Per Scholas Welcomes New Regional Advisory Board Members

Leaders from Technology, Professional Services, E-Commerce, 

Contribute to Transform America’s Tech Workforce

BRONX, N.Y. (February 23, 2021) – Today, leading national tech training nonprofit advancing economic equity Per Scholas welcomed nine new Advisory Board Members in three cities across the U.S. New Advisory Board Members include:

Atlanta, Georgia

• Winford Williams, AVP Technology, Insurance, LexisNexis Risk Solutions

“I’m delighted to welcome Winford to our Per Scholas Atlanta Advisory Board. He joins a passionate and committed group of leaders working diligently to increase opportunity for future technologists right here at home,” said Sherri Sims, Per Scholas Atlanta Managing Director. 

National Capital Region

• Abenaa Addei, Account Director, Google
• Keith Barclay, Worldwide IGF Ecosystems Operation Leader, IBM
• Marialina Bello, Managing Architect, Microsoft
• Felicia Jones, Program Director, designDATA
• Heidi Richards, Managing Director, EY

Per Scholas National Capital Region Managing Director Diane Duff reflected, “Greater Washington, which stretches across Washington, D.C. and outward to suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia – continues to be recognized as one of the most prominent tech hubs on the East Coast, and it’s still growing. I’m very grateful to Abenaa, Keith, Lina, Felicia, and Heidi for contributing their time and talent to support Per Scholas’s mission to increase access and opportunity for technologists across our region.” 

New York, New York

• Erez Barkai, Director of Engineering, Wayfair
• George Okrah, Senior Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, Lazard
• Silva Stewart, Digital Strategy Consultant, Accenture

“Our New York Advisory Board Members play a crucial role in supporting our strategy and growth in New York City,” said Abe Mendez, Per Scholas New York Managing Director. “I’m excited to welcome Erez, George, and Silva to the Per Scholas’s New York Advisory Board and thank them for their commitment to strengthen and diversify the tech sector.” 

To learn more about Per Scholas’s work, our National Board, and regional Advisory Boards, visit PerScholas.org. 

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 17 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 15,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org.

# # #

This month, Voyage Phoenix interviewed Jaclyn Boyes as she discussed her past experience and Per Scholas Phoenix in its inaugural year in the community.  Coming from a background in leadership and nonprofit work, Jaclyn mentioned her past experience was a great foundation for her role as Per Scholas Phoenix’s Managing Director.

“Our goal is to prepare overlooked talent – Black, Brown, and female talent in particular – who are unemployed or underemployed for successful careers that serve as an on-ramp for middle-class, well-paid jobs,” Jaclyn reflected. “The types of jobs that allow people to buy homes and begin to create wealth. The types of jobs that change the trajectory of individuals and families for generations.” 

Building on this inaugural year for Per Scholas Phoenix, Jaclyn plans to diversify the tech industry with our cost-free tech training to grow with the demand for tech jobs in the Southwest community.

To read the full interview with Jaclyn Boyes, click here!

In general, setting goals is an integral part of life. Creating individual goals can help you outline a path to obtaining a long-term vision and provide motivation and guidance throughout the process. Goal-setting is one of the many exercises in which a mentor’s direction can benefit. We gathered a small list of Per Scholas’ mentors’ most essential tips to help you set and accomplish your goals. 

1. Start with small goals.

Get your foot in the door by setting and accomplishing small, achievable goals. These will help you build up the habit of setting and meeting goals without feeling too overwhelming right off the bat. Regularly achieving these small goals can help you gain the momentum, motivation, and confidence you need to make the jump to bigger, more complex goals successfully. 

2. Adopt some behavioral micro-habits.

Like small goals, micro-habits are small, simple tasks that allow you to break down the components of a more prominent goal behavior into tiny, achievable parts. Micro-habits never last longer than 3-5 minutes, but they are mighty! These habits aim to assimilate small, proactive behaviors into your daily life to the point where they become a habit, cumulatively achieving your overall goal. If, for example, your overall goal behavior is to become more organized, you can adopt some quick micro-habits as simple as making your bed in the morning, hanging your jacket up when you get home, rather than throwing it on that chair, planning out your next day the night before, etc. Setting micro-habits can grow the confidence and ability to achieve more necessary life goals and behaviors. Starting small instead of making drastic life changes feels much more achievable and can help you build the consistency that will help you achieve your overall goal behaviors.

