Tala, a global financial technology company, partnered with Los Fresnos United high school in Texas to host a career panel and business case competition for students called SuitUp. During the event, Tala volunteers answered students' questions and coached them as they developed business ideas. One team pitched a loan product focused on goals. Surveys found the event increased students' confidence and interest in careers like business and marketing. Both volunteers and students felt the event was impactful and want to participate again in the future.

1. SuitUp with Tala
02.06.2023
Opening Doors and Reimagining Pathways for
Students Everywhere…

2. students
served
volunteers
engaged
27
24
About Tala
Tala is a global technology
company building the
world's most accessible
financial services. More
than 6 million people have
used Tala to start and
expand small businesses,
manage day-to-day needs,
and pursue their financial
goals with confidence.
About Los Fresnos United
Los Fresnos United,
located in San Benito, Texas
is an extension of Los
Fresnos High School and
educates 9th and 10th grade
students. The school
recognizes that parents and
schools need to work
together for the betterment
of the students. Parents play
an important role in
providing support and
building the confidence of
their children along with their
educators. At Los Fresnos,
students are challenged to
grow in their academic
abilities and be ready for
success in college and their
career.

3. Volunteers Gender Students
23% Female 45%
69% Male 56%
8% Non Binary N/A
Meet the Participants
Volunteers Race/Ethnicity Students
15%
Asian or Pacific
Islander 5%
8% Black N/A
46% Caucasian N/A
23% Hispanic or Latinx 86%
8% Multi-Racial 5%
N/A Prefer Not Say 4%

4. Tala’s College & Career Panel
Volunteers from Tala and students from Los Fresnos
United participated in a SuitUp College and Career
Panel in which panelists answered questions related to
their college and career journeys and what it’s like to
work at a company like Tala. Students had the
opportunity to ask questions of their own and get to
know panelists in more depth through individual
breakout rooms.
Panelist Questions:
● Describe your path to where you are now at your company and
what you love about Tala. How did you end up in your current role?
● What educational experience is required to work in your field?
● Describe Tala’s impact and how they incorporate the “human
factor.” With this in mind, how do you identify work that you are
passionate about?
● What should students start doing now if they want to work at a
company like Tala one day?

5. Business Case Challenge
Breakout rooms of volunteers and students united after their panel to participate in a
SuitUp business competition in which they created a new feature or product for Tala that
promotes the “human factor” and brings awareness to their brand. Volunteers coached
students in various departments before helping them pitch to judges for a cash prize.
SuitUp to the Challenge
Winning Team:
Team 4
A Tala Loan Focused on my Goal
Team 1:
Tala Express
Team 2:
Live Chat that
Helps the
Customer
Team 3:
Local Tala
Representatives
Team 4:
A Tala Loan
Focused on my
Goal

6. From Student to CEO…
A look at how we are changing life trajectories
through corporate skills-based volunteering

7. Competitions Make a Difference…
95%
of students feel more confident in school
and preparing for a career after working
with SuitUp and their coaches
100%
of volunteers believe their company
made a positive impact through SuitUp
100%
of volunteers see SuitUp as a way to
encourage more students to explore their
industry or company
AFTER SUITUP...

8. Tala’s Impact
SuitUp asked students if Tala’s SuitUp competition made an
impact on their future career choice. 91% of students said that
engaging with the volunteers influenced their career choice and
now they can see themselves using skills such as communication,
teamwork and public speaking.
Students are now interested in exploring the following fields:
Business Administration / Entrepreneurship 86%
Fashion Design 32%
Financial Services 9%
Graphic/Web Design 27%
Marketing 40%
Media/Public Relations 14%
STEM 4%
Other 14%

9. Same time
next week?
100% of volunteers are interested in doing a SuitUp competition again
95% of students enjoyed interacting with the corporate volunteers
95% of students would like to participate in SuitUp again

10. During the competition, we
overheard…
“ I think entrepreneurship is a very ambitious and amazing thing to do. It's a
lot of fun; you don't always know what is going to happen but part of the
fun is in trying! – Tala Coach
A lot of the time, you don’t know where a certain major or career will take
you long term–have faith and stick with what you’re good at and the
opportunities will come. – Tala Judge
We have a lot of great ideas here! I know it was a reach! Some companies
don't have enough funding for that stuff but in a business, there's a certain
aspect of taking a risk. Maybe it might not work but if it does, it will bring in
more money, more profit, and stuff like that. – Los Fresnos United Student
We have to make people trust and believe Tala is like a family that would
help you in any situation. – Los Fresnos United Student

11. Get Involved
A huge thank you from all of us in the SuitUp family…
JOIN SUITUP’S
CORPORATE
BOARD
VOLUNTEER
AT FUTURE
EVENTS
MAKE AN
INTRO TO
ANOTHER
COMPANY
GIVE
A
GIFT
This board meets 4x a year and
helps SuitUp implement its
strategic plan to scale and serve
more students.
Follow us on social media
and stay engaged in order to
sign up for other volunteer
opportunities in the future.
SuitUp is always seeking
new corporate partners to
host and sponsor SuitUp
competitions and events.
We work across the US
and even the UK.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit,
SuitUp is always seeking
financial or in-kind support to
continue our work in
communities that need it most.
All gifts are tax deductible.

12. THANK YOU
www.volunteerSuitUp.org
Hope to see you again soon!