Established as a business consultancy in 2017, Grads of Life developed as a social enterprise from its work as a national Public Service Campaign (PSA) in partnership with the Ad Council. Early leaders founded this work with the recognition that the best way to connect all Americans to opportunity is to leverage the power of the private sector. The PSA campaign showcased the potential of young, diverse talent lacking college credentials but able to bring skills, experience, and growth mindset to companies to enable companies to be more agile, inclusive, and forward-thinking.

The business consultancy now works with both the public and private sectors to offer solutions that bridge the gap between systems-level strategy and practical implementation, supporting employers in implementing best practices.

Examples of Grads Life's work include:

• Dismissed by Degrees
  • A 2017 flagship report co-authored with Harvard Business School and Accenture to examine the cost of degree inflation to the business community and advocated for a shift to skills-first practices by companies.
• Year Up
  • Year Up’s mission is to close the opportunity divide by ensuring that young adults gain the skills, experiences, and support that empowers them to reach their potential through careers and higher education. Year Up Unite focuses on direct service and strategic partnerships with employers, talent providers, and policymakers, addressing the root causes of the opportunity divide in the U.S., and creating pathways to opportunity at broad scale.
• YUPRO Placement
  • YUPRO Placement is a skills-first placement firm bringing together a purposeful workforce ecosystem that champions sourcing, recruiting, retaining, and advancing overlooked talent.

Resources

Dismissed by Degrees

Year Up

YUPRO Placement