BASTA

?? Basta’s First-Gen Summit in partnership with Bloomberg Returned Bigger Than Ever! What a day! After six years, we partnered with Bloomberg to revive the First-Gen Summit, and the energy was incredible! This event was about more than exchanging business cards—it was about finding community and building a lasting support system. First-gen students and executives from leading industries gathered to share their career stories, forge genuine connections, and envision the future of work together. A tremendous thanks to all who made it possible: Vanessa Luna, Nancy Cutler, Kathleen McGevna, Perri Mingo, Etienne Vazquez, Giselle Abreu, Julia Freeland Fisher, Michael Collins, Latarria Coy, Jibreel Jalloh, Soré Agbaje, Keyshawn Wright, Winston Fisher, Alejandro Perez, emcees extraordinaire Harmony Gilliard, O'Neil Edwards, and our amazing team at Basta.? Nancy Cutler shared: "Bloomberg is thrilled to partner with Basta to revive the First-Gen Summit convening the incredible talent and drive that we've witnessed firsthand in First-Gen students and professionals."? As our founder Sheila Sarem put it perfectly: "First-Gen Summit is just a container for the brilliance that is happening. Today, we heard a handful of stories and there are thousands more." And wow, did that brilliance shine through! ?? Real Talk & Real Impact Michael Collins dropped this gem about executive responsibility: "When you're bringing someone up on the elevator, don't make them wish they took the stairs."Let that sink in! It’s not just about opening doors; it’s about ensuring people feel welcomed and supported once they’re inside. ??? Leadership and Responsibility Winston Fisher shared: "The value of your life is measured by how much you are engaged, not by your consumption." He emphasized how first-gen talent doesn't merely join companies – they energize organizations and elevate performance across the board. ? From Surviving to Thriving Basta Alum Keyshawn Wright delivered an important message: “To the students in the room, … you can manifest these kinds of opportunities. You are capable of thriving and not just surviving.” His reminder to professionals: “Create that space for young professionals to be their authentic selves. First gen magic is a real thing, with untapped talent ready to make an impact. Check out the video below for a brief recap of First-Gen Summit 2024! Partner with us to build a workforce where first-gen talent thrives and leads. Connect with us today: https://lnkd.in/e3pxrna9 #Bloomberg #firstgensummit #Basta #FirstGenMagic #CareerEmpowerment #StudentSuccess #NetworkingForChange #Mentors #firstjob #work #careerdevelopment #networking

??? HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS!? ? We’re thrilled to announce that Basta has received a generous grant from the Schultz Family Foundation! This investment will amplify our efforts to develop cutting-edge AI career navigation solutions that combat systemic underemployment for early-career job seekers. Despite AI transforming how we do business, few innovations focus on who gets to do business. Basta is changing that. ?? Finding the right first job remains harder than it should be. That’s why we built Seekr—a tool designed to bridge that gap. Thanks to this partnership with Schultz, we’re solving this problem at scale and expanding access to Seekr LITE, ensuring everyone gets to experience the power of Basta’s approach.? ? ?? A huge thank you to the Schultz Family Foundation for believing in Basta’s mission and investing in the future of career advancement! ? ?? Read the full press release https://lnkd.in/eKQay4J3 ??? Try Seekr LITE now:?https://lnkd.in/eQsCrD5Q #CareerMobility #AIforGood #FirstGenSuccess #TechForImpact

?? Building a Community for First-Gen Success: Insights from NASPA 2025 Last week, Christina Chinnici attended the First Gen Forward session at the NASPA Annual Conference, where Kyle Nixon highlighted how Higher ed institutions can create structured, data-driven, and community-based support for first-gen students. ?? Key Takeaways: ? Community of Practice – Engage through monthly meetings, regional hubs, and learning networks. ?? Data-Driven Strategies – Measure and refine impact with SMART goals, progress audits, and First-Gen specific institutional metrics. ?? Visibility & Recognition – Foster belonging and pride with First-Gen Celebration Day events and shared storytelling. A major theme? Collaboration. Basta looks forward to deepening our thought partnership with the FirstGen Forward Network! If you work with First-Gen students, share your insights below! ?? #FirstGenMagic #NASPA2025 ?#basta #careersuccess #collegestudents #FirstGenSuccess #HigherEd

?? College Students: Boost Your Chances of Landing a Job or Internship! Internship seekers who attend career workshops are 3X more likely to secure an offer, and with hiring season in full swing, now is the time to get ahead. Basta is offering FREE career prep sessions to help you stand out before 2 million graduates enter the job market. But hurry, this offer ends April 15th! What you’ll gain: ? Optimized LinkedIn Profile – Get noticed by recruiters. ? Smart Job Search Strategies – Find and apply for the right roles. ? Winning Resumes – Craft a resume that stands out. ?? Plus: Attend sessions and gain access to Basta’s exclusive job board featuring top employer partners! Spots are limited—claim yours before April 15th! Register now: https://lnkd.in/eWpPUjzN #JobSearch #InternshipOpportunities #CareerReadiness #CollegeStudents #FirstGenMagic #HiringSeason

