Tag: 3BL

The demand for skilled professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) continues to rise. Projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that STEM occupations will grow by 10.4% between 2023 and 2033, outpacing the 4.0% growth rate for all occupations. Thus, early exposure to STEM education plays a crucial role in shaping students’ interests and aspirations in these areas.

Understanding the importance of nurturing future innovators, MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is committed to fostering curiosity and providing access to science education through its Curiosity Labs™ program—now featuring a new lesson focused on the role that artificial intelligence (AI) plays in drug discovery.

A standout feature of the new “AI in Drug Discovery” lesson is its hands-on experiment, where students use 3D-printed models to understand how AI aids drug discovery. Similar to how the company’s AI-powered AIDDISON™ platform matches shapes and colors of molecules with potential target proteins, students will create a drug candidate molecule out of 3D-printed building blocks and then match it to a target protein model. This interactive approach provides students with a tangible understanding of how AI can simplify the complex process of developing new medications.

All Curiosity Labs™ lessons are developed in partnership with Washington University in St. Louis, a global leader in applied research, through its Institute for School Partnership, with input by the company’s subject matter experts and in alignment to the Next Generation Science Standards. Offering lessons both at schools and on-site at the company’s facilities, the program is of no cost to participating schools. The company provides all the necessary materials and equipment for its trained employee volunteers to facilitate the Curiosity Labs™ lessons.

“With Curiosity Labs™, we believe that sparking curiosity early can change a student’s entire trajectory in STEM,” said Maite Nogales, Global Curiosity Labs™ Lead, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “Our hands-on approach allows students to see themselves as scientists, problem-solvers, and innovators, regardless of their background. By making complex scientific concepts like AI more accessible and engaging, we hope to break down barriers that often deter students from pursuing STEM careers. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students light up when they make connections between what they’re learning and the real-world impact of science.”

Educators and other interested parties are encouraged to visit the company’s Curiosity Labs™ webpage or email curiositylabs@milliporesigma.com to learn more about how the program educates and inspires students to consider pursuing a career in STEM.

At Elanco, our commitment to animal health goes beyond developing innovative products and extends to supporting the organisations that make a difference in animals’ lives. It is our privilege to support the incredible work being done at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) through its blood donor program.

With over 200 veterinarians and 500 nurses working across their hospitals, SASH offers a unique opportunity to engage with a wide network of veterinary professionals dedicated to saving lives and advancing animal health.

Protecting Heroes with Credelio PLUS and Seresto

Earlier this year, our Elanco representatives, Mel and Lorna, teamed up with SASH to support this meaningful initiative. SASH’s blood donor program is an important resource for the veterinary community, providing life-saving blood donations for animals in critical need. Their dedicated team of veterinary professionals and pet parents understand the impact that these transfusions can have, offering a second chance at life for countless animals.

We donated Credelio PLUS and Seresto collars to protect the canine blood donors who make life-saving transfusions possible. These products provided vital protection against parasites, ensuring the continued health and wellbeing of these animal heroes who deserve the highest level of care.

Stories from the Elanco Team

This partnership is particularly special for the Elanco team members involved. For Mel, the connection is personal. Inspired by the idea of her own dog, Angel, becoming a blood donor when she was old enough, Mel was eager to support SASH. “Knowing that as a pet parent, I could contribute to something that positively impacts other dogs in need was important to me,” she shares. “Partnering with SASH to promote parasite protection has been a fantastic way to help even further.” On Christmas Eve, Angel was able to donate 517 grams of negative blood, which is the universal blood type.

Lorna adds that, “this is a win-win for Elanco, SASH, and especially the animals involved. Seeing SASH’S call for blood donors on social media sparked a desire to get involved, not only to support the program but also to elevate the conversation around pet health and the importance of pet blood donors.”

For Elanco, this partnership reflects our core mission of enhancing animal health and well-being. It’s a story of positive impact, not only for our products but also for Elanco’s role as a leader in animal health. By supporting SASH, we contribute to an important cause, and a shared mission to create a healthier future for animals, people and the planet.

Get Involved

To learn more about the incredible work being done at SASH and the life-saving impact of their blood donor program in animal care, visit their website: https://sashvets.com/services/animal-blood-bank/

by Janine Firpo, Invest for Better

Women are becoming a Financial Force – Women are poised to become a financial force like never before. By 2030, women are expected to control $34 trillion, or 38%, of the wealth in the United States — a dramatic increase from $7.3 trillion just a decade ago. Yet the financial industry has been slow to recognize and adapt to this shift.

