Why this McDonald's program helps people work and learn

Forbes

a day ago

As technology continues to transform the workplace, employers are eager to recruit and cultivate employees who can quickly adapt, learn, and grow.
This means creating flexible hiring criteria that value more than just credentials, along with innovative programs that tap into individuals' unique gifts so they can achieve their full potential.
To reach this goal, 10 years ago, McDonald's and its franchisees launched Archways to Opportunity, a package of educational programs that restaurant employees can access no matter where they are on their life journeys. Participants can use the program to earn a high school diploma, work toward a college degree, enroll in training and certificate programs at accredited schools, or improve their English skills.
Best of all, they can do it while earning a paycheck, with access to academic and career guidance throughout.
The program has been a win-win for McDonald's and its independent franchisees, which employ the majority of McDonald's restaurant employees. Since its inception, Archways to Opportunity has awarded more than $240 million in high school and college tuition assistance to more than 90,000 restaurant workers eager to develop their aptitudes and pursue their passions.
Through Archways to Opportunity, McDonald's and its franchisees are developing an invaluable pool of skilled, loyal, and engaged employees building their McDonald's careers. In fact, a recent McDonald's survey of Archways to Opportunity participants showed that 3 in 4 stayed longer at their McDonald's restaurants because of the program. At the same time, 3 in 4 said Archways to Opportunity helped them pursue a career in other industries or fields, such as education and health care.
This first installment of a three-part series highlights the stories of four people for whom Archways to Opportunity was the gateway to their version of the American Dream.
A Mom's Legacy
With help from McDonald's, Colnith Brown fulfilled his mom's dying wish to finish his studies and pursue his passion.
Colnith Brown (in red) loves working on the busy international concourse at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport: 'It can be challenging, but it is very rewarding.'
By managing operations for a bustling McDonald's in the world's busiest airport, Colnith Brown has learned something he didn't in the Navy — patience.
'Being former military, I wanted you to do it this way right now,' Brown said with a laugh. He soon discovered that frazzled travelers at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport need more flexibility and sensitivity. 'McDonald's taught me how to be more service-oriented. I learned how to be very patient in dealing with people, no matter what they were going through.'
That's not to say his naval discipline hasn't served him well. Brown's military training proved invaluable during his Archways to Opportunity educational journey, which enabled him to achieve his and his late mother's desire that he find fulfillment through further education.
Brown grew up wanting to become a doctor. There was just a slight problem: He doesn't like the sight of blood. After 10 years in the Navy, having seen 'the Golden Arches in every port,' Brown took a job as a general manager-in-training at McDonald's Corp. in Dallas before returning to Atlanta to work for local franchisee Danesha Smith as a supervisor.
Smith encouraged him to tap into his enthusiasm for developing new ideas. For instance, it was Brown who'd approached Smith with the idea of creating a McDonald's paid internship program for students at nearby Morehouse College. His reasoning: 'If you learn how to run a business for McDonald's, you can run a business anywhere,' he said. Smith's response? 'Let's get it done.' It was so successful they called the program 'McNificent.'
One day, Smith pulled Brown aside and said, 'Look, you need to bottle all this happiness you have and channel it into one thing.'
In 2020, while still working 40 hours each week as a supervisor, Brown started online classes at Colorado Technical University — tuition-free, thanks to Archways to Opportunity. His goal: to build on his aptitude for business development. 'What I like about Colorado Tech, and what I like about the journey, is they bring it all together,' he said. 'You understand how microeconomics becomes macroeconomics, and how the global system works.'
Brown said it was Smith's encouragement — and the flexibility and support Archways to Opportunity provides — that led him to consider pursuing his passion through further education at age 39. But it was the example of his mom Grace, who went back to school to get her bachelor's in Bible studies, that motivated him to actually do it.
Sadly, Grace passed away in 2023. But her support kept Brown on track. 'Even to her last days, to her last minutes, she was adamant I get my work done,' he said. 'I made it clear to myself I would finish.'
And he did. On December 23, 2024, Brown honored his promise to his mom — and himself — and completed his business development studies. Hitting that milestone gave him a strong sense of accomplishment. He thought, 'You know what? I completed this. I was patient, and I got through all the ups and the downs.'
Brown now hopes his experience will inspire others to achieve their dreams. 'It gives you the confidence to usher other people along the way,' he said. 'To tell them, 'I've been there. You can do this, too.''
