NFTE blog

Just this week the venerable publication The Economist shined a spotlight on the reality of the youth unemployment crisis.  There are now estimated to be 290 million young people – 25% of all youth worldwide – who are not employed, pursing education or in a vocational training program.  NFTE and entrepreneurship education are more vital than ever.

By: Ernst & Young LLP's McLean Tax Partner John Domenick

When I joined the Ernst & Young organization in 1999, the mindset of corporate responsibility stood out to me in every aspect of our business. Intrigued, impressed, excited — those were the words that came to mind when I was first introduced to Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and its mission. After relocating to McLean, Virginia, in 2011, I got involved with the local high school class Ernst & Young LLP  had recently adopted through NFTE's Adopt-a-Class program. I became leader of our Adopt-a-Class program shortly thereafter, recognizing its alignment with the firm's community engagement efforts.

I’ve been involved with NFTE for almost 4 years now – wow!  

What started as a way for me to utilize my skillsets as an investor and advisor to entrepreneurs in support of my passion for education has morphed into, honestly, a way of life.  Late last year I made a career switch and joined an education-focused startup company, www.campusexplorer.com, with the goal of founding my own one day.

While this was the scariest decision of my life, I felt a strange comfort because of two important lessons that have guided me.  Interestingly enough, these two lessons are the core of NFTE. It’s why NFTE matters.