Yael Lawson Takes the Helm at Workforce Solutions with Bold Priorities for Austin

In this milestone episode, former CEO Tamara Atkinson sits down with Yael Lawson, Workforce Solutions Capital Area's newly appointed Interim CEO and longtime Chief Operations Officer. With 25 years at the organization—beginning as a program specialist and rising through the ranks—Yael brings deep operational expertise and an unwavering commitment to community-centered workforce development. Her leadership philosophy centers on treating clients as neighbors and ensuring services remain accessible, personalized, and impactful for Central Texas families and job seekers.

This candid conversation covers Yael's three strategic priorities as interim CEO: transforming service delivery through personalized career navigation and technology, diversifying funding beyond federal sources to meet local needs, and investing in staff development and leadership cultivation. Tamara and Yael reflect on their 25-year partnership, share memorable moments from their work together, and discuss how Workforce Solutions will position itself as the region's workforce expert. The episode also highlights Yael's vision for leveraging AI and community partnerships to strengthen workforce outcomes.

Yael Lawson serves as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, a role she was appointed to in September 2025. She has worked with the organization since 2000, previously serving as Chief Operations Officer since 2017. She provides strategic leadership across workforce programs, child care services, employment support, and employer engagement. Her career began working directly with clients, experience that continues informing her approach to program design and implementation. Ms. Lawson also serves as Chair of the On Point Reentry Consortium and previously served on the board of The Arc of Central Texas, demonstrating her longstanding commitment to workforce development and community partnerships across the region.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Funny office moments and the dynamic between Tamara and Yael over 25 years

• (07:22) Reflections on her two-decade career at Workforce Solutions and creating roles that still exist today

• (09:16) Clarifying the role of a workforce board: board of directors vs board staff

• (12:40) Interim CEO priorities: strengthening service delivery and technology, diversifying funding through public partnerships, developing staff and cultivating leadership

• (20:04) Transforming into a navigation model where WFS is seen as a workforce expert not just a program operator

• (26:46) Tamara's farewell reflections and gratitude to partners

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About the show:
Austin Hires Local, powered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area and hosted by WFS CEO Tamara Atkinson, dives deep with the trailblazers who are shaping the future of jobs in our city, our state, and even nationally. We pull back the curtain on the challenges we all face – the anxieties, the roadblocks, and what's holding us back from filling those critical open positions. But hey, it's not all doom and gloom. We also celebrate the victories: the ingenious solutions, the unexpected collaborations, and the best practices that are making us all sharper. You’ll hear guests from all sides of the table – elected officials with a finger on the pulse of the economy, industry leaders from booming sectors like tech, healthcare, and skilled trades, and educators s...