Thrive Scholars Chicago

Thrive Scholars works to provide the most talented and ambitious students of color from low-income communities with the opportunities they need to become tomorrow’s diverse leaders. Thrive aims to see more Black and Latinx people in the C-Suites and corporate boardrooms, at finance companies and law offices, and in civic institutions and professional careers such as engineering, medicine, and science.

Thrive has been doing this work for 20 years. By investing in college counseling; intensive academic preparation; meaningful professional mentorship; access to networks for internships and jobs; and personal, social-emotional, and financial support, Thrive is changing outcomes. More than 90% of its scholars attend a Top 100 College – over 40% go to Ivy League schools. 98% graduate. Most importantly, they go on to thrive in their careers, and are on the path to becoming the diverse professional, civic, business, and academic leaders of color our country needs.

A unique component of Thrive’s work is the four-year career development curriculum which includes two years of intensive, personalized career coaching focusing on hard and soft skills needed to excel in high-trajectory industries. Thrive’s Finance Career Track specifically offers Scholars early career exposure to high-impact finance careers. Scholars participate in a Finance Bootcamp where they learn financial statement analysis, valuation, and financial modeling; hone the soft skills needed to successfully navigate corporate culture; and develop the hard skills to succeed in finance internships.

Through the early-investment model, Thrive Scholars aims to help shape extraordinary futures for Chicago’s highest-achieving students of color and to create a more diverse talent pipeline for Chicago businesses.