On October 15, 2024, Siegfried Youth Leadership Program® (SYLP) welcomed nearly 300 middle and high school students from 16 schools for an engaging day of individual leadership development, entrepreneurship, and thoughtful reflection.

This event, the 16^th since SYLP was founded, featured a keynote address by Markevis Gideon (a Delaware native, local entrepreneur, and founder of NERDiT Now), an engaging student panel, and for the first time, four dynamic breakout sessions focused on entrepreneurship, critical thinking, leadership, and creativity.

Based on the powerful idea of improving the lives of young people, SYLP provides leadership development opportunities for students in grades 8 through 12, as well as their teachers and mentors. Created and sponsored by The Siegfried Group, LLP (Siegfried), SYLP also partners closely with University of Delaware’s Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship and Horn Entrepreneurship, as well as Junior Achievement of Delaware to organize these events.

Breakout sessions: equipping students with tools for success

Prior to the keynote, students participated in two of four available breakout sessions. Presenters, who included University of Delaware faculty and staff, as well as a leadership advisor from The Siegfried Group, encouraged participants to explore new ideas, ask thoughtful questions, and think about the impact they can have on their communities and the world.

• Fuel Your Future: The Power of Curiosity and Dreams: Led by Nick Enos, Leadership Advisor and Associate Director at Siegfried, this session challenged students to think critically and cultivate intellectual curiosity. Through self-reflection and open-minded exploration, participants learned how staying connected to the world and being more curious can fuel their ambitions and help them navigate life’s challenges with courage and humility.
• Incentives, The Profit Motive, and You: Professor Carlos J. Asarta, a leader in business education at the University of Delaware, helped students understand the importance of uncertainty, risk, and incentives in entrepreneurship. Through relatable examples and an exploration of economic principles, students gained valuable insights into decision-making and how they could shape their futures.
• Confidence 101: Presenting Your Best Self: Professor Nat Measley of the University of Delaware led a session focused on building confidence and resilience. By introducing basic leadership theories, Measley explored how self-perception influences an individual’s ability to lead and make an impact. Students were encouraged to cultivate a positive mindset and develop the skills needed to become their best selves.
• Unlock Your Creative Power: The Entrepreneur Within: Maggie Nelson of the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program guided students through a dynamic session on creativity and innovation. Students discovered how creativity isn’t limited to art or invention but is a powerful tool for problem-solving and creating value. This session emphasized thinking big, taking risks, and using entrepreneurial skills to drive change in their schools and communities.

Insights and advice from a local entrepreneur

Teachers and students also heard from keynote speaker Markevis Gideon, the Founder and Owner of NERDiT Now, about his experience growing up in Delaware, how it shaped his entrepreneurial journey, and his advice for how you can influence your future and become the most authentic version of yourself. 

Of the nine pieces of advice that Gideon gave, the one that resonated the most with students was not to let others impose their limitations on you – success is more meaningful when you define it for yourself. “Often, you are seeing something much bigger while the rest of the world is only seeing a small part of something,” Gideon said. “Just because you’re in the beginning, doesn’t mean you won’t get there.” He then reflected on the limitations that others posed on him early in his life and career, advising students that they should “let that be their limitation, not yours. Even when you don’t win, don’t quit on yourself. You can and will do so much more.”

Following his keynote, Gideon participated in the panel discussion, where student panelists shared their biggest insights from the event, talked about the people in their lives who could support them with achieving their dreams, and elaborated on what their next steps would be after they returned to school.

Providing transformative experiences

“This was the best SYLP event yet,” said Randi Pro, Social Studies Instructor at Hodgson Vo-Tech. “It was an excellent program. The breakout sessions were powerful and insightful, and our students really appreciated the format and approach. It was engaging, interactive, and we are grateful for the opportunity to attend an event like this.”

Siegfried has spent more than 35 years delivering on its higher purpose to help people transform themselves into better leaders to exponentially improve their lives. In 2016, Siegfried’s CEO and Founder, Rob Siegfried, expanded this reach and created SYLP, which is designed for students in grades 8 through 12, as well as their teachers and mentors. As part of the program, the SYLP team hosts events, during which student participants focus on developing the qualities they need to start, or continue, their journey toward becoming strong individual leaders and building a successful future. Overall, the program aims to create a more rhythmic approach to focusing on individual leadership.

The next SYLP event will take place on March 18, 2025, at the University of Delaware.