Vision-to-Value: Moving the Justice-Impacted Workforce from Individual Talent to Business Partnership

“People closest to the problem are often closest to the solution but farthest from power and resources.” —Glenn E. Martin 

Citizens returning from incarceration are often welcomed into nonprofit, public service, and mission-driven organizations across New York to begin their careers, yet they are rarely equipped to navigate the business realities that shape advancement, influence, and decision-making, especially early in their careers. Their insight is present, but the pathway to influence is limited. Most returning citizens are not prepared to understand how organizations function, how value is created, or how to contribute strategically beyond assigned tasks. As a result, career progress is slow despite significant insight, resilience, and lived experience that could otherwise strengthen teams and outcomes. 

Additionally, returning citizens often bring strong entrepreneurial drive and a desire to build something of their own, but correctional supervision rules (parole) and the need for steady income require them to focus on employment rather than on launching a business. Meanwhile, the institutions that employ them face limited resources, burnout, and growing complexity while this talent remains underutilized. 

This lecture explores Vision-to-Value, a learning approach that bridges that divide by providing clear, practical tools that build entrepreneurial thinking while people are working. Through intrapreneurship, project management, and strategic coaching, participants learn how to navigate organizations, communicate effectively with decision-makers, plan and deliver work, and turn ideas into projects that leaders notice and support. The session defines intrapreneurship as “owning your job like a business”—taking initiative, solving problems, and improving processes from within. It demonstrates how project management strengthens creativity, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills, helping system-impacted employees become effective intrapreneurs who contribute tangible value and lead change inside their organizations. 

When system-impacted employees gain the tools to turn ideas into action, organizations unlock an underutilized source of leadership and innovation. By translating lived experience and innovation into business-relevant contributions, this approach promotes rapid career growth, boosts economic mobility, strengthens workplace performance, reduces recidivism risk, and demonstrates that developing internal business partners is both an equity strategy and a performance strategy. 

Ray Tebout is an A’Lelia Bundles Community Scholar at Columbia University and holds a B.A. in psychology and economics from City University of New York. He is completing an MSA in Human Resources and holds trainer-level credentials in Human Resources (SPHR, GPHR), Project Management (PMP), and Addiction Treatment (CASAC-Advanced). He serves as an executive HR business partner at a major New York City reentry organization and leads MindFrame Talent Development Solutions, where he helps organizations build talent pipelines and strengthen workforce performance. Ray has dedicated his career to unlocking the leadership potential of justice-impacted talent, developing his approach through work in both correctional and community-based settings. He serves on the boards of the Fortune Society and the Petey Greene Program. More about Ray can be found at linkedin.com/in/ray-tebout https://www.mindframetd.com/; his email address is ray [[dot]] tebout [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu.

The Columbia University Bundles Community Scholars Program, administered by the Office of Government and Community Affairs and the School of Professional Studies, enables independent scholars to pursue their lifelong learning aspirations, whether by completing an independent project or attaining skills in a particular area. The program helps to foster and deepen ties between the University and the many independent members of the cultural and intellectual community surrounding it. The program was named in honor of longtime University trustee A’Lelia Bundles in 2020.

This event will be videotaped and available on this webpage on Friday, April 10.

For questions about this event, please contact George Calderaro (gc2212 [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu).

To obtain additional information about program offerings at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, please contact an Admissions Counselor at inquire [[at]] sps [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu.

If you require closed captioning, sign-language interpretation or any other disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services, disability [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu, at least 10 days in advance.

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This event is open to individuals irrespective of identity and sex.