Kelly Peeler, 2013 Kauffman Foundation Global Scholar and Founder of NextGenVest
When the Kauffman Foundation launched the Global Scholars Program in 2006, their aim was to teach and inspire recent college graduates who want to build innovative, world-changing businesses. Entering its seventh year in 2013, the program has hosted students sponsored by governments and organizations from eight countries representing at least 14 nationalities. The Global Scholars Program offers high quality education in entrepreneurship and features presentations, seminars, workshops, and discussions with leading professors, researchers, and entrepreneurs from around the U.S. During the program, Scholars have the opportunity to shadow executive leaders and immerse themselves in the day-to-day operations of an innovative firm such as Google, Cisco, InVivo Therapeutics, and InCube Ventures. Through this they learn first-hand about the challenges of launching a new, innovative enterprise. The benefits provided by the Kauffman Foundation include the costs of participation in the program, program-related lodging and travel expenses for the six month duration of the program, and a small living stipend.
Kelly Peeler, a 2010 Harvard University graduate, was the ideal candidate: her aim is to build a business that helps make investing more accessible, social and cost efficient to young people, as only 14 states currently require any type of financial education. We caught up with Kelly to learn more about this extraordinary program.
1. What inspired you to apply for the Kauffman Global Scholars Program?
I was inspired to create NextGenVest, a financial education, experience, and progress-tracking platform for young adults because I had not had any type of financial literacy training through high school or in college. It was only when I became an investor within J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank that I learned how to invest and understand the need to proactively manage personal finances at any income level. I myself procrastinated learning about all topics associated with personal finance, including credit, budgeting, investing, etc. and started to realize that all of my friends and peers did as well. These are vital skills that every person really must understand and have control over, especially in a post-financial crisis era.
2. What is a typical day like for a Kauffman Global Scholar?
The Kauffman Foundation is one of the largest Foundations globally that is focused on promoting entrepreneurship and education. The Foundation hosts programs and publishes extensive research to foster discussion and action around entrepreneurship. The Kauffman Global Scholars Program is a sixth month intensive program for 13 founders from around the world to help them effectively launch their companies. Kauffman Scholars work with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, professors, and industry professionals to learn, develop their product, and hone growth strategies in different cities including Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Kansas City.
It was attractive for me in that it allowed me to learn from a group of international entrepreneurs, do customer development and test my product in different cities across the U.S. It also gave me the opportunity to better understand the core problem I am solving.
3. What tips would you give others applying to the Kauffman Global Scholars Program?
Any student applying to the Kauffman Global Scholars Program should have a clear understanding of why they want to build the company they want to build. They don’t have to have all the answers about how the product or service will look, but they should understand the problem they are trying to solve. Everyone who goes through the program changes their product over time based on the feedback of their users. The applicant needs to be willing to go out and ask users lots of questions, receive criticism, and adapt – quickly. The interview is about proving your ability to formulate and execute ideas. Be flexible and honest about the challenges you have faced so far in starting your own company or venture, they know everyone has them!
As a Kauffman Foundation Global Scholar, Kelly Peeler is building a company focused on making personal finances easier for young adults. She is currently piloting NextGenVest with schools and parents. If you believe you could have been more prepared to manage your own finances, let Kelly know! Contact her at: Kelly at nextgenvest.com
Kelly is also the Executive Director of Business Across Borders. Previously, she worked at J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank as an investor covering financial sponsors, venture capital principals, and strategic clients to the firm. Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in history and economics from Harvard University.
© Victoria Johnson 2013, all rights reserved.
Stephanie Kozofsky, 2011-13 Jeannette K. Watson Fellow
I recently met Stephanie Kozofsky, a Pace University student studying in Manhattan, who is participating in a unique, competitive summer fellowship program called the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship. The Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship provides internships, mentoring, and enriched educational opportunities to promising New York City undergraduates with the goal of increasing their life choices and developing their capacity to make a difference in their own and others’ lives. Each year 15 students are chosen for the fellowship and provided a variety of paid 10-week internships in the nonprofit, government and private sectors for three consecutive summers. Fellows also convene regularly with their peers to discuss their internship experiences and talk about important issues with distinguished New Yorkers. Excited to learn more, we asked Stephanie about her fellowship experience thus far.
