Susanna Major
Spelman College
Research Analyst, Russel Reynolds Associates

Brooklyn Clarke
Spelman College
Research Intern, Spelman College/NASA/Georgia Institute of Technology (Partnership)
Photos: Kat Goduco
Simone Moales
Spelman College
Advance Associate, The White House

Susanna Major
Spelman College
CoE Analyst, Russel Reynolds Associates
Photo: Kat Goduco
Brooklyn Clarke
Spelman College
Research Intern, Spelman College/NASA/Georgia Institute of Technology (Partnership)
Photo: Kat Goduco
Simone Moales
Spelman College
Advance Associate, The White House
Photo: Kat Goduco

Impact Report

2023-2024 School Year

Together with our higher education and employer partners, we’re proving what’s possible when you empower the next generation of leaders with the skills, networks, experiences, and confidence necessary to launch a strong career.

"Spelman College, in partnership with Braven, equipped me to secure impactful opportunities. When I received my
first call from the White House, I was prepared to promptly share my professional portfolio."

– Simone Moales
A woman with short, curly, dark-brown hair in a dark-blue suite-dress over a white blouse.
Simone Moales
Spelman College
Advance Associate, The White House
Photo: Kate Goduco

What Does

This Report Cover?

In 2013, Braven started out as a pilot with 17 students and has since grown to 10,000+Fellows at nine universities nationwide and through BravenX.

A decade in, we’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of incredibly talented, diverse students who’ve overcome challenges on their way to career and lifetime success. In this report, we highlight their stories as we dive into five questions that assess Braven’s impact:

Alongside our partners,
our ambition is to work with
80,000-100,000students by 2032

Why Our

Work Matters

Only about 30% of 1.4 million low-income or first-generation college students who enroll in college each year will graduate and secure a strong first job or enter graduate school.1

That's more than one million students every single year who aren't on the path to the American promise.

1 Statistics based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics (2021 digest and 2019 NCES 2019-487), National Student Clearinghouse Research Center's Transfer & Progress report (Fall 2022), and Third Way's "The Pell Divide: How Four-Year Institutions are Failing to Graduate Low- and Moderate-Income Students" (2018).
Ahmed Benchehida
BravenX Fellow
University of Illinois at Chicago
Software Engineer, CVS Health
Photo: Chris Joyce
"Getting a job was an uphill battle. Whenever I got bad news, I would lean on my coaches to give me advice on what to work on as well as get words of encouragement."

– Ahmed Benchehida
"The skills that Braven taught were all new to me and I really appreciated all of the templates I had access to and used."

– Tiffany Velez
Tiffany Velez
Rutgers University-Newark
HR Admin & Event Coordinator, Panasonic
Photo: Joshua Christie | Purpose Portraits

In collaboration with our higher education and employer partners, Braven empowers promising, underrepresented college students with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to strong economic opportunities, which lead to meaningful careers and lives of impact.

The next generation of leaders will emerge from everywhere.

The Braven Model

With our partners, Braven empowers promising underrepresented college students on their paths to quality economic opportunities through a semester-long, cohort-based course, which was designed with significant input from our higher education partners and their faculty, and a post-course experience that lasts 6 months post college graduation.

In our core higher education model, students take the course for credit. Students who take BravenX via college success organizations receive a financial stipend in lieu of credit.

Our Partners

Are our Fellows getting quality economic opportunities that put them on the path to the American promise?

NATIONAL STATISTICS

Americans Still Find Value

in the Bachelor's Degree

Eighty-three percent of Americans who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs view college education as equally or more important than 20 years ago.2
College students believe the bachelor's degree is just as important or even more important today than 20 years ago
Americans across all ages and political views recognize its value3
Despite the value of the bachelor's degree, we still see inequities in the outcomes of college graduates.
College graduates who start underemployed are 3.5x more likely to be underemployed 10 years later compared to graduates who start in college-level jobs.4

Outcomes 10 years after graduation

"The comprehensive curriculum at Spelman, and Braven’s emphasis on real-world skills, provided me with a solid foundation in both academic knowledge and practical application. The mentorship and support from Spelman faculty and Braven coaches gave me the confidence and guidance to navigate the competitive job market successfully."