Breaking Barriers in Values-Aligned Investing – When I first explored values-aligned investing, the concept was still emerging. Conversations about impact investing largely revolved around institutions and high-net-worth individuals. But what about the rest of us? Could someone like me — without formal financial credentials — learn to align my investments with my values? The journey wasn’t easy. I trusted financial advisors who mismanaged my money, navigated unfamiliar financial landscapes, and experimented repeatedly before gaining confidence in managing my finances.

Eventually, I realized I wasn’t alone. Many brilliant, capable women had been excluded from financial conversations. That realization led me to write Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World. The book wasn’t just mine — it was shaped by certified financial planners, financial leaders, and women who shared their insights as thought leaders and reviewers. It was a collective effort, just like the movement itself.

At the same time, I co-founded Invest for Better, a nonprofit equipping women with the tools and confidence to align their money with their values. Through Invest for Better, I’ve experienced firsthand the extraordinary impact women can have when they come together, share knowledge, and take action. This movement isn’t about going it alone — we are in this together.

Read Janine’s insightful and useful article here- https://greenmoney.com/the-power-of-women-and-collective-action-in-investing-for-change

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This blog is part of our focus on Cisco employees who are “Striving for Sustainability” by finding opportunities to integrate sustainability in their day-to-day work.

At Cisco, we have been focusing on evolving from a linear economy that extracts resources and eventually wastes them, to a circular one that finds new uses for products and their inputs. ​By understanding the environmental impacts of our products, we can make informed decisions to reduce the resources used and determine how to extend the life of our products.

That brings us to Sripriya Narayanan, a senior product manager based in India who works for Cisco’s Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) business unit, which focuses on industrial routers, switches, and access points. She has collaborated with Cisco’s Circular Design team to develop a series of industrial routers with Circular Design Principles at the core. I recently sat down with her to learn more about her story:

When did your interest in sustainability begin?

Sripriya: My journey towards sustainability began in my childhood in India, surrounded by my parents and grandparents, who lived what we now call a sustainable lifestyle. Their approach was simple: buying only what was necessary, avoiding plastic, minimizing waste, and embracing a holistic, minimalist lifestyle. This simplicity deeply influenced me. Another influence is my love for nature and spending time in natural settings. Being in nature taught me the importance of preserving its tranquility and beauty for future generations.

When I moved to the United States after starting my career at Cisco, I began volunteering with an environmental nonprofit in San Jose called Our City Forest. There, I trained as an arborist and earned a certification in tree planting. On weekends, I led community groups, including children and parents, in tree planting activities across Santa Clara County. This experience sparked my passion for environmental advocacy.

Can you tell us about your professional and educational journey so far?

Sripriya: My journey began as a software engineer at Cisco, where I progressed to a lead engineer and technical leader. While I enjoyed my work, I realized that to drive change, I needed to transition to the business side where decisions impacting sustainability were made. To facilitate this, I pursued an MBA. I chose Berkeley’s Haas School of Business due to its focus on sustainability and the active Net Impact Club. This club allowed me to engage with industry influencers and educate my peers, many of whom were CEOs or VPs attending evening and weekend classes. Collaborating with these key industry figures was enriching, as it enabled us to collectively promote sustainable practices.

During my second year at Berkeley, I transitioned into product management at Cisco, a natural progression aligning with my goals. I joined the industrial IoT business unit as a product manager, leading the industrial routing portfolio. This role involves end-to-end management, from defining the product to launching it and engaging with customers as well as managing its end-of-life. The industrial IoT business unit was crucial to me, as it allowed direct interaction with industry leaders in sectors like utilities, manufacturing, oil and gas, and transportation. The convergence of IT and OT is a focus for industries and critical infrastructure providers. Cisco leverages its direct interactions with business leaders to explore how it can enable best practices, including sustainability, across networks from enterprise to industry spaces, all while maintaining trust and addressing both internal product challenges and external factors. It was a chance to influence sustainability on a larger scale, fulfilling my ambition to integrate circularity practices into the business realm.

How are you incorporating circularity in your role as a product manager?

