Leading Next Generation is an innovative foundation that was formed in July 2015 by Founder and Entrepreneur Heather Pennington of Day Three Media and iSpeak Business. Leading Next Generation was created to provide area teens and college students with a training that prepares for independent life and a successful career as a business professional. The organization will be launching an academy in January 2016 as a yearlong program consisting of twelve modules that
will address key issues facing kids ranging from 14 through 20 years of age.
Heather Pennington conceived Leading Next Generation, after years of interviewing young people, speaking at High Schools, and lecturing at KSU, she saw a need not only from an employer’s standpoint but also from inspiration of wanting to help others. It has progressed after seeing first hand what are the biggest hurdles keeping new college grads from success in the professional world, but more importantly in lives on their own.
“I notice many times when I am speaking at high schools or colleges that many students just
seem lost and have no real idea of what is expected of them upon graduation“ said Heather Pennington. “They come into the room dressed completely wrong, speaking incorrectly and with a misguided vision of being an adult, let alone a business professional.”
In addition to Heather’s own observations many other professionals are echoing the same issues,
often citing having to spend valuable business time teaching “common sense” life skills and extra human resources searching for grads with the ethics to work their way up the corporate ladder rather than the expectation to be a vice president upon entry.
“Kids are graduating college with the highest debt in US history, most of them have no idea how
to dress for an interview let alone know how to write a resume or what a professional handshake
should look like,” said Heather. “They are perplexed with how to manage their finances, what etiquette looks like around the table in a business environment and the social communication that is such an important piece in life. In addition, self-‐esteem is a constant struggle and the statistics are heading in a downward trend. “
The mission of Leading Next Generation is that all kids regardless of race, social economic status, or religion will have a chance to be the best version they can be and an asset to others and the business community. The goal of the academy is that by the end of the yearlong program, the students will have been equipped with the necessary skills to be confident, competent and successful as they enter into adulthood.
It is through equipping the next generation of young people for leadership through training in
practical life application where they are prepared for success upon graduation from college into independent living. For more information on Leading Next Generation or to reserve your spot for the Introduction Breakfast on Thursday, July 30 at the Marietta Country Club please contact Heather Pennington.
The Leading Next Generation Foundation is a non-‐profit filed as a 501c3 in the State of Georgia and with the IRS.
