Leadership Collier Foundation Matches Mentors for Collier Future

AMANDA BEIGHTS, SENIOR DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS​ & ALEX BREAULT, DIRECTOR OF WORK-BASED LEARNING

In 2019, the Leadership Collier Foundation’s Youth Leadership Collier (YLC) program expanded from a week-long program to include a year-long mentoring experience. This experience pairs YLC graduates with adult graduates from Associate Leadership Collier (ALC) and Leadership Collier (LC) who provide guidance on education, career, and community leadership goals.  This supports the Greater Naples Chamber’s overall investment to develop future talent and leaders through student-business connections. 

This year, Youth Leadership Collier class member, Abigail, was paired with Lisa Kahn-Allen, current Leadership Collier class member and CEO/Lead Designer for Lisa Kahn-Allen Designs. This match has allowed Abigail to explore her interest in interior design and the industry itself, while also making connections in the field and clarifying her goals for the future.

Lisa and Abigail meet virtually during the LCF’s regularly scheduled mentor sessions, and Abigail recently completed a job shadow that Lisa thoughtfully put together on the work site. A detailed schedule can be found below.  

When asked why Lisa has decided to give her time to be a YLC mentor, she responded “I am investing in the future of our youth and the talent they have because they are poised to take the baton and run the next leg of the race. I want to do what I can to help them be successful and to have the support they need to get experience, mentoring, and inspiration. They were born to help take our community, and our world to the next level. I believe in the power of our youth and want to do what I can, in my own small way, to assist them.”  

Abigail believes she has gained perspective and motivation on her future, stating: “For me, hands on experience is the way that I know that I learn best. Being able to come in and see what Lisa does and ask questions as I am put right in front of what she does daily was one of the coolest things I have experienced. It was the perfect way to participate in something much bigger than me. It was truly a pleasure to shadow Lisa and be an add on to her team for the day. Working with Lisa only motivates me to go on and start my own business.”   

Lisa’s Job Shadow Schedule  

• 9:00 Team Meeting
• 10:00 Create client update emails with our team 
• 11:00 Discuss current projects and goals while organizing design library 
• 12:00 Work with marketing director to create spreadsheet on cost analysis of custom candles  
• 1:00 Lunch  
• 2:00 Client project meeting where clients have just moved in.  Walk through to review progress and address additional needs.
• 4:30 Finished

 
This work is possible through a Director of Work-Based Learning, Alex Breault, who connects students to employers through hand-on, work-related experiences. The Leadership Collier Foundation’s Work-Based Learning initiative is financially supported by the Naples Children Education Foundation, the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, Halstatt, Arthrex, Karl and Alice Sheffiled and Jan and Kim Kantor, with collaborations through Greater Naples Chamber members, Leadership Collier Foundation Alumni and Future Ready Collier.  

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