Written by: Ashley Milbury
The future of our communities depends on the next generation of leaders.
In order for young women to build the confidence and skill sets for leadership, they need supportive spaces to learn, practice, and connect: spaces where they can speak in front of a group for the first time, connect with like-minded youth, and learn from mentors who see their potential. Young women need spaces where they know their voice matters.
Too often, youth voices are left out of decision-making spaces that directly impact their futures. Centering the perspectives and experiences of young women is necessary for building stronger, more inclusive systems. These voices bring fresh ideas, lived experience, and bold perspectives that challenge the status quo. By creating platforms for them to be heard, we help shape a future that reflects the needs and hopes of the next generation.
In our youth programs, business leaders who mentor often say they learn more from listening to the youth than they feel they give. This is a regular occurrence in our flagship youth program Learning to Lead™ and our new mental wellness program Rise and Shine. At Minerva, we are working toward a future where this is not surprising or exceptional, but expected. The insights, perspectives, and ideas of young people are essential. We believe youth voices offer a vital contribution to shaping effective, innovative, and long-term decision-making for our communities and workplaces.
One of the most powerful ways to support young leaders is through mentorship. Sharing your own leadership journey—the lessons, challenges, and wins along the way—can help make their path forward a little clearer and their obstacles, whatever they may be, less intimidating. Mentorship reminds young women that they are not alone and that others have walked similar roads before them. One of the amazing things that happens at Minerva is when we see a switch flip in the thinking of a young woman–when we witness her realize that all leaders had to begin their journey somewhere. We see her understand that she, too, already has what it takes to start writing her own leadership story.
Supporting young women’s leadership is not just about investing in individual futures. By strengthening this capacity in youth leaders, we create a ripple effect as they manifest the strength, creativity, and resilience that our communities and workplaces need. When young women lead, we all benefit. I have the honour of leading the Speed Mentoring portion of Fora’s upcoming Leadership Forum on October 17th. Fora delivers fantastic leadership opportunities for young women and is a valued partner to Minerva’s youth programs. I’m so looking forward to meeting the youth and mentors participating in this wonderful event and seeing some of these great mentorship moments!