– Susanna Major
Susanna Major
Spelman College
Research Analyst, Russel Reynolds Associates
Photo: Kat Goduco

The Strength of Roles

Our 2023 Graduates Secured

In 2023, 777 Braven Fellows graduated nationwide from our partner schools. 89% were employed or enrolled in graduate school by six months after graduation.

How we define quality economic opportunities

Quality role
a full-time role that requires a bachelor's degree and includes some combination of promotion pathways, employee benefits, and a market-competitive starting salary, or enrollment in graduate-school

Pathway role
a role that does not require a bachelor's degree but helps students' financial sustainability, is aligned with career interests, and will likely lead to more career-accelerating possibilities through skill development

Non-quality role
a role that does not require a bachelor's degree, offers limited runway to additional career-accelerating opportunities, and is not aligned with the students' career interests

5 We have jobs data for 81% of FY23 graduates from our core model higher education partners.

6 National benchmark estimates are based on data from NACE’s 2022 First Destination Survey (publicly available and custom cut data) and underemployment research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Across Lines of Race and Ethnicity

Braven Fellows Outpace Peers Nationally

in Quality Economic Outcomes

7 National benchmark estimates are based on data from NACE’s 2022 First Destination Survey (publicly available and custom cut data) and underemployment research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
"My mentors provided invaluable assistance with my resume, interview preparation, and building confidence. Their guidance was crucial in helping me transition smoothly from an intern to a full-time employee."

– Sharon Tran
Sharon Tran
San José State University
Product Designer, Cisco
Photo: Joe Mazza | Joe Mazza Photography
"Braven helped me land an internship by sharpening my communication skills, which allowed me effectively to relay my skills and experience to recruiters. My internship has equipped me with strong analytical and strategic skills that will be invaluable in any business career I pursue."

-Jaden Weatherspoon
Jaden Weatherspoon
Delaware State University
Data Analytics Intern, Exelon
Photo: Emir Lake Photography

Internships: The Most

Predictive Factor for

Strong First Destinations

After College

The influence of internships on post-graduate success is underscored by our data: Braven Fellows who have completed at least one internship in college are 12 percentage points more likely to get a quality first opportunity than Fellows who have not (66% vs 54%).8

8 Internship data is collected from self-reported surveys and LinkedIn. Data collected from 88% of the class of 2023 from our core model higher education partners: City College of New York, Lehman College, Northern Illinois University, Rutgers University-Newark, San José State University.

The Braven Equation in Action

With the Spelman College Braven experience, Jada Farley-Cook built the foundation to get on the path to the American promise.

"I valued my time with Braven at Spelman College. The program equipped me with a strong support network of professionals from diverse fields while empowering me to reach my full potential."

– Jada Farley-Cook
Jada Farley-Cook
Spelman College
Asset & Wealth Management
Financial Analyst, Goldman Sachs
Photo: Kat Goduco

Are we impacting more students and maintaining program quality?

10,000+ Braven Fellows

Served Nationwide

During the 2023-24 school year, Braven supported 10,000+ Fellows nationwide, including 5,188 who were still in college.
Of those, 2,242 were new Fellows who took the course for the first time that year. These Fellows span across various states and platforms, reflecting Braven's growing presence and impact nationwide.

2023-2024 Spelman-Braven

Fellow in our Classic Model

2023-2024 Spelman-Braven Fellows who identify as:

590 New Fellows completed the Braven Accelerator course in the 2023-2024 school year at Spelman College.

Most Popular Majors

9      Includes students who identify as any non-White race or ethnicity and/or as a person of color.

Is Braven supporting Fellows on the path to internships & college completion?

NATIONAL STATISTICS

Disparities in Access

and Completion of Internships

In an extensive literature review of 13 career readiness interventions, the Harvard Project on Workforce found that internships were the most effective intervention in terms of research-based evidence and implementation. But across socioeconomic lines of difference, there are inequities in internship attainment and paid internship attainment.

