Alumni Spotlight: Justin Toliver

21CL Alumnus Justin Toliver works as Account Executive for NBCUniversal Media, Inc. and is a graduate of Woodstock High School (2011) and of Rhodes College (2015).  During his high school years he served as a member of 21CL’s Youth Advisory Board, currently known as the Youth Ambassadors. In this post Justin shares how 21CL assisted him in developing a personal brand and taught him to be accountable for any project or activity that he is associated with.

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

Currently I work in the media industry as Account Executive for NBCUniversal Media, Inc. and my day-to-day work revolves around providing my clients with collaborative ideas, fresh perspectives and out-of-the-box strategies to access untapped demographics within their prospective markets. Forging sound personal relationships for our sales division is paramount in supporting our business model, team goals and creating a new generation of NBCUniversal fan ambassadors.

How did participating in 21CL transform you and lead you to where you are now?

My mother ensured that my flame for success was ignited at an early age and 21st Century Leaders was quintessential in helping realize my potential to be a professional in my current field. I was introduced to the 21CL program in the summer of 2010 as a high school junior and it was a very impactful experience. I was afforded the opportunity to stay on the Georgia Tech campus for one full week and undoubtedly the experience was paramount in solidifying my desire to attend a four-year college and contribute more to society. In addition to this, my interest in the broadcast and media industry was unveiled during that week. I was so engaged and positively impacted that Mr. Robert Watson, 21CL’s Executive Director at the time, approached me about serving on 21st Century Youth Advisory Board; two months later I applied and was nominated.

Participation on this Board put me at another level – my business acumen and decorum was expanded, my personal brand shaped and I garnered some lifelong friendships with peers who, similar to me, were in search of professional direction. From then on I became an asset to my high school and took on many other leadership roles including Jr. Achievement Student Ambassador, Georgia Department of Education – Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council Member, Woodstock Wolverines Varsity Football Captain, People to People International Delegate, Woodstock Mayoral Youth Council member and an H. Hugh Shelton Leadership Academy Peer Counselor. My time with 21CL undoubtedly positioned me to continue my journey with a level of confidence that can only be earned and not given.

How did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What skills/tools/perspectives have helped you along the way?

My participation in the 2010 summer leadership institute and serving on the 21CL Youth Advisory Board was the perfect launchpad to my collegiate career, which indeed gave me an advantage in my community involvement and positioned me for continued success. During my college years, I served in various roles:

  • Senator, Rhodes Student Government
  • Admissions Recruitment Panelist
  • NCAA – National SAAC Representative Committee Appointment: Sportsmanship & Ethical Conduct
  • Athlete, National Football Federation College Hall of Fame Scholar

When I joined NBCUniversal in 2014, my schedule was so full with learning the business that I fulfilled all of my volunteer experience in-house. I was involved in some of NBC’s Corporate Responsibility initiatives like Comcast Cares Day, the Mazda Drive for Good initiative, and Clear the Shelters. The most impactful community leadership role I’ve held at the company is being a facilitator for the Special Olympics. During this event, unconditional love took on a new meaning for me from individuals who were just elated to be recognized, celebrated and supported in their competitions. That’s it! No judgement, favoritism, discrimination existed. Everyone from the athletes, partners, parents, sponsors, NBC employees, etc., was a winner!

Which programs did you participate in, and when? What skills did you gain or improve through those programs?

I participated in Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience (now the WarnerMedia Institute for Future Leaders) in 2010. It was a very impactful experience for me as a high school junior. The skill most utilized for me coming out of Leadership Unplugged was the realization that leadership comes down to relationships. Understanding how to be a reliable teammate and listen to the ideas of your peers should always supersede the need to be the “voice of the group.” In my opinion, leadership is 10% what you say and 90% what you do. 21CL taught me this at an early age and it is something that has served me well both within my company as well as externally with our clients.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?