Sripriya: Embracing modular design has become imperative, especially in our industrial IoT business unit, where customers expect long-lasting products, unlike the enterprise sector with frequent refresh cycles. Modularizing components allows for standardization across business units, offering flexibility and reducing redesign costs. This approach also aligns with sustainability goals by minimizing waste and resource usage.

While developing our next-generation products, I prioritized Circular Design Principles. Inspired by sustainability advocates and my own passion, I collaborated cross-functionally to integrate modular components and improve energy efficiency for utility clients concerned with energy consumption.

I also initiated more packaging sustainability efforts, eliminating excessive foam and adopting materials with a lower environmental impact from manufacturing or end of life. This was achieved through collaboration with Cisco’s packaging sustainability team. At this point of my career, I was promoted to a senior product manager position and was chosen as a leader to drive sustainability initiatives for our entire Industrial IoT business unit.

Looking to the future, I will continue to drive sustainability initiatives for Cisco Industrial IoT in partnership with the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) and Engineering Sustainability Office (ESO) teams.

What benefits have you observed from implementing Circular Design Principles?

Sripriya: Implementing Circular Design Principles offers numerous advantages, particularly in extending product lifetimes. Traditionally, businesses focused on frequent product refreshes to achieve their goals. However, by adopting a circular design mindset allows us to foster innovation without the necessity to launch new products every few years. This shift in perspective is not only beneficial for our company but also resonates across various industries, including the enterprise B2B sector.

Circular design can support faster innovation by building on existing products rather than starting from scratch. This approach reduces operational costs and capital expenses, as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by minimizing the use of natural resources. Furthermore, designing products in a modular way facilitates take-back and reuse, which can reduce financial pressures on both our customers and our supply chain management.

From an environmental standpoint, circular design reduces waste and improve energy efficiency. During product use, energy efficiency is crucial. Our collaboration with the CSO team on a comprehensive product life cycle analysis highlighted that the majority of GHG emissions occur during the use phase. Therefore, integrating energy-efficient features in product design is essential for reducing emissions.

How are Cisco’s Industrial IoT innovations helping customers transition to more circular models?

Sripriya: It’s essential to address our customers’ current business challenges while providing them with easy ways to leverage new innovations without completely replacing their existing products. Cisco’s Industrial IoT solutions underscore energy efficiency and support circular practices, enhancing sustainability in product management.

With a circular design approach, we enable our customers to save the expense of buying completely new equipment every time their requirements change, which also eliminates the resources and energy required to create new equipment across manufacturing, shipping, and logistics. By upgrading or repairing just the individual modules, customers extend the product’s lifetime, reduce materials that are disposed of prematurely, and help conserve resources.

Customer stories that showcase how Cisco IoT solutions have helped them with their goals can be found here.

Do you do anything in your personal life to promote circularity? If so, what advice would you give others?

Sripriya: In my personal life, I strive to promote circularity by adopting a minimalist lifestyle. This journey began during my time in the United States, where I focused on purchasing only essential items and using reusable bags for grocery shopping to avoid plastic waste. Choosing an electric or hybrid car over a traditional gas-powered vehicle was another significant step that I took, as well as taking public transportation.

Recently, I relocated to India to be closer to my family and care for my aging parents. Here, I’ve noticed significant challenges regarding waste management and environmental awareness. While there is growing awareness about plastic pollution in some countries, in India, this understanding is often limited to certain urban areas.

Despite these challenges, I aim to influence my community by advocating for simple lifestyle changes that reduce consumption and promote responsible living. Encouraging people to consider the necessity of their purchases and seek better, more sustainable options is key. It’s about making conscious choices and recognizing that there are always alternatives that are better for the environment.

I also believe in leading by example and sharing knowledge with others to inspire them to become environmental advocates. By fostering discussions about sustainability, I hope to contribute to a more responsible and environmentally conscious world. These small actions in my daily life reflect my commitment to promoting circularity and encouraging others to do the same.

View original content here.

At Griffith Foods, we proudly celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th, honoring the invaluable contributions of women while cultivating an inclusive and authentic environment.

Our HR leadership team can be seen here showcasing this year’s theme, Accelerate Action, which highlights the urgency of dismantling systemic barriers and biases—both personal and professional. It’s a call to drive meaningful change through bold, decisive steps.

