FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David Terry
Braven, david.terry@bebraven.org
SAN FRANCISCO (September 17, 2024) – San Francisco State University (SFSU) and the nonprofit Braven successfully hosted a launch event on September 16, 2024 to celebrate their partnership and highlight their commitment to empowering students on their path from college to career.
Over the next five years, SFSU and Braven aim to empower about 4,400 students with the skills, experiences, and networks they need to thrive in their careers. This includes access to mentorship, networking, internship and job opportunities, and career development workshops.
The event was held at Atlassian’s downtown headquarters and brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including SFSU leadership, faculty, and staff, Braven staff, as well as community leaders and employer partners to discuss economic opportunities and mobility for students in San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Mary Huss, Chair, San Francisco State University Foundation and Emerita President and Publisher of Silicon Valley Business Journal and San Francisco Business Times, moderated a lively discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing students in today’s job market and how SFSU and Braven are working with employers, nonprofits, and community organizations to address these critical issues.
During the discussion, SFSU President Lynn Mahoney emphasized the shared vision between SFSU and Braven, stating, “San Francisco State University and Braven share a common vision of a college degree and career preparation as critical to educational equity and upward mobility. Together, we will empower students and propel them on their path to economic success after graduation. Our partnership builds on the widely-recognized work of SF State to provide access to world-class academic programs and degree attainment for our students, many of whom are Pell Grant recipients or first-generation college students.”
Tipping Point CEO Sam Cobbs remarked on the importance of combining data-driven insights, continuous learning, and leadership development: “A central aspect of success in the professional world is a strong network — one that provides students with mentorship, career guidance, and access to opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.”
Meg Garlinghouse, Vice President of Social Impact at LinkedIn, echoed these sentiments, reinforcing the critical role of mentorship and networks in empowering students to navigate the complexities of the professional world. “Research consistently shows the power of moderately weak ties—those first or second-degree connections who are acquaintances. These connections, by spanning broader networks, are twice as likely to lead to job opportunities. By extending access to industries and roles that might not have been on a job seeker’s radar, they become crucial in unlocking new career paths.”
The event underscored the broader impact of investing in students who come from a low-income background, identify as students of color and/or are first-generation students and the collective efforts required to diversify and enrich the talent pipeline in the Bay Area. District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and graduate of SFSU, captured this sentiment, saying, “Investing in all students is not just a moral imperative—it’s a catalyst for economic mobility and community transformation. By expanding access to quality education and mentorship, we’re empowering individuals to break the cycle of poverty and helping them build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and our entire community.”
As the evening progressed, the spotlight turned to the contributions of dedicated volunteers, particularly those from Atlassian, and how their contributions give back to the community. Matt Reiser, Principal Data Scientist at Atlassian, and George Draper III, a recent economics graduate from San José State University, shared personal stories highlighting the powerful impact of mentorship and the reciprocal growth it fosters.
Diana Phuong, Braven’s Executive Director for the Bay Area, emphasized the importance of ensuring diverse college students get the support they need to put their hard-earned degrees to work. ”While education can be a great equalizer, only about 30% of the 1.4 million first-generation and low-income students entering college are predicted to land a strong job after graduation,” she shared. “As a first-generation college graduate who was raised in the East Bay, I understand this challenge firsthand—I was one of these statistics. I am so excited about the partnership with SFSU and it’s an absolute privilege to now have the opportunity to pay it forward to the next generation of leaders, right here in our backyard, our home.”
About San Francisco State University and Braven
San Francisco State University is a public university serving students from the San Francisco Bay Area, across California and around the world, with nationally acclaimed programs that span a broad range of disciplines. More than 25,000 students enroll at the University each year, and its nearly 287,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond. Through them — and more than 1,900 world-class faculty members — SFSU proudly embraces its legacy of academic excellence, community engagement and commitment to social justice. For more information, visit sfsu.edu.
Founded in 2013, Braven empowers promising, underrepresented young people—first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds, and/or students of color—with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to a strong first job or graduate school. Braven is embedded within institutions of higher education and partners with employers to build cutting-edge career education into the undergraduate experience for low-income and first-generation college goers and provides students with a network of supporters and a sense of belonging. Braven Fellows are persisting in college and achieving exciting levels of internship and job attainment.