1. What inspired you to apply to the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship and what did you do during the course of the fellowship?
I was inspired to apply for the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship because of the amazing opportunities it offered. I loved the idea of three summers of meaningful internships. The fact that the third summer was going to be in an international setting was the icing on the cake!
I never realized how much I would gain from the fellowship. During the course of the fellowship so far, I have had two amazing internships. Fellows spend the first summer in a nonprofit institution. My internship was at the New York Historical Society in the Education Department. I had the opportunity to co-facilitate the high school internship program, which was a huge learning process for me. Fellows typically spend the second summer at a governmental or private sector entity. I was employed by Hughes Hubbard & Reed law firm, working with their pro bono Criminal Trial Program. While interning there, I helped prepare litigation members for court appearances. I also did legal research and gathered information for new cases on the rise. This summer will be my third and final summer with the fellowship. I will be interning in Berlin, Germany at the International Summer University of Freie Universität Berlin.
2. What are the biggest advantages of participating in the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship?
The biggest advantages of participating in the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship are hard to explain because there are so many! The main advantage is the supplemental program to the internship program. Throughout the summer, fellows participate in weekly speaker seminars to hear stories and advice from industry professionals. There are also weekly cultural events, to help the fellows bond with one another and learn more about the five boroughs that make up New York City.
3. What tips would you give other applying and interviewing for the fellowship?
For those applying to and interviewing for the fellowship, I would say be yourself! Each year, the Watson committee looks for a diverse group of innovative thinkers to make up the fellowship class. They are always looking for people who can think on their feet, have goals and dreams, and are passionate about social change.
Also the Watson committee believes that people should go outside their “comfort zone” and have the courage to put themselves in situations where they may be uncomfortable, in order to grow. Don’t let this topic intimidate you. Demonstrate your perseverance and willing to participate in such activities by describing a situation where your values were challenged or when you were in a situation that you had never experienced before. The application process itself is a new and challenging situation, so I would certainly encourage you to apply!
Stephanie Kozofsky is a senior at Pace University studying English Literature and Criminal Justice. She is originally from Hampton Bays, New York. She is actively involved in her school’s Student Government and she works as a Resident Advisor. She also teaches action civics two mornings a week through Generation Citizen. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and seeking out New York’s hidden gems. She is currently in her final year of the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship.
© Victoria Johnson 2013, all rights reserved.
Abrash Pervaiz, 2010-12 Fulbright Scholar to the U.S. from Pakistan
Photo taken by Azer Aliyev
Abrash Pervaiz carries himself with a rare humility that is refreshing in the increasingly competitive world of fellowships. We were impressed by Abrash’s accomplishment in securing a prestigious Fulbright study grant to pursue a Master of Science in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University. Before coming to Stanford University in California, Abrash worked as a Graduate Trainee Engineer in Instrumentation and Control at chemical and gas firms in Pakistan. Since completing his Master’s at Stanford in 2012, his career path shifted, and he returned to Pakistan to work as Business Development Executive for VeriQual, a software company that specializes in providing web and mobile development services to startups and companies across the globe. We sat down with Abrash to ask him more about his Fulbright experience and his tips for foreign students aspiring to win a Fulbright grant to the U.S.
