Alumni Spotlight: Nicole Meadows

Our first alumni spotlight for January 2020 is none other than Nicole Meadows, a graduate of South Forsyth High School (2007) and of the University of Georgia (2010). She is a Program Manager for 21st Century Leaders where she has been involved for the last 15 years- almost half of her life! Nicole provides leadership for the Summer Leadership Institutes and school-year summits, at the same time providing support to other programs, and she is a Certified Professional Coach. She says the greatest preparation I received from 21CL is exposure to working with other people – people who end up teaching me something!

Paint a brief picture of what you are doing now.

As the Program Manager for 21st Century Leaders, I have the honor of organizing leadership learning experiences, such as our summer leadership institutes and summits throughout the school year, for Georgia’s high school students.

I graduated from South Forsyth High School (2007) and the University of Georgia (2010) with a major in Journalism (Magazine) and a minor in Comparative Literature. In 2016, I became a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC).

How did participating in 21CL transform you and lead you to where you are now?

I’ve been involved with 21st Century Leaders for 15 years. That’s almost half of my life! Not only has participating in 21CL led me to this job, but it has continued to transform me through the people involved, from students to volunteers to coworkers to program partners. Overall, my greatest transformation through 21CL has been in my mindset of pairing work with positive impact.

And how did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. What skills/tools/perspectives have helped you along the way?

The greatest preparation I received from 21CL is exposure to working with other people – people who end up teaching me something! No team dynamic is the same, and as people themselves transform as individuals what they bring to the table (and remove from the table), it changes the experience. Knowing about communication styles, personal values and motivations, and the value of diversity prepared me for any environment. I had roles facilitating small groups, leading mission trips, coaching people into their own goals (not mine), supporting the work of other leaders, and in people-facing workplaces. In all of them, it was the 21CL value of respecting others, actively listening, and considering the other person’s experience that gave me a foundation of connecting and allowing others to discover their potential through taking action.

Nicole at the winter summit in 2006

Which programs did you participate in, and when? What skills did you gain or improve through those programs?

2005 – Summer Leadership Institute at Savannah State University

2006 – Summer leadership institute at Oglethorpe University and Leadership Unplugged: A CNN Experience (the inaugural summer program sponsored by WarnerMedia)

2005 – 2007 – school year summits

2008 – 2012 – summer staff member

2016 – present – full-time team member!

If compassion is a skill, then 21CL’s programs consistently build upon that ability in me, especially through the forced discomfort of working with strangers. Through time as a participant, then as a facilitator, now as a coordinator, compassion (and the 3 C’s as a group) is a leadership trend that I have carried with me. It’s also wonderful to hear from professionals about their work ethic, pathway to success (and valued failures), and their commitment to giving back or paying it forward.

What was a memorable or ‘aha’ moment in 21CL? (Particular program, meeting a professional and diverse peers, speaking in public for the first time, etc.?)

Meeting 21st Century Leaders, it was such a relief to hear that there’s not just one type of leader. What a revelation! Other than that, it’s a collection of moments – a collage of workshop debriefs, reflections, witnessing personal breakthroughs, working alongside former students who are now alumni, cleaning up rivers and other service projects that show that leadership is alive in everyday experiences. For practical takeaways, I will always strive to make my handshakes “webby to webby” and realize that diversity encompasses more than outward appearances.

Did 21CL assist you in developing a leadership style that makes you an effective leader? If so how? And have you recently learned something else about leadership? Please share!

21CL has definitely helped me to develop my leadership style. It’s a given that spending time with something results in a transfer between. The time I’ve been able to spend with other leaders has imparted a treasure trove of skills, mindsets, perspectives, and ways of doing things, relationship with failure, and more. I have found that I tend to lean more towards a facilitative leadership style– creating an environment in which others can lead, with expectations that the opportunity to lead is open. From the “Leadership Challenge” I see how “modeling the way” and “encouraging the heart” have infused my way of training – showing how, working through it together, encouraging others and acknowledging their unique value. I’m always learning about leadership and am grateful for the leaders and cultures of leadership that have made a mark on me. 21CL gave me permission to be the kind of leader that I am and can become, and gives that same permission to any student who participates.

Alumni Spotlight: Brandi Harrison

Brandi Harrison, is the Senior Manager of Production Operations and Crewing at Turner, a graduate of H.V. Jenkins High School (1997) and of Brenau University (2001). She is an alumna of 21st Century Leaders and now serves as chairperson of the 21CL Junior Board of Directors. At the Georgia Youth Leadership Awards (GYLA 2019) event which took place on March 2, 2019, Brandi was our keynote alumni speaker and gave a moving speech and talked about the inspiration, skills and values she acquired during her 21CL years. She also encouraged everyone who has been impacted by program to give back.

Following is part of her speech:

“I’m thrilled to be here tonight in the presence of such amazing students who are shaping the future right before our eyes! I’m in awe of the vision and determination that each of you have shown in the projects you’ve created. And it makes me think about my experiences with 21st Century Leaders.

I went through the summer program twice, in ’95 and ’96, as a rising junior and a rising senior. Back then, each level had a focus – for instance, the rising sophomores had to start a business and most of them sold chips and candy throughout the week – so you always knew who to hit up for a midnight snack in the dorms!

I know for a fact that I can draw a direct line between those 2 summers and who I am today.

  • In that intimate environment, I learned to work with a wide diverse group of students from all over GA and it shattered any stereotype that I had of “city people” or “country people”. A trait that helps me manage my current staff of 12 today.
  • I worked on real business projects and presented solutions to professionals which required me to ask thought provoking questions and understand company’s pain points. Skills that I use every day to find efficiencies in how we manage our production studios and resources at Turner.
  • And I was required to lead – not asked, not just suggested. There was an expectation that I would build teams, mentor others, and be a strong teammate to other leaders. I’ve used that talent to secure every job I’ve ever earned. And I’ll rely on it as I step into the new role of Chairman for our very first 21st Century Leaders Junior Board. Together, along with the other alumni on the Junior Board, we have a goal to reach out and galvanize our 14 thousand alumni… reconnecting them to the program and its mission.

All of those skills and expectations were originally ignited 30 years ago and fueled by the passion of our very own, Bob Watson!

Bob is such a special person. The first time I met him was my very first day of my first camp. I was walking up to the registration table and Bob happened to be standing there. He asked my name and once I said Brandi Harrison, his face LIT UP! He knew me and he was excited to meet me. As a 15 year old it was so memorable, there are few adults, outside of family that are thrilled to meet you! In the moment I thought I was special, but as I watched him the rest of the day, he had that same reaction to every single student he met and he’d mentioned tidbits from their application and interviews.

Bob has carried that same excitement and passion through every stage of building 21st Century Leaders into the organization it is today. And I know each and every one of you here have been impacted by 21st Century Leaders and touched by Bob’s passion.

Brandi went on to encourage everyone who had been impacted by 21st Century Leaders to support the organization, which lead into our crowdfunding campaign for the “Robert Watson Scholarship” that evening.

As Chairperson for the Junior Board of Directors, Brandi encourages all of our alumni to reengage with 21st Century Leaders in some way. Join a committee with the Junior Board, volunteer with the program and events, or donate to help future generations lead. 

Thank you, Brandi! Congratulations on all of your success thus far, and thank you for giving back to 21st Century Leaders.