Career Readiness: Preparing Students and Others for the Professional World
Robert F. Smith understands the importance of career readiness, as his own career path was shaped by work experiences that provided professional development opportunities, mentorship and more. Over the years, to provide others with onramps to similar opportunities, Smith has advanced efforts to ease financial burdens and create pathways for people preparing for their next step in life. The organizations he champions extend this impact by offering internships and foundational learning, particularly for individuals from communities that lack access to resources as they navigate their future careers.
“Greatness is born out of the grind. So embrace the grind. A thoughtful and intentional approach to “the grind” will help you to become an expert in your craft.”
-Robert F. Smith
SMITH’S PARTNERS
internXL
Smith helps prepare students for the modern workforce by supporting internXL, an AI-driven platform that connects eligible college students with paid internships and professional development training. Administered by Fund II Foundation, where Smith serves as founding director and President, internXL is available to rising sophomores in STEM and business-related fields, helping them gain early exposure to real-world work environments. The platform also helps employers connect with high-potential talent, streamline the hiring process and make more informed decisions.
Code.org
Code.org is an education innovation nonprofit working towards increasing access to computer science (CS) and artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 schools. The organization increases access and participation for students from underrepresented communities, meeting each student where they are in their learning journey. Through Code.org, students learn tools that will help them in their future careers and endeavors in CS and AI.
Grameen America
Grameen America guides women entrepreneurs on their path to success. The program helps to unlock their potential by providing access to affordable financial services that support entrepreneurs on their journey to building wealth and financial security. It offers business capital, peer support and financial education to help members grow their businesses. Smith partnered with Grameen America to launch a branch in Atlanta, GA, expanding the reach of its services to assist entrepreneurs from communities that lack access to resources and conventional financial systems.
Southern Communities Initiative
Founded by Smith, Southern Communities Initiative (SCI) is a consortium of companies that builds wealth and accelerates economic growth by addressing issues in six Southern U.S. communities. One of SCI’s priority initiatives is upgrading the technical capacity of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to expand the pool of capital available across its six target cities