3. Set your aim and get started! Remember that your goals may change and grow with you.

Setting goals that will tangibly impact your future can feel stressful and daunting. However, it is essential to understand that your goals will change and evolve with you. This does not mean that you failed to accomplish your original goals. Instead, it means that you learned enough in the process to grow and develop your plans. Coming up with your first set of goals doesn’t have to be an overly arduous process, but it is crucial to have a starting point to work from. Monitoring the growth of your goals over time will allow you to look back on your progress and set the launching pad that you can build from. As Kelsey Briggs, Per Scholas Chicago’s Senior Manager of Business Solutions put it: “as you learn more about yourself and your field, [your goals] may change. But, you can’t see where you’ve come from, where you’re going, or even know if you’re on the right track if you don’t set those first goals.” 

4. Set SMART Goals

The goals you set for yourself must be clear and achievable. Vague, overly-aggressive, or poorly-framed goals are a quick recipe for frustration and disappointment. “SMART goals” is a system designed to help you set the framework for success by crafting goals that are clear, trackable, and carefully planned. The components of SMART stand for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. In a nutshell, you want to ensure that your goals are realistically accomplishable, as clear and specifically-defined as possible, relevant to your overall values and interests and that your progress can be measured in some way and completed within an ideal time frame. Setting up the framework to define and achieve your goals is a foolproof first step in the process of accomplishing your goals. Plan out your goals, follow your plan, and you will set yourself up for success.

5. Be Intentional.

To achieve your goals, you have to be mindful of your actions, time, and effort. Achieving goals is a significant accomplishment, and it can be done by following the plan that has already been set. Remind yourself of the big picture, keep your goals close to you, and don’t forget to check in with yourself to make sure you are following your plan and that you are on the right track to success. It is equally crucial to be kind to yourself when you are not following your plan. Goal-achievement is not always a straight line; if you find you are slipping, remind yourself why you have chosen to follow this path and what the benefits of success will be. Everyone has off days, and it is essential not to let them overwhelm you. If achieving your goals was easy, these tips would not be necessary! Forgive yourself for slipping and identify what specifically caused you to do so. Reassess and make changes to your technique if necessary, recommit yourself to the end goal, and get back on track!

With these tips in mind, you should be ready to start setting and working towards your goals! Remember to be realistic and intentional with the goals you set and to hold yourself accountable for your progress. Everyone has to start somewhere, and even the smallest goals can be an important stepping stone to bigger things. 

New York City Employment and Training Coalition released their 2021 Impact Report showing how they are advancing talent and equity toward a thriving economy.  Per Scholas was featured to show how our Brooklyn Campus and Satellite classroom at Commonpoint Queens is creating innovative training and career advancement opportunities for New Yorkers.

Per Scholas is a member and funder of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) and Per Scholas New York Managing Director Abe Mendez is a Chair of a Board Committee on the Board of Directors.

To read the full impact report, click here.

The new collaboration will help prepare 1,500 diverse learners for high-demand tech careers

New York, N.Y. (February 10, 2022) – Today, national skills training nonprofit Per Scholas announced it will collaborate with Microsoft to expand training opportunities for diverse learners across the U.S. The organizations will provide free technology training, resources, and guidance to 1,500 individuals – in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and other cities – with the goal of helping participants fully prepare for in-demand jobs in cloud computing.

As businesses across the country look to build their digital presence and keep up with changing market needs, the demand for skilled cloud computing professionals continues to rise. New reports suggest that 90 percent of enterprises expect cloud usage to exceed prior plans due to COVID-19, with 92 percent of enterprises now utilizing a multi-cloud strategy. To keep up with these demands, Per Scholas will develop and pilot a new Microsoft Azure training curriculum that provides learners – particularly women and BIPOC individuals who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID – with the opportunity to learn high-demand cloud skills free of charge, leveling the playing field for workers across the country.

