“You Are a Different Person”
My COLA cohort in 2018, can you find Leaders of Today Board Member Madison Voinovich?
“You are a Different Person”
In January 2021, when we officially started Leaders of Today, I could not have even kind of imagined where this journey would take me. What started as a simple idea has grown, changed, stretched, and honestly surprised me in more ways than I can count. But the truth is, Leaders of Today did not really start in 2021. It started in 2018.
In 2018, I went through a program called the Central Ohio Leadership Academy. It was a six day leadership experience, and each day focused on a different part of the acronym P.O.W.E.R. Prepared with purpose, open minded, willing to speak up, entrepreneurial mindset, real and ready, and then graduation. At the time, I did not think I was a leader. I was quiet, unsure of myself, and honestly scared to step into any kind of spotlight. I was the kind of person who would avoid raising my hand even if I knew the answer.
But something started to change that week.
On Thursday night, during Entrepreneurial Mindset day, I came home and was standing in the kitchen talking to my dad by the refrigerator. He looked at me and asked a question I will never forget. He said, “Where have you been all week? You are a different person.”
And he was right.
For the first time, I had confidence. I was willing to speak up. I was thinking about how I could actually change my community instead of just wishing things were different. That week did not just teach me leadership, it changed how I saw myself.
At the end of that program, we created something called an impact statement. It was simple in idea but powerful in practice. Now that you have learned these leadership skills, how are you going to use them to make a difference? My answer at the time was that I wanted to start a nonprofit to teach financial literacy to high school students. That idea did not come to life right away. It twisted and turned over the next three and a half years, changing shape as I grew, until it eventually became Leaders of Today.
When we started Leaders of Today, the goal was to support programs like COLA. We began by giving microgrants to high school students so they could take action on their own impact statements and create change in their communities. That mission was and still is something I deeply believe in. But as the years went on, both COLA and Leaders of Today began to evolve.
In 2022, we hosted our first Leaders of Today Conference. That idea actually came from our board president at the time, Madison, during a car ride to a board meeting. We talked about it on the way there, and by the next year, we made it happen. That conference opened the door for something bigger. We then had the opportunity to lead leadership programs with the PAST Foundation summer program, getting in front of more students and continuing to refine how we teach leadership.
Then last year, everything shifted again.
We found out that COLA was not going to happen, and there was a gap. The program that had changed my life was no longer there in the same way, and I felt that. So we created something new. The RISE Leadership Experience.
Last year, RISE was just one day, and we had eight students. That is it. But I can confidently say it was the best program we have ever put on. Not because of the size, but because of what happened inside that room.
One of the best examples of that is Garnell. Now, Garnell is part of our team. He is our Alumni President and has been through multiple Leaders of Today experiences, including our conference and the PAST Foundation program. But something about RISE was different for him. It changed how he saw his role, not just in Leaders of Today, but in his community.
After RISE, he decided he did not want students to go through these programs and then just drift away. He wanted to build something that kept people connected, growing, and learning from each other. So he started the Leaders of Today Alumni Network. Now, students have a place to come back to, hear from speakers, reconnect, and most importantly, learn from their peers. Out of everything he had experienced, it was RISE that pushed him to take that step.
That is what this program does. It does not just teach leadership. It changes how people see themselves and what they believe they are capable of doing.
And that is exactly why we are bringing it back this year, bigger and better than ever.
RISE 2026 group picture
Why RISE Matters (and Why You Should Be There)
This year, the RISE Leadership Experience is a three day program built around one core idea. Confidence.
Everything we do throughout those three days points back to that. Because the reality is, students do not step into leadership because they lack opportunity. They hold back because they lack confidence. They are unsure if their voice matters. They question if their ideas are good enough. They hesitate when it is time to step up.
RISE is designed to change that.
Over the course of three days, students will not just sit and listen. They will be in it. They will speak, share, reflect, and be pushed in a way that helps them grow, while still feeling supported every step of the way. There is a balance we are very intentional about. We challenge students to step out of their comfort zone, but we also create an environment where they feel safe doing it. Everyone grows at their own pace, but everyone grows.
Students will spend time identifying their personal values and understanding how those values shape the decisions they make every day. They will learn what it means to think with an entrepreneurial mindset, not just in business, but in life. They will be challenged to think differently, to be creative, and to see opportunities where others see problems. They will also learn how to speak up, how to communicate clearly, and how to share ideas in a way that actually creates change.
By the end of the program, every student will walk away with something we call an impact statement. This is their answer to the question, “Now what?” It is not just a thought. It is a direction. It is a clear picture of how they want to lead and make a difference in their communities.
This program is for a wide range of students, but they all have one thing in common. They are ready for something more.
It is for the student council president who is already leading but wants to grow deeper. It is for the quiet student who has leadership inside of them but has not had the confidence to show it yet. It is for the student who wants something meaningful to put on a college resume, and for the one who knows they want to change the world but does not know where to start. It is for students who are willing to be a little uncomfortable, who are curious, driven, and open to growing.
For parents, this program delivers the things you want most for your student. Confidence. Direction. Better communication. Real world leadership skills. And maybe most importantly, it surrounds them with other students who are motivated, thoughtful, and focused on making a difference. The environment matters, and the community we are building through RISE and our growing alumni network is something special.
RISE is not just an event. It is an experience that stays with you.
This year, the program will take place August 5 through 7. We are expecting around 30 students, which allows us to keep it personal, interactive, and impactful. The cost is $50 once accepted, and spots are limited.
If you are a student who is ready to grow, or a parent who sees potential in your student and wants to help them take that next step, I would strongly encourage you to apply.
Because if there is one thing I have learned since 2018, it is this.
Sometimes all it takes is one week, one room, and one moment for someone to look at you and say, “You are a different person.”
And they mean it.
Takeaways
Leadership is not something you wait for. It is something you step into, and confidence is what makes that possible. Every student has leadership inside of them, but it grows when they are put in the right environment, surrounded by the right people, and challenged in the right ways.
RISE is designed to be that environment. Over three days, students will grow in their confidence, learn how to communicate and speak up, and leave with a clear direction for how they want to make an impact in their communities. This is not about becoming a perfect leader. It is about becoming a more confident, more prepared version of yourself.
If you are a student who knows you want more, or a parent who sees that potential, this is your next step. You can learn more and apply for the RISE Leadership Experience at leadersoftodayco.com. The program takes place August 5 through 7, and we are limiting it to around 30 students to keep the experience personal and impactful. Spots will fill up.
Do not wait for confidence to come to you. Put yourself in a position where it has to grow.
We believe that giving students, the leaders of today, the opportunity to serve and make an impact will create vision and entrepreneurship for a better tomorrow.
Contact us to learn more about our mission and work, or to become involved yourself at
And come back the second Tuesday of each month for a new blog post!