The second morning of GES started with the incredible energy of two young entrepreneurs in development, Sarah Berghorst and Nathaniel Koloc. Young and Restless in Development gave the GES delegates and staff members great answers to the daunting question of “How do I pair my passion for social development with a job after graduation?”

Sarah Berghorst from Bain shared with us four lessons she wished she would have known when she was our age. The first was the importance of getting entrepreneurial experience early and from every opportunity you pursue. She explained that her time as a Peace Corps volunteer was her first and greatest entrepreneurial experience. She went into a community that had an unmet need, recognized it, came up with a plan to meet that need, and then had to recruit other people to help her meet this need. By doing this she learned a lot of important entrepreneurship lessons and convincing others to care about her passion. Her second lesson was the power of engaging in the stories of those around you. Investing and engaging in the stories of the people around you can lead to great connections and make you a better leader. Sharing your own story holds vast importance as well to share what drive you with others. The third lesson was to get outside of your comfort zone and see what the other side of the equation looks like. For Sarah this meant leaving the public sector and going to business school to learn about the private sector. The fourth lesson was to know yourself, and take time for self-reflection. Sarah stated the importance of carving out time everyday to journal or mediate about what you accomplished that day, what you were proud of, and what you could do better.

Nathaniel Koloc shared his story of frustration with finding a meaningful job after graduation from college. While working through the first couple of years after graduation, he realized two challenges that he faced. One was the pressure to settle for a job he did not love. He stressed the importance of not jumping into a job that you are not passionate about, and to rather take the time to research all of your options, and find the one that most excites you most. The other challenge was to understand what he could contribute to the working world. This means that you should ask questions and learn, because you will not have all the answers after graduation. He stressed again and again the importance of putting forth the energy and time to figure out the best career for yourself, going against the pressure to settle, and to recognize it is a journey that will not be figured out quickly.

Sarah and Nathaniel’s energy and passion for their work as young people in development inspired the GES delegates and staff and was a perfect start to our second day!

Watch the video of Sarah Berghorst and Nathaniel Koloc:

▶