College Experiences That Helped a Co-Founder and CEO at Improve Your Tomorrow Succeed
To set up for career success, Michael took advantage of leadership opportunities like being a football captain, which taught how to "lead different types of people from different backgrounds" and motivate them towards a common goal; furthermore, by saying yes to volunteer and service opportunities, and not giving up even when mentors advised against pursuing a more impactful path, they set the stage for founding and leading Improve Your Tomorrow.
Leadership, Volunteering, Resilience, Motivation, Community Impact
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michael Lynch
Co-Founder and CEO
Improve Your Tomorrow
Cal Poly Humboldt
Sacramento State - Masters of Public Policy and Administration
Business Management & Admin
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Business Strategy
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Took advantage of leadership opportunities: Being a football captain taught how to lead diverse groups of people towards a common goal, which is a highly useful skill.
2. Embraced various opportunities: Saying yes to volunteer and service opportunities, even when others wouldn't, opened doors and provided valuable experiences.
3. Persistence in pursuing impactful goals: Didn't give up on aspirations, even when mentors suggested otherwise, highlighting the importance of pursuing passions despite external doubts.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
The things I did, I didn't know I was doing right to set myself up. I took advantage of leadership opportunities.
I played football and was the captain, which taught me how to lead 18 to 23-year-olds towards a championship. This was a very difficult challenge.
What I learned was how to lead different types of people from different backgrounds. Football teams are super diverse, with people from all economic backgrounds, racial backgrounds, and religions. You have to navigate and figure out a way to motivate them and bring them all towards a common goal.
I also said yes to volunteer and service opportunities that most people would have declined. I think what really helped me down this pathway was that I just never gave up.
When I told some of my mentors what I wanted to do, they said it wasn't a good idea. They advised me to focus on what I was currently doing. I had a safe government job working for elected officials. However, I wanted to do something that I felt would be more impactful for the communities I cared about most.
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