so everyone remembers their first job and mine is a large part of why I’m
and mine is a large part of why I’m
and mine is a large part of why I’m standing in front of you today I can’t
standing in front of you today I can’t
standing in front of you today I can’t really share that story without first
really share that story without first
really share that story without first rewinding to 1986 this is the year that
rewinding to 1986 this is the year that
rewinding to 1986 this is the year that my family and I arrived in the United
my family and I arrived in the United
my family and I arrived in the United States together and in those early years
States together and in those early years
States together and in those early years we were very much learning the ropes of
we were very much learning the ropes of
we were very much learning the ropes of what I ment to be to get to be American
what I ment to be to get to be American
what I ment to be to get to be American as a family this often consisted of me
as a family this often consisted of me
as a family this often consisted of me coming home from school with strange
coming home from school with strange
coming home from school with strange tales I was learning about from other
tales I was learning about from other
tales I was learning about from other American children like larger than life
American children like larger than life
American children like larger than life bunnies that delivered colored eggs to
bunnies that delivered colored eggs to
bunnies that delivered colored eggs to children’s homes once a year or fairies
children’s homes once a year or fairies
children’s homes once a year or fairies that came by to exchange cash for teeth
that came by to exchange cash for teeth
that came by to exchange cash for teeth he’s probably sound like low stakes
he’s probably sound like low stakes
he’s probably sound like low stakes knowledge gaps to you but my
knowledge gaps to you but my
knowledge gaps to you but my seven-year-old self would beg to differ
seven-year-old self would beg to differ
seven-year-old self would beg to differ I was always leaving teeth under my
I was always leaving teeth under my
I was always leaving teeth under my pillow and hopes this fairy would to
pillow and hopes this fairy would to
pillow and hopes this fairy would to find my parents and stop by our house as
find my parents and stop by our house as
find my parents and stop by our house as I got older some of my knowledge gaps
I got older some of my knowledge gaps
I got older some of my knowledge gaps carried more weight like how do you make
carried more weight like how do you make
carried more weight like how do you make decisions about where to go to college
decisions about where to go to college
decisions about where to go to college and what actually goes into a first job
and what actually goes into a first job
and what actually goes into a first job search and I actually remember on the
search and I actually remember on the
search and I actually remember on the very last day of college turning to a
very last day of college turning to a
very last day of college turning to a classmate to ask what are you doing
classmate to ask what are you doing
classmate to ask what are you doing after school and he shared that he was
after school and he shared that he was
after school and he shared that he was going into something called consulting
going into something called consulting
going into something called consulting and that he’d gotten this job nine
and that he’d gotten this job nine
and that he’d gotten this job nine months before I was going home to wait
months before I was going home to wait
months before I was going home to wait tables and figure it out not really
tables and figure it out not really
tables and figure it out not really understanding what went into this whole
understanding what went into this whole
understanding what went into this whole job search thing and honestly why would
job search thing and honestly why would
job search thing and honestly why would I my family had been in this country for
I my family had been in this country for
I my family had been in this country for less than one generation my dad had just
less than one generation my dad had just
less than one generation my dad had just secured white-collar work right around
secured white-collar work right around
secured white-collar work right around the time I was going to high school I
the time I was going to high school I
the time I was going to high school I wasn’t the kind of teenager that was
wasn’t the kind of teenager that was
wasn’t the kind of teenager that was asking my friends families what they did
asking my friends families what they did
asking my friends families what they did for a living and how they got their jobs
for a living and how they got their jobs
for a living and how they got their jobs and honestly I didn’t check my college
and honestly I didn’t check my college
and honestly I didn’t check my college resources it was a blind spot for me I
resources it was a blind spot for me I
resources it was a blind spot for me I can’t even tell you if my college has
can’t even tell you if my college has
can’t even tell you if my college has good career support so I did go home and
good career support so I did go home and
good career support so I did go home and wait tables and I took my tip money and
wait tables and I took my tip money and
wait tables and I took my tip money and I did what I’d always done I figured it
I did what I’d always done I figured it
I did what I’d always done I figured it out I traveled abroad to start what I
out I traveled abroad to start what I
out I traveled abroad to start what I called my adult life I printed my resume
called my adult life I printed my resume
called my adult life I printed my resume on thick glossy paper and I knocked on
on thick glossy paper and I knocked on
on thick glossy paper and I knocked on doors asking about a job I was
doors asking about a job I was
doors asking about a job I was incredibly lucky that this strategy
incredibly lucky that this strategy