1. What inspired you to apply to a Fulbright in the U.S. and why did you choose Stanford University?
I did my B.E. in Electronic Engineering from NED University in Pakistan, and had worked for different companies in Pakistan as an engineer after graduating from there. The companies I worked with include Digitek Engineering (a tech startup), Engro (a Pakistani conglomerate) and Eni (an Italian Oil & Gas Company with gas fields in Pakistan). During my stints with those companies, I felt it was necessary to gain some management knowledge in order to fast- track my career and be able to make a bigger impact. I am fortunate to have an uncle who is a Fulbright alumnus himself and a personal mentor. He had just returned to Pakistan after completing his Fulbright program and encouraged me to apply for it too as he thought I had always been good in academia and had similar interests to him: gaining management knowledge that makes use of my engineering background. The Fulbright program for Pakistan is fully-funded, so obviously that is a big incentive as well. So, I was basically following in my uncle’s footsteps in order to gain an advanced degree in “Engineering Management”, or a similar field.
I then started putting together my application for the Fulbright program and did online research to find the best engineering management programs that are offered in the United States, since Fulbright is a US-based scholarship. I came across Stanford’s Management Science and Engineering program during my research, which was (and still is) the perfect program for engineers like me who are looking to gain managerial skills and knowledge with a technology focus. I knew it was a very competitive program, but I decided to give it a shot anyway and included Stanford’s name along with three others in my college preferences’ list as part of my Fulbright application. I was not sure whether I was going to be able to gain admission into Stanford, so I was obviously overjoyed when I was emailed their acceptance letter!
2. How has the Fulbright experience impacted your career?
If I were to describe my Fulbright experience in two words, I would say it has been ‘life-changing’. I definitely feel a better person and professional after going through that experience.
This was the first time I actually traveled outside of Pakistan to experience a new country and culture, to live in an area that is the technology and innovation hub of the world. Before stepping out of Pakistan, I had no international friends. By the end of my one-and-a-half year program, I had made countless friends from all across the globe! I cherish these relationships as each one of my friends is inspiring in his or her own way – they are all smart, empathic and friendly, and I learned a lot from them during the time I spent in the United States.
While at Stanford University, Abrash made a point to travel. A photo of Abrash at the Grand Canyon.
Studying at Stanford University on a Fulbright scholarship has given me a global perspective on many issues. I have returned to Pakistan after completing my program and am currently working at a software development company as their Business Development Executive, where my main responsibility is to assist in the expansion of our company’s international client-base. The Fulbright experience has given me the confidence to interact with people from different cultures and I definitely use the ‘soft’ knowledge gained from that experience while managing and building relationships with our clients. Working in the software services industry also allows me to stay in touch with the global entrepreneurship scene, which is great as I hope to start my own venture in a few years. I am currently exploring the Pakistani landscape to see where I can make the best impact. The knowledge and skills that I gained at Stanford (the world’s entrepreneurship hub) while on Fulbright is obviously a big help in that regard as they have brought structure to my thought process.
3. What tips would you give other international students applying for a Fulbright fellowship?
The Fulbright Program is very extensive internationally and the deadlines, requirements and conditions vary from country to country. So my first tip to prospective applicants would be to research their respective country’s local Fulbright programs by visiting IIE’s Fulbright website at http://www.iie.org/fulbright. The next step is to get in touch with local country representatives that give out information to aspiring applicants about the scholarships. In the case of Pakistan, the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) is the best source to connect with advisers that help prospective scholarship applicants with any queries. My advice would be to find similar organizations in your local country and in case they do not exist, you should reach out to your local Fulbright representatives for application guidance and any questions.
Like any fellowship, the Fulbright program is competitive and the whole process is fairly rigorous. So prospective applicants should demonstrate, in their applications and interviews, their passion for the field they are looking to gain further knowledge in. Many students in Pakistan think that you need to have excellent academic credentials in order to be eligible for the Fulbright program, which is not true. Your academics definitely are a factor, but in my view the Fulbright committee is more concerned about how passionate you are about your work.