BASTA and Brooklyn College making First-Gen Magic Together ?? Two weeks ago, we launched our first in-person Discovery session at Brooklyn College, and the demand was overwhelming—550+ students eager to participate! We were thrilled to welcome 114 students in person, with 50+ more joining virtually. ?? The energy was undeniable. Students asked thoughtful questions, engaged in discussions, and gained actionable strategies for finding and securing job and internship opportunities. With two more in-person sessions ahead—one kicking off this afternoon!—this cohort is just getting started. ?? At BASTA, we bridge the gap between top first-gen talent and career-accelerating opportunities. The enthusiasm from Brooklyn College students reinforces what we already know: first-gen students are ready to succeed. ??? Thank you, Cliff Frontera and Andre Fontenelle, for your partnership. ?? #FirstGenMagic #CareerReadiness #BrooklynCollege #HiringFirstGen #BastaDiscovery #Basta

??Basta is headed to D.C.! Next week, our very own Becca Diefenbach and Mildred Armstrong Smith will be attending the Future of Skills & Work Forum HolonIQ. This is the flagship event of Global Skills Week and brings together leaders from higher education, workforce development, and industry to explore how we can better prepare learners for the careers of tomorrow. With discussions on AI, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies, we’re excited to engage with thought leaders and changemakers who are shaping the future of education and workforce. ??Stay tuned as we share the highlights and impressions of the forum in our socials ?? Will you be there? We’d love to connect! If you’re attending, reach out. #FutureOfWork #GlobalSkillsWeek #WorkforceDevelopment #HigherEd #Employability #CareerReadiness

?? TO ALL College students. Time is Running Out—Secure Your Summer Job or Internship Now! March and April are prime hiring months, and employers are locking in talent right now. In just a couple of months, 2 million graduates will flood the job market. If you want to stand out and secure top offers, take action NOW and get all the career support you need. To help: Basta is giving college students exclusive, free access to our top-rated Discovery virtual career prep sessions, including: ? Level Up Your LinkedIn – Create a standout profile to attract decision-makers. ?Job Search Strategy – Master finding, applying, and staying organized. ?Results-Oriented Resumes – Craft a resume that stands out and highlights your strengths. BONUS: Attend Discovery sessions, and you’ll gain exclusive access to Basta’s job board + internship opportunities with top employers! ?? Spots are LIMITED! To claim yours, take our quick career navigation survey here: https://lnkd.in/eWpPUjzN Deadline: 04/15 - Don’t miss out! #CareerReady #JobSearchTips #InternshipOpportunities #FirstJob #HiringSeason

?? Kicking Off B-SWEP Spring ‘25 with Google! ?? We’re thrilled to have launched B-SWEP Spring ‘25 last week—both in-person and virtually—for 300+ students from 17 partner schools across the country! This program provides 1:1 mentorship, problem-solving sessions, and career development resources to help first-gen students break into tech.? Students will gain invaluable exposure to the industry and tech interview prep from Google software engineers. Special thanks to Giselle Abalos, Christopher Tignor, and the entire Google team for making this our largest cohort yet—with 350 mentees matched 1:1 with mentors! A huge shoutout to the volunteers, facilitators, and mentors who led the problem-solving sessions and created a welcoming space for students to thrive. We also want to give a special shout-out to Miriam Loyd, MS from Brooklyn College, Aankit Patel from The City University of New York, Kristi Nielson-Brescia from City University of New York-College of Staten Island, Yoo Kyung Chang from New York University, and Simone A. Francis from New York University for joining us in person. Over the next 10 weeks, students will also have access to Basta’s online career readiness sessions, ensuring they’re fully equipped to take their next career step. If you have been selected for B-SWEP, share the news widely. We can’t wait to see what you will achieve! #BSWEP #TechMentorship #HiringTalent #FutureofWork #ProjectBasta #DEI #FirstGenSuccess

?? Basta is headed to #NASPA2025! We’re thrilled that our very own Christina Chinnici, Director of Growth and Partnerships, will be attending the NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Conference. This gathering of higher ed and Student Affairs leaders is a key moment to share insights and connect to discuss college to career success. DM to connect with us! See you there! ?? ?? Learn more about Basta https://lnkd.in/dDqV2_Ua #careerguidance? #basta #fellowship #careersuccess #collegestudents #FirstGenSuccess #HigherEd #CareerEquity #NASPA2025

??? LAST DAY to join our online event 'The Future of Talent: Can AI align Companies, Campuses and Job Seekers'! AI is rapidly reshaping recruitment. We are bringing together recruiters from top employers, universities preparing students for an evolving job landscape, and job seekers navigating this new reality. Speakers include: - Christopher Romano, recruiter at Google - Allyson Margolis, Director, Career Pathways Innovation & Public Policy at New York University - Dinasty Kelly, Basta participant - Sonia (Jones) Atsegbua, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Basta - Kendra Gaunt, Senior Product Manager at Basta - Sheila Sarem, Founder and CEO at Basta ?? March 12, 2025 | 2 PM ET ?? Virtual Panel Discussion ?? Register here https://lnkd.in/g5_Wh9_k 350 people have already RSVP’d. Don’t miss this conversation on the intersection of AI, talent, and opportunity.