Bijal Shah, CEO of Guild, has been recently featured on the CNBC Changemakers List—the list of women whose remarkable accomplishments have transformed the business landscape forever. Alongside Jennifer Garner and Paris Hilton, Shah is part of the list of honorees that indicates much about her ability to forge innovation and disrupt industries.
Named as Guild’s CEO in April 2024, Bijal Shah has made an enormous influence shortly. During her tenure, Guild’s employee partnerships increased by 50%. These partnerships, some of which are A-list names such as Team USA, Walmart, and the LA28 Olympic Committee, have enabled access to over six million people to valuable educational resources and career upgrading.
Guild offers a distinctive platform that lets employees of Fortune 500 companies get degrees and certifications to help them ascend the career ladder. It is a program that advocates for human connection and puts education first in career development. This approach is particularly vital for Shah, whose leadership has centered on both personal and professional development of the employees. Her success is not only counted in the number of partnerships she has created, but by the difference these partnerships have made in workers’ lives as well.
Shah’s leadership path at Guild has been anything but conventional. In August 2023, Guild’s founder, Rachel Romer, had a stroke, and Bijal Shah was brought on to run the company during that difficult time. Though sudden, the change became such a groundbreaking point in her career.
“Stepping into the role of Guild’s CEO was a career change I never anticipated,” Bijal Shah said. “It was a moment that tested my ability to adapt, make decisions in uncertainty, and lead with clarity. But more than anything, it proved that companies are not defined by any one leader — they are shaped by the strength of the teams behind them.”
With her at the helm, Guild has not only remained successful but has actually grown at a great pace. In 2024, she reportedly grew the company’s customer base by 50%, as well as deepened its partnerships with market leaders in areas such as manufacturing and healthcare. Today, Guild is worth $4.4 billion, a proof of its accomplishment and the impact Bijal Shah has had on the company.
As CEO, Bijal Shah has heavily focused on changing up Guild’s approach to learning with the use of technologies like AI. In a 2023 CNBC Disruptor 50 conference, Shah discussed how AI can improve learning.
She emphasized that AI’s potential goes far beyond test prep or term papers. “The No. 1 predictor of success in a higher education program is the removal of life barriers,” she noted. She views AI as a very valuable tool that can accompany the learners and provide individualized support and guidance.
Guild’s quick expansion under Shah’s stewardship is not just about numbers. It is about making education available to people who need it the most. As Guild expands, the company remains committed to building opportunities for the frontline staff. Bijal Shah thinks that every individual, irrespective of their background, should get the opportunity to be successful.
“To me, success is not simply about achievements or milestones — it is about ensuring that what I am doing reflects who I am, what I stand for, and what truly matters to me,” Bijal Shah said in a recent interview with CNBC. This philosophy drives her work, and it’s clear that it’s a value she instills in the entire Guild team.
Bijal Shah’s jump from the corporate world at Ibotta and Visa to Guild’s CEO is impressive –- especially as a woman leader. Her story is one of courage, adaptability and that the most important feature of the road to success is assembling teams that can deliver great performance. She is a coach to the women who are looking to be the leaders that make a difference in the world, not only in their job.
As Guild goes on with the mission and continues to challenge the conventional education system, Bijal Shah’s legacy is visible. Her project is changing the trajectory of education and workforce systems proving that with a clear vision and direction the limits of change are limitless. For those who have followed her march, Shah’s inclusion in the CNBC Changemakers List is just another brick in what will ultimately be a more transformative legacy.
Share this article:
