There is no doubt that being a part of the exclusive club that is the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) alumni is one that has benefited me tremendously both personally and professionally. The network is simply unlike no other and lives, businesses, and communities all across Latin America and the Caribbean benefit from all that it has to offer through the young leaders it has helped to shape. Joining that ‘exclusive’ club of social entrepreneurs and business owners begins with applying for the YLAI professional fellows programme (you can find more information regarding that here).
Having enjoyed the tremendous benefits being a YLAI Fellow has to offer during and after completion, fellow YLAI Alum Andre Robb of Braata Box and Co (we were both a part of the same cohort – 2018) found it fitting to host an application information session to help some of Jamaica’s brightest entrepreneurs to put their best application forward. Knowing how much the programme helped me made me jump at the opportunity to assist in any way I could. It was sheer joy helping some of Jamaica’s best get access to the same resources and opportunities that were pivotal in me turning my life around (I talk more about my experiences in the posts found here).
Quote Me
‘It was a real pleasure to speak with Jamaica’s YLAI hopefuls and help them get clear on their business direction and messaging in including, what it is they do, how they do it, and why they do it the way they do.’
About the Event
Held on September 11, 2019, the session was hosted at Hub Co-Working Ltd. in collaboration with The US Embassy Jamaica and The US Exchanges Alumni and relied heavily on the resource of knowledge that resides within the YLAI Alumni. I had the distinct privilege of guiding potential YLAIers and all attendees through the evening’s proceedings and, along with my fellow Alumni members, answered questions and helped them get clear on how to best package the message of their business and their work. I was able to guide the process of three applicants, in particular, and feel very good about their chances of being successful in addition to two awesome colleagues I know are applying and who also have excellent chances of being successful.
Read my YLAI story here.