Together, let’s champion progress, empower women, and take action toward a more inclusive world. How will you Accelerate Action in 2025?

About Griffith Foods
At Griffith Foods, our purpose defines who we are, what we do, and why we exist, highlighting what makes us distinct and authentic in the marketplace. We help our partners meet the evolving needs and desires of consumers in ways that respect and sustain the planet. Our care and creativity mean we’ll find the right mix of global reach and local impact to serve the earth and nourish all of us who call it home.

View original content here.

To mark the milestone, the Whirlpool Women’s Network (WWN), hosted a fireside chat with Kristin Day, Vice President of Operations and Manufacturing for NAR Manufacturing, and Roxanne Warner, Sr. Vice President and Corporate Controller.

See the original content here.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the last-remaining major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2024, the company reported approximately $17 billion in annual sales – close to 90% of which were in the Americas – 44,000 employees, and 40 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

In 2019, Somchai, a Thai native, was 21 years old and faced a double threat to his long-term health and wellbeing. He was living with hepatitis B (HBV) and with advanced HIV.

“Since both viruses are bloodborne and transmitted in similar ways, coinfections can be quite common,” says Dr. Anchalee Avihingsanon, the lead clinical researcher at the Thai Red Cross AIDS and Infectious Diseases Research Centre where Somchai sought treatment.

Anchalee is all too familiar with the prevalence and effect of coinfections as nearly 20% of the patients she sees are living with both HBV and HIV.

“We must acknowledge that HBV-HIV coinfection represents a major global public health challenge that increases morbidity and mortality beyond either infection alone,” she says.

HIV-HBV coinfection rates can reach 25% in areas where both viruses are endemic, such as in Asia. In some parts of Asia, HBV is endemic with a projected 70% of the population showing serologic evidence of current or prior infection.

When Somchai first met Anchalee, he felt extremely fatigued and was also worried about what his diagnosis could mean for his partner’s health.

Anchalee’s long-standing career as a physician working in the community helped her address his concerns and build trust with Somchai – just as she has done with her other patients.

“They know I have their back because I’m very active within the community and among healthcare professionals to improve the management of coinfections and dispel misinformation,” she says.

Fortunately, treatment options that were limited when she first began working in this area in 2008 have also since changed. These days her research is focused on driving the availability of data within those communities acutely impacted by HIV-HBV co-infections.

“We must continue to seek new scientific evidence to provide better care,” says Anchalee. “People working toward eliminating formidable public health challenges, such as HIV-HBV coinfections, know that an epidemic somewhere is an epidemic everywhere.”

In the meantime, Somchai, is grateful that he’s been able to do better since those early days when he first met Anchalee in the clinic. “It’s been more than five years and I’m getting the help I need thanks to my doctor.”

Originally published by Gilead Sciences.

In this latest blog, Lee Green, Cascale’s Vice President, Communications & Marketing, explores how Cascale’s event experiences have evolved to focus on purpose-driven content, values-aligned partnerships, and low-impact, inclusive design. He highlights how these changes are creating opportunities for more meaningful conversations and connections, reshaping event experiences to encourage participation in transformative discussions, foster impactful relationships, and contribute to the broader sustainability movement.

Read the full blog, titled: Want to Build, Attend a Sustainable Event? Consider Cascale’s Event Experience

Have you considered how the future of economies depends not on boardrooms, but on the critical role of ports? Ports have transitioned from mere gateways for goods into vital economic engines, driving global and regional growth through trade facilitation, job creation, and industry integration. Few companies exemplify this transformation better than DP World—a leader in reimagining port operations and global logistics connectivity. 

But what makes ports such essential economic hubs, and how can they address challenges such as trade disruptions, sustainability requirements, and digital transformation? In this article, we examine these questions and highlight innovative strategies that are shaping the future of global logistics. 

Economic Powerhouses Driving Regional Development 

Ports play a crucial role in both local and global economies, acting as essential arteries that drive trade, boost industrial growth, and create jobs. For example, in the European Union alone, the maritime industry supports over 940,000 jobs, with ports being key to maintaining the seamless flow of goods across borders. 

Today, ports are much more than transit hubs. They’ve become central to complex logistics networks, connecting markets worldwide. This evolution has made them essential for addressing trade imbalances and strengthening economic resilience. 