'I'm living my dream'
The ability to work and study helped Jessie Anderson find and pursue her passion.
Jessie Anderson celebrates graduation from St. Michael's College with her grandma, Johnetta Johnson — whose encouragement inspired Anderson to get her first job, at her local McDonald's.
Heading into her senior year in high school, Jessie Anderson wasn't dreaming about having a rewarding career in human resources or owning her own home by the time she was 25. She just needed money, as her grandma made clear. ''You need a job, yeah?'' she recalled her grandmother saying. ''Well, let's find one.''
As fate would have it, there was a McDonald's restaurant near where Jessie lived in South Burlington, Vermont. So, she summoned her courage and applied for her first job. She was hired on the spot. 'I was scared,' she admitted. 'But McDonald's is good at limiting barriers to people getting work.'
That first step set Anderson on a path to making all her dreams come true — even those she didn't know she had.
Starting as a cashier, Anderson worked for a year while finishing high school, then took a break to enter St. Michael's College in Colchester in 2017 as a first-generation college student. It soon became clear she couldn't afford her tuition.
Anderson realized she needed a job with an employer who would give her flexible scheduling and invest in her education. That's when the lightbulb went off. 'McDonald's fit my needs perfectly,' Anderson said. She returned to McDonald's as a crew trainer and took advantage of the Archways to Opportunity program, which enabled her to continue her studies and work simultaneously.
'My managers gave me space within my schedule to work and develop management skills while studying psychology and growing as a person, too,' Anderson said. 'I could take what I was learning in class and apply that at work to become a better leader and to be able to advocate for other people as well.'
Thanks to her hard work and people skills, Anderson was promoted to guest services manager and was offered the chance to become a general manager. She seriously considered the promotion but turned it down to pursue her newfound passion. Working at her local McDonald's restaurant had broadened her understanding of how she could apply her psychology studies, so she pivoted to human relations.
'McDonald's heavily influenced my career path,' Anderson said. 'Working with the team and helping people explore what they're naturally good at was something I was really interested in, and I was able to do that as a McDonald's manager.'
That hands-on background helped Anderson land a job in HR for Burlington's city government, where she now works. 'After I got the job I asked, 'Why did you guys hire me?'' Anderson said. 'They said, 'Your years of experience at McDonald's made you stand out as an applicant.' They could see my progression from cashier to crew trainer to department manager. They said I stood out from a lot of other people my age who just have a degree because I was working full time and getting real-world experience.'
Anderson has now achieved milestones "I wasn't necessarily trying to get to.' For instance, because Archways to Opportunity enabled her to work and study without incurring significant debt, two years ago she was able to buy a two-bedroom townhouse near the waterfront in Colchester.
'We see beautiful sunsets all year round,' she said. That same year, Anderson earned a master's degree in organization development and human relations from Champlain College in Burlington, which strengthened her HR knowledge and skills.
'McDonald's provided me with options for what my life could become that I didn't even know I wanted, and I think new possibilities continue to unfold even though I'm no longer there,' Anderson said. 'I attribute a lot of my success to having a great manager at McDonald's who saw the potential in me right from the beginning. You just need that one person to say, 'You've got this.''
'Hell, yeah, I'm finishing this!'
Earning a high school diploma in her 50s launched Ann Bydash on a journey of personal discovery.
Ann Bydash savors the moment with son Luis and daughter Jessica, who threw a party to celebrate her high school graduation.
After working odd jobs for years and struggling with addiction, Ann Bydash realized she needed a change. She turned to her local McDonald's as a way to gain stability and start building a better future for herself.
At 54 years old, after decades spent juggling long workdays and being a single mom, Bydash owes her financial stability and personal fulfillment to persistence, a strong work ethic, and serendipity.
Nearly 40 years ago, Bydash got her first job at 16 years old working the drive-thru window at a McDonald's in South Florida. She loved it. Despite lacking a high school degree — Bydash had left school to work and support her young daughter — she moved through the ranks over the next 25 years, becoming a crew trainer, swing manager, store manager, and trainer for 24 restaurants in Florida.
Bydash might have been happy working for McDonald's in South Florida indefinitely. But fate had another idea. In 2003, Bydash's sister Dawn moved to Atlanta. Just five miles from Dawn's home, a new McDonald's restaurant was opening that was owned and operated by franchisees Bydash had worked with in Florida.