I vividly remember the interactive team building exercises, fundamentals of storytelling, meeting influential leaders of Time Warner and our daily “Sharpening the Saw” round tables. At that moment, I was convinced that I wanted to be on a college campus that would sharpen my talents, skills and abilities, so I too one day could also be a role model for younger people as those volunteers were to me at that critical decision-making time in my life.

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so how? And have you recently learned something else about leadership? Please share!

21CL assisted me in developing a personal brand that I am proud to stand by. The program taught me to be 100% accountable for any project or activity that my name is associated with. This is particularly important when you may not have been the individual to commit the mistake. At the end of the day, no client or person in general wants to hear about why the objective is not getting accomplished. Instead, 21CL taught me to endeavor through the clutter, to think outside of the box, and provide an end result that both under promised and overdelivered.

What We Learned from the 2020 Pivot

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By: Nicole Meadows, Director of Programs and Communications

In a year of resets and restrictions, altered responsibilities and edited goals, obscured pathways and “to be determined” plans, it has been necessary to befriend resiliency. To embrace relevancy. To brace for impact. It turns out our impact was notable: the launch of a new summer leadership institute exploring the healthcare and IT workforce, provision for 284 high school students to attend one of four one-week summer programs and enroll in our online learning program Leadership Connect for the rest of the academic year at no cost to them, and leadership development and career exploration resulting in increased confidence and inspiration to take action and create change. Here’s what we learned by adapting 30 years of hands-on residential summer programming into a virtual space with 210 volunteers and a core mission to inspire youth to lead.

Leverage Diversity and Think Forward. 21st Century Leaders (21CL) has always been forward-thinking. Founded in 1989 by business professionals who saw a gap in the readiness and diversity of leaders within the workforce, 21CL’s mission to connect, transform, and inspire high school students across Georgia to leverage-diversity, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their schools, communities, and ultimately the workforce is just as relevant in 2020 as it was over 30 years ago. Add to the mix the disruption of a global pandemic and the momentum of social justice response and it becomes necessary to embrace the notion that “Everyone can be a leader. You don’t have to be a certain gender, race, or nationality to be a leader,” as Jordan Tyler, senior at Georgia Connections Academy encourages. Connect young leaders to people of influence with whom they can relate, and connect them with those who are different – both will expand their perspective, encourage their potential, and motivate them to lead at any age and learn at every age.

Compassionate leadership is needed now more than ever. “I felt that the volunteers were concerned about us. They seriously empathized with the craziness of being a teenager in today’s world, and did not discount it. This is something missing in schools and many teens’ lives, so it was a breath of fresh air to see their compassion shine through,” says Morgan Byers, a rising junior at East Jackson Comprehensive High School, who attended our inaugural Healthcare & IT Institute (HII). Over the summer, volunteers led sessions covering change management, emotional intelligence, mental wellness and crisis leadership. Panel speakers like superintendents spoke of the challenges faced by virtual learning, such as providing community access to WiFi to ensure all students can continue learning. Corporate leaders spoke of their intentional response to Black Lives Matter and decisions to publicize their stance as a company because it is a responsibility of their influence and their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Among the turbulence and questions of this year’s unique climate, the answer and anchor is compassion.

Vulnerability builds trust. No man is an island, but it can seem that way if the mindset is independence. Just as we highlight teambuilding skills and the leadership value of leveraging diversity, we strive to promote authenticity. Honesty resonates with this young generation of leaders. Especially now when expectations of success are deconstructed and reconfigured. With our students, they specifically appreciated the candor of successful professionals who spoke about their obstacles and their failures. Madison Billings, senior at Westlake High School who attended the WarnerMedia Institute for Future Leaders, said about the transparency of the volunteer speakers that she “liked how open and honest they were. They didn’t sugarcoat anything and say everything was perfect. They told us what it was really like, the mental, physical and emotional aspect of their jobs.” It is humanizing. It says that we’re all in this together, doing the best we can. It gives permission to try and possibly (probably) fail and from that gift develop resilience.

