On most campuses, students don’t control their own career paths.
University career services decide which employers are allowed through the door. Platforms like Handshake reinforce those rules, showing only the jobs that fit a narrow definition of “approved.”
The roles that actually build independence like startup jobs, sales careers and entrepreneurial paths are often filtered out. Students never see them. Employers never reach the students they need. Everyone loses. Take The Power Back was built to do the opposite: Students decide which companies deserve their talent, not career counselors who’ve never built a business.
Our Mission
Take The Power Back exists to challenge the status quo of college-to-career conformity. Our mission is to empower students to reject outdated expectations, explore entrepreneurship, and take ownership of their future on their own terms.
How We Started
As Jason Mickool was building Florida Financial Advisors (FFA) into an Inc. 5000 company, he saw the same problem again and again. The best hires never came through campus career centers. They found him directly, because universities blocked startup and sales careers from their “approved” lists.
Too often, brilliant students settled for jobs that didn’t fit them simply because they didn’t know better options existed. Take The Power Back was created to make sure those opportunities are no longer hidden.
That's how Take The Power Back was born.
Meet Jason Mickool
Jason Mickool
Brings 30 years of experience building teams and scaling companies to Take The Power Back. But his journey to creating TTPB started long before his lightbulb moment.
Jason Mickool brings three decades of experience building teams and scaling companies to Take The Power Back. His career began at American Express Financial Advisors (now Ameriprise) in 1995, where his integrity and drive led him to Field Vice President. He later served as Managing Partner at New England Financial and as part of McAdam’s executive team, proving his ability to lead growth while keeping client service at the center.
In 2017, Jason took the entrepreneurial leap and founded Florida Financial Advisors. Starting with a single office in Tampa, he grew FFA into a multi-state firm with more than 600 advisors across Florida, Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Four Corners in western region, New England, and more. The firm earned Inc. 5000 recognition and served thousands of clients who wanted financial advice that truly fit their lives.
Through it all, Jason noticed a consistent truth: the most driven hires never came through traditional channels. They weren’t the candidates filtered by career services. They were the ones who found their way directly.That realization inspired Take The Power Back: a way to connect ambitious students with the opportunities universities keep off limits.
"Jason is a world-class leader and experienced visionary with a passion for helping individuals and business owners to realize their full potential. He is an expert at developing tailored solutions and business plans for financial advisors, independent agents, RIAs, Broker Dealers and many other entrepreneurs seeking to grow their revenue. If you’re trying to level-up your business, expand into new markets, better lead your team, or develop a successful marketing plan, Jason Mickool has the tools and know-how you need to succeed!" Daniel, Raps
"I applied to dozens of companies through traditional job boards with minimal response. Through TTPB I connected directly with a startup founder and had meaningful conversations that led to an offer."
DAVID, R
Founder, Austin Fintech Startup
"On the big boards we got volume, not fit. Through Take The Power Back we had a smaller pool and hired two students who genuinely wanted startup work."
Sarah, L
Business Club President, UNC
"Instead of a standard career talk, our speaker walked through two failures before building a company that worked. Students lined up to talk with her afterward."
Take The Power Back
The student-first alternative to Handshake and career services. It is built around four pillars that restore choice and open access to roles students are otherwise blocked from seeing.
Take The Power Back is built on one principle: students and employers should connect directly, without filters or approval slips.
Employers can search student profiles, filter by what matters, and reach out directly. No career center permissions required.
Students see every opportunity on the board, including startups, sales roles, and entrepreneurial paths their universities keep off campus.
No gatekeepers. No delays. Just students and employers choosing each other.
How We Do Things Differently: Our Non-Negotiables
Students Control Their Future Not career services.
Direct Access: To opportunities, learning, and guidance - no gatekeepers.
Your Choice, Your Terms: We don't limit what careers you can explore.
Mutual Respect: Students aren't just "resources." Employers aren't just "paychecks."
Transparency: What you see is what you get. No hidden agendas or false promises.
Ready to Take The Power Back?
Whether you’re ready to discover the opportunities others don’t want you to see, launch the business they say is “too risky,” or bring real entrepreneurial inspiration to your campus, your movement starts here.
Stop asking permission. Start taking control. Welcome to Take The Power Back.
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