Published April 13, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2026
Contact:
communications@win-nextgen.org
WIN-NextGen™ and Leaderly AI Join Forces to Equip the Next Generation with AI-Powered Leadership Tools for the Future Workforce
LANHAM, MD | CANTON, CT — WIN-NextGen™, a national nonprofit and WorkTech platform shaping the future of work by preparing youth and young adults ages 13-24 while building workforce-ready talent pipelines for employers and communities and Leaderly AI, Inc., a technology company redefining how leadership is developed through microlearning features, adaptive AI, and engagement strategies have entered into a strategic partnership to build the next generation of confident, reflective, and workforce-ready leaders.
Together, the organizations will co-design and deploy a customized version of Leaderly’s adaptive leadership development platform tailored for youth aged high school through 24, as part of WIN-NextGen’s AI Incubator™. The collaboration will also offer leadership modules, immersive scenarios, and digital reflections to help emerging talent lead themselves, lead others, and lead change.
“Leadership is no longer a soft skill – it’s a survival skill,” said Drew Bartkiewicz, Co-Founder of Leaderly AI, Inc. “This partnership with WIN-NextGen™ is about enabling emerging adults – especially those from overlooked communities – to gain the self-awareness, adaptability, and decision-making muscle they’ll need to succeed in AI-driven workplaces.”
Through this partnership, WIN-NextGen™ will launch the WIN-NextGen™ Leadership Accelerator, powered by Leaderly’s AI coaching engine and integrated into the WIN-NextGen™ GT3S™ Platform. The experience will offer real-world workforce and leadership scenarios to help youth develop emotional intelligence, accountability, team collaboration, and situational judgment.
“As AI reshapes every sector, from logistics and energy to healthcare and manufacturing, we must ensure our next generation is equipped not only with technical skills, but with the mindset to lead in complexity,” said Elisa Basnight, Founder & CEO of WIN-NextGen™.
“This partnership with Leaderly AI advances our commitment to expanding access to modern leadership development for youth aged 13–24, including those from rural, military-connected, foster care, or non-traditional learning backgrounds. Because preparing tomorrow’s workforce includes preparing tomorrow’s leaders,” explains Basnight.
This collaboration is also rooted in shared values: both WIN-NextGen™ Founder Elisa Basnight and Leaderly AI Co-Founders Drew Bartkiewicz and Albert Alba are graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Their commitment to developing principled, mission-driven leaders has shaped this partnership’s bold vision for preparing the next generation to lead with purpose in an AI-powered world. Together, WIN-NextGen™ and Leaderly AI will continue to innovate at the intersection of leadership, technology, and workforce readiness, empowering youth to grow into the reflective, adaptive leaders our communities and industries need for the future.
About WIN–NextGen™
WIN-NextGen™ is a nonprofit workforce innovation network dedicated to leveraging technology to prepare young people ages 13-24 for success in the future of work. Through its tech-enabled WorkTech platform and five brands: STEM, Supply Chain, Skilled Trades, the AI Incubator™, and the Girls Action Network®, WIN-NextGen™’s vision is to create generational impact by shaping workforce-ready talent pipelines for employers, communities, and countries with a systems solutions approach and measurable outcomes.
Learn more at: www.WIN-NextGen.org
About Leaderly AI, Inc.
Leaderly AI is an adaptive leadership development platform combining AI-powered reflections, situational coaching, data-driven insights, and multi-modal microlessons to build core leadership skills in early-career professionals. Leaderly’s system enables personalized learning journeys, feedback loops, and growth of capability for individuals preparing to lead teams and navigate complex workplaces.
Learn more at: www.LeaderlyApp.com