incredibly lucky that this strategy worked for me an expat saw something in
worked for me an expat saw something in
worked for me an expat saw something in me on my second day of literally
me on my second day of literally
me on my second day of literally knocking on doors and decided to give me
knocking on doors and decided to give me
knocking on doors and decided to give me a job and launched my career the data
a job and launched my career the data
a job and launched my career the data will tell you that my experience is a
will tell you that my experience is a
will tell you that my experience is a complete fluke LinkedIn did a study this
complete fluke LinkedIn did a study this
complete fluke LinkedIn did a study this summer that says 85% of us are still
summer that says 85% of us are still
summer that says 85% of us are still going to get our jobs through people
going to get our jobs through people
going to get our jobs through people you know that means for the people
you know that means for the people
you know that means for the people sitting in this room and for the general
sitting in this room and for the general
sitting in this room and for the general American workforce you will get your
American workforce you will get your
American workforce you will get your first your second even your tenth job
first your second even your tenth job
first your second even your tenth job through your extended communities now
through your extended communities now
through your extended communities now layer on top of that that most of us
layer on top of that that most of us
layer on top of that that most of us still share community with people who
still share community with people who
still share community with people who share our race our ethnicity our
share our race our ethnicity our
share our race our ethnicity our socioeconomic backgrounds and
socioeconomic backgrounds and
socioeconomic backgrounds and increasingly our political beliefs and
increasingly our political beliefs and
increasingly our political beliefs and it’s no wonder we are struggling to
it’s no wonder we are struggling to
it’s no wonder we are struggling to diversify the American workforce a
diversify the American workforce a
diversify the American workforce a struggle that is unfairly impacting
struggle that is unfairly impacting
struggle that is unfairly impacting black and Latino college graduates right
black and Latino college graduates right
black and Latino college graduates right now in our country a black college
now in our country a black college
now in our country a black college graduate has similar rates of
graduate has similar rates of
graduate has similar rates of unemployment to a white high school
unemployment to a white high school
unemployment to a white high school dropout and if you are a black or Latino
dropout and if you are a black or Latino
dropout and if you are a black or Latino recent college graduate your likelihood
recent college graduate your likelihood
recent college graduate your likelihood of being underemployed far outweighs
of being underemployed far outweighs
of being underemployed far outweighs your white counterparts
your white counterparts
your white counterparts now we could assume this is because
now we could assume this is because
now we could assume this is because there’s some sort of skills gap that
there’s some sort of skills gap that
there’s some sort of skills gap that somehow black and Latino college
somehow black and Latino college
somehow black and Latino college graduates magically appear out of
graduates magically appear out of
graduates magically appear out of college with less skills in their white
college with less skills in their white
college with less skills in their white counterparts
counterparts
counterparts but at basta we don’t believe that’s
but at basta we don’t believe that’s
but at basta we don’t believe that’s true we believe if you can equip young
true we believe if you can equip young
true we believe if you can equip young people to answer two simple questions
people to answer two simple questions
people to answer two simple questions what in the world actually goes into a
what in the world actually goes into a
what in the world actually goes into a job search and who is willing to vouch
job search and who is willing to vouch
job search and who is willing to vouch for me on the other end we can get
for me on the other end we can get
for me on the other end we can get dramatically different outcomes and
dramatically different outcomes and
dramatically different outcomes and we’ve launched basta as an organization
we’ve launched basta as an organization
we’ve launched basta as an organization in order to figure out how to make that
in order to figure out how to make that
in order to figure out how to make that happen across the last 16 months we’ve
happen across the last 16 months we’ve
happen across the last 16 months we’ve run three programs working with 80
run three programs working with 80
run three programs working with 80 first-generation students of color as
first-generation students of color as
first-generation students of color as they transition from college into the
they transition from college into the
they transition from college into the world of work an 88% of our young people
world of work an 88% of our young people
world of work an 88% of our young people are securing career pathway jobs upon
are securing career pathway jobs upon
are securing career pathway jobs upon completing the program
they are defying the odds that we shared
they are defying the odds that we shared with you earlier so why did we choose to
with you earlier so why did we choose to
with you earlier so why did we choose to focus on social capital not the skills
focus on social capital not the skills
focus on social capital not the skills gap well for one I worked as an HR
gap well for one I worked as an HR
gap well for one I worked as an HR talent professional before launching
talent professional before launching
talent professional before launching basta I over the last several years have
basta I over the last several years have
basta I over the last several years have heard countless stories of career
