had a runway to make my own choices, and I learned early on that independence also means taking responsibility for your decisions.
That freedom gave me a strong sense of agency and confidence in choosing my path, including my major. I also leaned into my friendships, especially when I came to college, since my parents were still in central Arkansas. I joined a sorority and I’m still close with that group of women today. Overall, the independence and sense of ownership my parents encouraged has been one of the biggest influences in shaping who I am.
Well, speaking of who you are today, do you have heroes? Is there somebody you think of as an influence, or who you especially look up to?
I can’t really point to any specific “heroes,” but I do have authors and thought leaders I really lean into. I love Malcolm Gladwell and can’t get enough of his writing, and I also enjoy his podcast.
From a work and workforce-development perspective, I really value Mark Perna. He wrote an incredible book called Answering Why, and Bill Yoder is actually the one who introduced me to his work. At Apprenticely, one of our goals is to create earlier tech exposure, and we’ve really started leaning into that with high school juniors and seniors, as well as recent graduates. Perna talks about today’s youth and how powerful it is when they understand the “why” behind what they’re doing, because it helps them feel more equipped to pursue a path and be successful.
He also emphasizes the importance of options. College is a great path for many people, but if a new graduate feels that going straight into a career is the better fit, early exposure to technology is one of the best ways we can support that. I’ve been working with high school students in Northwest Arkansas over the last year and a half, and that book really reinforced how aligned our direction is with what students need.
We’re going to talk more about your work in a few minutes, but first, what do you do for fun? What kind of music do you like? Do you have any hobbies?
I love going to concerts, and I enjoy music of all kinds! Last summer I went to a Jason Aldean concert, and before that my daughter and I went to a GloRilla concert and a Chappell Roan concert. We also went to Chicago for Lollapalooza and saw some really incredible jazz and pop artists. I’m definitely all over the place when it comes to music.
I also love podcasts and audiobooks, and I’m really into health and wellness. I enjoy exercising and paddleboarding in the summers. On weekends, I try to be intentional about recharging, because I’ve learned that rest is a big part of staying grounded and showing up well for the people around me.
That reminds me—I think you were the one who, in an Apprenticely meeting a couple of years ago, said that if you’re going to be a go-getter, you’ve got to get up at 5:00 AM. Didn’t you say that?
[Laughs] Oh, no! That was when I was reading a book called The 5 AM Club, which talks about high-performing leaders following that kind of schedule. I tried it for a while, but realized it’s just not my rhythm. I’m a solid 6:30 riser, and that’s what works best for me.
Let’s go back to the jobs you had before you got to Apprenticely. How did they help prepare you for what you’re doing now?
I actually started working when I was in high school. My first job was at 15, and I was a seating hostess in a restaurant. That experience was one of the most valuable professional experiences I’ve had, just because I was exposed to so many different people from every walk of life. I had to learn quickly how to be flexible and adapt to different personalities. It also taught me that you never know what kind of day someone has had or what they’ve experienced. It’s that old notion of, until you’ve walked in someone’s shoes, give them grace. That has followed me through every job I’ve had, including the work I do now.
As I mentioned before, I began working at Arvest Bank right out of college. I loved that job and stayed there a long time. Then I took time off to be a stay-at-home mom. During that season, I also worked as an entrepreneur in the health and wellness space, and that’s really when my wellness journey began. It was also a great way to stay connected and have a sense of community while I was at home.
It was during COVID when I stepped back into the workforce, and I wanted a career where I could make an impact working with people. I had a college friend at Apprenticely, then ACDS, and she knew I was looking for something that would be a great fit. She suggested I consider joining the team. At the time, I was still learning about apprenticeships and the organization’s work, but I decided to lean in and take the opportunity.
I’m naturally inquisitive, so starting in a recruiting-focused role was a great fit at the time. I got to ask a lot of questions, understand candidate goals, and help connect people to the right next step. It was a rewarding way to step back into the workforce, and it also laid the foundation for the employer-facing work I do today.
I was impressed by the way you describe your work at Apprenticely on LinkedIn. You talk about “strengthening Arkansas’s workforce ecosystem,” which strikes me as a kind of “bigger-picture view.” Tell me about that.
Absolutely. Early on in my time at Apprenticely, I had the opportunity to get to know the people who were trying to step into tech roles and understand their backgrounds and their drive to succeed. They came from all walks of life, but the common thread was the same: They wanted to upskill and elevate their careers.
When I began managing the work-based learning internship program, I was able to work with both candidates and employers and really understand both sides of the equation. It was amazing to watch people step into their first tech roles and, in just 12 weeks, see how powerful work-based learning can be, both as a tool for employers and as an opportunity for candidates to gain their first experience in tech.
When you help people build confidence in who they are and what they can do, it carries them a long way. I saw that firsthand through mentoring candidates in the internship program.
And now, in my Employer Engagement Manager role, I work with employers across the state to talk about IT apprenticeships and our work-based learning internship program and how to integrate those tools into their workforce plans. It really comes down to understanding the business need. Workforce development and economic development are closely connected, so I try to always keep the full ecosystem in mind—the candidate experience, the training pathway, what that training looks like day to day, and making sure it supports long-term growth while also meeting the employer’s needs. And there’s nothing better than making a great match with all of those variables in the equation.
For a long time, all ACDS did was IT. And now, as Apprenticely, we’ve moved into other sectors, but in your role, you’re still focused on IT. Of course, IT is in every sector these days. So what trends in IT and technology do you think our readers, whether they’re employers or job candidates, need to be aware of?
We are in such a unique time right now. In the job market, we’re truly not seeing as many entry-level job opportunities, and we’re seeing a slowdown in hiring. So my first and foremost advice to any candidate reading this article is to focus on skill building. Be consistently building your skills, whether you’re currently in a job or you’re unemployed. There’s no downside to that. There are only positive benefits from continuing to build your skills.
For employers, I think one of the biggest opportunities right now is using apprenticeships to upskill current employees. Instead of only looking externally for talent, organizations can build capability from within. If you have someone on your team who’s ready to grow, maybe moving from analytics into development or into a more technical path, apprenticeship provides a structured way to train them while they continue contributing on the job.
Another thing I’ve seen is how quickly the training landscape has evolved. There are more high-quality providers than ever, and we’re focused on stackable credential pathways that build momentum over time and support advancement into higher-level roles. That’s what I’ve worked to develop for my clients.
Broad exposure is the key today. It’s no longer just about learning to do a job, and it’s no longer a siloed path. Candidates need to know what’s happening in workforce development, what’s happening in the tech industry, and even stay on top of labor market data, including what skills are in the highest demand. There’s so much information available at our fingertips. I would encourage any career seeker, or any seasoned employee, to read, stay curious, and stay current in your industry. Things are changing fast. It’s an exciting time.
On LinkedIn, you recently posted an A.I.-created “Persona” of yourself with images evoking your work at Apprenticely. How do you intend to use that—or are you just having fun with it?
What surprised me was how accurate it was, both in my likeness and in how well it captured what energizes me, helping people understand apprenticeship opportunities and discover career pathways. It felt like a fun validation, because I really do love workforce development, helping people discover career pathways, and helping employers build stronger teams through Registered Apprenticeships. No matter where someone is starting or where they want to end up, apprenticeships can create a real pathway forward.
Apprenticeships can be easier to implement than many employers expect, and we’re great partners throughout the process. Communicating that in a fun, approachable way through this Persona may help open the door for more employers to say yes to apprenticeship!