Investing in Future Leaders

Investing

in Future Leaders

By: Alex Bennett and Tanner Celestin

Those familiar with Merage School alumnus Gareth K. Forde know him to be an inspirational colleague, visionary and standout friend. Having earned his MD, PhD, and MBA, Forde is no stranger to an educational pursuit, and this boundless passion for learning is, in part, why he is also known as a mentor to the very first Future Leaders Initiative (FLI) graduating cohort.

A Knack for Business

Forde’s entrepreneurial spirit became evident when he was just 18 years old, the same age as many of the students who entered this summer’s FLI program. “I’ve always been involved on the business side of things and started several successful companies over the years,” he says. “My first business was selling snow cones in front of the Walmart near my house.” The experience of creating and owning a small but thriving business as a teenager is just one piece of Forde’s journey to investing in ambitious, young students.

Making an Impact: Future Leaders Program

When Forde arrived at UCI for his MBA, he came into conversation with Dean Ian Williamson who was, at the time, developing a program that would address industry’s ongoing talent pipeline issue. Forde’s desire to blend his zeal for business with his extensive educational background, medical experience, and interest in helping others is what fueled his eventual partnership with the Merage School to make FLI a reality. A Proud Moment and A Promising Future

“The Future Leaders Initiative focuses on high school and community college students who want to be leaders in business and their communities,” says Forde. “At this age, the reality of life starts to set in for many students, and they’re at the point in their life where they’re capable of making better decisions about their life.”

All of Forde’s tireless passion he is known to apply to his various crafts came to fruition on August 6, 2022 as he witnessed 47 students from the inaugural Future Leaders Initiative program participate in its graduation ceremony at the Merage School. Watching these students beam with pride as they shook hands with Dean Williamson and receive their diplomas in front of university mentors, classmates, and family was a moment made possible thanks to Forde’s generosity.