Inspiring Leadership: Reflections from Youth Opportunity Ambassadors

In the wake of a transformative journey spanning six impactful years, the Youth Opportunity (YO) initiative, in partnership with McDonald’s Corporation and IYF, hit a significant milestone! Through our flagship life and leadership skills curricula delivered by our community-based organization partners, IYF has reached over 18k young people with direct services including life skills training, career readiness, and wrap around services. This effort has been a key part of McDonald’s broader goal to reduce barriers to employment for two million youth since our partnership began in 2018. As we celebrate the successful culmination of this endeavor, it is essential that we turn to the true architects of this story: our Youth Opportunity Ambassadors themselves. They have experienced firsthand the transformative power of this program through career panel insights, valuable skills workshops, and innovative digital curricula. 

Since the inception of the YO initiative, we have adeptly navigated the virtual landscape, especially during COVID-19, by adapting our innovative curricula to meet youth where they are and to continue delivering impact. These adaptations included developing Passport to Success Explorer, a mobile-ready gamified curriculum designed to reinforce critical life and employability skills. Additionally, we digitized the SOAR Leadership curriculum, incorporating feedback and recommendations from our YO Ambassadors to help ensure diversity, representation, and accessibility. These efforts have empowered participants to thrive in a digital world while fostering leadership, meaningful engagement, and positive youth development. 

Now, as we reflect on our achievements and the positive impact of innovative curricula, our young leaders are poised to share their insights on leadership. This blog serves as their platform to articulate their journeys, amplify their voices, and inspire others to embrace their potential as leaders.

“No matter what age you are or what point you are at in your life, or whether you are an introvert or extrovert, leadership is an essential skill we will all need to take on at some point in our lives.” Stephanie Ramirez

 

Anyone can find themselves stepping into a leadership role in various aspects of life—whether it's at work, in school, or among friends. Having a leader is crucial for organizing and facilitating a project effectively. Leaders achieve this by forming teams, setting objectives, establishing goals, and crafting plans. Beyond logistics, motivation and inspiration, often overlooked, play a significant role in keeping teams engaged and moving forward with their plans. Moreover, leaders can navigate disagreements by adopting different leadership styles, whether authoritarian or democratic. Lastly, leaders excel in managing conflicts that may arise within a group, ensuring smooth collaboration and progress.

“To me, a good leader is someone who sees the potential in others and actively helps them achieve their goals.” Kimberly Rosette

 

Leadership isn’t just about authority; it’s about lifting others up, offering encouragement, and creating pathways for personal growth. True leadership, to me, involves empowering others to reach their fullest potential.

In my own journey, I’ve been fortunate to embrace leadership roles that have taught me invaluable lessons in empathy, attentive listening, and ongoing self-improvement. Whether guiding friends or collaborating with colleagues, these experiences have shown me there’s always room to enhance my leadership skills. I’m committed to refining my approach through feedback, studying successful leaders, and experimenting with new strategies. Each day presents fresh opportunities for learning, and I eagerly anticipate further growth and development.

“To me, a good leader possesses a unique blend of vision, empathy, and decisiveness.” Taylor Grant-Wright

 

In my opinion, a good leader motivates their team with clear direction and sincere care for their welfare, cultivating a spirit of togetherness and purpose. An essential quality of effective leadership is the commitment to lead not only for personal gain but also to serve as a positive role model, particularly in communities that are often overlooked.

“The Youth Opportunity Ambassador Program has given me confidence and a lot of support both at work and in my personal life.” Maria Angela Lopez

 

Being part of the Youth Opportunity Ambassador Program has been transformative. It’s boosted my confidence at work and supported my personal growth as I pursue my educational goals. The program inspires perseverance, motivating me to overcome challenges.

In my workplace, I’ve learned valuable teamwork skills and have mentored shy colleagues, helping them integrate and succeed. I’m dedicated to continuous learning and striving to motivate my team to stay focused on their goals.

As a mother of four, balancing work and studies has been tough, and there were times I felt it was too late to return to school. However, the program’s encouragement has renewed my determination, reminding me daily of the importance of education in achieving my goals.

Through my journey with the Youth Opportunity Ambassador Program, I’ve learned that good leadership is about resilience and empathy, while creating a supportive environment for growth. It’s about encouraging others to pursue their dreams despite challenges.

Learn more about the Youth Opportunity pre-employment initiative and the partnership between IYF and McDonald's.