The present disclosure provides a method of generating progenitor cells, such as hematopoietic or neural progenitor cells, from fibroblasts, such as dermal fibroblasts, comprising providing fibroblasts that express or are treated with a POU domain containing gene or protein and culturing the cells under conditions that allow production of progenitor cells, without traversing the pluripotent state. Also provided is a method of isolating a subpopulation of fibroblasts with reprogramming potential comprising providing fibroblasts that express an Oct-4-reporter and isolating cells that are positive for the reporter. Further provided is a method of generating reprogrammed fibroblast-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. Also provided are uses and assays of the cells produced by the methods of the disclosure.