Journey to Equity and Opportunity with Nitzan Pelman, CEO of CilmbHire

d'Skills in Action

Ever wondered about the boundless potential of education?

In our ongoing pursuit of reimagining education and reshaping traditional learning paradigms....

We've brought you captivating conversations with trailblazers like Ted Dintersmith, James Fellowes, and many more...

But what if I told you that there's more?

More to the story of bridging the gap for students and adults who face barriers to accessing traditional pathways.

Today's exploration takes us deep into the heart of innovative education and career pathways.

As we ponder the question of equity and opportunity, we’ll continue that dialogue from a unique vantage point...

with someone whose journey will leave you in awe – Nitzan Pelman, the visionary force behind ClimbHire.

Hold onto your seats, because as you listen, you'll discover how ClimbHire opens doors to learning tracks that transcend traditional norms.

Join us in this immersive episode, where Nitzan's journey unfolds in her own words.

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The Transformative Power of Relationships

"Once you get a label, then you live into that label and it's really hard to not live into it."--Nitzan Pelman

In our conversation, Nitzan Pelman shares her personal experience of being labeled as a "special ed" child in her early education.

This label led to low expectations from teachers and peers, and she found herself in a cycle of limited learning experiences.

She describes the demoralizing environment of separate classrooms for labeled students, where they internalized the label and formed a self-deprecating identity.

The result was a lack of motivation to excel academically, leading to a deep desire to distance herself from school.

But her transformative journey highlights the impact of personal relationships on shaping one's capabilities and mindset.

"I invested the time, and I invested the energy and I invested and pushed through those feelings of shame."--Nitzan Pelman

She discusses how her relationship with her boyfriend, who had a deep love for learning, introduced her to a different way of thinking.

Being surrounded by his intellectual circle challenged her to reevaluate her own potential.

This experience led to a profound shift in her perception of herself and her capacity to learn.

Rethinking Education for the Critical Thinking Economy

While technology offers new opportunities for learning and collaboration...

Nitzan emphasizes that critical thinking remains an essential skill in an increasingly automated and outsourced knowledge economy.

She discusses the role of emerging technologies like ChatGPT in the education sector.

"The art of writing is really the art of thinking, and if you can't think critically, then you're going to have a hard time doing anything that's valuable in society."--Nitzan Pelman

Nitzan challenges the notion that technology can replace core skills like writing and critical analysis.

Instead, she advocates for a reimagined education system that focuses on developing strong critical thinking skills to navigate the evolving complexities of the modern world.

Building Social Capital for Economic Mobility

Nitzan highlights the disparities in access to networks and relationships that often hinder individuals from low-income and non-traditional backgrounds.

"No one wants to be that first black person on the staff... it has to be organic, and it has to be real, and it has to be genuine. And the only way to do that is to build those teams that are diverse early on." — Nitzan Pelman

The conversation centers around the critical importance of social capital in creating economic opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Climb Hire's mission is to bridge this gap by providing not only technical skills but also facilitating the building of social capital.

The story of climbers successfully referring to their peers and volunteers mentoring participants underscores the value of networks and relationships in opening doors to employment opportunities.

Indeed, diversity and inclusion efforts should begin early to cultivate authentic and diverse networks within organizations.

Links and Mentions:

(1) Nitzan Pelman | LinkedIn

Climb Hire

James Fellowes