Hats, Ladders & Lifelong Learning: Scott Brewster on Rethinking Career Readiness
Fri Feb 06 2026
What if career readiness wasn’t just a checklist—but a journey of curiosity, identity, and lifelong learning?
In this episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, host Andy Bennetts sits down with Scott Brewster, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Hats & Ladders—an edtech platform empowering youth (ages 14–24) to explore careers, build essential skills, and confidently navigate their future.
Scott shares how gamified learning, backwards design, and "trying on hats" help students develop not only job skills, but durable power skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and systems thinking. He opens up about missteps, pivots, the growing role of AI in learning, and what it takes to help students thrive in an ever-changing world.
✅ Career readiness reimagined
🎯 How game-based learning changes engagement
🧠 The “power skills” that truly matter
📊 Balancing data with human agency
🚀 What education could look like 10 years from now
Whether you're an educator, leader, or lifelong learner—this conversation will challenge how you think about careers, school, and success.
Connect with Scott Brewster:
Website: https://hatsandladders.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscottbrewster/
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What if career readiness wasn’t just a checklist—but a journey of curiosity, identity, and lifelong learning? In this episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, host Andy Bennetts sits down with Scott Brewster, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Hats & Ladders—an edtech platform empowering youth (ages 14–24) to explore careers, build essential skills, and confidently navigate their future. Scott shares how gamified learning, backwards design, and "trying on hats" help students develop not only job skills, but durable power skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and systems thinking. He opens up about missteps, pivots, the growing role of AI in learning, and what it takes to help students thrive in an ever-changing world. ✅ Career readiness reimagined 🎯 How game-based learning changes engagement 🧠 The “power skills” that truly matter 📊 Balancing data with human agency 🚀 What education could look like 10 years from now Whether you're an educator, leader, or lifelong learner—this conversation will challenge how you think about careers, school, and success. Connect with Scott Brewster: Website: https://hatsandladders.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscottbrewster/