Once a year, the nonprofit’s flagship ‘Company Programme’ brings together 15 to 25 year olds who have spent months imagining, building and pitching a junior enterprise from the ground up. The lively finale is more than an awards ceremony; it is a snapshot of JA's purpose: to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.
“Talent is universal, but opportunities are not. We believe in the power of the entrepreneurial mindset to help people unlock their potential.” The words of Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe, capture why the organization now runs experiential learning journeys for everyone from primary school pupils to 25-year-old budding founders.
Stretching ambition, scaling impact
Globally, JA has set an expansive goal: reach 20 million learners a year by 2050. “Our growth rate is there. Our impact is there. The partners that are joining us on this journey confirm that we are on the right track to hit the 2050 target,” says Salvatore.
Meeting that goal means operating at speed while staying attuned to individual countries and regional needs. Breaking silos and finding a shared rhythm across cultures is therefore critical — and it starts with the individuals who deliver the programs.
Building a common language for execution
To strengthen day to day collaboration, JA Europe has been taking part in the Ability to Execute (A2E) for Nonprofits program, delivered by McKinsey.org, which shares the best of McKinsey with nonprofits and individuals at no cost. Rita El Kadiri, who oversees A2E across EMEA, explains the motivation: “JA is an inspiring organization, a three-time nominee for the Nobel peace prize” she says. “By boosting the skills of young people in Europe, JA supports the region’s future economic success. We’re proud to work alongside the organization and help it achieve its objectives.”
The nine module curriculum covers essential workplace skills such as prioritization, running efficient meetings and sparking creativity. “A2E is helping us grow more efficiently and work more effectively while bringing us together as an organization, because we have so many different cultures and ways of working. It will also help us transform the lives of our youth by allowing us to successfully implement more programs and dedicate more time to what matters most—our impact.,” says Rachel Constantine, Manager, Office of the CEO at JA Europe.
“You can have the best vision and ambition. You can even have a fantastic strategy. But if you are unable to execute well, then you are in serious trouble. With McKinsey.org, we’re increasing the capacity of our teams, and they are increasing their ability to execute, to perform better, to be more focused, and to think out of the box,” adds Salvatore.
Through the A2E sessions, JA Europe has also found a way to bring staff from its members together. The program has provided a platform to meet with colleagues from all over Europe and share their experiences though meaningful engagements.
Creativity that cascades to classrooms
JA Europe members say the training is already reshaping how they work. “My personal favorite module is ‘Spark New Ideas,’” says Stéphanie Vanstals, Project Coordinator at Vlajo, JA Flanders.
“I believe this is a great tool to generate creativity and explore new things,” says Stéphanie, “and it perfectly aligns with the values, mission, and vision of JA Europe. Sparking new ideas is vital to keep inspiring students and to stimulate their creativity to help create a better world.”
Other modules free up precious time. “They really help make me more productive and to focus on the big tasks, so I can be a more effective collaborator within my organization and also help my teammates thrive as well,” notes Rachel.
The ripple effects are tangible: more streamlined meetings, faster decision making and a common language that bridges borders. “The impact I've noticed from the A2E program is that we've adopted a new language,” Salvatore says. “When we're talking about our daily tasks, when we're talking about our meetings, about communicating, we're evolving in a more efficient way of working together. For example, by speaking about my priorities or ‘Big Rocks’ with colleagues I have created new synergies in our daily work. This has given me more energy and time back in my day.”
Leading by example for tomorrow’s entrepreneurs
Ultimately, every operational gain is measured against the experience of students and teachers. “We need to live the entrepreneurial spirit we want our teachers and students to embody,” Salvatore reflects. “Being an organization that is eager to learn though programs like A2E helps us achieve this goal.”
With a clear mission, a unifying skill set and a network of committed partners, JA is steadily moving toward its 2050 milestone — and ensuring that millions more young people in Europe can turn talent into opportunity.