We build social capital.
Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) supports first-generation, low-income (FGLI) college students, who are defined as those where neither parent received a bachelor’s degree in the U.S.
Our Mission
Our mission is to bridge the gap in social capital for FGLI students, equipping them with the skills, networks, and confidence to succeed in the workforce. We do this by offering Educational Workshops with companies, hybrid skills-building sessions, 1:1 career coaching, and learning conversations with professionals.
Letter from our founder
My father taught me that education and hard work could help fulfill the “American Dream.” I instilled these same values in my 5 children. However, over time, I became increasingly more aware of my privilege and the advantage my family had in accessing opportunities and resources. This was never more apparent than when my oldest children went through the process of finding summer internships and their first full-time jobs.
Due to limited support from their universities, my children benefited significantly from my mentorship and social capital. I helped them:
Get summer internships at companies I invested in.
Reviewed their resumes and emails countless times.
Connected them with senior executives at companies where they ultimately got jobs.
Given my passion for ensuring more level playing fields, I began to ask: How do first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students navigate their career journeys without access to social capital in Corporate America?
Determined to explore this question, I joined Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative in 2023. I conducted extensive research by talking to students, non-profit leaders, and corporate HR leaders. This research led me to start Career Pathways Initiative, an organization that aims to close the social capital gap among FGLI students.
Ken Lang,
Founder of Career Pathways Initiative