Take DP World as an example—our strategically located ports serve as vital trade corridors, speeding up exports, cutting lead times, and linking businesses in emerging markets to the global economy. 

A standout example is our DP World Santos in Brazil. As one of the largest and most modern port compounds in Latin America, it is strategically located on Barnabé Island in the Port of Santos, the busiest container port in the region. With seamless access to sea, road, and rail networks, DP World Santos plays a crucial role in connecting international trade to Brazil’s economic heart, São Paulo. The terminal has an impressive annual capacity of 1.2 million TEUs, boasting 653 meters of wharf and a developed terminal area of 207,000 square meters. 

Tackling Industry Challenges with Innovative Solutions 

Ports hold immense economic potential, but they are not without challenges. How they address these obstacles will shape their efficiency and relevance in the decades to come. 

Geopolitical Shifts and Trade Tensions 

The global trade landscape is constantly evolving, with political uncertainties and trade disputes creating instability in supply chains. Ports that build flexible, diversified trade routes can better handle these disruptions. 

With partnerships and operations spanning six continents, DP World has created a resilient network that ensures trade continues despite geopolitical challenges, offering businesses the reliability they need. 

Environmental Sustainability 

Global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of greenhouse gas emissions, meaning ports must adopt greener solutions—not just for the planet, but to remain competitive. Integrating renewable energy, electrified equipment, and eco-conscious practices is essential. 

We’re ahead of the curve with initiatives like hybrid and electric cranes, solar energy projects, and reducing fuel consumption. Our “Our World, Our Future” strategy sets clear goals for sustainable operations, meeting global expectations while appealing to investors focused on ESG. 

Infrastructure Upgrades to Handle Future Trade 

With rising trade volumes and the era of mega-ships, ports must upgrade their infrastructure to accommodate larger vessels and heavier cargo loads. However, these upgrades come with significant costs and require innovative support models.

DP World is actively investing in future-ready facilities. In North America, DP World’s expansion in Canada highlights the importance of its largest container terminal network in the country. These facilities play a pivotal role in strengthening the region’s trade routes and supporting businesses, contributing to economic vitality across Canada. 

Cybersecurity Risks 

The digital transformation of supply chains has exposed ports to new risks. Cyberattacks targeting maritime networks and port operations can disrupt trade, damage trust, and cost billions. DP World is tackling this head-on by partnering with global cybersecurity leaders and investing in advanced technologies. Their proactive approach sets a strong example of how ports can mitigate these growing threats and ensure operational resilience. 

By addressing these challenges with innovation and foresight, the port industry can unlock its full potential and continue to drive global trade forward. 

Adapting to Digital Transformation 

The integration of technology into port operations is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Digital solutions like blockchain technology, IoT sensors, and automation improve efficiency, transparency, and speed, turning manual tasks into seamless processes. 

DP World is at the forefront of port digitization, deploying its logistics platform, Cargoes, to provide real-time visibility into cargo movement and leveraging IoT-enabled smart sensors for operational efficiency. These advancements don’t just streamline processes; they enhance supply chain resilience and customer satisfaction. 

Ports as Central Hubs for Economic Resilience 

The cumulative efforts of a well-functioning port create cascading benefits for entire regions. Investments in port innovation improve trade connectivity, attract foreign investments, and enable surrounding businesses to flourish. Ports with advanced technologies and a focus on sustainability also serve as powerful tools for economic resilience in the face of volatility. 

With 80 ports across six continents, DP World is much more than a service provider—it’s a partner in growth. By combining its infrastructural expertise with cutting-edge digital solutions, DP World is helping nations realize the full potential of their ports to strengthen regional economies. 

The Call to Action 

The role of ports in bolstering global economies isn’t just about logistics; it’s about collaboration, innovation, and vision. Whether it’s adopting greener policies or making investments to build smarter infrastructure, the maritime industry is at the forefront of transformational opportunities. 

At DP World , we view ports as gateways not only to goods but to economic prosperity. Are you ready to join the conversation on the future of global trade? Follow us and discover how we’re making global connections more efficient, sustainable, and impactful.

Mastercard

Tanya Van Court was about to learn a lesson that would change her life. In 2001, after earning her master’s in industrial engineering from Stanford University, Van Court was vice president at a broadband internet provider in Silicon Valley. In her time at the company, she had watched as the value of her stock options soared to $1 million. Then the tech bubble burst. Her holdings lost 98% of their market price in one day.