“Per Scholas has always understood the value of training individuals for high-growth careers, and our work would not be possible without the support of incredible organizations like Microsoft,” said Caitlyn Brazill, Chief Development Officer at Per Scholas. “Through Microsoft’s skills initiative, we’ll have the opportunity to unlock even more opportunities for individuals who deserve the opportunity to move into life-changing careers, while also supporting employers who are in dire need of qualified cloud talent.”

As part of the collaboration, Per Scholas aims to achieve an 80 percent job attainment rate for its graduates, in part through access to Microsoft’s Career Connector platform, which matches employers in need of tech workers with capable graduate talent, as well as utilizing Per Scholas’s career services and hiring network. Nationally, four in five Per Scholas graduates launch their tech careers within 12 months of graduation, earning on average four times their pre-training wages.

“Per Scholas is holistic, from business development to the Learner Support Team – the team that supports your finances, job coaching, interviewing, all of it. Per Scholas is a one-stop-shop for somebody who wants to make a change,” said Tricia Erby, a 2021 Per Scholas graduate from Atlanta, who is now working as an associate customer service analyst at Sage Software.

“Per Scholas is incredibly proud to expand our work with Microsoft to develop an inclusive, resourceful, and job-ready workforce across U.S. cities, including right here in Atlanta,” said Sherri Sims, Managing Director of Per Scholas Atlanta. “We’ve already witnessed the strong impact that Per Scholas’s training program had in Seattle with our inaugural cohort this summer, and we’re looking forward to continuing this work by empowering diverse learners nationally with life-changing education that will move them into high-growth careers.”

“We need to expand career and economic advancement opportunities for those who have been systematically underserved,” said Naria Santa Lucia, Microsoft General Manager for Digital Inclusion and U.S. Community Engagement. “That’s why we’re collaborating with organizations including Per Scholas to broaden access to computer science education nationwide.”

For more information, and to learn about upcoming Per Scholas courses offered in collaboration with Microsoft, please visit www.PerScholas.org/Microsoft. 

# # #

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 17 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 15,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org.

Diverse by Design, powered by Per Scholas and ITSMF, continues to lead the way, helping  businesses create a workplace that promotes and implements diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) efforts.  This upcoming year, which started with our first event in January, with leadership from Per Scholas Greater Boston, Diverse by Design will keep the momentum going on for DEIB and what it means for businesses.

We kicked off the year with a Greater Boston regional event on January 25.  Mosaic, Not Melting Pot: Fostering True Belonging in the Workplace featured an esteemed panel of local DEIB leaders who explored what true belonging looks like and the relationship between belonging and workforce retention. Moderated by Ladi Olaoye, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant at Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group and President Emeritus of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Boston Professionals Chapter, panelists included Enna Jimenez, Business Transformation & Quality Leader, Senior Director, IDEMIA; Guy Pacitti, Global Leader of Inclusion and Diversity, Pegasystems; and Gene Suzuki, CIO, EverQuote. The event also featured remarks by Diverse by Design Co-Founder Ken Walker and Per Scholas Greater Boston Managing Director Robin Nadeau and an interactive networking opportunity for all guests. 

“Businesses must perform. In order to perform, we need different perspectives; we need diversity in our workforce for us to perform,” reflected Gene Suzuki. “We know the diversity in our organization is what makes us strong – that we can solve problems in ways others haven’t been able to solve.” 

Per Scholas is proud to celebrate the establishment of the Diverse by Design National Advisory Board, with Franklin Reed, Executive Director of Inclusion and Diversity at TEKsystems, presiding as Chair.  We know these national advisors will be instrumental in promoting solutions-driven conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion within tech; producing meaningful content that empowers C-suite leaders to make valuable and socially impactful business decisions; and providing access to sophisticated customized training and talent sourcing solutions to meet companies’ talent demands while transforming the diversity within their own companies. 

You can also expect to hear more from our Diverse by Design podcast as we launch Season Two later in the year. We will continue to share the stories of visionaries who are changing the diversity landscape of tech. To stay connected with Diverse by Design, subscribe to The Diverse by Design Download, featuring DEIB reflections, updates, and tips as you strive to create change within your organization. 