Take the Risk. When schools switched to distance learning, and the college campuses that host our summer leadership institutes closed, and gatherings were postponed, we had a choice to make about our path forward. We determined to make order out of chaos. We knew it was important to be there for our students, and thankfully in the age of technology had the platform to do so, enabled by the support and involvement of our corporate partners, individual donors, foundations and Board. As Sarah Sims, rising senior at Chattahoochee County High School, says, “You have to be willing to take the risk and realize it is not about you. It is about what you can give to the community.” We were able to give inspiration, connection, and hope for the future to our state-wide community of students, and know they will in turn give to their own communities as leaders.

As we reflect on our impact of our 2020 summer leadership institutes, we look at the students who represent 21st Century Leaders. They chose to show up every day and give their best to the situation. They connected with each other through the screen and closed the distance with kindness to each other. They asked insightful questions, they solved problems, they articulated their experience and they face the future with confidence, knowing they are capable and equipped, and they are not on their own. Carley Cook, a senior at The Paideia School, says that “Leadership is not just based off of the leader but also the people being led.” If our students are any indication, we’ve done something to be proud of.

Learn more about 21st Century Leaders’ pivot, impact and future outlook in the 2020 Stakeholder Address, presented by 21CL’s Executive Director, Kate Hewitt, and Board Chair, Matt Johnson.

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21st Century Leaders Launches 4th Summer Leadership Institute

21st Century Leaders Announces 4th Summer Program Focused on Leadership within the Healthcare Industry

Piedmont Healthcare commits to 2 years of funding

ATLANTA – February 5, 2020 21st Century Leaders (21CL) announced today the launch of a fourth summer leadership institute as it starts its fourth decade of service to the state of Georgia. The launch of this new program is made possible from the support of corporate partners and individual donors thus far. 21CL is a non-profit organization that connects, transforms, and inspires high school students across Georgia to leverage diversity, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their schools, communities, and ultimately the workforce.

21CL’s one-week residential summer leadership institute, Healthcare & IT Institute, will be held for 50 Georgia high school students from July 12, 2020 through July 17, 2020 on the campus of Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. 21st Century Leaders is proud to have the following corporate partners, thus far, supporting the launch of this program: Attento Counseling, Piedmont Healthcare, AllHealth CHOICE, and Meadows Regional Medical Center.

“We’re always finding ways to serve and reach more students across the state of Georgia, diversify our career exploration opportunities, and identify the needs within our state,” said Kate Hewitt, executive director of 21st Century Leaders. “Healthcare is one of Georgia’s leading industry sectors and it’s critical that we’re exposing students to all of the career pathways available to them, and to develop a diverse pipeline of talent and leaders to create change and impact in this industry.”

Dr. Jyoti Sharma, Cardiologist, Medical Director of Women’s Heart Program, and Medical Director of Advanced Practice Providers at Piedmont Healthcare says she’s proud of Piedmont for not only stepping forward as the first corporate sponsor to support 21st Century Leaders as they launch their inaugural Healthcare & IT Institute, but also for committing two years of funding.

“Piedmont’s core promise ‘to make a positive difference in every life we touch’ applies not only to our patients, employees, and co-workers, but also to high school students across the state of Georgia.  Service to our community is at the heart of all that we do we and we hope that exposure to our institution and our values will inspire these students to become the next generation of healthcare leaders,” said Dr. Sharma. 

21st Century Leaders established a Healthcare Steering Committee led by industry professionals in summer 2019 to help launch and implement the week-long institute.  The 14 member committee, three of whom are 21st Century Leaders Alumni, is comprised of Machelle Baisden of Grady Hospital, Ray Cross of AllHealth CHOICE, Marie Cameron of Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Dr. Jacque-Corey Cormier of Georgia State University’s School of Public Health (21CL Alumnus), Ralph Donaldson of WiseThink Health Solutions, Dr. Shaneeta Johnson of Morehouse School of Medicine, Jesse Lindsely of Thrust Interactive. Amanda Mewborn of Navicent Health, James Nixon of Meadows Regional Medical Center (21CL Alumnus), Shane Owens of Thrust Interactive, Rhett Partin, Georgia Hospital Association, Dr. Jyoti Sharma, Piedmont Healthcare (21CL Alumna), Melissa Tymchuk of Northeast Georgia Health System, and Stephen Vault of WellStar.

