Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Fellows

The Workforce Reimagined

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows is connecting small businesses and historically underrepresented college students through paid, semester-long internships.

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Report: Addressing Talent Needs in Small Business


In Fall 2021, Goldman Sachs piloted 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows as an innovative internship experience. It is supporting small businesses in reaching their business goals and investing in the professional growth of local talent. The early findings have been overwhelmingly positive and affirm the case for continued ways to connect small businesses to resources and new talent pipelines.

Read the Report

Who We Are


532 student applicants

250 small business applicants

$20/hour paid internship

Four pilot markets in:

  • Baltimore, MD
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Dallas, TX
  • New York, NY

Illustration of Who We Are section  

Small Business Participants


Images of Participants

In Partnership With:


CCBC partner logo
 
Cuyahoga Community College logo  
Dallas College logo
 
La Guardia Community College logo  
Johns Hopkins University L=logo
 
Morgan State University logo 

 
 
Investing in the future workforce means taking action today. 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows — which brings community college students and entrepreneurs together in high-impact internships — is our investment in that future.”
Asahi Pompey
Asahi Pompey,
President, Goldman Sachs Foundation

Since the pandemic, my company is understaffed, so I need support with marketing, research and project management.”
Psyche Terry
Psyche Terry
Business Owner

“[This was a] very helpful program. It has helped me fill in staffing needs, and I have enjoyed the opportunity to give back to my community through mentoring and teaching my fellow.”
Ebbah Realzola
Ebbah Realzola
Mexzim Corp., Dallas

I have learned ... how to manage and administrate a business, how to interact and respond when facing [hard] circumstances, what it takes to be an entrepreneur and the financial side of [a small business].”
Danna Maravi
Danna Maravi
Dallas College

Why Fellows?


Small businesses have long expressed the need for workers with the fundamental skills to fuel growth, but often find difficulties building the workforce pipelines to recruit those workers.

At the same time, many college students express a lack of accessibility to real-world experience to navigate professional careers, even as they finish their academic experiences.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows is about bringing together these students and small businesses to solve educational and workforce needs.

As an extension of the existing 10,000 Small Businesses program — which provides educational and capital support to small business owners — this new focus on workforce needs ensures durable growth into the future.

Why is it needed?

Historically underrepresented college students are vital to our economy yet express lack of accessibility to the real-world experience needed to navigate professional careers. Small businesses have long expressed the need for workers with the fundamental skills to fuel growth, but they often find difficulties accessing workforce pipelines

What are the benefits?

Small business owners access a new talent pipeline to grow their businesses. Students gain real business skills and career opportunities. Participants gain a one-of-a-kind network through connections with other students, local small business owners and Goldman Sachs experts.

Program Details


What Can You Expect?

Students

  • Paid internship ($20/hour)
  • Real-world experience
  • Skills Development
  • Networking

Small Business Owners

  • Business Value
  • Managerial Experience
  • Talent pipeline
  • No-cost support and coaching
 

Who is eligible?

Students

  • Enrolled at a partner school
  • Pursuing associate's degree or continuing education
  • Completed more than 30 credits, GPA 2.5+
  • All majors and courses of study
  • Eligible to work in US (if international student)
  • Has participated in 10KSB Fellows for no more than one prior semester

Small Business Owners

10KSB alumni in one of the four pilot markets:

  • New York City, New York
  • Baltimore, Maryland
  • Cleveland, Ohio
  • Dallas, Texas

Preference will be given to business owners who have yet to participate in 10KSB Fellows

 

What's expected of you?

Students

  • Commit 15-20 hours per week for 12 weeks
  • Complete all deliverables by end of the internship
  • Participate in ~6 training sessions, networking and other program in-person and virtual events throughout internship
  • Complete all program evaluation surveys
  • Participate in monthly feedback and review sessions, with college and business

Small Business Owners

  • Develop a work-based learning plan for your fellow
  • Supervise, coach and manage your fellow (~5 hours/week) or designate an employee to do so
  • Participate in ~6 training sessions, networking and other program in-person and virtual events throughout internship
  • Complete all program evaluation surveys
  • Conduct monthly feedback and review sessions with your fellow and 10KSB liaison
 

The Workforce Reimagined

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Fellows is connecting small businesses and historically underrepresented college students through paid, semester-long internships.

Image of two workers