The Alchemy of Business Show with Steve Rodgers

TITLE: EP 29 - How JA Worldwide Fosters The Business Leaders of Tomorrow with Asheesh Advani & Erin Sawyer

DESCRIPTION:

Junior Achievement is a worldwide organization that works to bridge that massive gap between education, or what young people learn in school, and the real-world business experience and knowledge needed to succeed. JA helps kids from 50 countries worldwide learn by doing, meet and interact with business leaders, network, participate in entrepreneurship competitions, and change their trajectory in life.

Asheesh Advani, the President and CEO of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide, and Erin Sawyer, Vice President of People and Events, join Steve Rodgers in this uplifting episode of The Alchemy of Business Show and share how JA reaches out to kids around the world and aids them in changing their lives through removing obstacles to their success.

Asheesh and Erin share with Steve how positive encouragement is life-changing for youth who receive real validation that pursuing a career in business or finance is possible. 

Junior Achievement allows a young person to change or evolve their mindset from “I can’t” to “I can.” Listen or watch this episode, be inspired by the work that JA does, and learn how you can get involved to help educate and arm the leaders of tomorrow. 

TIMESTAMPS:

Asheesh starting company in his 20’s
What JA does as an organization
Erin’s story of travelling and being a global citizen and then going to JA
Asheesh’s experiences as a teen in JA
Allowing young people to evolve their mindset from “I can’t” to “I can”.
How can other people contribute back and give to JA in ways to get involved
how steve got involved with JA
Ways to get involved
Curriculum or program sample (Global Youth Forum)
When you see a young person, give them positive encouragement
How do we address the tremendous GAP between the youth’s experience in schools and the Work they’re walking into
Nobel Peace Prize Nomination for JA
Small businesses can give and get involved
Asheesh on  JA University
Find ways to elevate the voices of young people to see the mindshift
Erin and Asheesh on their definitions of spirituality

GUEST BIOS:

Asheesh Advani

Asheesh is the President and CEO of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide, one of the largest NGOs in the world dedicated to educating young people about financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness. With offices in over 100 countries, the JA network serves more than 10 million young people annually with programs designed to prepare youth for the future of work.

Asheesh is an accomplished technology entrepreneur, having served as CEO of Covestor (acquired by Interactive Brokers) and CircleLending (acquired by Virgin Group).

He began his career as a consultant at the Monitor Group followed by the World Bank.

He is a graduate of the Wharton School and Oxford University, where he was a Commonwealth Scholar.

Erin Sawyer

Erin has 15 years of experience helping JA Worldwide prepare youth people for employment and entrepreneurship.* In her current role as Vice President, People and Events, Erin helps JA alumni reengage with the organization, tell their stories, and continue lifelong learning; oversees all global events; and is responsible for assessing, mentoring, and supporting team members to drive growth in the organization.

Erin was responsible for JA’s wildly successful Global Alumni Conference and JA Global Youth Forum,* two events first introduced during JA’s Centennial celebration. She is also the force behind the JA Global Leadership Conference, which brings together JA’s senior leaders from around the world for professional development and growth. In addition to a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Washington, Erin’s postgraduate work includes certificates from Penn State University and the Center for Creative Leadership.

Erin lives and works in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, with her husband, two children, and black Labrador.