By Chastiny Brown 

Career readiness and mentorship is rapidly growing in importance as universities prepare students for the future of workforce. Strategically, universities are now partnering with outside programs, such as Blackstone LaunchPad, to help support students in their professional development and career readiness in a move aimed at diversifying student engagement beyond the traditional university curriculum.

Blackstone LaunchPad partners with over 60 Historically Black Colleges (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), to continue the mission of spreading equity and inclusion to all students by seeking to close the opportunity gap through equipping college students with entrepreneurial skills and internship opportunities.

Successful career readiness program are a combination of soft skills and technical experience, but are our university students being served well in both categories? A survey conducted by McGraw-Hill Education found that 58% of college seniors in the United States felt only somewhat or not at all prepared for their careers. Additionally, a survey by Gallup found that only 34% of college students in the United States strongly agreed that their education had prepared them well for life after graduation. In a similar study by Gallup, 25% of alumni students enrolled in a Business field of study feel that it has been relevant to their current role.

Blackstone LaunchPad and programs like it address this preparation gap through mentorship and internships actually make an impact on the student's journey. These programs take traditional education further by focusing on soft skill development such as growth mindset, teamwork, project management, leadership, creativity, critical thinking and adaptability - which are all key skills to acquire as one develops into an involved team member and effective leader.

Proudly, this year DivInc has the honor of partnering with Blackstone LaunchPad to place thirty interns with our rapidly growing portfolio of companies through funding from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. These interns will be supporting our companies in implementing strategic goals and providing input on strategic planning within their applied role. Our partnership with Blackstone LaunchPad not only helps to propel our companies, but we also have the privilege of pouring into the next generation of CEO’s, COOs, Product Managers and Developers.

As we look ahead to the future of education and career preparation, one thing is clear: entrepreneurial skills are essential for success in today's world. It's up to all of us, as a community, to ensure that the next generation is ready for the opportunities that lie ahead.

At DivInc, we're passionate about creating a more inclusive and equitable landscape, and that's why we're excited to invite you to join us at the VentureWell OPEN Conference March 18th -20th. Our Program Manager and Internship Program Representative, Chastiny Brown, will be there to lead an engaging discussion alongside partners like the University of Texas - Inclusive Innovation team and Make Startups.

Together, we'll explore how we can make innovation spaces more welcoming and accessible to everyone. Join us in this important conversation and help us shape a brighter future for all! See you there!

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Want to learn more about Blackstone LaunchPad? Visit their website

Want to learn more about our DivInc portfolio companies? Visit our website! 

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