The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board convened business leaders, educators policymakers, and students for an event that celebrated the launch of new two new AP courses and spotlighted the urgent need to equip students with practical business skills and entrepreneurial mindsets to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
The AP Business with Personal Finance course is designed to address two critical challenges: the workforce readiness gap and economic illiteracy among young Americans.
A Wake-Up Call for Workforce Readiness
The event opened with sobering statistics from the 2025 New Hire Readiness Report, a new study from the U.S. Chamber and College Board:
Key findings include:
- 84% of hiring managers believe today’s high school graduates are not ready for the workforce, and
- 80% of hiring managers say they are less prepared than previous generations.
Suzanne Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber, emphasized the importance of business education in reversing this trend:
“We hear from business leaders all the time—they cannot find the talent,” she said. “This course is about preparing students for day one of their first job and helping them see enterprise as a source of opportunity and growth.”
Clark cited a Gallup poll showing only 54% of Americans now hold a positive view of capitalism—the lowest on record. The AP Business with Personal Finance course can be a powerful tool to reverse that trend that will teach students how markets work and how business can be a force for good.
Suzanne Clark, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, speaks during the "From Classrooms to Careers" event announcing a partnership between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the College Board at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
David Coleman (R), CEO, College Board, speaks alongside Steve Clemons (L), Editor at Large, National Interest, and Neil Bradley, EVP, Chief Policy Officer, head of strategic advocacy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, during the "From Classrooms to Careers" event announcing a partnership between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the College Board.
The audience listens to speakers during the "From Classrooms to Careers" event at the U.S. Chamber.
Aneesh Raman, Chief Economic Opportunity Officer at LinkedIn, speaks during the "From Classrooms to Careers" event.
Katherine Bradley, Founder and President of the CityBridge Foundation, speaks during the "From Classrooms to Careers" event.
Steve Clemons (R), Editor-At-Large, National Interest, speaks during the "From Classrooms to Careers' event alongside the featured panelists.
Kaedin Jaramillo (C), a student at Arizona State University, speaks during the "From Classrooms to Careers" event.
Reimagining High School: A New Vision from the College Board
David Coleman, CEO of the College Board, delivered a keynote that identified relevance as the key to student readiness in American high schools. He described a growing crisis of disengagement, where many students—especially those outside the top academic tier—feel disconnected from their education and future.
“Too many students are disconnected from their future. We must give them courses that are relevant—courses that engage the broad middle, not just the top,” he said.
Coleman announced the launch of the two new career AP courses: AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity. These courses will offer college credit and employer-recognized credentials, making them valuable for all pathways to higher education, apprenticeships and direct employment.
Importantly, these courses offer hands-on learning, with students required to create business plans and act as financial advisors in role-play scenarios. This shift to experiential learning reflects a broader pedagogical evolution.
“Business is the art of opportunity. It’s the idea that an idea can turn into action. That’s what this course is about,” Coleman said.
Students as the Spark: Real Stories of Transformation
Two students, Austin Bourn and Kaedin Jaramillo, shared how participating in an early version of the business course in high school shaped their confidence, career paths and college readiness.
Bourn, now studying Hotel Administration and Finance at Cornell University, described how the class sparked his interest in business.
“This course allowed me to think across disciplines and address real-world business challenges. It set me apart at Cornell and in the workplace,” he said.
Jaramillo, a junior at Arizona State University, found the curriculum both practical and empowering.
“The number one trait I took away from that class was confidence. I created a business plan at 15, held an internship in high school, and entered college knowing I was capable,” he said.
Business Leaders Weigh In: The Role of Industry in Education
Executives from Pentagon Federal Credit Union (Penn Fed), Accenture, Verizon, and LinkedIn joined the conversation, stressing the importance of partnerships between business and education.
James Schenck, President and CEO of Penn Fed, emphasized the need for business leaders to engage directly with schools and colleges to shape the talent pipeline:
“To get the best talent, I have to engage with academia. I need students who understand business fundamentals—not just theory, but how to operate a business,” Schenck said.
Vandana Venkatesh, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer – Public Policy, Responsible Business, Legal & Security, at Verizon Communications Inc. shared how early exposure for students opens up a realm of career possibilities.
"It starts early in terms of figuring out whether you have not just aptitude, but interest. That starts with exposure...everybody knows what a lawyer is...but you might not know what a cyber person does. Building that requires these kinds of partnerships," she said.
Majd Sakr, Chief Learning & Research Officer at Accenture, spoke about the urgency of preparing students for an AI-driven future:
“AI is changing every job. We need role-based training and practical experience to help students adapt and thrive,” he said.
Aneesh Raman, Chief Economic Opportunity Officer at LinkedIn, added a broader perspective, describing the current moment as the greatest disruption to work in human history. He argued that the future of work will require everyone to be more entrepreneurial—resilient, adaptable, and capable of starting new things.
“At the other end of this disruption, we will all have to be more entrepreneurial. That’s what this course is preparing students for,” Raman said.
The Power of Permission and Spark
Paul Cheek of MIT’s Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship captured the entrepreneurial essence of the initiative:
“Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting companies—it’s about giving students permission to act, to fail, and to innovate. That spark is what drives impact,” he said.
Cheek emphasized that students don’t need to be born entrepreneurs—they need to be activated. And that activation often comes from inspiration, mentorship, and the opportunity to see what’s possible.
“Every year, we put last year’s entrepreneurs on stage to inspire the next class. That moment of inspiration is what drives action,” he said.
What’s Next: Scaling the Movement
With support from chambers of commerce nationwide, the College Board aims to scale the new AP Career Kickstart courses to reach students in every community, from urban centers to small towns. As Coleman concluded, “We want the College Board to be known not just for measuring promise, but for lighting sparks.”
The event closed with a call to action: for educators to adopt the course, for businesses to recognize its value, and for communities to rally around the idea that every student deserves a chance to build a future through business.
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About the author
Lindsay Burton
Lindsay (Cates) Burton is a director on the communications team. She leads strategic communications for member marketing partnerships and small business advocacy programs. She previously worked as a writer and editor at U.S. News and World Report.
