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.

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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.

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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. 

The Center for an Urban Future named Per Scholas as an exemplary training program in New York that supports New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, with his workforce development plan.

“We are going to launch an unprecedented job program to link out-of-work New Yorkers not just with jobs, but with skills and training,” Adams mentioned during his campaign run.  Per Scholas, as a tech workforce training program based in the Bronx and Brooklyn, works with employers to design programs geared to the demands of hiring companies as we plan to train more individuals for a thriving tech career in New York.

Read the full article and feature here.

In a competitive job market with many shifting gears from The Great Resignation, there is more focus on employees to upskill and reskill in their industry to become greater experts in the field. 

When it comes to technology, Per Scholas not only trains our learners to become skilled technologists, but we also offer digital upskilling and reskilling opportunities that support our corporate partners with top-tier candidates for their organizations.

In this article, we will cover what digital upskilling and reskilling is, why it is important in the tech industry, and what courses Per Scholas provides for such skills. Read on to find out how Per Scholas can help you navigate the great resignation and move your career forward. 

What is Digital Upskilling?

Digital upskilling refers to the process of acquiring new digital skills to enhance one’s existing skill set.

For example, if a technologist has basic coding skills, they may want to upskill by learning a new programming language like Python or JavaScript, or they may want to acquire new skills in web development, cloud computing, or data analytics. Digital upskilling can help individuals stay up-to-date with emerging trends and technologies, increase their marketability, and boost their career growth. Per Scholas offers advanced technology courses in cybersecurity and IT Support for learners and alumni.

Upskilling vs Reskilling: What’s the Difference?

Digital upskilling refers to the process of acquiring new digital skills to enhance your current expertise, such as learning a new programming language or mastering a new software tool that builds on your current experience. For example, a marketer might upskill by learning how to use data analytics tools to better understand customer behavior.

On the other hand, reskilling involves learning an entirely new set of skills to switch to a different job or career. For example, a factory worker might need to reskill to become a software developer.

In short, upskilling is about enhancing your current skills, while reskilling is about acquiring new skills for a new job or career.

Why is Digital Upskilling Important in the Tech Industry?

The industry is ever-evolving and simply put; the more you know, the more you grow. From a business perspective, it is alluring to hire individuals who are eager to learn more or have previously done so to further their careers. 

Luckily, Per Scholas prepares our learners for thriving tech careers with these opportunities. 

Per Scholas Digital Upskilling Opportunities

Navigating the Great Resignation with Customized Training

Throughout The Great Resignation, Per Scholas has been able to navigate the new industry challenge and help our enterprise clients through our customized digital upskilling training and reskilling courses. 

Our Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer Damien Howard was recently invited to serve on a panel at The Big Exit Conference and spoke on how Per Scholas is helping companies win the War on Tech Talent:

“We’re all facing a war on talent amid the Great Resignation, so the opportunity is right in front of us to make diverse, equitable, and inclusive hiring decisions that will push business — and bottom lines — forward,” Damien mentioned during his panel discussion. 

Not only are we providing strong tech talent for our partners, but a diverse group of technologists that will bolster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts for corporations. 

The IT industry is struggling with diversity, where only 40% of the IT workforce is diverse today and only 26% is women. There is limited supply and high demand for diverse candidates, which is what Per Scholas has worked to bridge a gap in the workforce.  

A study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) identified diversity as a key driver of innovation, finding that diverse teams produce a minimum of 19% more revenue

A Digital Upskilling Success Story: Maria Patokina

Per Scholas graduate Maria Patokina took advantage of one of our upskilling courses that advanced her coding capabilities. After successfully completing her initial course in March 2021, Maria did not have a job lined up, so she felt it was important for her to continue learning and gain certifications. 

Maria enrolled in the Google IT Automation with Python Alumni training course. “The Python certification helped a lot in several ways,”  she reflected. “Taking this certification course helped me better understand general coding principles and other languages, like Javascript.” 

After completing the course in May 2021, Maria realized that the new certification made her a standout candidate in her job search. She soon began her first tech job as a Software Engineering intern at a leading corporation. 

Maria credits the certification for improving her coding skills and creating a habit of self-studying that she feels is important in the IT field. “I learned a lot in a short period of time with Per Scholas that prepared me with a lot of practical, hands-on experience,” Maria said about her experience.

Start Your Digital Upskilling and Reskilling Journey

With so many different avenues to go down in the tech field, upskilling and reskilling opportunities are pertinent for both companies and employees. 

Per Scholas’ alumni training courses that have been customized for our partners are one way to defeat the Great Resignation we have recently faced in America and a great opportunity for organizations to strengthen their DEI ties.  

Data has shown that 87 – 90% of our learners are people of color and about 30% of that number identify as women, further proving we’re a turnkey solution for enterprises looking to diversify their technology talent immediately – with customized courses and opportunities for our graduates to continue towards success as technologists.  

For more information, visit our upskilling opportunities page.  For questions about diversifying your tech talent pipelines with our incredible talent, set up a discovery meeting to discuss how we can work together and move the needle around diversity, digital transformation, and superior tech talent within your firm.

Per Scholas Greater Boston alumni, Ana Rodriguez, was featured in Insider‘s article showcasing Amazon Web Services (AWS) and how they will train 29 million individuals to be cloud experts.  Per Scholas currently trains individuals to be AWS certified with tuition-free training, just as Ana accomplished.

Ana started the AWS re/Start training and quickly learned it would be challenging, but worth it. “It was very fast-paced for five months, and in five months we had to prepare for the AWS test, which is not an entry-level certification,” she noted.

We are excited to continue to offer our AWS re/Start course to train individuals to be certified cloud practitioners.

TEKsystem’s December issue of their publication Version Next, Now featured Per Scholas’s Executive Vice President of Social Ventures Damien Howard and his powerful commentary making the business case for diversity, he positioned Per Scholas as a go-to resource for building diverse talent pipelines.  “The pandemic has illustrated just how essential inclusion and diversity (I&D) are, and if we don’t continue to focus and call for action in this critical area, we’ll never have an equitable recovery,” Damien stated.

Read the full publication here to learn more about real-world insights and expert perspectives on breakthroughs in technology that are impacting business.

Per Scholas Managing Director Noah Mitchell discussed how Per Scholas Columbus is encouraging equity in the tech field with our tuition-free training and certifications with WBNS. “This is an IT training organization and workforce developer organization. And we’re really about equity and making sure that we are providing people with the opportunity to continue their careers within the IT industry,” said Noah.

In addition to training individuals in tech and professional development, Noah discussed with WBNS how we are partnering with businesses in Columbus for our graduates to start their careers in tech.

Watch the full WBNS video and read more on Noah’s interview here.