Full Name
Nitzan Pelman
Job Title
Founder
Company
Climb Hire
Speaker Bio
In 2018, LinkedIn put a referral button on their platform. They learned that the vast majority of job seekers secured employment through networks and relationships. Nitzan Pelman was an Entrepreneur in Residence at LinkedIn when these insights were discovered. Quickly, she became obsessed with finding ways to unlock networks and social capital for job seekers who come from disadvantaged communities. She founded Climb Hire, a workforce and upskilling organization that focuses on building social capital alongside of in demand skills because “who you know matters almost as much
as what you know.”
Over 70% of the low-wage job seekers in the program increased their wages by $20,000 to $40,000 on average. Nitzan has raised over 20M for Climb Hire’s work from Google.org, Walmart.org, Eric Schmidt, the Schusterman Foundation, LinkedIn, Workday and a $6 million grant from the renowned philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott.
Building on this success, Nitzan recently launched Climb Together -- a sister organization dedicated to sharing the insights, learnings, and curriculum related to unlocking social capital. Climb Together helps colleges, universities, school districts, and companies develop a social capital strategy and relevant content so that students, job seekers, and learners can leverage relationships and secure great jobs. Nitzan has also built an AI social capital bot so that students can improve their relationship building
skills.
Prior to Climb Hire and Climb Together, Nitzan founded ReUp Education (sold to a private equity company called Avethon) which has enabled 100,000 students to return and complete their college degrees. She also founded the New York region of Citizen Schools.
Nitzan is invited to speak on panels, podcasts, and deliver keynote presentations across the country about insights related to social capital. She is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, an Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow and a LinkedIn Top Voice Influencer.
Prior to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Nitzan worked at the Department of Education in New York City, KIPP, and Teach for America. Nitzan holds a Masters in Public Administration from New York University and a BA from Stern College for Women.
as what you know.”
Over 70% of the low-wage job seekers in the program increased their wages by $20,000 to $40,000 on average. Nitzan has raised over 20M for Climb Hire’s work from Google.org, Walmart.org, Eric Schmidt, the Schusterman Foundation, LinkedIn, Workday and a $6 million grant from the renowned philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott.
Building on this success, Nitzan recently launched Climb Together -- a sister organization dedicated to sharing the insights, learnings, and curriculum related to unlocking social capital. Climb Together helps colleges, universities, school districts, and companies develop a social capital strategy and relevant content so that students, job seekers, and learners can leverage relationships and secure great jobs. Nitzan has also built an AI social capital bot so that students can improve their relationship building
skills.
Prior to Climb Hire and Climb Together, Nitzan founded ReUp Education (sold to a private equity company called Avethon) which has enabled 100,000 students to return and complete their college degrees. She also founded the New York region of Citizen Schools.
Nitzan is invited to speak on panels, podcasts, and deliver keynote presentations across the country about insights related to social capital. She is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, an Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow and a LinkedIn Top Voice Influencer.
Prior to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Nitzan worked at the Department of Education in New York City, KIPP, and Teach for America. Nitzan holds a Masters in Public Administration from New York University and a BA from Stern College for Women.
