ready to make an impact

Generation Z is used to shaking things up. Coming of age and entering the workforce in a difficult time – both economically and socially – Gen Zers have a strong sense of equality and justice, and they also are keenly aware of the ways existing corporate and social structures have contributed to many of the challenges they face.

According to Deloitte’s 2022 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, financial worries, climate change, mental health challenges, and sexual harassment are among the top concerns for this generation. A generation of digital natives, Gen Z is skilled at bringing attention to these issues and driving collective action through social media platforms and grassroots organizing.

But, as Gen Z enters the workplace, they need to do more than just tear down the systems they don’t like. They also need to develop skills that will help them build the companies and organizations they want to see. The Goff Strategic Leadership Center at the David Eccles School of Business aims to do just that.

Goff offers three programs:

▪ The Explorers program lasts for one semester and pairs students with a for-credit internship, as well as provides a concurrent leadership and skills-development course.

▪ In the Trailblazers program, students spend one semester working on a project for a business client, receiving feedback from professors, business advisors, and the client along the way.

▪ Goff Scholars work on multiple client projects over the course of two semesters, guided by an Eccles School professor, who also provides a strategic framework and business analytics tools to help support class projects and students’ future careers.

Anchored in hands-on learning, Goff provides a bridge between the classroom and the community, preparing students to be effective, impactful leaders wherever they land.

Ready to Make an Impact – Whatever Comes Next

As funny as it sounds, Cathleen Zhang says the best feeling she’s ever had was the feeling of being the dumbest person in the room – and it was her experience at Goff that gave it to her.

“The Goff Strategic Leadership Center brings the best people together,” Zhang said. “I love the feeling of being the dumbest person in the room, and I am OK with that.”

As a junior studying sociology, Zhang applied to the Goff Scholars program on a whim and soon found herself being challenged in all the best ways. Tasked with completing four real-life projects for four real-world companies during the year-long course, the expectations of both the professors and the clients were high. Zhang found herself driven to succeed in a way she never had been before.

“From the very beginning the professor told me, ‘I expect a lot of everyone in this class, but every single time the students have delivered.’ That kind of trust and high expectations in a classroom setting really stuck with me,” Zhang said. “It was so transformative. And I had a great time.”

Through the projects she completed with Goff, Zhang saw she had more skills than she realized – and she saw in real-time the impact those skills could have. One project she and her team worked on was for a local janitorial company that was looking to expand their business. After a lot of market and technical research, the team recommended that the company expand into cleaning laboratory spaces and the company decided to pursue their recommendation.

“Knowing the things you recommended and put a ton of time and research into was something the company trusted – that felt really good,” Zhang said. “It made me really confident in my own research abilities and my ability to work on a team.”

Her experience with Goff also opened Zhang’s eyes to different avenues she could pursue to make a positive impact besides the paths that were already familiar to her. Now a senior at the David Eccles School of Business, she has added economics and Quantitative Analysis of Markets and Organizations (QAMO) to her major. The program gave her new insight into the positive impacts businesses can have on social problems. She even joined the Student Investment Fund at the Eccles School and got interested in the field of impact investing.

“I never thought in a million years that I’d want to do anything related to business, accounting, or finance,” she said. “That’s something I never would have had the confidence to do before this program.”

The program also helped Zhang feel comfortable even in uncomfortable moments. Through self-evaluations and peer evaluations, she learned how to receive constructive criticism and how to correctly assess her own strengths and not sell herself short. It’s all valuable preparation for whatever comes next.

“It was so wonderful. I had never received feedback like that before. Sometimes we have perceptions of ourselves that aren’t entirely cognizant with how other people see us,” she said. “I don’t know what’s next but, thanks to Goff, I know I am prepared.”

Forging an Impactful Path – and Inviting Others to Follow

Ethan Black always knew he wanted to do something with his life that made a difference for other people – he just didn’t know how. Growing up in St. George, Utah, he didn’t have any examples of people who had gone from where he was to where he wanted to be. Goff, he said, helped him forge that path.

“The whole world is accessible, but it can be hard to feel that way,” Black said. “Goff really helped me bridge that gap. This program is really good at not making you feel too small.”

Black, who majored in finance and graduated in the spring of 2022, participated in the Trailblazers program during the Fall Semester of 2021. His group was assigned to work with a small start-up in New York. After the school year was over, Black interned with the company, walking to their offices on Wall Street every day. He was with the company as they raised $10 million in Series A funding. They went on to rase $130 million in Series B funding and achieved unicorn status.

It was the first time, Black said, that he saw a clear picture of what he wanted to be – and what he could do.

“You can fall into a trap of not thinking big enough, but this allowed me to see beyond the traditional way of thinking and really broaden my perspective,” he said. “I was lucky to be able to see what happens when you give something your all.”

Through a connection at the start-up, Black was introduced to the business leadership program at LinkedIn. Black said he was attracted to the company because of their mission to connect people all over the world to the jobs and opportunities that will help them thrive – the way Goff did for him.

“I was drawn to this sense of the company that everything I do can make a difference for someone else,” Black said. “I’ve never been so excited to work with someone or for something.”

Black is the first student from the University of Utah ever accepted into the prestigious two-year program at LinkedIn, but he is walking in without any sense of imposter syndrome, he said, thanks to the confidence and perspective his time at Goff gave him. Now as an alum of the Eccles School, Black is also committed to sharing his journey with other students like him and giving them a real-world example of what is possible.

“I say go out there and get that perspective and experience,” Black said. “It will be scary, but it provides so much value. It makes the world feel wide open to see that you can do so much more than the scope you might have.”

