From Degrees to Jobs: Kalani Leifer on Fixing the College-to-Career Gap

What happens after college graduation, and why are so many degree-holders still struggling to find their footing?In this episode, Greg Morris sits down with Kalani Leifer, Founder and CEO of COOP Careers, to unpack the growing crisis of underemployment among college graduates. Drawing from his early experience as a high school teacher in the Bronx, Kalani shares how a promise he made to his students—to work hard, go to college, and secure a path to the middle class—led him to confront a difficult reality: a bachelor’s degree is no longer a guarantee of economic opportunity.Together, they explore why the transition from college to career is one of the most overlooked—and most critical—moments in the workforce pipeline. Kalani breaks down how isolation, lack of social capital, and systemic inequities leave many first-generation and low-income graduates navigating the job market alone, often internalizing structural barriers as personal failure.The conversation dives into COOP’s model, which centers on peer networks, near-peer coaching, and the power of relationships to unlock opportunity. They also discuss the role of employers, the limitations of a “skills-first” narrative, and why building social capital may be just as important as building skills.Finally, Greg and Kalani look ahead to what it will take to scale solutions—from catalytic funding to the promise of Workforce Pell—and how systems must evolve to truly deliver on the promise of higher education.Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkPublished by: New York City Employment and Training CoalitionTopics: workforce development; underemployment; social capital; college-to-career transition; economic mobility; first-generation college graduates; higher education policy; COOP Careers; Workforce Pell; alumni networks and peer coaching; equity in employment; public-private partnerships.