There were many moments and happenings in 2021 which built on Per Scholas’ mission, closing out with our End of Year fundraising campaign which raised more than $4 million to support learners. Per Scholas is proud to have enrolled nearly 3,000 individuals to our cost-free tech training to advance economic equity.  

The past year, we expanded across the nation and opened three new campuses in partnership with TEKsystems!  In February, Per Scholas launched a Full Stack Java Developer course in Pittsburgh, graduating 20 Java Developers in its inaugural cohort.  In May, we expanded our presence to the West Coast and successfully launched our first cohorts in Seattle and Phoenix, bringing our campus count to 17! Full-stack technology service provider TEKsystems fueled these customized training tracks, with initial cohorts also focused on Java Development.  In Phoenix, 19 graduates mastered specific technical skills employers seek in entry and mid-level Java Developers. Seattle also hosted 19 Java Developer graduates. 

We kicked off The Right Career Changes Everything, our End of Year fundraising campaign, to ensure that the right career is accessible to everyone. Shortly after we began our fundraising, Per Scholas was selected as a winner of the 2021 Holiday Impact Prize, presented by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and former New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, and supported by Focusing Philanthropy.  The award also opened up visibility for Per Scholas’ campaign for additional funding.  Donations received through the Holiday Impact Prize will support Per Scholas’s Career Access Fund, which provides learners with everything they need to participate in the tuition-free tech training including laptops, Wi-Fi, textbooks, learning kits, lab supplies, certification exam costs, learner support services, and more. 

In all, we raised more than $4 million in large thanks to a generous match contribution from individuals at Jane Street as well as gifts from 1,200 supporters nationwide. This remarkable result will go directly toward advancing economic equity for our learners.  

Overall, 2021 was a momentous year for Per Scholas with immense growth internally and with our campuses. For over 26 years, we have advanced economic equity through access to technology careers, and our growth and development in 2021 will propel us to continue to do so through 2022, where we plan to train 30 percent more learners and open at least three more campuses. 

Per Scholas North Carolina launched its first cohort in partnership with Wilkes Community College (WCC) with seventeen learners selected from over 100 applicants to study software engineering. Wilkes Community College has partnered with NC Tech Paths to offer Per Scholas’ tech-free training to individuals in North Carolina.  “We see this (NC Tech Paths Inc.) as a game-changer for our students and our region, especially for many local people now with no opportunity for a job with a living wage,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, WCC president.

The inaugural cohort with this software engineering training will graduate in May and the learners will not just have technical and applicable industry skills, but technical experience interacting with employers in orientation, mock interviews, professional development and other ways to make them workforce-ready upon graduation.

To learn more about this partnership, read this article here.

Leaders from Fortune 500, Technology, Financial Services, Contribute to DEIB Efforts 

New York, N.Y. – January 27, 2022 – Today, leading national tech training nonprofit advancing economic equity Per Scholas and ITSMF, the premier leadership development organization for IT professionals, announced the establishment of the Diverse by Design National Advisory Board.

Diverse by Design National Advisory Board Members include:

• Hans Brown, Global Head of Enterprise Innovation, CIO for Corporate, BNY Mellon
• Julie Dillman, Global Head of Operations, Chubb Group, Chubb
• Maria Medrano, Senior Director of Diversity Strategy, Narrative, and Partnerships, Google
• Elaine Norman, Vice President of Membership & External Affairs, ITSMF
• Janet Pope, Vice President of CSR for North America, Capgemini
• Tina Simmons, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Comcast Cable, Comcast NBCUniversal
• Franklin Reed, Executive Director of Inclusion and Diversity, TEKsystems
• Hank Spraggins, Director, Data Engineering & Analytics, Meta Reality Labs

The Diverse by Design National Advisory Board is led by inaugural chair Franklin Reed and Diverse by Design Co-Founders Kenneth Walker and Damien Howard, both senior leaders at Per Scholas.

