Jaida Fonfield

The amazing Elizabeth Zulick explains how ⁦‪Northeastern University is addressing the disappearannce of entry-level jobs for college grads by placing 12K students in co-ops w/ 4K employers each year so that 95% of our graduates have 6 mo & most have 12 mo FT work experience - allowing them to skip the 1st rung on the career ladder and earn $20K more on average compared to new grads from similar institutions!

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I was recently at The Founders Hub in Boston. They were hosting a mid-day coffee for female founders. I'd only planned to stay for an hour, but ended up there all afternoon. Alessandra Pollina, who runs the Hub and leads Quotable Media, and Aina Lott, founder of Ease for Aina, had an amazing conversation discussing the different ways men and women approach AI. In the middle of it, Aina hit record, and what she captured is exactly why I started https://firstprompt.net Women and other leaders who are more cautious about tech adoption have questions and instincts about genAI that will ultimately make these tools safer and smarter for everyone. But only if they engage.... That’s the work I’m focused on: helping people take their power back by building confidence and practical know-how with generative AI. I ended up turning Aina's video into a CapCut built post, which was super fun. Let me know if you want to chat more about First Prompt or gen AI adoption more generally. Check out the great work of these two founders: https://lnkd.in/eFcAwUKh https://easeforaina.com/

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Tomorrow, more than 100 students from across New England will gather at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for Hack for Human Impact, a model for how we can prepare people to build responsibly with AI. Over the past few months, we’ve been shaping this work with partners across higher education, state government, and civic innovation. The goal is simple: bring liberal arts, engineering, and real-world challenges into one space and let students learn by doing. Last night’s small pre-event session with students and partners underscored the need for more spaces like this. There is a real appetite for grounded, practical, human-centered learning in the age of AI. Tomorrow, that comes to life through interdisciplinary teams, civic datasets, and mentors across sectors. It’s a first step and a proof of what’s possible when we build these bridges intentionally. Grateful to our partners at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, College of the Holy Cross, City of Worcester, Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and Sundai Club for their commitment to this work. Onward to tomorrow. #AI #Innovation #HigherEd #CivicTech #HumanCenteredAI

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“Taylor de Sousa, a graduating senior from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has applied to nearly 300 roles over the past six months. She got three interviews. None panned out.” The Wall Street Journal line hits hard. As the founder of a company passionate about launching careers through experience, I see the weight of this reality daily. Students are pouring their hearts into degrees, only to face a market that feels like a locked door. But here’s the thing: weak markets don’t mean no opportunities. They mean you have to find new ways to shine. It’s about showing up with more than a transcript, with proof you can make an impact. “This job market is rewarding the most proactive and motivated graduate, someone who has prepared themselves well with internships, jobs at school, jobs outside of school,” said Charlie Cain, Managing Director of staffing agency Beacon Hill. Charlie’s words resonate. I think of students who networked their way to a job through alumni connections and past internships (or who emailed me directly with something compelling!). Motivation isn’t just about hustle. It’s about strategy. It’s reaching out to professionals, asking questions, and grabbing every chance to learn. The grads who treat every interaction as a stepping stone are building bridges to their future. The stats mentioned by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, ZipRecruiter, and Veris Insights have been bubbling up for a while. What isn't mentioned in the article that I believe is Gen Z's great hope: leveraging AI in ways that other generations haven't yet. As models compound at an astounding rate, the ability to build and experiment will allow grads to leapfrog the job market as opposed to feeling 5 steps behind it. #ClassOf2025 #CollegeToCareer #JobSearch2025 #EntryLevelJobs #Underemployment #CareerClarity #FutureOfWork #CareerResilience #Mentorship #SkillBuilding #ProfessionalDevelopment #RealWorldExperience #CareerGrowth #AISkillsGap

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At UMass Boston's Office of Global Programs, our mission is clear: to expand access to academically rigorous, ethical, and affordable global learning opportunities for all of our students. This week, we introduced an important update to our study abroad provider policy. Moving forward, UMass Boston will prioritize partnerships with non-profit, university-affiliated, and publicly accountable organizations that demonstrate a commitment to access and inclusion. Our goal is to ensure that every student—especially first-generation and low-income students—has the opportunity to study abroad without hidden costs, undue financial burdens, or lack of academic oversight. This is not an indictment of any company or provider. Rather, it is a reaffirmation of our values: equity, transparency, and academic integrity. As a public university—and the third most diverse university in the U.S.—we believe it is our responsibility to direct students toward programs that put education and student well-being first, while reducing costs wherever possible. We will continue to collaborate with partners and international colleagues to create pathways that make global learning a reality for every member of our student body. Education abroad opens doors and changes lives, and UMass Boston will remain committed to removing barriers so those doors stay open for all.    #GlobalPrograms #StudyAbroad #EquityInEducation #UMassBoston

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One of my favorite conversations at the Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference was with Keith Hmieleski, about chance, serendipity, and all the beautiful unpredictabilities in between. His new paper with Andrew Fultz—who gave a superb presentation at last year’s Academy of Management about the topic—just came out in Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice! The paper explores how monochronic orientation (doing things one at a time) can actually *increase* serendipity in early-stage ventures. Instead of multitasking or chasing every shiny object, firms that focus their attention can become more attuned to subtle cues and unexpected opportunities, creating an “attentional structure” that makes room for serendipity. Full paper here: https://lnkd.in/ghMFMNYC #serendipity #entrepreneurship #innovation #startups #attention #ETP #babson

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