a16z Podcast a16z Podcast: Collectively Driving Change
May 27, 2019
Laurene Powell Jobs, founder of the Emerson Collective, discusses her journey from humble beginnings in New Jersey to becoming a leader in social impact. She shares how her youth experiences shaped her commitment to philanthropy and social justice. The conversation also delves into the necessity of innovative solutions in education and the role of collective action in addressing systemic disparities. Powell Jobs emphasizes the importance of community engagement and creative approaches to drive meaningful change across various sectors.
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Early Life and Values
- Laurene Powell Jobs grew up in a working-class family in West Milford, New Jersey, where she learned the value of hard work early on.
- Her family instilled in her the importance of education as a means of upward mobility.
Early Philanthropic Interests
- As a child, Powell Jobs donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which exposed her to social injustices.
- This experience sparked her interest in addressing inequality and significantly impacted her worldview.
Discovering Educational Inequities
- Powell Jobs volunteered as a college counselor at a high school in East Palo Alto, California.
- She discovered that many students lacked the necessary guidance and resources to apply to four-year colleges.