ReliaQuest is committed to investing in future generations by educating students about cybersecurity. Through its partnership with Junior Achievement (JA), ReliaQuest has had a unique opportunity to help further JA’s global mission and give students hands-on experience as they learn about the immense opportunities within the cybersecurity industry.
Junior Achievement is one of the world’s largest and most-impactful youth-serving nonprofits, delivering hands-on, immersive learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial health for millions of students in over 100 countries every year. ReliaQuest proudly plays a part in JA programs in the communities of each of its global operating centers.
In 2017, ReliaQuest sponsored a first-of-its-kind simulated cybersecurity storefront in Junior Achievement’s Biztown. The simulated town is an interactive experience that serves about 20,000 5th graders every year, where students spend a day working every kind of job from a bank teller to a restaurant manager to, now, a cybersecurity analyst.
ReliaQuest’s “storefront” in Junior Achievement’s Biztown
ReliaQuest teammates from Tampa and Vegas operating centers regularly volunteer at Biztown and Finance parks, while those based in Salt Lake City volunteer at JA City, working closely with the students to teach them about the importance of cybersecurity in everyday life. JA students in Ireland get a chance to visit the ReliaQuest Dublin office and learn about the different teams that make security possible, while ReliaQuest teammates in London and Pune, India, volunteer at different schools for events hosted by JA Worldwide.
Olivier Millour, Junior Achievement’s Director of 3DE Partnerships and Development in Tampa, said: “Members of ReliaQuest are so connected to each individual student that they work with. ReliaQuest goes so above and beyond and is truly committed to the community.”
ReliaQuest commits to providing volunteers at least once a month, giving every employee the opportunity. Since 2017, it has provided 686 volunteers and thousands of volunteer hours . “Seeing the impact that our employees have on these kids is so inspiring. The goal of our partnership is to invest in the future and ensure these kids grow up knowing about the importance of cybersecurity,” said Peggy Chien, a ReliaQuest People Business Partner who organizes volunteer events and helps to manage ReliaQuest’s relationship with JA.
Even ReliaQuest summer interns spend a day during their six-week program volunteering at the ReliaQuest storefront in Tampa, making connections with students and sharing what it’s like to work in cyber.
In 2019, ReliaQuest announced its national partnership with 3DE, Junior Achievement’s innovative high school education model focused on engaging learning environments proven to accelerate student outcomes.
In 10th grade, students work in teams to make their way through six case challenges, outlining situations companies face in the real world. ReliaQuest’s case challenge tasks students with developing a plan to market the ReliaQuest Cyber Labs program at the University of South Florida. Last year, ReliaQuest hosted 3DE’s “Best of the Bay” competition, where the top six teams across each school presented their marketing plans to a panel of judges at ReliaQuest headquarters on Water Street in Tampa.
Twelfth-grade students collaborate with a business partner on a year-long project to develop a strategic plan for a real-world challenge. Schools that worked with ReliaQuest last year were given the challenge “How can ReliaQuest develop a sustainable talent pipeline for the GreyMatter technical operations and product development teams?” Students met at ReliaQuest headquarters in the beginning of the year to learn more about the company and at the end of the year to give their final presentations.
Throughout the school year, ReliaQuest coaches visit the schools to coach student teams from both grades and help guide them through their projects. Millour said, “These are some of the most underserved communities in the Tampa Bay area, and meeting face to face with professionals in their community is transformative for their outlook on their future.”
“3DE would not have happened in Tampa Bay without ReliaQuest’s initial investment,” Millour said. ReliaQuest recognizes the immense impact of Junior Achievement’s mission and the unique opportunity to give students multiple hands-on learning experiences about cybersecurity. As the largest partner of 3DE, ReliaQuest is focused on continuing to help expand the program to new schools in the Tampa area and across the country.
Having already committed over 200 volunteers this fall alone, ReliaQuest will continue to foster its partnership with Junior Achievement and demonstrate to students the opportunities that are available within the cyber industry.
