Meet The Talented Team at CareerEquity

We’re about local talent–and those who join us feel passionate about it, too.

At CareerEquity, we connect people, programs, and possibilities to improve our workforce ecosystem so that it’s focused on empowering individuals and strengthening communities. We’re about ensuring local talent is supported and hired through data-driven tools, with ease.

Our innovative platform connects local talent, employers, training providers, and community support organizations—ensuring collaboration is seamless and impactful.

CareerEquity was born from the shared vision of two passionate leaders, Paul Douglas and Praveen Kedar, who recognized the need for a more collaborative approach to workforce development. They combined their expertise in talent recruitment and technology to build a platform that drives meaningful, measurable systemic change.

Meet Our Founders

Paul Douglas

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Paul Douglas is a visionary leader and entrepreneur dedicated to reshaping workforce development and talent solutions. He has over two decades of experience leading top recruiting and consulting firms. In 2015, Paul co-founded The JPI Group, a dynamic workforce development and consulting firm, with his wife, Iyomekha "Yom" Douglas.

He is passionate about bridging the wealth gap, which inspired the creation of CareerEquity. Paul understands firsthand the transformative power of meaningful employment and opportunities. As a child, he was raised in a disadvantaged community by a single mother in Baltimore, MD. During his teenage years, Paul entered a workforce pipeline and that led him to a successful career in recruiting. Today, he’s well-known in the workforce development field and is a sought-after speaker at notable events, including:

2025 AESP (Association of Energy Services Professionals) Conference
2024 CEWD (Center for Energy Workforce Development) Workforce Development Summit
2024 SEEA (System of Environmental Economic Accounting) Conference

The mission he shares with Praveen is to create pathways to economic mobility and empower communities through strategic job growth. Check out his recent article in Forbes about the importance of workforce development.

When he's not advancing workforce solutions, Paul enjoys spending quality time with his family and their rescue dog, Max.

Praveen Kedar

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Praveen Kedar is an entrepreneur four times over with an immense technological background of over 25 years of experience.

Praveen’s career journey began as a software engineer and evolved through various roles—including Architect, Designer, Database Administrator, and Business Analyst—before advancing into leadership positions managing large, cross-functional teams.

With expertise spanning enterprise systems such as CRM, marketing campaign management, inventory and order processing, revenue assurance, and business intelligence, Praveen has a proven track record of delivering impactful solutions in telecom, financial education, and technology.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Praveen is an advocate for lifelong learning and personal well-being. He enjoys golf, fitness, and yoga as a way to recharge and stay inspired.

Meet Our Dynamic Team

Our History

CareerEquity began with a shared vision to make workforce development more comprehensive, easier to execute, and effective. Paul Douglas and Praveen Kedar, our co-founders, combined their deep expertise in talent recruiting and technology to tackle the barriers that too often limit opportunities for emerging talent.

Paul Douglas, a first-generation American from Jamaica, knows the life-changing power of meaningful employment. Raised by a single mother in a disadvantaged community, he channeled his personal experiences into a career dedicated to workforce consulting and talent recruiting. Over a decade, he saw firsthand the challenges job seekers and employers face—particularly in STEM fields—and became determined to build a system that creates lasting change.

Praveen Kedar, a seasoned technology entrepreneur, brought his technical expertise and a passion for impactful innovation to the table. With decades of experience designing secure, scalable enterprise systems, he saw an opportunity to use technology to solve systemic challenges in workforce development. Together, he and Paul envisioned a platform that would streamline collaboration and deliver measurable results.

CareerEquity was formed from a realization by working with PSE&G, one of JPI’s clients, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul realized that the entire market needed a holistic workforce development platform, not just one client. Since its founding, CareerEquity has been a catalyst for progress, helping partners align their goals, track their success, and reduce barriers to employment for those who need it most. From reducing administrative burdens for training providers to helping employers meet local hiring requirements, we are committed to building a workforce ecosystem that works for everyone.

Learn More About Our Services