21st Century Leaders is still accepting corporate partners and donations to help support this program launch and to eliminate as much financial cost to students. To learn more and get involved, please contact 21CL’s Executive Director directly at kate@21stcenturyleaders.org or 404-373-7441.

About 21CL’s Healthcare & IT Institute (HII)
Healthcare/IT Institute (HII) is a week-long dynamic and healthcare-focused leadership development program held the second week of July at Kennesaw State University. Each day of HII, students will develop their leadership skills while exploring different facets of the growing healthcare and healthcare IT business world through hands-on workshops with passionate professionals, networking opportunities and corporate tours. Students will reside in the dorms on the college campus for the 6-day, overnight program. All rising sophomore, junior, or senior Georgia high school students are eligible to apply. An online application and recommendation form must be submitted by March 1, 2020 in order to be considered for an interview and selection.

HII is just one of three summer leadership institutes 21st Century Leaders provides. 21st Century Leaders also partners with WarnerMedia for it’s Youth Media Institute, Georgia Power Foundation for it’s EarthCare institute, and multiple companies, including Coca-Cola Company, for it’s SYLI program at Emory’s Goizueta Business School.

About 21st Century Leaders
Since inception in 1989, 21st Century Leaders has served more than 14,000 diverse high school students from over 250 Georgia high schools. 21st Century Leaders is a non-profit organization that connects, transforms, and inspires high school students across Georgia to leverage diversity, explore career opportunities, and become leaders in their school, community, and ultimately the workforce. 21st Century Leaders launched it’s first summer residential program in 1991, and now provides year-round leadership development and career exploration programs, including leadership summits, an online learning platform, and school-based clubs. For more information about 21st Century Leaders, visit www.21stcenturyleaders.org.

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Media Contact:
Kate Hewitt
Executive Director, 21st Century Leaders
kate@21stcenturyleaders.org
404-373-7441

Alumni Spotlight: Amara Tennessee

Amara Tennessee is our first Alumni Spotlight for the month of October, She is a graduate of Roswell High School (2015) and currently a senior at Georgia College & State University, double majoring in Public Health and Spanish with a concentration in Spanish for the Health Professionals, and a minor in Global Health Studies.  Amara has remained engaged with 21st Century Leaders long after high school by serving as part of our summer staff for our summer institutes in 2018 and 2019.  Amara says 21CL encouraged her to pursue a life she is proud of, and gave me the tools necessary to obtain that life.

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

I graduated from Roswell High School in 2015 and then moved to Ypane, Paraguay where I worked as a medical volunteer for 11 months. During my time in Paraguay, I worked in a mobile vaccination clinic at El Centro de Salud and a cardiology and diabetes center at Centro de Especialidades. My gap year allowed me to explore an entirely new culture that was vastly different than my own. I was given the opportunity to further my Spanish language skills and my experiences aided in shaping my college experiences as well. In Paraguay I was introduced to the world of public health and the implementation of public health programming. In April, I was awarded as Georgia College’s School of Health and Human Performances’ “Outstanding Junior in Public Health” as voted on by professors and faculty of my University. I am looking forward to graduation in May 2020 and all that the future holds for me.

How did participating in 21 CL transform you and lead you to where you are now?

21st Century Leaders taught me that leadership is centered by connecting with those around you for the purpose of improving and empowering others. Once I recognized my ability as a leader, it transformed my interactions with everyone I interacted with. 21CL showed me how much I enjoy working with people and how important it is for me personally to encourage people to live their best lives. 21CL is a unique and explorative opportunity!

How did 21 CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What skills/tools/perspectives have helped you along the way?

