“I blew it.”
That is how Juan felt after his interview for a position at BizzNEST. He arrived in sweatpants and was extremely nervous. He struggled to answer questions and avoided eye contact.
He left the room feeling defeated, certain that he had missed his chance.
At the time, Juan was working three part-time jobs while attending community college to support his family. He was quiet and kept to himself, later sharing that he felt like he didn’t belong or deserve to be there.
A Balance of Love and Rigor
At Digital NEST, we believed in Juan’s potential and brought him into the cohort. Our work is at the intersection of Love and Rigor.
At the NEST, Juan found a safe space for connection and belonging as well as wraparound professional support specifically for first-generational professionals.
We held Juan to high standards and challenged him to grow, even when it was uncomfortable.
The Breakthrough
During the cohort, Juan’s team lead provided extra 1-on-1 support. They worked together on his resume, portfolio, and professional presence.
During these conversations, his mentor discovered something incredible: Juan had grown a personal TikTok account about Pokémon to 13,000 followers and 25 million views.
Juan hadn’t mentioned this in his interview because he didn’t think it counted as work experience. His mentor reminded him that the only thing holding him back was himself and insisted that this success be part of his professional portfolio.
The Outcome
In under four months, Juan – one of the youngest and shyest members of the group – secured full-time work in a specialized Operations role and is an official member of the TikTok Creator Rewards Program. He is the first professional in his family.
“I still face self-doubt and moments of low confidence, but I’ve learned that growth comes from taking chances, embracing challenges, and trusting myself to keep moving forward,” Juan said.
“And sometimes, that leap of faith leads to the exact opportunity you never thought you’d get.”
Our Mission in Action
Juan’s success is an example of our program’s unique approach. Our model focuses on the strengths and experiences members bring, helping them imagine and realize their potential. At their local NEST center, members build the social and economic capital they need to launch wealth-building careers.
In 2025, we received 523 applications for only 41 positions in BizzNEST. There are many more young professionals like Juan who need the Digital NEST.
Last year, 79% of BizzNEST associates secured paid opportunities, significantly outperforming the 24% job-finding rate for the rest of California.
Help for more young people like Juan find a community invested in their success. Make a gift today.
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About BizzNEST:
BizzNEST is Digital NEST’s creative agency, providing professional web, marketing, and media services to clients like Adobe and the BlueZones Project. The program bridges a critical career gap by providing the paid, real-world experience first-generation professionals need to build portfolios and land full-time jobs. To directly support these young leaders, Digital NEST reinvests roughly $1 million in annual salaries back into its associates.
