Breaking Into Tech: A Career-Boosting Program with Google and Coursera
Why
Tech shapes almost every part of our lives — yet the people building it still come from a narrow slice of society. Many talented young people never consider a tech career because they don’t have the background, the network, or the confidence to get in. We wanted to open that door for people who aren’t (yet) in tech.
What we did
Together with Google and Coursera, we launched a hybrid career-boosting program that helped young talent break into the tech world. We accompanied participants through the entire journey: from recruiting them, to supporting them through the course, all the way to helping them land a job. Along the way, they built vital 21st-century skills — from problem-solving to digital fluency — that employers are looking for and the future demands.
Key learnings
- Peers are powerful teachers. When participants learn with and from each other, everyone grows faster — and no one feels alone on the way.
- Motivation comes from within — but a boost from outside helps. Intrinsic drive keeps people going, while external motivation like certificates, mentors, or job prospects gives them that extra push.
- Think beyond the course. Real impact came from strong partnerships and out-of-the-box thinking — and from supporting people end to end, from their first application to their first job.