The need to stay connected and informed has never been so high a priority for consumers. At the height of the pandemic, people flocked to apps like WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and loved ones, and TikTok to learn new cooking, cleaning or DIY tips to fill the “extra” time. free. As more and more consumers return to their pre-Covid lives, they continue to integrate these apps into their daily routines.

Today, more than 4.48 billion people use social apps, with the average user accessing more than six platforms each month. The increased focus on digital communication during the pandemic has made it clear that consumers are looking to spend their time with apps that are both engaging and productive. And with employees who often hold the upper hand in today’s job market and can work remotely, they have the opportunity to increase their career opportunities with advanced language skills anywhere in the world – those who speak, reading and writing in a second language is more employable, confident, and can earn higher wages. Now it’s up to leaders to make sure they create applications and work environments that will help people achieve their goals, whether it’s having more productive relationships or earning higher income.

Set to reach a market value of $ 21.2 billion by 2027, the language learning sector has proven to be an ideal choice for former TikTok strategist Jonathan Maxim, who identified the challenges recurring issues that leaders of legacy application platforms face and fail to resolve. Using the creative growth tips discovered during his journey as a founder and technology strategist, Maxim has been on a mission to solve this problem since joining ClickStream Corp. (OTC PINK: CLIS) as CEO of its social language learning app HeyPal.

HeyPal’s mission is to unleash the potential of people through language learning, which has proven to be a mechanism for creating more empathy, understanding and connections across borders and cultures. This conviction is also an integral part of its corporate culture, which promotes a work environment where everyone is treated with respect. As a leader, Maxim believes in encouraging and embracing diversity within his team, to help foster different perspectives and alternative solutions to challenges his business may face.

Throughout his career as a founder and CEO, Maxim has put into practice his belief that the more diverse your team, the more successful your business can be. This has certainly been true at HeyPal, where he quickly upgraded the iOS version to over 606,000 total downloads and 164,000 monthly active users in less than six months. HeyPal also launched its Android version in November 2021, reaching No. 2 in the Google Play Store ranking of “Best New Free Social Apps” in the US, and gaining 200,000 downloads in 21 days.

According to Maxim, many language learning platforms provide basic and restrictive tools like flashcards, which often lack the most important element – training with other people. “At HeyPal, we listen to our employees and users, and their ideas, and then apply this qualitative and quantitative knowledge to our product not only to deliver the language learning component that most social media applications lack, but also to go one step further and ensure that users are able to correspond with someone they feel connected with, and this can lead to a long term friendship or something more.

Studies confirm that language learning is more effective with a “study buddy” or other close relative, rather than traditional components like memory cards and rote memorization. As a leader, Maxim emphasizes the need to be original and forward thinking in order to disrupt any industry: “With current and future features such as a matching feature to match native and learners of the language, predictive text messaging for language learners, NFT-driven reward systems for users via cryptocurrency and enhanced content delivery and analytics for creators and influencers, the HeyPal app proves that ‘there is an effective way to combine social media with language learning.

Learning is indeed a central point of the current political debate. This week, Congressman Jim Himes, chairman of the United States House Special Committee on Economic Disparities and Equity in Growth, held a press conference with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the importance of historic investments in early childhood development in the Build Back Better Act.

Following the special committee hearing on the link between federal investments in affordable family care and inclusive economic growth, members of the special committee and advocates presented the social and economic impact of investments in early childhood of the Build Back Better Act and discussed how provisions such as early childhood education, child care, and the Child Tax Credit can help raise working families and address economic disparities. at national scale.

“The economic benefits of preschool education cannot be overstated,” Himes told me. “From political and academic experts to advocates and parents, our select committee continues to hear from people across the country about the power of early childhood programs like preschool to increase lifelong incomes, reenergize our workforce. implement and improve health outcomes at all levels. The Build Back Better Act recognizes the significant return on investment in supporting early childhood education, building an inclusive economy for all Americans, and keeping our country competitive in the global economy.

And so, with more opportunities to work remotely across borders, as well as the growing need for social and professional versatility in an increasingly globalized society, both younger and older generations have everything to gain from learning. new language and to interact with people from different cultures. Likewise, fostering diversity and different perspectives in the workplace can help promote an environment that produces more creative and successful business solutions.