“My passion for inclusion and diversity is cemented in the idea that we are better, go farther, and can accomplish significantly more to the degree that we are able to leverage our differences and bring our authentic selves to work every day,” said Franklin Reed, executive director of inclusion and diversity at TEKsystems, a global provider of technology, business and talent solutions. “Serving as the chair of the Diverse by Design advisory board aligns with that passion because Diverse by Design calls upon the technology industry to not simply talk about diverse representation but more importantly to act. I’m honored to work alongside a group of passionate, purposeful and bold board members as we work with organizations to challenge the status quo and help solve the challenges that we continue to face as a society.”

Diverse by Design Co-Founder Kenneth Walker reflected, “We are humbled to have such an incredible group of visionaries guide Diverse by Design’s essential work. Each leader brings unparalleled expertise in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in tech and their commitment and insight is tremendously valuable.”

To learn more about Diverse by Design, visit www.DiversebyDesign.org.

###

About Diverse by Design

Diverse by Design, powered by Per Scholas and ITSMF, promotes solutions-driven conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion within tech, produces meaningful content that empowers c-suite leaders to make both valuable and socially impactful business decisions, and provides access to sophisticated customized training and talent sourcing solutions to meet companies’ talent demands while transforming the diversity landscape of their organizations. To learn more, visit diversebydesign.org.

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 17 major metropolitan areas, Per Scholas has trained more than 15,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit perscholas.org.

About ITSMF

Since 1996, Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) has been dedicated to increasing the representation of Black professionals at senior levels in technology, to impact organizational innovation and growth. We do this by developing and nurturing these dynamic leaders through enrichment of the mind, body, and soul. At its inception, only 3% of senior-level positions in the technology industry were held by Blacks. With a half-million new computer-related jobs expected by 2028, ITSMF is committed to increasing the number of qualified Black professionals for these positions. For more information about ITSMF, visit www.itsmfonline.org.

# # #

A career mentor’s role in a student’s life is highly significant. A mentor is someone who guides a learner throughout their journey to break the barriers that might stand in their way to success. 

Per Scholas offers supplemental mentorship to all its learners in addition to their training. Our mentors are career coaches, financial coaches, and instructors, all of whom believe that maintaining an open line of communication with our learners is essential to their success. But how exactly are mentors influencing our learners’ experiences not only during their time at Per Scholas but also after graduating? How are our learners prepared to navigate a job market that grows continuously and becomes more demanding every day? Hear from some of our Per Scholas’ mentors about the benefits, activities, and advice for career success.

How Mentors Help Learners

One of the many ways a career mentor can help our learners is by ensuring that they are equipped with proper knowledge and skills necessary to be marketable in the workforce, as well as enhance confidence in areas that learners might feel incompetent in, and accommodate time outside traditional class to provide a more personal learning experience.

Mentorship can be as broad or as specific as learners need it to be. One way Kelsey Briggs (Senior Manager, Career Solutions, Chicago) provides mentorship is by sharing information about job market opportunities in the area and also offering feedback to learners about their job search materials, networking, and communication skills.

“We guide them through their next career move, salary negotiation, and even when the right time is to move on to a new opportunity.” 

It is also important to remember that the relationship between mentor and mentee, in this case, our learners, is a safe, free of judgment space, and encourages learners to share their personal challenges and create an effective plan of action. “I focus on mentoring my learners with my life expertise and best professional practices. I also hold one on one meetings with my learners, and together we create an effective plan to address them,” shares Jose Jurado (Senior Manager, Career Advancement, New York).

What to do as a Mentor

It is essential to understand what activities learners can participate in with their job mentors during the mentoring process. Our mentors in Boston and Detroit agree that having a set time to connect and check in regularly is fundamental to building a fruitful relationship between mentor and learner. Equally important is to talk openly. Honest feedback is one of the many benefits of mentorship. However, this can only be effective if there is an open communication line between the career mentor and the learner. As Kelsey Briggs explains: “As we get to know each other, we can offer information on how others might perceive us, how we could get ahead, or how we can reach our goals. The mentor/mentee relationship isn’t fixed, either. A strong relationship will have you sometimes offering advice and sometimes receiving it.” 

Other suggested activities include role-playing, which can be beneficial during the interview process when looking for a job, setting reasonable expectations, providing career focus direction, and networking activities. Many other activities can be part of your job mentor’s relationship; these will depend on what you need, what you are looking for, and where you stand in your career at the time.