For the first time, the New York Jobs CEO Council and the Partnership for New York City are teaming up to bring Career Discovery Week to City University of New York (CUNY) students—a move designed to connect the city’s rising talent with some of its most influential employers.
From November 3–11, more than 1,000 first- and second-year students across 18 CUNY campuses will get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at 30 major companies, including Accenture, Amazon, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, and Memorial Sloan Kettering. Through site visits, alumni panels, and networking sessions, participants will explore in-demand career paths and start building connections that could shape their professional futures.
From Classroom to Career—Faster
The CUNY edition builds on the Partnership’s successful Career Discovery Week for NYC public high schools, which since 2020 has exposed over 11,000 students to careers across 200 major employers. This college-level expansion fills a key gap between high school career exploration and college internships, offering early exposure at a stage when Fortune 500 companies often begin recruiting.
“CUNY Career Discovery Week helps students move faster from learning to earning—by giving them exposure to potential employers and meaningful career paths,” said Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture and Chair of the New York Jobs CEO Council. “Our members are excited to open their doors to these students so they can build their confidence, prepare for jobs of the future, and share in the city’s economic growth.”
Early Engagement, Stronger Employment
The Jobs Council’s data shows that CUNY students who engage with its programs at least twice are 64% more likely to be hired by member companies. “As engagement increases, so does employment,” said Kiersten Barnet, Executive Director of the Jobs Council. “We want to reach students early to increase the number of touchpoints and their likelihood of being employed.”
Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, added that the initiative builds on a proven model: “Career Discovery Week has demonstrated the value of connecting students directly with New York City’s leading employers. By offering this to CUNY students, we’re helping them see the variety of opportunities available across industries.”
Bridging Education and Opportunity
The collaboration underscores a broader citywide effort to bridge education and employment—aligning academic preparation with real-world workforce needs. With the involvement of some of the city’s largest private-sector employers, the program highlights how cross-sector partnerships can strengthen New York’s talent pipeline and create more equitable access to career growth.
“This collaboration exemplifies what makes New York City extraordinary—when our leading employers, educational institutions, and civic organizations come together to create opportunity,” said Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor of CUNY. “Career Discovery Week helps students explore industries, connect with professionals, and gain the skills that power our economy.”
As the city continues to rebuild its economy and workforce post-pandemic, CUNY Career Discovery Week offers a model for how higher education and industry can collaborate to prepare students not just for jobs—but for careers that will help drive New York’s next chapter of inclusive growth.
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Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations, investor relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire for secure and accurate distribution of market-moving news and multimedia. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX network. Business Wire’s global newsrooms are available to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media worldwide.