heard countless stories of career
heard countless stories of career journeys and over time a pattern emerged
journeys and over time a pattern emerged
journeys and over time a pattern emerged which is you’ve got two stories on the
which is you’ve got two stories on the
which is you’ve got two stories on the one hand you’ve got people that have
one hand you’ve got people that have
one hand you’ve got people that have really linear career paths with really
really linear career paths with really
really linear career paths with really transparent milestones and contacts the
transparent milestones and contacts the
transparent milestones and contacts the networks shared really easily with them
networks shared really easily with them
networks shared really easily with them on the other hand you have people whose
on the other hand you have people whose
on the other hand you have people whose career paths are much more circuitous
career paths are much more circuitous
career paths are much more circuitous and murky who have lots of detours and
and murky who have lots of detours and
and murky who have lots of detours and experience a few lucky breaks and what
experience a few lucky breaks and what
experience a few lucky breaks and what was really disappointing about that is
was really disappointing about that is
was really disappointing about that is how often those stories fell down along
how often those stories fell down along
how often those stories fell down along lines of race and class so armed with
lines of race and class so armed with
lines of race and class so armed with that I went out and just started asking
that I went out and just started asking
that I went out and just started asking first-generation college graduates who
first-generation college graduates who
first-generation college graduates who are in their early careers what do you
are in their early careers what do you
are in their early careers what do you wish you had had and what do you wish
wish you had had and what do you wish
wish you had had and what do you wish you had known as you were making this
you had known as you were making this
you had known as you were making this transition I coupled that with my own
transition I coupled that with my own
transition I coupled that with my own growing realization about the role that
growing realization about the role that
growing realization about the role that luck played in my early career and we
luck played in my early career and we
luck played in my early career and we used that to build Bastas pilot cohort
used that to build Bastas pilot cohort
used that to build Bastas pilot cohort that’s when we met Louise so Louise came
that’s when we met Louise so Louise came
that’s when we met Louise so Louise came to us as a senior first-generation
to us as a senior first-generation
to us as a senior first-generation college student and in his own words he
college student and in his own words he
college student and in his own words he was entirely lost about the job search
was entirely lost about the job search
was entirely lost about the job search process now why this is amazing is that
process now why this is amazing is that
process now why this is amazing is that he is easily one of the most magnetic
he is easily one of the most magnetic
he is easily one of the most magnetic and charismatic people I’ve ever had a
and charismatic people I’ve ever had a
and charismatic people I’ve ever had a chance to meet and he hadn’t realized
chance to meet and he hadn’t realized
chance to meet and he hadn’t realized that his masterful ability to connect
that his masterful ability to connect
that his masterful ability to connect with others was gonna serve him so well
with others was gonna serve him so well
with others was gonna serve him so well through this process so he enrolled in
through this process so he enrolled in
through this process so he enrolled in our 10-week program we’ll just sort of
our 10-week program we’ll just sort of
our 10-week program we’ll just sort of when you learn the ropes of how you
when you learn the ropes of how you
when you learn the ropes of how you really get a job which is not applying
really get a job which is not applying
really get a job which is not applying to 50 jobs a day online and we connected
to 50 jobs a day online and we connected
to 50 jobs a day online and we connected him with an executive who believes in
him with an executive who believes in
him with an executive who believes in bosses program and helped to open doors
bosses program and helped to open doors
bosses program and helped to open doors for him I’m really excited to share that
for him I’m really excited to share that
for him I’m really excited to share that Lewis is now in a major city between New
Lewis is now in a major city between New
Lewis is now in a major city between New York and DC working as a junior analyst
York and DC working as a junior analyst
York and DC working as a junior analyst at a major financial institution
when we asked Lewis what is the key
when we asked Lewis what is the key learning you’re taking into your career
learning you’re taking into your career
learning you’re taking into your career he had three simple words for us
he had three simple words for us
he had three simple words for us relationships are key what Lewis needed
relationships are key what Lewis needed
relationships are key what Lewis needed from us in that very critical moment in
from us in that very critical moment in
from us in that very critical moment in his life was not someone to come along
his life was not someone to come along
his life was not someone to come along and tell him he needed more Skills what
and tell him he needed more Skills what
and tell him he needed more Skills what he needed was networks and knowledge
he needed was networks and knowledge
he needed was networks and knowledge coupled with his skills that he gained
coupled with his skills that he gained
coupled with his skills that he gained in his life and in college to be able to
in his life and in college to be able to
