We Are Cortex | Jade Johnson

As our lives depend more and more on high-tech tools, finding a career in the tech industry might seem like a no-brainer — unless a university education and a lot of money could be a barrier. That’s where Jade Johnson may be able to help.

She’s senior manager of recruitment and admissions for Per Scholas, which provides tuition-free technology skills training across 20 locations in the United States — including one right in the heart of Cortex. When prospective students apply for one of Per Scholas’ programs, which typically run between 13 and 15 weeks, Johnson jumps in.

“I'm the individual that takes care of those individuals,” she said. “I'm the person that takes them to the first part of the process to the very end. I tell you the ins and outs. You then get to decide: Is this something you see yourself doing?”

After a career with other companies in banking, recruiting and management, Johnson started with Per Scholas in December 2022. That was about a year before Cortex locked down a $7 million grant from the state of Missouri to provide free tech training to increase the local supply of tech workers. Cortex works with partners on that initiative, including Per Scholas.

“It feels so amazing to be able to change people's lives,” Johnson said. “I get to talk to individuals, engage with them, communicate, build rapport, build relationships, and really see the reasons why they want to be into tech.”

Then, once those students complete their programs, Johnson revels in seeing them start their new careers. She finds the environment of innovation and entrepreneurship around Cortex to be inspiring — both for herself and for students.

“Being a part of the Cortex community is amazing. You meet so many people from different walks of life,” she said. “They get the opportunity to engage. There’s always somebody that's engaging, somebody that's new, even if it's a new establishment, a new company that's in the building.”