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The way forward
Springboard Forward helps employees set and reach their professional goals

by Jennifer Pence

Until recently, a sign on Shoreline Boulevard in Mountain View marked the headquarters of Springboard Forward, a nonprofit that helps low-income workers achieve a career path of "Engaged Employment." Springboard Forward has since relocated to larger quarters in Belmont, but it is still helping employees in Mountain View and beyond to achieve their career dreams and move upwards from low-wage jobs that can otherwise lead to a cycle of hopelessness and low performance.

Springboard Forward was founded by former Mountain View resident Elliott Brown to align the interests of businesses and low-wage workers in an unprecedented way. "Asking business to 'do good' in our communities because it's the right thing is counter to how our economy works. Springboard Forward has found a way to leverage Silicon Valley businesses by solving some of their most difficult challenges," says Brown.

Brown theorized that when employees develop a career path, even one that includes eventually leaving their current employer, they become more engaged in their work and perform better, creating value for the company as well as themselves. Data from Springboard Forward's programs confirm this idea. For Home Depot employees as a whole, only 38 percent were still employed at Home Depot a year later, but 86 percent of Springboard Forward participants were still there, saving hiring and training costs.

Supervisors also notice a significant difference in employee's attitudes. Tamara Stafford, director of education at El Camino Hospital (one of Springboard Forward's partners) explains, "We're investing in our employees' futures, and they truly appreciate it. Our supervisors say that staff are already more motivated and engaged at work."

Employees who participate in Springboard Forward begin by attending a kick-off workshop where they develop a career map depicting their strengths, weaknesses and interests. For some employees, the career mapping process is a very emotional experience. At a recent seminar, one employee cried, saying that no one had ever asked her before what she actually wanted to do at work.

From there, each participating employee is assigned a career coach. All 60 of these career coaches are professional coaches who are recruited and trained by Springboard Forward; coaches are paid for their work, but at a fraction of their usual rates. Career coaches begin by meeting with both the employee and the employee's manager to discuss the employee's goals. These goals may include things as varied as taking community college classes, getting a raise at work, or training to become a plumber. Employees meet with coaches for one hour every other week for the first three months, then sessions switch to once every two months. The meetings are employee-driven since the role of the coaches is to support employees in their decisions, not force goals on them or tell them what they should do.

Springboard Forward currently serves over 300 employees. Mountain View-based partners include El Camino Hospital and Bon Appetit, which provides food services at Google and Cisco, among other places. Springboard Forward is also working with a number of Bay Area Ross stores and Home Depots, and has plans to expand beyond the Bay Area.

The biggest thing constraining Springboard Forward's growth is the availability of career coaches. Any career coaches who are interested in learning more can do so at www.springboardforward.org, as can companies that might be interested in setting up a Springboard Forward program for employees.

Says Robert Reich, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor, "Springboard Forward is a wonderful example of leveraging capitalism to address the economic divide. Organizations like Springboard Forward are exceedingly important in order that companies know how they can be profitable and also achieve social objectives."

Jennifer Pence lives in Mountain View and is founder of the Windmill Giving Circle and founder and owner of Academic Springboard, a tutoring group. She can be reached at japence@hotmail.com.