Ekatā Connections August 2025

Welcome to August!

With back-to-school season in full swing, we bring our attention to the future of leadership. At Ekatā, we know that the seeds we plant today will shape the leaders of tomorrow. The skills, values, and mindsets we nurture in young people now will guide how they approach challenges, build relationships, and inspire change for years to come.

That’s why this month’s spotlight is on Cultivating Leadership Skills in Young Adults. In a rapidly evolving world, the next generation needs more than technical know-how; they need the ability to lead with confidence, communicate with empathy, and collaborate across differences. Our programs are designed to help leaders discover their strengths, develop resilience, and embrace the responsibility that comes with leadership.

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Cultivating Leadership Skills in Young Adults

Nurturing the Next Generation of Visionaries

Society is at an interesting and troubling point in history. Between the political and economic climates, post-COVID realities, the rise of AI, and the changing landscape of the workplace, it is becoming more and more difficult to know where to look for leadership and guidance. However, the call for leadership has never been greater. The old ways of leading don’t always apply to what we are currently experiencing in our daily and work lives. The need for fresh perspectives is greater now than ever. Nowhere is this needed more than among our young adults, whose voices and actions will shape the societies of tomorrow. The cultivation of leadership skills in this vital age group is not a mere aspiration; it is an imperative one. If young people have an opportunity to learn and apply leadership skills at an early age, they become better prepared for their rise in our society and businesses.

The Unique Potential of Young Adults

Young adults possess a unique blend of qualities that, when channeled, can foster remarkable leadership. Young people are curious, open to innovation, willing to take risks, and have a strong sense of justice and empathy. Their ability to adapt to new technologies and cultural shifts, combined with their innate desire to contribute meaningfully, creates fertile ground for developing effective leadership skills. Here's the catch: They must be cultivated and nurtured. Even when someone is a ‘natural leader’, there must be guidance and mentorship along the way.

Overcoming Barriers to Developing Strong Young Leaders

One of the greatest barriers to developing young leaders is a lack of access to meaningful leadership education. While leadership is often expected in the workplace, it’s rarely taught in ways that are practical, relatable, or timely for young people. In most high school and traditional college curricula, there is little to no intentional focus on cultivating leadership skills. As a result, many young adults enter the workforce unprepared to lead, not because they lack potential, but because they haven’t had the opportunity to explore or practice leadership in safe, supportive environments. Young leaders need to foster communication, self-awareness, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills that they can carry into their careers. If we want to empower the next generation, we must rethink how and when leadership development is introduced and make it more accessible, relevant, and actionable from the start.

The Good News

Leadership experience boosts employability, and targeted leadership coaching and training (e.g., workshops, mentor-based training) yield measurable improvements in workplace performance. Increasing engagement and self-esteem are predictive of job success. For example, Northeastern University's co-op model resulted in 95% of graduates becoming employed within nine months of graduation. In addition, institutions offering career readiness coaching (including self-confidence and professional skills training) report higher rates of smooth student transitions into meaningful job roles. With all this good news, why wouldn’t we focus on training and mentoring young leaders?

Planting Seeds for a Brighter Future

Cultivating leadership skills in young adults is not just a worthwhile effort; it is a profound investment in our collective future, and one that society urgently needs. In a world facing complex challenges, rapidly evolving industries, and shifting cultural landscapes, the next generation will be called upon to lead in ways we've never seen before.

By intentionally nurturing leadership competencies, such as self-awareness, critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, and ethical decision-making, we equip young people not just to manage tasks, but to inspire others, navigate change, and lead with integrity. When we create spaces for young adults to explore, practice, and refine their leadership abilities early on, we prepare them to step into roles of influence with confidence, competence, and purpose. This isn’t just about individual success; it’s about shaping a future for the better.