In addition, since Fulbright is a cultural exchange program whose aim is to improve people-to-people networks, any prospective applicants should have a pitch ready about how they will share their local country’s cultures with people from the United States. I personally felt that the Fulbright committee liked those candidates whose pitches were generally optimistic about their own country’s future and culture. For instance, in the case of Pakistan, my pitch included my belief that the portrayal that you see in the media generally gives a negative outlook about Pakistan and its people. True, Pakistan indeed has a lot of problems, but it also has a vibrant culture, diverse people and amazing stories, all of which usually get lost beneath the negative news emanating out of the country. So for applicants who are applying out of developing countries like I did, it always helps if you are truly passionate about representing your own country’s culture to the people living in United States and are able to display that passion during the interview process. This pitch should also include information about how you would use the knowledge and skills gained from your Fulbright experience to make an impact in your own country, since all Fulbright scholars are required to return to their respective countries. These requirements can vary from country to country; for Pakistan, you have to return immediately after the completion of your program.
In my view, if any applicant can demonstrate passion, self-drive, cultural awareness and willingness to come back and contribute to his or her country’s progress – it makes for a strong case!
Abrash Pervaiz earned his BE in Electronic Engineering at NED University of Engineering & Technology in Karachi, Pakistan, and an MS in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University. During his Fulbright fellowship at Stanford, he interned at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. He is now a Business Development Executive at VeriQual, a software company based in the UK, with development centers in Pakistan. He is fluent in English, Urdu and Sindhi.
Scott Burns, 2007-2008 Alfa Fellow
Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Scott Burns, a successful finance professional turned startup entrepreneur, and former Alfa Fellow. Scott took his first steps toward his Alfa Fellowship immersion when he joined the US Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. There he managed a local NGO and taught economics at a regional university. Afterwards, he assumed leadership roles in organizations providing infrastructure and financial advisory services in emerging markets. Scott is grateful for the opportunities the Alfa Fellowship offered him.
The Alfa Fellowship Program facilitates work placements for accomplished young professionals from the U.S. and Britain in work assignments at leading organizations in Russia in the fields of business, economics, journalism, law, public policy and related areas. As part of his fellowship Scott arranged a role with Alfa Capital Partners (ACP), a Russian private equity and real estate investment advisory firm. As an investment manager in Moscow, Scott deployed commitments from a $160 million private equity fund and contributed on the boards of several Eastern European logistics providers. More recently he built an emerging markets-focused business line within a major European energy consulting firm (part of the $2bn revenue DNV group).
We asked Scott more about his path to the Alfa Fellowship and how that experience shaped his career.
1. What inspired you to apply to the Alfa Fellowship?
Before applying, I had spent some time in the Former Soviet Union and was fascinated by the region. While in graduate school, a friend shared an Alfa Fellowship Program (AFP) description with me during a phone conversation. I was struck by the way the program aligned with my professional interests. I hoped to build my understanding of Russia and Russian language, while learning more, in particular, about local infrastructure finance. The AFP offered an ideal platform for exploring these themes and directly experiencing Russian life, society, and commerce.
2. How has the experience impacted your career path and interests?
Scott at Tsoi Wall in Moscow
On being selected for the program, I was able to find professional placement in an investment advisory group, AlfaCapital Partners (ACP), managing a fund focused on transport infrastructure in Eastern Europe. I enjoyed my experience there. After the program, I stayed on full-time with ACP for several years. The entire period had a significant impact on my professional development. Through my work, I gained valuable perspective on building and managing companies, transaction structuring and investment analysis. The experience was particularly unique for the immersion it offered in emerging market commercial environments, through which I gained a much clearer understanding of their associated risks and opportunities.
3. What advice would you give to others applying to the Alfa Fellowship?
Prospective fellows should focus on understanding exactly what they would like to get out of the program. The AFP does a great job of facilitating learning opportunities, but participants need to be diligent about taking advantage of these opportunities. If you don’t have a clear idea of the specific field you’d like to explore within the Russian context or lack strong reasons for your specific interests, you may not get the most out of participation.
Also, when exploring potential professional interests prior to application, I would suggest that a prospective fellow try to speak to current or former fellows with similar work experience. They may be able to offer a lot of insight not available through general background research. Their guidance may help the applicant make a better choice regarding the professional fields he/she chooses to explore.
