How do you inspire a team to get dirty for you everyday?
Small businesses have long voiced a need for individuals with core skills to help them grow, but they frequently struggle to fill those positions due to a lack of resources. Similarly, even when they complete their academic experiences, many college students feel a lack of access to real-world experiences in order to navigate professional employment.
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows connects small businesses and historically underrepresented college students through paid, semester-long internships.
It is an extension of the existing Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, which provides educational and capital support to small business owners.
The Chairman of Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, along with Asahi Pompey, President of Goldman Sachs Foundation, and Assuanta Howard Executive Director, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, held an in-person conversation with small businesses and fellows on Wednesday, September 22.
The event was moderated by President Kenneth Adams, of Laguardia Community College. It was the first in person event at LaGuardia in over 18 months. The topic of discussion was,“Reimagining the Workforce”
Our CEO, Rechelle Balanzat completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program in 2019 in partnership with the Tory Burch Foundation. Within three months of completing the program, she launched a second site and increased revenue by 138%.
Rechelle is an advocate for Goldman Sachs 10KSB and is frequently invited to speak on panels and at events.
Rechelle asked David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, “Laundry and dry cleaning requires considerable effort and time. How do you inspire employees in a labor-intensive environment day to day?"
David Solomon responded, connect with your employees by asking them how their day was, get to know what is going on in their lives, help them understand the company mission and how their work fulfills the company vision. Make them feel a part of the team, and give them a sense of purpose, but at the end of the day work is work.