in his life and in college to be able to help him secure a first job now I’m not
help him secure a first job now I’m not
help him secure a first job now I’m not saying there’s not a role for tech
saying there’s not a role for tech
saying there’s not a role for tech bootcamps and upskilling programs but I
bootcamps and upskilling programs but I
bootcamps and upskilling programs but I also feel that the immediate results
also feel that the immediate results
also feel that the immediate results we’ve seen in our programs across the
we’ve seen in our programs across the
we’ve seen in our programs across the last 16 months really build a compelling
last 16 months really build a compelling
last 16 months really build a compelling case that we need to think about this
case that we need to think about this
case that we need to think about this employment gap problem as more more
employment gap problem as more more
employment gap problem as more more broadly than it’s just skills so we have
broadly than it’s just skills so we have
broadly than it’s just skills so we have solutions that can meet the nuance needs
solutions that can meet the nuance needs
solutions that can meet the nuance needs for all the students that are trying to
for all the students that are trying to
for all the students that are trying to transition into their first job because
transition into their first job because
transition into their first job because basta grads aren’t just getting first
basta grads aren’t just getting first
basta grads aren’t just getting first jobs they are getting them faster than
jobs they are getting them faster than
jobs they are getting them faster than their peers across the country the
their peers across the country the
their peers across the country the average basta fellow is securing a job
average basta fellow is securing a job
average basta fellow is securing a job within three months the national average
within three months the national average
within three months the national average for students securing great first jobs
for students securing great first jobs
for students securing great first jobs right now hovers around five months and
right now hovers around five months and
right now hovers around five months and I’ll tell you secret we’re not doing
I’ll tell you secret we’re not doing
I’ll tell you secret we’re not doing something particularly special around
something particularly special around
something particularly special around selection we have two questions on our
selection we have two questions on our
selection we have two questions on our application
application
application are you a first-generation college
are you a first-generation college
are you a first-generation college student and do you identify as a person
student and do you identify as a person
student and do you identify as a person of color
of color
of color we don’t have internship prerequisites
we don’t have internship prerequisites
we don’t have internship prerequisites we don’t have GPA cut-offs and we don’t
we don’t have GPA cut-offs and we don’t
we don’t have GPA cut-offs and we don’t source from the prestigious colleges and
source from the prestigious colleges and
source from the prestigious colleges and universities because we believe those
universities because we believe those
universities because we believe those proxies are incomplete determinants of
proxies are incomplete determinants of
proxies are incomplete determinants of whether someone’s going to be successful
whether someone’s going to be successful
whether someone’s going to be successful in the first job and they’ve contributed
in the first job and they’ve contributed
in the first job and they’ve contributed to the current challenges we’re facing
to the current challenges we’re facing
to the current challenges we’re facing across our country right now so when we
across our country right now so when we
across our country right now so when we think about social capital what’s really
think about social capital what’s really
think about social capital what’s really astounding about it is how invisible it
astounding about it is how invisible it
astounding about it is how invisible it can feel both to those who have it and
can feel both to those who have it and
can feel both to those who have it and also those who don’t and we spend a lot
also those who don’t and we spend a lot
also those who don’t and we spend a lot of time figuring out how to build social
of time figuring out how to build social
of time figuring out how to build social capital into our program model so in our
capital into our program model so in our
capital into our program model so in our group sessions that can look like our
group sessions that can look like our
group sessions that can look like our strengths spotting session where young
strengths spotting session where young
strengths spotting session where young people dive into all the successes that
people dive into all the successes that
people dive into all the successes that they’ve already had and think about how
they’ve already had and think about how
they’ve already had and think about how those mapped to strengthen then how
those mapped to strengthen then how
those mapped to strengthen then how those strengths map to a professional
those strengths map to a professional
those strengths map to a professional job we’ve worked through real-life
job we’ve worked through real-life
job we’ve worked through real-life scenario
scenario
scenario about what it’s gonna feel like to
about what it’s gonna feel like to
about what it’s gonna feel like to navigate dominant culture how are you
navigate dominant culture how are you
navigate dominant culture how are you going to navigate these complex
going to navigate these complex
going to navigate these complex environments you’re going into and
environments you’re going into and
environments you’re going into and remain true to yourself and what you
remain true to yourself and what you
remain true to yourself and what you need in that moment one-on-one we share
need in that moment one-on-one we share
need in that moment one-on-one we share our networks as generously as we share