21CL helped me recognize the courage in following your individual path. My college experience has been full to say the least. I have had the ability to study abroad in Santiago, Chile and work in a hospital at La Universidad de Los Andes. I was invited to serve as a translator in a medical clinic and to teach prevention methods of vector borne illnesses in Honduras this upcoming fall as an accompaniment to my Universities Nursing program. 21st Century Leaders encouraged me to pursue a life I am proud of, and gave me the tools necessary to obtain that life. I learned invaluable networking skills, and became more confident as a public speaker. Each of the lessons I have learned over the years with 21CL has aided in my growth and development as a leader.

 Which programs did you participate in, and when? What skills did you gain or improve through those programs?

I participated in 21st Century Leaders’ year round programs including two of their summer leadership institutes; Earth Care in 2012 and the Summer Youth Leadership Institute (SYLI) in 2013. I attended their school-year live summits and  served on the Youth Ambassadors in 2013 and 2014 school years. These experiences taught me how to learn from those around me. I was able to work with students who were equally as ambitious and yet so different than I. I learned to listen intently,  as it’s important to take a step back and listen. Instead of listening with the intent to reply, I learned to listen with the intent to understand. It’s important that people feel heard and as I leader I strive to ensure that.

 What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)

 I cherish my time with 21CL, because it was one of the most unique experiences I have been able to take part in. I value how collaborative the entire program is. 21CL fostered an environment where a group of students were able to collaborate. The R+ memos we received at the end of the programs were such an encouraging surprise. I was overwhelmed with the kindness of my peers and their genuine desire for everyone’s success in leadership and life. I was able to leave summer programs with a new set of friends and a new set of skills that have only propelled my leadership skills.

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? if so how? And have you recently learned something else about leadership? Please share!

I would describe my leadership style as being “service led”. I genuinely take joy in seeing the success of others around me; it both humbles and motivates me. I value my interpersonal skills and I recognize that every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive impact on others. It is important to know that leadership also means constant growth, every interaction and situation will be different than the one before. It is important to be adaptable while still staying firm in your morals.

Alumni Spotlight: Delaney Strunk

Our second spotlight for the month of February is Delaney Strunk, a graduate of Roswell High School (2013) and of Georgia State University (2017). She works for CNN as an Associate Producer on the Mobile Programming team at CNN. Delaney participated in the Turner Voices Youth Media Institute in 2012 and says that nothing prepared her more for future career interviews than that workshop. Read more…

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now. 

I am an Associate Producer on the Mobile Programming team at CNN.

How did participating in 21CL transform you and lead you to where you are now?

The first time I ever stepped foot in the CNN Center in Atlanta was during my 21CL program. I can still remember the electricity I felt when looking at the newsroom for the first time. Spending the week talking with employees and learning about their work process helped reaffirm my decision to pursue a degree in journalism. I was on the fence about where I wanted to attend college, but staying in Atlanta for the week helped me realize there was no other place I wanted to be than downtown, so I went to Georgia State University.

And how did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What skills/tools/perspectives have helped you along the way?

Not only did 21CL help me with my fear of public speaking, but I learned quickly how to network effectively. It’s not about how many business cards you can get in one networking event, it’s about forming personal connections with new people. Going into college I focused on diving deeper into the projects I was already committed to, as opposed to racking up as many “resume friendly” projects as I possibly could.

Which programs did you participate in, and when? What skills did you gain or improve through those programs?

I participated in the Turner Voices Youth Media Institute in 2012. I still think about our elevator pitch training to this day. Nothing prepare me more for future career interviews than that workshop.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)

This may be an incredibly niche experience, but I truly think about this moment almost once a week. During 21CL I had fire engine red hair (I’ve always been a bit eccentric) and I also took my nose piercing out for the week because of the dress code rules of the program. I remember making a side comment to one of the CNN Student News employees about feeling a little out of place professionally because my look was a little more out there. Well, the night of the dinner the employee made sure to introduce me to a coworker who had tattoos, multiple piercings and dyed hair. That small little gesture allowed me to see myself at the company. I no longer felt out of place. It made me feel like maybe one day I could actually become a CNN employee. I know that may seem small, but here I am now as a CNN employee!

