One of the most valuable lessons I learned during my time with Junior Achievement was the power of seeing the world through someone else’s lens. The education world and the business world don’t often co-exist, nor do they always see eye to eye. But through JA, they share the same space – and that perspective can change everything.

I remember countless volunteers – professionals in their field, even titans of industry – stepping into classrooms and being stunned by how many students one teacher managed at once, how precise every minute of the schedule had to be, and how little time there was for breaks. So many volunteers would tell me over breaks, lunch, or afterward, “I had no idea.”

Students and teachers also gained new perspectives from their volunteers, as well as former JA employees such as myself. One that still stands out to me was when an executive was teaching a session on business ethics and shared a professional dilemma. He had faced a choice: do what he believed was right, which meant losing a significant amount of money, or look the other way for the sake of the business. He posed the same question to the class, asking what they would do. The discussion was engaging and genuine, and students were deeply curious about how it ended.

Those experiences have stayed with me. As I have progressed in my career, I have carried the lessons of partnership, perspective, and ethical decision-making – knowing that real progress happens when we take the time to understand each other’s worlds, bring our strengths, and inspire people to build something better together.