“I thought, ‘Tanya, that was a fatal mistake,’” she recalls. “But I didn’t know if there was anything I could have done differently, because I hadn’t been taught the basics of personal finance.” 

What she did know was that she never wanted this to happen again, not to her or anyone else. That’s what inspired Van Court to create Goalsetter, a family finance app that puts education first. Goalsetter, a veteran of Mastercard’s Start Path startup engagement program, allows parents to schedule allowance payments, which kids can save, invest or spend via a Mastercard debit card. The app also offers interactive content — such as videos, memes and games — designed to make learning about money fun. 

Yet in recent years, Van Court has grown concerned about another group: college students, standing on the precipice of careers, salaries and adult responsibilities. And as a Black woman, Van Court was particularly worried about Black graduates, who must navigate systemic economic barriers (for every $100 of wealth held by white families, black families have only $15) while also disproportionately saddled with student loan debt — four years after graduation, Black students owe an average of 188% more than white students.

At Mastercard, Dawn Boudwin, a director on the Community and Belonging team, was thinking about the same challenges, but from the opposite direction — she knew some of Mastercard’s customers wanted to boost financial literacy among college students to put them on the path to financial health but struggled to find the right approach. 

So she reached out to Van Court to create the Financial Freedom Project, a virtual money management boot camp for college students. Because of Mastercard’s strong relationships with Atlanta-area Historically Black Colleges and Universities, they chose Spelman and Morehouse Colleges and Clark Atlanta University for the pilot. In a series of online classes, Van Court and her team taught 88 students how take control of their finances and achieve their long-term goals. 

“Wherever you get your degree, you should leave school prepared for real life, and basic financial education can help set everyone up for success,” Boudwin says. “We heard anecdotally on campuses, ‘We don’t even know where to find this type of information.’ There was an appetite for it, and it wasn’t being met.” 

The uphill journey to financial literacy

Today, students using Goalsetter’s educational platform achieve, on average, an 83% mastery of financial concepts. “By the time these kids are out of their parents’ houses, they are truly ready for the world,” she says. 

But how ready is the typical college student? To find out, last year Goalsetter administered a 12th-grade-level financial quiz to students at Stanford, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta University. At each school, the average score hovered around 50%. 

“We must find ways to deliver financial education to these kids on their own time. The more Americans we can put on solid financial footing, the stronger our communities will be.” 

Tanya Van Court

The results reminded Van Court of her own hard road to financial literacy. “They’re getting prestigious degrees, but if you don’t come out of college knowing exactly what to do with your first paycheck, you’re already behind,” she says. “The right instruction can give students at these institutions a shot at developing generational wealth. You can’t live the dream if you don’t speak the language.”

Changing the game

Fortunately, higher education has been shown to bolster financial resilience for graduates: About 30% of students at HBCUs move up at least two income quintiles from their parents by age 30 — nearly double that of students at other colleges and universities. Van Court wondered whether additional financial education could multiply that impact. And, if so, which behavioral nudges would motivate them most? 

Thus, the bootcamp was born. Using content adapted from the Goalsetter curriculum, Van Court and her team led the students through ten Zoom workshops, devoting each half-hour session to a different core concept, such as investing, debt management and retirement planning. They also offered on-demand access to recordings of the classes on their website. 

By the end of the bootcamp, the participants had improved their financial literacy scores by an average of 29.4%. Their confidence improved in step: 73% reported feeling comfortable making investments through an app, compared to 32% before the course began. The results also showed a similar positive shift in confidence around choosing a savings product — 49% pre-survey compared to 85% post-survey. 

These findings can help Mastercard’s customers inform and evolve their financial literacy programs and enable the integration of Goalsetter and its white-label app, Boudwin says, as well as strengthen the company’s own on-campus financial literacy efforts through its Master Your Card initiative. “We can really tailor how we’re showing up to make sure we’re giving students the information they really need, to have the greatest impact on their financial management behaviors.” 

Now Van Court wants schools around the country to draw inspiration from these results to prevent financial literacy from getting lost in the shuffle of lab reports and term papers. 

“We must find ways to deliver financial education to these kids on their own time,” she says. “The more Americans we can put on solid financial footing, the stronger our communities will be.” 

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.