The critical role of internships

A paid internship in college is associated with a $3,096 increase in annual wages one year after graduation.10

National data show first-generation students are less likely to participate in internships11

Internships are useful when choosing a career path

10    The Power of Work-Based Learning 202211    Strada Viewpoint: From College to Career: Students’ Internship Expectations and Experiences. May 2023.
12    Survey Teaser: Helping Students Prepare for Life After College. Inside Higher Ed. November 21, 2023.

Encouraging Levels of Internship

Attainment for our Fellows

For college students, internships serve as critical proof points of experience that open professional doors.

Compared with graduates nationally, Braven 2023 graduates from our partner schools were 23 percentage points more likely to have at least one internship during their college experience.

13 Braven Fellow internship data available for 89% of the class of 2023 from Braven’s core programs and sourced from self-reported surveys and LinkedIn profiles.
14 Source: Strada Viewpoint: From College to Career: Students’ Internship Expectations and Experiences. May 2023. https://stradaeducation.org/report/from-college-to-career-students-internship-expectations-and-experiences/.
"My professional mentor helped me realize I wasn't alone in facing challenges. His words boosted my confidence, reminding me of my capabilities and the importance of aiming high in my job search. When crafting a resume, remember your audience: busy professionals who skim. A concise three-sentence summary at the beginning can quickly highlight your qualifications and career goals."

- Oluwamuyiwa Fadipe
Oluwamuyiwa Fadipe
BravenX Fellow
The City College of New York
Team Member Project Management Intern, Biotech and Pharmaceutical Industry, Crossover Search
Photo: Kyle James | Put You on Stage
Alexa DeVilmé
Spelman College
Student Intern Researcher,
New York University
and Public Health Influencer,
Morehouse School of Medicine
Photo: Kat Goduco
"Spelman College, in partnership with Braven, helped prepare me to get my first internship at Morehouse School of Medicine. Braven helped me strengthen my resume, personal statement, and LinkedIn to apply to the program."

– Alexa DeVilmé

Internship Attainment

Disaggregated by Race and Ethnicity

15 Source: Strada Viewpoint: From College to Career: Students’ Internship Expectations and Experiences. May 2023. https://stradaeducation.org/report/from-college-to-career-students-internship-expectations-and-experiences/.

Encouraging Levels

of College Completion

Braven Fellows are persisting and graduating at encouraging rates. By comparison, about 8 in 10 of their peers nationally graduate college on time.16

16 Implied six-year graduation rate for students of color at four-year public institutions, after accounting for students who persisted from freshman to sophomore year and those who persisted from sophomore to junior year. Sources: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics, 2021 release of Tables 326.10, 326.30, and 306.50, American Institutes for Research "More to the Retention Story: Exploring Second- to Third-Year Retention at 4-Year Colleges and Universities, July 2023.
17 Six-year graduation data of Braven Fellows who enrolled as first-time freshmen at San José State University, Rutgers University-Newark, and Lehman College, not including those who took Braven as seniors. Braven reports graduation rates for core partner schools who have had at least 200 Braven Fellow graduates.
Brooklyn Clarke
Spelman College
Research Intern
Spelman College/NASA/Georgia Institute of Technology
Photo: Kat Goduco
"Spelman, in partnership with Braven, played a significant part in me landing my internships especially by teaching me how to interact with interviewers, behave, and respond during an interview."

– Brooklyn Clarke

Are our Fellows developing the soft skills and networks needed for success?

Raphael Pereira
Rutgers University-Newark
Technology Liaison Analyst, MetLife
Photo: Joshua Christie | Purpose Portraits
"Confidence was the biggest skill I gained from taking Braven. I learned that in knowing who you are and being secure in yourself, it allows you to navigate life more freely and authentically and that is the start of true confidence."

– Raphael Pereira

Growth in Non-Cognitive Measures

In 2023-2024, Spelman Braven Fellows showed statistically significant growth across non-cognitive factors

Each semester, Braven measures growth in non-cognitive factors between the start and end of the Braven Accelerator.

