The success of the SAGE Scholars Program is in large part due to its relationships with corporate sponsors. Several years ago, Jackie Geiger, Director of Executive Search at Kaiser Permanente, attended a SAGE graduation as a guest. Jackie recalls meeting several SAGE Scholars and was “impressed at how professionally they spoke about their SAGE experiences”.  It was evident that the graduating Scholars were very appreciative of collaborating and learning from mentors.”  For Jackie, the attraction of working with SAGE was immediate.  Jackie enjoys helping college students polish their resumes, practice interviewing skills and, at times, she suggests how to dress for that important interview.  From Jackie’s view, the SAGE Scholar Program resonates with the culture of Kaiser – commitment to hiring for excellence and continually developing a substantial diverse workforce.

As Kaiser opened internships for the 2011 year, it was apparent that the SAGE Scholars Program was highly valued and well received by the Kaiser Permanente leadership.  The quality of the SAGE interns was differentiating. For example, while SAGE Scholar David Avina’s assignment was in Strategic Planning, he also gained a wide range of business knowledge through meetings with key finance leaders throughout his internship and visited Kaiser’s Innovation and Napa Data Centers.  Kaiser’s Chief Financial Officer was impressed and plans to increase the number of Finance internships in 2012.

Kaiser Permanente is always looking for top talent, from new grads to executive leaders, and appreciates working with the SAGE Scholars Program.  As Jackie describes, “I am very impressed with the quality of the SAGE students.  In ‘Kaiser speak’, we are always looking for the ‘quality of the hire’- the individual who by their knowledge, focused contribution, drive and commitment to excellence makes a difference to the future of healthcare.”  In providing internships, Kaiser not only hopes to expand the Scholar’s skillset, but also opens the opportunity for the intern to learn Kaiser’s business and further develop the Scholar’s potential toward becoming a Kaiser employee, manager or executive.