Title:Georgetown Pivot Program Current Use Operations and Programming Fund

“Business has a critical role to play in addressing social problems,” says Pietra Rivoli, co-founder and co-executive director of the Pivot Program in the McDonough School of Business. To help address the challenge of transition and societal re-entry after incarceration, Georgetown McDonough runs a certificate program in business and entrepreneurship for formerly incarcerated people. Through academic work and supported employment, this one-year transition and re-entry program provides Pivot Fellows with transformative opportunities.

“Most Pivot Fellows share a common goal of wanting to be changemakers,” Rivoli says. “They often feel like they have to make up for lost time. We develop a core set of skills that allow them to make different choices, either today or down the line.”

First, in the classroom, Pivot Fellows study the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship, along with literature, economics, philosophy, and civic engagement. They also gain skills in personal finance, career planning, business communications and business etiquette, public speaking, self-advocacy, and conflict resolution. Next, in a partnered workplace, they spend three months in a subsidized internship gaining on-the-job experience. Finally, they choose between tracks to specialize in gaining employment or starting their own business.

“The core academic idea of the Pivot Program is that we want everyone to develop an entrepreneurial mindset,” Rivoli says. “We teach Pivot Fellows to spot something that the world needs, think strategically about how to meet that need, and create value for the customer.”
The program engages Georgetown students in multiple ways. Undergraduate and graduate students serve as writing and tech tutors for the program, and also assist Pivot Fellows with job searches and interview preparation.

The program is supported by the Georgetown Pivot Program Current Use Operations and Programming Fund through many donors who are dedicated to making an immediate impact. Tom (B’95) and Liz Pryma have supported the program since its inception in 2018 with personal and foundation gifts to the fund; they also partnered on the initiative with AEA Investors, LP, for an additional gift. Tom Pryma was inspired by Dean Paul Almeida’s mission to renew a focus on Jesuit values at Georgetown McDonough.

“One of the teachings of Christ is forgiveness, which includes giving people a true second chance,” Pryma says. “Pivot Fellows receive the tools necessary to earn management-level positions or start their own businesses, which can lead to sustainable employment not just for them but also for other formerly incarcerated, returning citizens. This is key to eliminating the trap of recidivism and is demonstrated by the program’s incredible achievement of zero recidivism among its graduates.”

Justin (B’99) and Mara Berman also recently made a gift to the fund, and are very committed to its mission. Justin Berman believes that Pivot can change the lives of the fellows and their communities.

“There’s an incredible return on investment from changing the narrative and helping people achieve the goals they never thought they could achieve—like going to college and having a stable home,” Berman says. “When they help others with the same challenges, it creates an unbelievable, incredible flywheel.”

The Prymas, Bermans, and other donors help the Pivot Program to leverage its momentum and continue to grow opportunities for its cohorts.

Rivoli seeks to expand the program so that it can accommodate students joining virtually from New York and to expand the program’s reach to the entire D.C. metropolitan area. She also hopes to hire staff with expertise in social work and housing. In a typical year, Pivot Fellows have to contend with housing insecurity, low internet access, gaps in tech literacy, and insufficient study space. This year, the Pivot Fellows persevered in a global pandemic that exacerbated inequity.

“Through their incredible determination and willingness to learn, they made it, every single one of them,” Rivoli says. “I think our experience this year demonstrates the astonishing resourcefulness of our Pivot Fellows.”