Building Fulfilling Careers Together

At ESTE, we believe that career paths are not just about jobs. They are about complex identity, connection and community. When people feel seen, supported and free to contribute their true strengths, work becomes far more than a means to an end. Work becomes a place of purpose. With that in mind, we anchor our work in three closely linked pillars: Uniqueness, Teamwork, and Contribution that support employability. Through collaborations with multiple universities, schools and their districts, we are fostering pathways to fulfilling careers based on how you are different rather than how you fit into a mold.

1. Creating equitable opportunities: how ESTE collaborates with schools, businesses and communities

Valuing uniqueness has a direct impact on equity which is more than “access” — it means fairness, removal of bias, and matching opportunity to talent. At ESTE we partner broadly across the educational ecosystem, industry and local communities to do this in three main ways:

“Diligent Entrepreneur perfectly encapsulates what I already hold true about myself… It is always affirming to hear something that you know, reflected back to you by someone else.” — Jane L

• With schools. In K-12 settings and Higher Education, we work with educators and administrators to adopt our ESTE (Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering) Self-Assessment and framework so that students of all backgrounds can discover how they naturally think and feel not superficially sorted into predefined tracks. Our articles highlight how systemic barriers (e.g., limited exposure, tracking, stereotypes) must be addressed. ESTE®+1 Through collaborative workshops, teacher professional development, and in-class explorations, students are introduced to multiple ways of engaging mindsets such as leading with curiosity (Science), optimizing tools (Technology), building systems (Engineering), or inventing new solutions (Entrepreneurship).

• With businesses. Honoring uniqueness in employment means that talent is readily recognized, not overlooked, because of non-traditional credentials, background or life path. We work with corporate partners and hiring teams to move beyond “one size fits all” hiring filters, toward skills-first and strength-based hiring models. In our article “Reshaping Work: Pathways to Fulfilling Careers for All,” we describe how people who pivot careers, re-enter the workforce, or have non-linear back-stories are frequently overlooked as well as how ESTE helps surface their value. ESTE® By partnering with businesses committed to inclusive pipelines, we help craft programs where diverse talent is welcomed, mentored and advanced.

• With communities. Actual equity means reaching into communities, collaborating with nonprofits, public agencies, community centers, and local industry associations so that mentorship, exposure and support are available where people live. ESTE’s outreach in underserved communities, partnerships with after-school programs, and community engagement events are designed to widen the funnel, not just at the “top” but at every stage of development. In effect, we’re creating the “ecosystem” of equity: schools spark interest, businesses provide opportunity, communities sustain the connection.

2. Demonstrating empathy in career development

Empathy is more than attending a workshop or checking a box: it is listening, understanding context, seeing people as complex human beings, and crafting supports that reflect that reality. At ESTE, empathy plays out in several ways:

          Individual-first tools. Our self-assessment (the ESTE Assessment) doesn’t assume one path fits all. It is designed to recognize how you naturally think, feel and connect, and then translate that into career-relevant language and opportunities. ESTE® This is empathetic because it starts from the person, not the stereotype.

“[My results] highlighted strengths I already recognize in myself… but framed them in a way that made me think about how I can use them more intentionally in work and life.” — Nadine O.

          Narrative building. Many people have career journeys with stops, pivots, delays or detours. Rather than penalize those, we help people craft their story and show how any non-traditional experience adds value. As we noted in “Reshaping Work…”, empathy means translating life experience (e.g., caregiving, self-employment, community leadership) into recognized strengths. ESTE®

          Empathy in design. We build our programs and partnerships to reflect the lived realities of participants including the impact of bias, structural barriers, and under-represented identities. In “Innovation Meets Career Fulfillment,” we describe how ESTE incorporates bias-aware design, cultural-fluency training, and structural interventions. ESTE® By doing so, we treat people not as “cases to be fixed” but as colleagues to be valued for their uniqueness.

Community and relational lens. Empathy also means recognizing that career development does not happen in isolation. Students, professionals, families, communities all play a role. Our resources invite family participation, coach-mentor collaboration, peer support and community storytelling. This relational approach reflects a deeply empathetic view of career growth.

3. Leveraging partnerships to promote a diverse workforce

Valuing diversity is embedded in our mission. But how exactly do we embed these ideals through partnerships?

          Strategic alliances. We align with mission-driven organizations, educational institutions, corporations and community groups that share our commitment to inclusive talent systems. For example, we’ve worked with school districts to embed the ESTE Framework in underserved schools, with Higher Education, and with employers to commit to inclusive hiring practices. While our website doesn’t list our partners publicly, our content emphasizes that cross-sector collaboration is key to inclusive workforce development. ESTE®+1

          Accessible design & bias mitigation. Our assessment tool and career resources are built with bias-aware methods that are scientifically validated, designed to reduce stereotypical attribution and give every individual a clear indication of their strengths. ESTE®+1 This ensures that under-represented groups have access to frameworks that were historically designed with dominant demographics in mind.

          Pathway creation and inclusive pipelines. Through business-school-community partnerships, we help craft talent pipelines aimed at improving STEM and entrepreneurship fields by ensuring talent is not undervalued. For example, our “Purposeful Work” article highlights how we align passion with purpose, particularly focusing on women in STEM and other marginalized groups. ESTE®+1

          Mentorship, role-modeling and story-sharing. Representation matters. Our partners help create access to mentors, professional networks and role-models from a variety of backgrounds which sends the message: “You belong here.” Through our insights and resources, we also curate stories of individuals whose pathways may not have followed the traditional mold, thereby widening the image of what success looks like. ESTE®+1

“I’d say the assessment… was pretty accurate! I actually shifted careers and am now working in forensic science.” — James A

Bringing it all together: a call to action

Uniqueness, Teamwork, and Contribution are not three separate ideas, rather they are interwoven. When we build with what is unique about an individual, we foster trust and connection. When we design for teamwork, we ensure opportunities aren’t limited by background or stereotype. When we align contribution with individual purpose, we create careers that are fulfilling, sustainable and inclusive.

“It has the potential to truly transform how students see themselves… I can only imagine their personal reaction when they realize that they too can embody these particular strengths & possibilities.” Lauren S.

Here’s how you can join us:

          Educators and school leaders: Consider integrating the ESTE Assessment and framework into your Professional Development and curriculum and counselor resources. Ask: How can we ensure students of all backgrounds do not undervalue their unique strengths? How can we partner with local businesses and community groups and continue to bring real-world exposure?

          Business and talent leaders: Review your talent-acquisition and development systems with an equity lens. How might you partner with a framework like ESTE to broaden your talent pool? How can you ensure robust career pathways (return-to-work, pivoting professionals, non-traditional learners)?

          Community organizations and nonprofits: Engage with schools, businesses and ESTE to co-create ecosystem supports such as mentorship, experience, workshops, and storytelling that connect local individuals to real opportunities.

          Individuals and families: Explore your own mindset and vintage of work. Take the ESTE Assessment. Reflect on where you naturally thrive, how you prefer to think and connect, and how that aligns with meaningful work. Recognize that your unique story matters and persist with partners until they see it.

At ESTE, we are committed to building fulfilling careers together, rooted in the uniqueness of each individual, grounded in relationships and oriented toward contribution.

ESTE® Leverage - founded in the belief that Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, and Engineering are innate in each of us - grounded in the science of learning & assessment - dedicated to the realized potential in every individual.