Meet Our Founder
Rachel Blum is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Working Current. She brings over 25 years of experience designing, implementing, and evaluating transformative programs that prepare young workers for the future. Having worked in 29 countries, she has worked with diverse communities and industry partners across many different socio-economic landscapes.
Since launching her consulting practice in 2016, Rachel has collaborated with government agencies, multilateral institutions, nonprofits, universities, and private sector clients. Previously, she served as the US Agency for International Development’s lead technical advisor for its $85 million global portfolio or higher education, youth, and workforce development programs. Earlier in her career in the nonprofit sector, Rachel managed and delivered over $4 million in economic inclusion programming, including those operating in environments affected by violence and conflict.
Rachel has spearheaded the design, proposal development, and grant writing for scores of projects with budgets ranging from $50,000 to $50 million. In a single year, her proposal development leadership generated over $150 million in federal and philanthropic funding. She has led research teams to deliver rigorous, complexity-aware evaluations. She has conducted numerous labor market analyses, market systems analyses, desk reviews, and participatory rapid assessments around the world. She has also developed technical guidance manuals, publications, and professional development courses for her clients.
Rachel holds a Master of International Business Administration from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California San Diego.
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Client Testimonials
“Rachel Blum added considerable value to the design of a vocational education and training program in Papua New Guinea, funded by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). ... I particularly valued her commitment to making youth central to the design.”
Eloise Saif, First Secretary - Skills,
Australian High Commission, Papua New Guinea
"Working with Rachel [founder of Working Current] has been transformative for our organization—especially for our Youth and Workforce Development team. As a strategic thinker, she helped us sharpen and scale our market-driven, systems-based solutions. She also played a key role in launching our ten-year “Our World, Our Work” moonshot climate initiative by leading the global research on green economies and youth employment. Rachel listens closely, understands our needs instinctively, and delivers practical, high-impact solutions with speed and reliability. I wholeheartedly recommend her services."
Melanie Sany, Director,
Education Development Center
Rachel is not only an expert in her field, she is a pleasure to work with. She delivers high quality work products that respond to clients' needs through consistent communication, a commitment to rigor, and strong technical expertise."
Rebecca Pagel, Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Advisor
USAID Center for Education
Great organizations we have worked with:
