Workforce & program strategy
Connecting labor market insight and employer priorities to learning pathways that help people build relevant skills and pursue meaningful careers.
BIG Solutions / by Dr. Susanne Brock
Turning possibility into meaningful progress.
A platform for ideas and conversations about leadership, education, and the future of work, grounded in the belief that big ideas matter most when we put them into action.
A belief that guides my work
Good strategy doesn’t end with a plan. It comes to life through people, partnerships, and purposeful action.
01 /The work
Building at the intersection of education and opportunity.
The challenges facing education and the workforce are connected. Our solutions should be, too.
Employer partnerships
Bringing industry and educators together as active partners, from identifying skills and trends to strengthening curriculum and talent pipelines.
Organizational change
Helping teams move from vision to implementation with clear priorities, shared ownership, and a willingness to question what has always been done.
02 /How I think
Ask better questions. Build what matters.
Lasting change takes both imagination and follow-through. I believe in making room for new ideas, and doing the hard work to make them useful.
Start with the need
Listen closely, examine the evidence, and define the problem before choosing a solution.
Make partnership substantive
Invite employers, educators, and communities into the conversation early and give their perspectives a meaningful role.
Keep the outcome in view
Connect the strategy to what changes for learners, organizations, and the people they serve.
Leadership with purpose
SB.
20+
years in higher education
$72M+
in grants administered at Harper College
03 /About Susanne
Curious about what’s possible. Committed to making it happen.
I’m the founder of Brock Innovation and Growth (BIG) Solutions and a higher education leader focused on strategic vision, workforce development, and organizational transformation. My work has taken me from grant development and innovation to building programs and partnerships that respond to a changing world of work.
As Associate Vice Chancellor for Business Sector Strategy at City Colleges of Chicago, I work across the district with faculty, college leaders, and employers to advance business education and career pathways. I also coach colleges around the country in the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model.
Through BIG Solutions, I share the questions, ideas, and lessons that emerge from that work. I’m energized by the space between a compelling idea and the collective effort it takes to bring that idea to life.
04 /Ideas in practice
Conversations worth having.
A few questions that continue to shape my work, and that I welcome the opportunity to explore with others.
Strategy & execution
What happens after the strategic plan is approved?
How do leaders translate ambition into decisions, ownership, and measurable progress?
Industry engagement
What makes employer partnership truly meaningful?
How can employers help shape learning while educators retain their essential expertise?
Future of learning
How do we prepare learners for a moving target?
How can education stay responsive as technology, skills, and career opportunities evolve?
05 /Speaking & conversations
Ideas become more powerful when we explore them together.
I welcome opportunities to join conversations with education and workforce leaders, as a speaker, panelist, facilitator, or thought partner.
From vision to action
Moving beyond the strategic plan to create alignment, accountability, and momentum for meaningful change.
Employer engagement that matters
Creating substantive partnerships that bring industry and educators together around the skills learners need.
Leading for what’s next
Building organizational adaptability as technology, workforce needs, and learning opportunities evolve.
06 /Let’s connect
Good ideas get better when we build them together.
Interested in a speaking opportunity or a conversation about strategy, employer engagement, and the future of learning? I’d love to connect.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.