our networks as generously as we share
our networks as generously as we share our advice so we’re sending unsolicited
our advice so we’re sending unsolicited
our advice so we’re sending unsolicited referrals and recommendations for people
referrals and recommendations for people
referrals and recommendations for people in our program so we’re asking our
in our program so we’re asking our
in our program so we’re asking our supporters and advocates to do the same
supporters and advocates to do the same
supporters and advocates to do the same just as you would for a gym buddies kid
just as you would for a gym buddies kid
just as you would for a gym buddies kid or neighbors kids we are you know
or neighbors kids we are you know
or neighbors kids we are you know reviewing thank-you notes at 10 p.m. or
reviewing thank-you notes at 10 p.m. or
reviewing thank-you notes at 10 p.m. or coaching someone through a salary
coaching someone through a salary
coaching someone through a salary negotiation the kinds of support some
negotiation the kinds of support some
negotiation the kinds of support some people just have built into their lives
people just have built into their lives
people just have built into their lives and we’re spending a lot of time naming
and we’re spending a lot of time naming
and we’re spending a lot of time naming and normalizing social capital the
and normalizing social capital the
and normalizing social capital the reason is we want young people to
reason is we want young people to
reason is we want young people to recognize when they need it and ask for
recognize when they need it and ask for
recognize when they need it and ask for help and we also want them to recognize
help and we also want them to recognize
help and we also want them to recognize they can just share this with their
they can just share this with their
they can just share this with their peers Eileen was a graduate of our store
peers Eileen was a graduate of our store
peers Eileen was a graduate of our store a fellow in our second cohort and when
a fellow in our second cohort and when
a fellow in our second cohort and when she got her first job she dialed into
she got her first job she dialed into
she got her first job she dialed into our office hours to share the great news
our office hours to share the great news
our office hours to share the great news with us we love a good job offer story
with us we love a good job offer story
with us we love a good job offer story in love when they when they share them
in love when they when they share them
in love when they when they share them and what a lien I leaned actually shared
and what a lien I leaned actually shared
and what a lien I leaned actually shared was yes she was thankful for the
was yes she was thankful for the
was yes she was thankful for the networks and the access that she’d
networks and the access that she’d
networks and the access that she’d gotten through basta but what she was
gotten through basta but what she was
gotten through basta but what she was really thankful for were the tools she
really thankful for were the tools she
really thankful for were the tools she felt like she now had the tools to guide
felt like she now had the tools to guide
felt like she now had the tools to guide her little sister when it was her turn
her little sister when it was her turn
her little sister when it was her turn this was a really profound moment for us
this was a really profound moment for us
this was a really profound moment for us as you can imagine this unprompted aha
as you can imagine this unprompted aha
as you can imagine this unprompted aha demonstrates the beauty about social
demonstrates the beauty about social
demonstrates the beauty about social capital once you realize that you have
capital once you realize that you have
capital once you realize that you have it and you can share it you lose nothing
it and you can share it you lose nothing
it and you can share it you lose nothing social capital is truly a currency with
social capital is truly a currency with
social capital is truly a currency with a multiplier effect and that for me is
a multiplier effect and that for me is
a multiplier effect and that for me is the most compelling or interesting thing
the most compelling or interesting thing
the most compelling or interesting thing that I can leave in this room or to the
that I can leave in this room or to the
that I can leave in this room or to the people watching on the livestream each
people watching on the livestream each
people watching on the livestream each one of us has a role to play in this
one of us has a role to play in this
one of us has a role to play in this it’s just if you decide if you want to
it’s just if you decide if you want to
it’s just if you decide if you want to use your role or not and you don’t have
use your role or not and you don’t have
use your role or not and you don’t have to wait for someone to come knock on
to wait for someone to come knock on
to wait for someone to come knock on your door it’s about getting curious
your door it’s about getting curious
your door it’s about getting curious going out and learning the stories of
going out and learning the stories of
going out and learning the stories of young people you may not have interacted
young people you may not have interacted
young people you may not have interacted with otherwise learning their incredible
with otherwise learning their incredible
with otherwise learning their incredible stories sharing your relevant advice
stories sharing your relevant advice
stories sharing your relevant advice when it’s necessary but then ultimately
when it’s necessary but then ultimately
when it’s necessary but then ultimately either being or
either being or
either being or making a connection that can be
making a connection that can be
making a connection that can be life-altering and changed someone’s
life-altering and changed someone’s
life-altering and changed someone’s career trajectory thank you
career trajectory thank you
career trajectory thank you [Applause]
”
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