Dawn urged her sister: 'Get up here!' Bydash eventually moved to Atlanta, joining the franchisee's organization as a supervisor. Shortly thereafter, two new franchisees, DJ and Rachel Mitchell, took over. That's when things got really interesting.
The Mitchells didn't know that Bydash hadn't completed high school. But they saw how enthusiastically she encouraged her coworkers to take advantage of the Archways to Opportunity program. When Ann approached DJ with a long speech justifying her desire to get her high school diploma, DJ needed no persuading. 'Great!'' he said. 'It won't take you long to finish.'
'It made me realize, 'I can do this,'' Bydash said. 'I have two grandkids. I want them to know they can do anything.'
The ability to work and learn simultaneously launched Bydash on a challenging but rewarding new journey of self-transformation.
'There were good days and bad days,' Bydash said of focusing on school while also working full-time as a supervisor. But she had support from Rachel, along with her school counselor, her daughter Jessica, and her son Luis. 'I started talking to my family one night and Jessica was like, 'Don't you need to do your homework?''
Bydash's commitment paid off. After earning her high school diploma last year — 'Ann's eagerness to learn pays dividends in so many ways,' Rachel said — she immediately enrolled as an online student at Colorado Technical University. At CTU, a bachelor's degree is tuition-free through Archways to Opportunity. Bydash expects to graduate with a degree in business administration with a concentration in HR in July 2027. 'I'm super stoked about that,' she said.
Now, Bydash's 'personal mission' is getting more McDonald's employees to take advantage of Archways opportunities. 'I tell everybody, 'I didn't have my high school diploma, and soon I'll be a college graduate,'' Bydash said. 'Whatever your dream is, if you put your mind to it, you can do it.'
From Big Macs to bigger ambitions
Thanks to his job at his local McDonald's, Jeremy Corwin was able to further his studies and own a car. Now, he wants to own a McDonald's franchise too.
Jeremy Corwin used Archways to Opportunity to advance his dream of becoming a McDonald's franchisee one day.
Like most 16-year-olds, Jeremy Corwin's dream was to own a car. 'I wanted that freedom,' he said. He applied for several jobs near his home in Hinesville, Georgia, and 'McDonald's was the first one to invite me to join the team.'
Joining his local McDonald's restaurant brought him the freedom he wanted: He was able to save up the $7,000 he needed to buy his first car, a silver 2007 Ford Mustang. It also launched Corwin on a rapid work-and-learn trajectory that helped him identify and develop his talents and interests and embark on a fulfilling career.
Within several months of starting as a crew member, Corwin was promoted to crew trainer. When he turned 18, he became a department manager, responsible for managing and tracking inventory and overseeing daily staffing, food preparation, and closing procedures. 'I was fresh out of high school, doing logistics for the company,' he said. 'I felt like I was running a multimillion-dollar business.'
Best of all, Corwin said, he was getting valuable experience — not just applicable to McDonald's, but to all companies with inventory management challenges. That kickstarted (and elevated) his thinking about his future goals. 'When you graduate from high school, you don't know exactly what you want to do,' Corwin said. 'But being in a business environment got me thinking, 'I could potentially be a McDonald's franchise owner.''
His coworkers were supportive, especially Ashley Dodd, his location's franchisee. Dodd told Corwin that if he wanted to be a McDonald's franchisee one day, she'd help him get there. With that goal in mind, he started studying business accounting at nearby Georgia Southern University, with help from the McDonald's Archways to Opportunity program.
'We spotted the potential in Jeremy as soon as we met him,' said Dodd. 'Our investment in him has paid off through his countless contributions to McDonald's, and now to the value he's adding to society at large.'
After nearly five happy years at Dodd's organization, Corwin left to pursue an accounting career. After stints at several companies, he landed a job leading a team of certified public accountants at KPMG, one of the 'Big Four' global accounting firms. Not only is he applying the talents he discovered and developed at McDonald's, but he's also saving for his own McDonald's franchise.
'I don't know where my life would be without McDonald's,' Corwin said. 'There aren't a lot of jobs that invest in you right from the get-go. I learned a lot of things people didn't get exposure to at that age. If I'm lucky enough to become a McDonald's franchisee myself one day, I'd love to give that same opportunity to somebody else.'
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