Scott is now based in California, launching a company that uses technology to make sophisticated money management tools accessible for mainstream America. He is a CFA charterholder with a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Whitman College, and a master’s degree in International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Scott currently serves as Vice President of the Alfa Fellowship Alumni Program.
© Victoria Johnson 2013, all rights reserved.
Contributed by ProInspire
The Program: At ProInspire, we are dedicated to building the next generation of nonprofit leaders who will change the world. We are currently recruiting top professionals with 2-5 years of business experience to be a part of our flagship program, the ProInspire Fellowship. This highly competitive program offers targeted positions with leading nonprofits, monthly trainings with a cohort of peers, a coach, and a network to support career growth. Fellows spend one year working in an analytical, operational, marketing or strategic role at a nonprofit organization.
Eligibility: ProInspire conducts a rigorous selection process based on the selection criteria and needs of hiring organizations. Successful candidates will have:
- A minimum of two years of business experience by August 2013
- Passion for using their business skills to have a positive impact on society
- Humility and eagerness to learn
- Demonstrated initiative, self-direction and a “can-do” attitude
- Adaptability in ambiguous situations and demonstrated ability to learn quickly
- Strong analytical, problem solving, and project management skills
- Willingness to live in the Washington D.C. or the San Francisco Bay Area area for the program
Fellowship Benefits: Fellows participate in orientation, a mandatory Fellows retreat, monthly workshops, coaching, and leadership development projects. Fellows also receive career/graduate school support. After the program, Fellows stay in the social sector, find other career opportunities, or attend graduate school. Annual compensation of $45,000 and health benefits are provided by the hiring organization.
Application Deadline: Candidates applying for April start dates should submit their application through our website by Friday, February 1, 2013. Candidates applying for August start dates should submit their application by Friday, March 1, 2013 for priority consideration. Learn more about our program by joining one of our information calls and apply online.
Meghan Leinbach, 2011 Fellow of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX)
Through word of mouth, Meghan Leinbach discovered an extraordinary way to study and work abroad the year after her graduation from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2011, Meghan was a part of cohort of 75 Americans and 75 Germans who participated the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX), a fellowship funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Congress, that annually provides young professionals the opportunity to spend one year in each others’ countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program. Cultural Vistas, a non-profit organization headquartered in New York, has administered CBYX for Young Professionals for over 29 years, together with its German partner organization, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Cooperation). The fellowship program is broken into three phases. American fellows spend the first eight weeks studying German at the Carl Duisberg Centrum (CDC) language school in one of three locations: Cologne, Radolfzell, or Saarbrücken. Following completion of the language school phase, participants relocate to their permanent placement in Germany. During the following “study phase”, most fellows study at a German university to gain an understanding of the higher education system with regard to their career field, and they also seek out volunteer work. During the final “internship phase”, fellows apply to and secure an internship position in their locality. The fellowship includes round-trip airfare, tuition, housing and a monthly stipend. Intrigued by this incredible opportunity, we asked Meghan about her experience in CBYX.
1. What inspired you to apply for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX)?
Keeping my German heritage alive is what motivates me to continue studying German culture and language. I knew I would always regret it if I did not become fluent in German, so while attending the University of Pittsburgh I majored in German and History of Art & Architecture. During my final year at Pitt, I was looking for an opportunity to continue to improve my German, as well as my professional aspirations. My landlord Peter was an alumnus of the CBYX program and he knew I was a German major, so he recommended I apply for the 2011-2012 year. After researching CBYX for myself, I found the program to be very appealing because it encouraged applicants from all education backgrounds and professional fields to participate. The format of the program was also a huge draw for me: it includes two months of intensive language classes followed by four months of study at a German university and a five month internship. The structure allowed for so much interaction with the German language, I knew I would be confident in speaking German after a year. I also knew I wanted to go to Germany, experience the German culture and gain more professional experience, so I took Peter’s advice and applied.
