My name is Anika, and I have been on both sides of the fence.

I know what it feels like to be the job seeker trying to figure it all out. I have had to find work that fit my life, pivot when things changed, and figure out my next move without a clear roadmap. My path was not a straight line — and that is exactly why I understand the frustration so many job seekers carry.

I also know what it looks like from the inside — sitting in a recruiting seat, reviewing resumes, and making decisions about who moves forward and who does not.

That perspective is not something I take lightly. It is the reason I built The Upward Collective.

I started noticing patterns. The same gaps kept showing up over and over again. People who were qualified were getting passed over — not because they lacked experience, but because of things like a full voicemail box, an outdated resume, or not knowing how to communicate what they actually brought to the table. I paid close attention to those patterns. I took notes. I asked questions. I called people even when they did not qualify on paper, because I wanted to understand what was really going on.

Those patterns are what built the 5 Workforce Readiness Gaps framework. This is not something I pulled out of thin air. It came from years of watching, listening, and caring enough to pay attention when a lot of people would have just moved on.

I am not in this industry by accident. I am following my path. Every job I have had, every person I have helped, every pattern I noticed — it all led here.

The jewels I have picked up along the way? I am here to give them to you.