FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Callahan, Program Director, ActionCOACH Foundation
PHONE/EMAIL: 702.947.9445 / karencallahan@actioncoach.com
Young Entrepreneurs Graduate With a Smart Start
LAS VEGAS--September 10, 2024--ActionCOACH Foundation recognized 21 young adults between the ages of 15 and 17 for their successful completion of the twelve-week YESS Business Basics course. The graduates represented students from Lithuania and South Africa.
The virtual graduation ceremony took place via Zoom on Tuesday, September 10. It was attended by students, family members, friends and mentors, as well as staff and coaches from the ActionCOACH family. The ceremony was hosted by ActionCOACH Board Member and facilitator of the Lithuanian cohort, Lina Glemzaite-Griciuviene, and ActionCOACH Foundation Program Director, Karen Callahan.
Students received well wishes from Board Member and YESS Club Chair, Josh Bardsley. Thereafter, Founding Board Member and Founder of ActionCOACH, Brad Sugars, delivered a brief commencement address entitled, 'Making Your Dreams Come True.' According to Sugars, “We want to make entrepreneurs, not employees. When we 'ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in youth worldwide,' we help inspire and educate future leaders who can accelerate the global impact of an ActionCOACH business education."
Special Awards for best assignments submitted were presented by Glemzaite to four students. Gintare Valaityte and Ricardas Pajaujis, both from Kauno Stepono Dariaus Ir Stasio Gireno Gymnazija (DGG) in Lithuania, took home Best Vision Boards, representing the yin and the yang perspectives of creating one's dreams. Kristupas Burnys, also from DGG in Lithuania, was presented with Best Business Plan for his EcoTote Bags business. The name says it all. The final Special Award for Best Video Pitch went home with Tejal Manilal of Danville Parks Girls High in South Africa for her energetic pitch of her business, Blended Bliss, a nutritional café specializing in acai bowls and smoothies There were 9 finalists in all. Congratulations go out to all award winners...and finalists.
The ceremony concluded with recognition of all 21 of the international graduates. To view the full 23-minute full graduation ceremony and a 2-minute Highlight Reel, visit the Foundation's website: https://actioncoachfoundation.org/success-stories-graduations/
Students repeatedly share with Foundation leadership how the program has opened the doors to new opportunities for them, helping them build confidence and a "wealth mindset." At a time when many around the world feel hopeless and afraid of what the future holds, these students are helping to unlock the doors of opportunity for themselves and their future employees.
YESS Business Basics is a twelve-week, virtual course that serves as an introduction into ActionCOACH Foundation's YESS Young Entrepreneur Smart Start program. It is designed to instill the business principles of ActionCOACH Founder, Brad Sugars, into youth ages 12- to 22. Each student must complete twelve weeks of videos, Action Assignments and weekly exams. In addition, they are each required to submit vision boards, basic business plans and video business pitches.
YESS Business Basics has enrolled over 2,060 students all over the world since its inception in early 2021. To date, over 540 students have graduated from the program. The program is free to qualified youth.
If you would like to learn how to create a local YESS cohort in your community or you have a student near and dear to your heart who would like to apply independently, visit https://actioncoachfoundation.org/yess-program/
About ActionCOACH Foundation
ActionCOACH Foundation was founded in 2018 and is operated out of ActionCOACH Global Headquarters in Las Vegas. In the Spring of 2021, the Foundation re-launched ActionCOACH's ‘Coaching for a Cause’ program under the umbrella of the Foundation and launched its new YESS Young Entrepreneur Smart Start program to provide free business education to young adults ages 12-22. For more information on any Foundation activities, visit www.actioncoachfoundation.org or contact the Program Manager, Karen Callahan, at 702-947-9445 or karencallahan@actioncoach.com
About ActionCOACH®
ActionCOACH, the world’s largest business coaching franchise, was established and founded in Brisbane, Australia by Brad Sugars in 1993 when the concept of business coaching was still in its infancy. Since franchising the company in 1997, ActionCOACH has helped business coaching become more mainstream and the company has nearly 1,000 coaches in more than 70 countries working with approximately 18,000 businesses weekly to improve results. ActionCOACH specializes in coaching small to medium-sized businesses as well as executives, and their teams. ActionCOACH maintains its growth and strategic alliances by continual development of cutting-edge innovative technology, proven business processes, and systems to add value, satisfaction and additional income streams for its franchisees. ActionCOACH’s global headquarters is in Las Vegas. Visit ActionCOACH.com for more information.
