Maine’s Future Leaders: Reflections from 5 Recent High School Graduates of the Olympia Snowe Institute

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In this special and heartfelt episode of Elegant Maine Living, I sit down with five remarkable young women from Poland Regional High School who recently graduated after completing the three-year leadership curriculum through the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute.
For the past three years, my co-mentor Timi Carter and I have had the privilege of guiding these students—Autumn, Mabel, Olivia, Lily, and Shawna—through a journey of discovering their values, voice, and vision.

Together, we reflect on what they’ve learned about confidence, courage, and character—and how the Institute’s curriculum has shaped their outlook as they step into the next chapter of their lives at colleges across Maine and beyond.

You’ll hear candid reflections about:

• What it means to discover your values and how that clarity shapes relationships and decisions.
• The power of using your voice—from classroom discussions to addressing 650 people at the statewide Leadership Luncheon.
• How developing a vision for the future builds resilience and purpose.
• The role of mentorship, community, and showing up—one meeting, one conversation, one small act at a time.

This conversation is full of hope, laughter, and the authenticity that defines the next generation of Maine women leaders.

💬 Key Takeaways

• Leadership starts with self-reflection. The “values” year helped each student understand what drives them—and why authenticity matters.
• Courage grows in community. Through monthly meetings and statewide forums, these young women learned to speak up, support one another, and stretch beyond comfort zones.
• Mentorship multiplies impact. Each story reminds us that showing up—consistently and with care—can change the trajectory of someone’s life.
• Maine builds strong, grounded leaders. Whether they’re off to Wellesley, Duke, Fort Kent, or Southern Maine, these students carry with them the grit and humility that define Maine’s spirit.

🌟 Special Mentions & Links

• Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute – https://www.olympiasnowe.org/
• Annual Leadership Luncheon – Learn more and register here
• Follow the Institute’s work empowering Maine’s next generation of women leaders on Instagram and Facebook.

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Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship. Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.