2. Where did you intern and how did you find your internship?
The CBYX program placed me in Berlin, where I lived with a German family for a few months. My career objective was to work for a cultural institution or museum and to share my passion for art, language and history with others, so the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation) was the largest and best place to do this. After applying for an internship online to the SPK, my host mother helped me by writing to a contact she had there, who then recommended me for a position in the Publications and Merchandising department of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (National Museums of Berlin).
The Publications and Merchandising department was a small team of people who coordinated the author contracts and the distribution of the exhibition catalogues and museum merchandise. As an intern, I helped by preparing contracts, planning, coordinating, copy-editing and producing posters, postcards and other merchandise. I also acted as liaison and translator for international communication. While I enjoyed working with my colleagues and working for such an esteemed cultural institution, I found that perhaps an office environment is not the right place for me and that I might be better suited for a more hands-on job. I am so grateful for the experience I had at my internship, because without it, I might not have learned this about myself.
3. What tips would you give others applying to the CBYX fellowship?
Even though the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals program accepts applicants from every vocation, there does exist a common thread in those who are accepted: career goals and a genuine interest in Germany. Emphasize your passion for both and your application will stand out. I would also tell applicants to show flexibility, since the program will place you anywhere in Germany.
Born and raised in the heart of Amish country, Meghan Leinbach lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where she is currently saving up for her many ambitions. A 2011 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Meghan holds a B.A. in German and History of Art & Architecture. As fervent lover of the humanities, she enjoys watercolor painting and hopes to work with and inspire youth in the future.
© Victoria Johnson 2013, all rights reserved.
For MBA and MPA students interested in pursuing a career in energy efficiency, management or environmental sustainability, the Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) Climate Corps Fellows Program is an excellent way to jump start your career. Recently included in our Top 10 Summer Fellowships of 2013, the EDF Climate Corps Fellowship trains and places MBA and MPA students in leading companies, cities and universities to build business cases for energy efficiency. Since 2008, three hundred Climate Corps Fellows have developed case studies for dozens of high growth companies, including adidas, Bloomberg and Facebook, and have identified more than $1.2 billion in net operational cost savings while cutting 1.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity use. The full list of companies and case studies is available here.
As impressive as the environmental gains identified by Fellows are the career paths of the Fellows. A recent article published by EDF Climate Corps titled EDF Climate Corps Fellow Today, Director of Sustainability Tomorrow provides a window into these careers. After their fellowships, some Fellows have gone on to forge careers at the companies where they performed their fellowships; others now work at leading startups, non-profits, local and state governments, and even the White House. For example, Emily Applegate (2011, Gaylord Entertainment) is now the Director of Sustainability at Energy Source Partners; Elizabeth Turnbull (2010, adidas Group) is now Sr. Manager of Environmental Affairs at adidas Group; Tom Fisher (2010, Staples) is now a Sustainability Analyst at Salesforce.com; and Anne Marie Pippin (2010, Bank of America) is now a Climate Change Adaptation Analyst at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
The organizations that host EDF Climate Corps Fellows also reap the benefits of this program:
“Our fellow had the ability to introduce us to some of the tools available to us that we weren’t aware of – tools that help us think about how we go about our work, how we think about energy and reducing energy usage for our restaurants.”
- Jerry Sus, Senior Director of Development & Strategic Technology, McDonald’s
Applications for the 2013 EDF Climate Corps Fellowship are currently open. The program is 10-12 weeks in length. Fellows receive a minimum salary of $1,250 per week and $2,500 for travel expenses. The application deadline for the 2013 summer fellowship is January 11, 2013. Click here to apply.
