Steve Mariotti

Steve Mariotti, visionary founder of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), passed away peacefully on October 20, 2024, at the age of 71. Born on August 14, 1953, in Flint, Michigan, Steve was the eldest son of John and Nancy Mariotti (deceased). His parents were both educators whose love for the field helped inspire Steve's creation of NFTE.

Steve received his B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Michigan and studied at Harvard University, Stanford University, and Brooklyn College. His professional career began as a Treasury Analyst for Ford Motor Co. (1976-79). He then founded Mason Import/Export Services in New York, eventually acting as sales representative and purchasing agent for 32 overseas firms. In 1982, he made a significant career change and became a Special Education/Business Teacher in the New York City school system, choosing to teach in neighborhoods such as Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn and the "Fort Apache" section of the South Bronx. It was at Jane Addams Vocational High School in the Bronx that he developed the insight and inspiration to bring entrepreneurial education to youth from low-income communities. This led to founding the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, now called the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in 1987.

An expert in education for at-risk youth, Steve devoted his life to empowering youth from low-income communities, believing in every individual's potential to shape their own future. To date, NFTE has empowered 1.4 million students, and continues to carry forward Steve's vision of making youth entrepreneurship a global movement. Through strategic efforts in education policy, youth development, and workforce and career-readiness, NFTE provides innovative in-school curricula and dynamic out-of-school and summer programs to prepare the next generation of diverse entrepreneurs and leaders.

Throughout his career, Steve was celebrated for his leadership and deep commitment to helping young people. He received fifteen prestigious awards, including the 2024 Man of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals, reflecting his lifelong commitment to education and social impact, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2004), and the Inc. Entrepreneur of the Year Award/New York State (1992). He co-authored numerous books and manuals, including his most recent memoir, Goodbye Homeboy: How My Students Drove Me Crazy and Inspired a Movement with foreword by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (BenBella Books, 2019). He also had been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and The World Economic Forum.

This excerpt from a 2007 speech at an event in Chicago captures the essence of who Steve was and why he believed so deeply in entrepreneurship. He said, "Young people who live in challenging circumstances and who are faced with great hardships in their lives, often have many special gifts and talents. At NFTE, we call this street smarts. It's as if when God takes something away, God gives something else. We see this every day at NFTE. Our kids have so much potential and talent - street smarts, chutzpah, and mental toughness - that they have unique and valuable assets in the market. But unless someone is given the chance to put their skills and talents to use, these children are at-risk of being left out. NFTE is a simple idea, but it will change the world one young entrepreneur at a time."

Steve's legacy lives on through NFTE and the many young entrepreneurs whose lives were and will be transformed by his enduring vision, along with a community of friends and supporters who helped him pursue his vision, and to whom he demonstrated deep loyalty. His work continues to inspire students and educators worldwide to embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to opportunity and self-determination.

Steve is survived by his caring brother Jack Mariotti of Guilford, Connecticut, who for many years worked alongside Steve as NFTE's Chief Financial Officer, and Jack's wife Beth Mariotti and their children, Steve's nieces and nephews, Siena, Nina, Jackson, and Spencer. For those wishing to honor his memory, the family requests that gifts be made to NFTE's Steve Mariotti Legacy Fund which will support initiatives for NFTE alumni and educators (www.nfte.com/give).