Creating Impactful Spaces for the People Who Need Them Most

The goal of Michelda George’s non-profit organization, Versatile Image, is to help business leaders think differently about the role of artists and creatives in their companies. To accomplish that goal, George had to start thinking differently about her own skills and company, and a partnership with the Goff Strategic Leadership Center helped her do it.

George, who is of Haitian ancestry, started Versatile Image in 2010 as a for-profit event planning company specializing in fundraising events for Haitian earthquake relief. She soon branched out to other event projects and clients, but the industry was difficult to keep up with and she never felt like she was getting ahead.

Eventually, George put Versatile Image on the shelf and started working in the financial planning industry. But she couldn’t shake the idea that Versatile Image could become a vehicle for developing and promoting Black and brown creatives.

5 Pieces of Advice from 5 Strategic Leaders

Adapted from the Goff Strategic Leadership Center blog

George said. “But I was able to see this group through my life experience and the experiences of my creative friends and the support they needed.”

After relocating to Utah to live closer to her brother, the pieces finally started coming together for George. In 2019 she converted Versatile Image to a 501(c)3 non-profit, “and the flood gates opened up,” she said.

Versatile Image now provides professional development and business development – such as marketing and branding assistance – for Black and brown creatives from visual artists to graphic designers and copywriters to web developers. The organization also receives job requests and then matches them with the best creative to meet the need. It is something no one was doing before.

“These are skills that are vital to the success of businesses, but there really wasn’t a space that was carved out for Black and brown creatives,” George said. “There was no community for artists.”

Versatile Image is also committed to advocating for Black and brown creatives, George said, by ensuring they receive fair bids and payments.

“When it comes to Black and brown creatives as compared to our white counterparts, we would get bids that were significantly less,” George said. “I am here to make sure everybody wins, but it has to be fair. That starving artist crap is dead.”

With her non-profit officially off the ground, George partnered with Goff to explore the idea of building a development center and coworking space for her clients. Nine different student groups presented research and recommendations about what was possible for the company and its growth.

“They really came with it,” George said. “It was amazing to see it come to life. They gave us a lot to implement and a lot to think about.”

To George, Goff’s work doesn’t just impact students or businesses like hers – it’s a win for the whole community.

“Providing support to community members is so important,” George said. “They were really open to connecting me to resources and introducing me to people. I felt seen. They wanted to create space and my organization was worth supporting.” ■

“The best part about being in a leadership position is that you become aware of your strengths and weaknesses. As great as it is to contribute your strengths to a project or team, the real opportunity that comes with leadership lies in growing your areas that could use improvement. Take advantage of any leadership opportunity possible, and use it to develop the areas that you want to grow in. The best leaders are born out of experience and consistent, challenging growth.” Daren Thai, Goff Ambassador

“As a college student years ago, I struggled to find my voice, or even to see myself as a leader. I found myself taking more of a reactionary role in teams, instead of proactively contributing and taking ownership of decisions. I was great at completing the exact responsibilities I was assigned, but I didn’t seek out much more than that. But gradually, my mindset changed – thanks to mentors, lots of self-reflection, and realizing that the decision to become a leader was entirely up to me. I learned that I needed to identify my strengths, find situations to use them, put intentional thought into not just completing tasks but into creating the maximum amount of value, and be receptive to feedback. And then use a growth mindset to start that process all over again. Everyone has the potential to develop a strategic leadership mindset. It starts with you, and it takes work – and it’s worth it.”

Stephanie Baugh, MA, Goff Manager

“Always continue to learn. Always keep learning and seeking to understand even the smallest things.” Greg

Goff, Founder

“Being a strategic leader is not only about creating value for your team or organization, it’s also about creating and capturing value for yourself. I’ve found that strategic leaders are incredibly dynamic – they don’t rest on the laurels of how success is currently defined or even on the strengths they have today. They continue to be self-aware, to relentlessly focus on what value means to them, to align the resources they need around them, and to take ownership over their own personal growth.”

Ruchi Watson, MBA, Ed. D., Goff Managing Director

“I would say in order to be a strategic leader, you have to think for not only yourself but for your whole group/community. It is your job to look out for those in need, create compromises when necessary, and always be a resource for others.”

Addie Collins, Goff Ambassador

They dedicate themselves to the things that give them meaning and purpose. People who commit to the things they are most passionate about see their dreams and ambitions ourish, often leading to a positive change for the people around them, too.

They commit to continual self-improvement. Don’t ignore that voice in your head that tells you to keep going even when it’s hard! That’s the voice that will lead you to success and positive impact.

They engage with people in an open, mutually bene cial way. Impact can start with a short conversation or a quick co ee. Someone else’s story might be the key to your own locked door – and vice versa.

They bring other people with them as they rise. When you celebrate other people’s success, they will celebrate yours. A rising tide can lift all boats, and sharing the credit keeps everyone motivated to do their best.

They embrace the journey instead of the goal. The nish line isn’t always the most important part of the race. Focus on the small steps that get you there, and your impact will come into focus.

They use their power and in uence well. Wherever you are making an impact, people are watching. When you use your power for good, in a small corner of the world or a big one, you are making positive change.

They invest their time and energy in what can be – rather than what is. The people who make the biggest impact are always looking a few steps ahead, instead of getting comfortable and complacent in the now.

They share what they know. It takes a village to do just about anything, including making an impact. Share your knowledge to help others build their own skills and con dence to make a di erence.

They embrace constructive criticism. Correction doesn’t mean failure, it means other people are invested in your success.