Crystal Moore, 2010-11 ProInspire Fellow
Crystal Moore knows her professional strengths and has used them to build a fulfilling career straddling both the private and public sector. After spending several years working for Accenture and gaining skills in corporate finance and analytics, Crystal considered pursuing another passion – education. In 2010, she applied to and won a spot in the prestigious ProInspire Fellowship Program. ProInspire provides the opportunity for outstanding business professionals to spend one year working in a strategic or analytical role at a nonprofit or public sector organization in Washington, D.C. The program also offers Fellows a coach, monthly training workshops, and a professional network to support career growth. As a ProInspire Fellow, Crystal worked for DC Public Schools, and is now completing her MBA. After graduation she plans to work for the Boston-based Parthenon Group, which provides strategy advising to the education sector. Crystal has definitely found her niche. We spoke with her to learn more about her interesting career path.
1. What inspired you to apply to the ProInspire Fellowship?
My desire to apply for the ProInspire Fellowship Program began through my involvement with College Summit as a College Counselor, and through Accenture’s Corporate Citizenship Program with KIPP Charter School in DC. I saw how the academic achievement gap manifested itself in the lives of so many of our country’s minority students living in low income areas: kids entering the 5th grade at a 2nd grade reading level, or matriculating to the 8th grade without a solid grasp of multiplication tables. These experiences made me acutely aware that the achievement gap is not a reflection of student capabilities, but of an education system that’s failing them.
After several years at Accenture, I felt that I had developed my skills in a way that would allow me to effectively contribute to the education sector, and I wanted to align these skills with my passion for social responsibility and improving and enhancing educational opportunities. Through the ProInspire Fellowship, I saw a chance to apply my experience in corporate America to the nonprofit world and align my skills with a mission that makes a difference in the world and harnesses the power of my business experience to do good.
2. What did you focus on in your application cover letter?
In my cover letter, I focused on 1) demonstrating a passion for social sector, 2) articulating how the Fellowship benefited and supported my career goals, 3) and conveying how my previous experience could be impactful in the social sector.
- Demonstrate a passion for social sector – On both my resume and cover letter, I highlighted my previous involvement in the social sector, including my volunteer and pro bono consulting experience. I wanted to convey that I was not only passionate about social change and the education sector, but that I had taken steps toward impacting the sector through volunteer, leadership, and community service activities.
- Articulate how the ProInspire Fellowship aligns with your career goals and is the right opportunity for you – Another key component to my cover letter was articulating the professional reasons for applying to the ProInspire Fellowship Program. In this section, I focused on both explaining what I could gain from the fellowship experience, but also what I could contribute to the fellowship community.
- Strike a healthy balance between passion and business skills – While demonstrating a strong passion for the education sector, I also tried to covey that through my prior professional experience I had developed a strong “tool-kit” of skills that could be impactful to the social sector. I focused on conveying the specific skills that I felt I could bring to the fellowship. Additionally, I tailored the language and relevance of my skills to the specifics of the fellowship requirements (strong analytical, problem solving, and project management skills).
3. What did you gain from your fellowship experience?
Working in the Office of Secondary School Transformation at DC Public Schools, I helped to drive the implementation of the school district’s reform strategy by improving the districts effectiveness through a rigorous use of data. Through my work as a ProInspire Fellow, I further strengthened my core belief that all students, regardless of their social-economic background should have access to a quality education system.
More broadly, in addition to having a meaningful and high-impact fellowship experience, the professional development program truly helped accelerate my transition into the social sector. Through workshops, coaching and leadership development, I was able to build the competencies that are most valuable to the social sector.
As a result of my Fellowship experience, I was also able to expand my own professional connections within the social sector. Most importantly, though, I have become connected to a group of people who are just as passionate about social change as I am.
Essentially, the ProInspire Fellowship Program allowed me to serve on the front lines of transforming an educational system. I continue to be excited about the education reform initiatives taking place in the U.S., and hope to be able to contribute in my small way to this important movement in the next phase of my career following business school.
Crystal Moore is completing a MBA in Strategy and Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. At Duke she is Co-President of the Black and Latino MBA Organization and is a COLE Leadership Fellow. Crystal earned her B.S. in Business Administration and Finance from Xavier University of Louisiana.
© Victoria Johnson 2012, all rights reserved.
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