🎙️ From Restaurant Operator to Training Revolution: Rachael Nemeth's Journey Building Opus Training for 110 Million Frontline Workers
In this inspiring episode, Rachael Nemeth, Co-Founder and CEO of Opus Training, shares her remarkable journey from managing restaurants and understanding frontline worker challenges to launching a training platform during COVID crisis that now serves 110 million deskless Americans across retail, QSR, universities, and service industries. Through candid stories about recognizing that 1700 existing platforms built for desktop users completely failed frontline workers juggling three jobs and subway commutes and daycare pickups, deciding to burn everything to the ground and start over with accessibility as the obsession, discovering that real learning happens shoulder-to-shoulder on the job floor not sitting at computers, and building TikTok-style shift-level training that employees take at the start of their shift and immediately apply to their work, Rachael reveals how focusing on the right information to the right person at the right time in their employee lifecycle creates transformational training outcomes—and why technology should track shoulder-to-shoulder moments rather than trying to digitize the entire employee experience.
✨ Key Insights You'll Learn:
Co-Founder and CEO at Opus Training training platform serving 110 million frontline Americans
COVID pandemic pivot launching communication platform for rapidly changing safety protocols
Accessibility obsession defining design philosophy beyond ADA standards
Frontline worker reality: three jobs, subway navigation, daycare pickup timing, paycheck anxiety
Repurposing desktop tools for deskless workers creating fundamental failure
TikTok-style social media learning experience delivering short format stackable training
New hire three-day speed-to-confidence goal enabling retail floor readiness
Christmas specials one-week learning preparing Black Friday Best Buy employees
Real learning happens on job floor through shoulder-to-shoulder moments not computers
Skill validation and check-ins feature tracking team lead grading physical skills
Manager using phone to grade employee fry station performance pushing data upstream
Training efficacy measurement beyond quiz completion tracking actual job performance
Most employees taking short training at shift start applying lesson immediately
Team leads and managers primarily using phones for employee skill assessment
Retail, QSR, university dining services, fitness, car washes, facility services industries
Smashburger, Blaze Pizza, Jose Andres Group restaurant brand clients
Vanderbilt University, UMass Amherst, RISD student worker and year-round employee training
Multi-unit groups five to 5000 units representing ideal customer profile
Small business owner training team directly not requiring technology solution
🌟 Rachael's Key Mentors:
Restaurant Industry Experience
ESL Works Venture
COVID Crisis
Frontline Workers Served
Multi-Unit Restaurant Operators
15-Year New York Tenure
👉 Don't miss this powerful conversation about building training platforms from scratch obsessed with accessibility, tracking shoulder-to-shoulder learning moments, and serving 110 million frontline workers desktop platforms completely failed.
🔗 Connect with Rachael Nemeth:
Website: Opus Training.so
LinkedIn: Rachael Nemeth
📄 Transcript Available: Rachael Nemeth's Opus Training Revolution: From COVID Communication Crisis to Training 110 Million Frontline Workers
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📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com
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