Self efficacy, which is not usually measured through traditional assessments like standardized tests, is associated with academic and lifetime success and plays a large role in explaining job search and career behaviors and outcomes.

Research shows that the same elements that make a student confident in their academics in college and confident in their sense of belonging in college also helps them achieve quality outcomes after college. At Braven, we measure growth in these two constructs: "Academic Confidence" and "Sense of Social and Academic Fit."

Are we building employer and higher education partnerships with true shared value?

EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT:

"I can't imagine what my life would be if I had not taken the Braven course. Through the program I explored my strengths, passion, and what motivates me. I gained confidence and realized my potential to add value to any space I find myself while being authentic."

- Wendy Asante

This year, UBS became one of Braven's 18 partners that invest at least $100,000 and provide programmatic support.

Since 2017, UBS has been a Braven employer partner. The partnership has deepened each and every year.

Braven's collaboration with UBS helps open doors to the American promise.

"We believe in the power of scaled solutions to advance equitable economic opportunity for all to thrive through education and skills-building initiatives. With Braven, we’ve invested in some of our country’s most promising talent, and leveraged our firm’s best asset, our employees, to support students on their journey to post-college success."

– SARAH SALOMON,
Co-Head of UBS Social Impact & Philanthropy, US
"I believe in paying it forward. Growing up in a small town with limited opportunities, I was fortunate to have mentors who helped me reach new heights. Now, as a Leadership Coach at Braven, I am fortunate to be part of a company like UBS that allows me to be committed to giving back and empowering others to achieve their full potential."

– AARON GONZALEZ,
Braven Leadership Coach, Associate Director,
Business Analyst, UBS Private Wealth Management

Higher Education Spotlight:

Delaware State University

In January 2024, Braven launched a partnership with Delaware State University (DSU), our first public HBCU partner.

“I learned more than I expected and walked away with the skills and confidence that make me believe that I belong in any room and can succeed while I’m there as my authentic self."

– Na’ja Stokes
Na’ja Stokes
Delaware State University
Research Scholar, Alliance for
Minority Participation Research Internship
Photo: Emir Lake Photography

91

Fellows completed the course this past spring

76

Mock Interviewers collectively volunteered 190 hours

19

Leadership Coaches collectively volunteered 570 hours

We Couldn't Do It Without You

Higher Education Partners & Employer Partners

Higher Education Partners

Chicago State University (BravenX)
City College of New York – CUNY
Delaware State University
Lehman College – CUNY
National Louis University
Northern Illinois University
Rutgers University - Newark
San José State University
Spelman College

BravenX Partners

Achieve Atlanta
Chicago Scholars
Chicago State University
City Year
Cooperman College Scholars
The Academy Charter School
Ascend Public Schools
Coney Island Prep
Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas
DSST Public Schools
Excel Academy
Excellence Community Schools
Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools
KIPP Forward
Noble Schools
Uncommon Schools
Uplift Education
Evanston Scholars
KIPP NJ
LISA Academy
Making Waves Education Foundation

National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
Newark Youth Career Pathways Program
SEEDS
Rivet School
The Wight Foundation
UtmostU

Employer Partners
LEAD

($250K+ and programmatic support)

‍Barclays
Capital One
Deloitte
Deloitte Foundation
LinkedIn
NBA Foundation
Salesforce

ANCHOR

($100K+ and programmatic support)

‍Anonymous
Cognizant US Foundation
UBS

KEYSTONE

($25K+ and programmatic support)

‍​​Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
Blackbaud
Pathward
Stanley Black & Decker
Taco Bell Foundation
United Airlines
Wells Fargo

INNOVATION

($10K+ and programmatic support)

‍​​MEMX
PEAK6
Rakuten International

IMPACT

($5K+ and programmatic support)

‍​​Bain and Company
Georgia-Pacific
GLG
Metro Atlanta Chamber
Vanguard
Verizon
Visa

Supporters (10K+)

Atlanta Foundation
Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation
Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Deloitte Foundation
Erol Foundation
The Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
New Profit, Inc.
Prosper Road Foundation
The 1954 Project
Tull Foundation
Valhalla Foundation