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? if so how? And have you recently learned something else about leadership? Please share!

More than anything, 21CL taught me that a leader is nothing without their team. I think in high school it was really easy to get caught up in trying to be the best, and while a leader should always strive to succeed, it shouldn’t be in a selfish way. When you focus on personally succeeding you forget about the people around you. I think the group project aspect of the week really helped solidify how working effectively together with others is a form of leadership.

Alumni Spotlight: Kaitlin Martin

This month’s Alumni Spotlight features Kaitlin Martin, who shares about her leadership journey and the skills acquired from 21st Century Leaders that helped her excel in her leadership roles. She currently works as a Business Analyst at MarketSource, and is a graduate of Northview High School (2009) and of Georgia State University (2013). Here is what she has to say:

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

Currently, I am a Business Analyst at MarketSource where I work closely with the Corporate Innovation Team to develop key performance indicators, data visualizations, and reporting solutions for the different departments within the organization. One of my favorite parts of my role is being able to leverage my creativity to develop solutions to complex problems. I am currently learning how to incorporate agile concepts onto our team and how doing so will make our department more efficient overall. I have also had the opportunity to mentor and coach our summer interns, including a current 21st Century Leader member, Maya Ellison.

How did participating in 21CL transform you and lead you to where you are now?

Since graduating from Georgia State University, I have had the opportunity to work at Walt Disney World, GEICO, and MarketSource, an Allegis Group Company. 21st Century Leaders equipped me with the skill set I needed to help me excel in each of my roles. One of the most important skills I learned from the program was to always have a growth mindset. It’s incredibly important to be open to coaching and feedback and to make the effort to incorporate what you’ve learned. There is always room to improve and you can learn something new from each individual you encounter throughout your professional career.

And how did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What skills/tools/perspectives have helped you along the way?

21CL set me up for success by helping develop confidence, critical thinking, and a professional presence. This coaching was extremely valuable in helping me get comfortable speaking in front of executive leadership, analyzing situations to make informed decisions, and working effectively with a team. These skills helped me immensely throughout college as well as my professional career. Additionally, I’ve learned that having a positive attitude is one of the most important soft skills you can bring into an office. You can’t always control the situation, but you can control your reaction towards it, which can make or break your overall career.

Which programs did you participate in, and when? What skills did you gain or improve through those programs?

My favorite program I participated in was the Goizueta Youth Leadership Summit where we got to design a shoe for Nike. This experience sparked my creativity and solidified my desire to major in Marketing. From this summit, I learned valuable presentation, networking, and innovative ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking skills that I’ve taken with me throughout my career.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)

During the Goizueta Youth Leadership Summit, we had the opportunity to network with executives from Fortune 500 companies across the region. I learned that most people are happy to share with you the lessons they’ve learned from their professional experiences. This experience gave me the confidence to seek out mentors who can help further guide my professional career and ask questions that I may have been afraid to ask before.

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so how? And have you recently learned something else about leadership? Please share!

Absolutely! 21CL helped me develop a leadership style that is collaborative, visionary, and strategic. I learned that empowering others and leveraging individual strengths is one of the best ways to build an effective team. I have also been extremely lucky to have several great mentors who have helped me develop my leadership style as well.

 

Alumni Spotlight: Nicholas Jones

Nicholas Jones who works for Eaton as a VAVE engineer is a graduate of Fort Valley State University (2014) with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and of Georgia Institute of Technology (2017) with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He is a graduate of Southwest High School (2012). Nicholas says that the leadership skills he acquired from 21st Century Leaders helped him turn an internship into a part-time job while still in college and later into a full-time job when he graduated.

Paint a picture of what you are doing now.

My current role is a VAVE Engineer at Eaton’s Lighting Division in Peachtree City, GA. VAVE is an acronym for Value Analysis and Value Engineering. I have served in this role for a little over a year, and in this role my primary objective is to reduce the costs associated with our lighting products while maintaining or improving quality and value. This includes examining and/or changing manufacturing processes, suppliers, and product designs.

