From Madison Avenue to Rikers Island

About From Madison Avenue to Rikers Island

After a long and successful career in advertising, Mark Goldsmith visited Rikers Island as a volunteer for the Principal for a Day program at the jail’s high school, Horizon Academy. Having spent his professional life in executive leadership roles, Goldsmith instantly recognized the potential for success in the inmates and focused on creating change that would ultimately impact thousands of young men in the criminal justice system.

Armed with years of corporate  experience and driven by his desire to give back during his retirement years, Goldsmith formed Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), a not-for-profit organization created to provide direction, education, and mentorship for young men in the criminal justice system. In From Madison Avenue to Rikers Island, Goldsmith shares the tips and tools he used to launchGOSO, a project that ultimately surpassed all of his initial goals, proving that success can be achieved by applying skill, dedication, and most of all, passion.