Season 3, Episode 8 - Social capital for all

On The Heels of Innovation with Ted Zoller

With Patrick Sullivan, CEO of Bonsai; and Jake Rosenfeld, COO of Bonsai

For many, the scenario is familiar: You apply for a job, and 10 days later an email hits your inbox politely telling you that you’re not getting an interview. How do you break through the hiring barrier? And how do you tap into professional connections that only the most privileged traditionally enjoy? In this episode, the co-founders of Bonsai describe how the company’s online platform flips privilege into access. Learn about their method for matching talented students and young professionals from all backgrounds with highly regarded mentors via virtual one-on-one meetings. You’ll hear the co-founders describe how their own entrepreneurial journeys inspired them to create a systematic way to facilitate introductions that wouldn’t otherwise happen. If who you know – like leaders at Google, Apple, Amazon, McKinsey, Microsoft and other top organizations – is often more important than what you know, the Bonsai team discusses why it’s critical to level the playing field and create social capital for all.