How did participating in 21CL change you and/or lead you to where you are now?

Participating in 21CL helped me work something that is very invaluable: soft skills. The programs at 21CL help students focus on communicating and building networks, which is a key resource in navigating college and career fields. Developing these skills helped me turn an internship into a part-time job during my last semester in college, which I was able to turn into a full-time position at Eaton once I graduated.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional, etc.?)

The most memorable moment for me during my 21CL participation was learning to Salsa at EarthCare in 2009. It was memorable for me because it was a chance to interact with people I hadn’t normally interact with during the camp. It was also a chance to see everyone there having fun learning something new together in a more relaxed environment.

Which programs did you participate in, and when?

I participated in two 21CL programs: Earthcare at Berry College in 2009 and G5 ( now SYLI) at Goizueta in 2010.

How did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What tools/perspectives have helped you along the way?

Participating in 21CL prepared me for my next steps in life because it helped me appreciate diversity and different perspectives other than what I was used to. Being appreciative of and open to different thought processes and ideas allowed me to be a better leader in organizational roles in college. This is a key to being an effective leader.

What’s something you have recently learned about leadership?

Recently, I have learned that in order to be an effective leader, you have to know and build relationships with those under you. It’s important for those you lead to know that they can talk to you about issues they are facing.

Alumni Spotlight: Manny Elsar, Jr.

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21CL Alumni Spotlight: Manny Elsar, Jr.

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You wouldn’t know it now, but before participating in 21st Century Leaders, Manny Elsar, Jr. held himself back from talking to the people he could learn from. Then, he attended Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience (which has since evolved into Turner Voices Youth Media Institute) in 2012, and the art of conversation was unlocked!

How did participating in 21CL change you and/or lead you to where you are now?

21CL was the catalyst to a number of leadership positions I’ve had on campus. Leadership Unplugged brought me out my comfort zone by introducing me to a different set of influential people in the field I wanted to go into in high school. (Funny enough, I don’t do anything in journalism in college but in the future I’d love to be on news shows like Bloomberg and CNNMoney discussing economic policies!) I think the number one thing that 21CL taught me was that networking is key in a work setting. If you don’t leave a business setting without learning the story of at least one person there, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

What was your most memorable moment in 21CL? 

My most memorable moment in 21CL was the salsa dancing! It was a nice way to unwind from the other aspects of the week, and it taught me something new that I’d never experienced before. This was four years ago, but I also remember meeting Carl Azuz.

How did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What tools or perspectives have helped you along the way?

One thing that 21CL does well on a consistent basis is making sure its students are prepared to enter the world as young professionals, no matter what field they enter. I distinctly remember feeling so empowered after the week at Georgia Tech because it showed me that people who looked like me and came from similar backgrounds like myself were not just living, but thriving in their careers. I’ve brought that sense of comradery I felt in 21CL and brought it to organizations that I’ve been a part of at UGA. 

A critical tool that I gained from 21CL was the ability to “work a room.” Before Leadership Unplugged, I was very timid and never really tried to break free from the mold that I created for myself (quiet, does well in school and nothing more). After 21CL, I remember my parents talking about how I became a lot more outgoing and willing to just talk to people. If there’s one thing that we can all improve on as young professionals, it’s the art of conversation. Knowing when to let other people guide the discussion or speaking up when it makes sense is a skill that I’m still honing to this day, but it never would have started without my experiences in 21CL. For that, I’m forever grateful.

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Manny Elsar, Jr. is a senior at the University of Georgia studying Economics & International Affairs with a minor in Spanish. He graduated from Etowah High School in 2013.

Manny took the lessons from his time in 21CL into many new opportunities where he could grow in personal and community leadership. In 2016 Manny was selected to be an Orientation Leader at UGA for matriculating freshmen, and in 2017 he reconnected with 21CL to serve as a volunteer leader to current 21CL students at the Goizueta Youth Leadership Summit!

Thank you, Manny, for inspiring us to seek a connection in any conversation and for sharing your leadership with 21CL!

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