Industry Overview

LevelUP is a workforce advancement program designed to help Black women get to the next stage professionally and build wealth.

During three 10-week cycles, LevelUP will provide instruction, mentoring and financial coaching focused on these key industries: Real Estate, Finance and Technology. Learn more about each cycle below.

Industry: Real Estate 

Sector: Development 

Although salaries vary due to a commission-based structure, or base plus commission-based structure, New York property managers and real estate agents are among the highest paid in the US. Although many people working in the real estate industry (particularly, the commercial real estate industry) have post-secondary education, it is not necessarily a requirement, especially for entry-level positions.   

Career Pathways: Property, Development, Commercial and Business Real Estate Development, Sales, Urban Planning, Contracting & Acquisitions 

Sample Job Titles: Real Estate Agents, Commercial/Business Real Estate Development Directors, Real Estate Acquisitions Managers, Real Estate Portfolio Managers, New Development Salesperson, Real Estate Project Managers, Social Infrastructure Development Managers, Real Estate Contracting & Acquisitions Managers, Real Estate Brokers 

Education/Requirements: 

• You must be at least 18 years old  
• You must not have any prior felonies or sex offense convictions  
• You must have a current NY photo driver's license or non-driver ID card  
• You DO NOT need to have a high school diploma or GED  
• The coursework can be completed entirely online  

Available Certifications 

• NY State Real Estate Salesperson License 
• NY State Broker License  
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) 

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Industry: Finance 

Sector: Compliance 

As the rules, regulations, and laws in financial services and other sectors have continued to change in recent years. This has created an increase in the need for qualified and ethical individuals looking to enter the compliance sector. This influx has been noticeably beneficial to regulators and risk/compliance professionals, who have seen rising pay and new job opportunities.  

Career Pathways: Private Sector, Corporations, Educational Institutions, Computer Manufacturing, Banking, Federal Government, State Governments, and Local Governments 

Sample Job Titles: Compliance Officer, Compliance Manager, Risk Manager, Securities Manager, Regulations Specialist, Regulatory Compliance Officer 

Education/Requirements: 

• BA in Finance, Accounting, Management, Law, or Economics 
• Individuals should be detail-oriented and able to review and analyze large data sets in short order 
• Must adhere to FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rules, they must be able to decipher information and be able to determine whether the individual and/or firm is complying 
• Compliance personnel must have intimate knowledge of other jobs and functions, such as sales and trading, and all associated rules and regulations 
• Knowledge of ethical practices in their industries is also necessary 

Available Certifications: 

• Series 7 Exam & Series 63 Exam 
• Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional Program (CCEP) 
• The Certified Information Systems Security Professions (CISSP) 
• Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) 
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) 
• Certified Community Bank Compliance Officer (CCBCO) 
• Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) 
• Certified Compliance Professional (CCP) 
• Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CCPO)   

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Industry: Technology 

Sector: Cybersecurity 

With cybercrimes on the rise in recent years, tech companies, banks, government agencies and much more are investing in cybersecurity infrastructure more than ever. As the sector expands, more than 1 million people were employed in 2021 and 2022 in the cybersecurity workforce, and more businesses are investing in jobs that will allow them to protect the data of millions of their customers. Careers in cybersecurity can span across various industries but the main goal of cybersecurity professionals on all levels is to identify vulnerabilities and fortify organizations against digital threats in real-time.  

Career Pathways: Security and Risk Management, Asset Security, Security Architecture and Engineering, Communication and Network Security, Identity and Access Management, Security Assessment and Testing, Security Operations, and Software Development Security 

Sample Job Titles: Systems Administrator, Help Desk Manager, Security Engineer, Cloud Engineer, Security Administrator, IT (Information Technology) Auditor, Software Developer, Penetration Tester, Cyber Incident Analyst, Threat Intelligence Analyst, Cloud Security Arc, Cybersecurity Engineer, Ethical Hacker, Threat Researcher, Application Security Analyst, Incident Response Analyst, Risk Analyst, Forensic Analyst 

Education/Requirements: 

• BA in Computer Science or Cybersecurity (Required for All Positions)
• Some experience in IT or IS audit, control, security, or assurance 
• expertise in the management side of information security, including topics like governance, program development, and program, incident, and risk management. 
• General information security experience 
• Demonstrate your ability to assess and monitor the security of an organization 
• Familiarity with networking (I.e., Linux, Bash scripting, Perl, or Python) 
• Interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, collaborate with diverse teams and implement procedures 
• Working knowledge of system administrations 
• Knowledge of operating systems and virtual machines 
• Experience or knowledge of coding languages 

Available Certifications: 

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) 
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) 
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) 
• CompTIA Security+ 
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) 
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) 
• GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) 
• GIAC Critical Controls Certification (GCCC) 
• EC-Council Certified Incident Handler 
• CREST Certified Incident Manager (CCIM) 
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) 
• Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) 
• Certified Computer Examiner (CCE) 
• GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA) 
• Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI)