2025 Global Leadership Summit: Taylor Smith, George Sifakis II, Alexa Sifakis & Paul Christou — Student Leaders in Action

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Leadership lands differently when it’s lived, not laminated. This power panel of student leaders—Taylor Smith, George Sifakis II, Alexa Sifakis (Moderator), and Paul Christou—brings fresh, grounded stories about what it means to serve first, listen well, and turn influence into impact. From raising funds for cancer support to building a coding community that helps young women master AI and machine learning, these students show how real-world leadership grows from experience, empathy, and persistence.

We explore the messy parts too: the pressure to say yes to everything, the edge of burnout, and the realization that setting boundaries isn’t selfish—it keeps teams healthy and work meaningful. Learn how they design collaboration with intention: creating frameworks, handing over responsibility, and stepping in only when needed so confidence grows through real ownership. Rotating roles, creating safe spaces for first attempts, and modeling accountability turn delegation into a tool for trust and growth. Family role models appear as steady anchors—leaders who listen first and treat authority as a duty, not a badge.

Looking ahead, some students plan careers in healthcare to address inequities and expand access, while others are committed to youth advocacy, mentorship, and tech education that opens doors for often-overlooked peers. The common thread is connection—bridging classrooms and communities, local service and global problem-solving, individual action and collective change.

If you care about practical leadership, youth empowerment, and building systems that outlast any one person, this conversation will meet you where you are and invite you forward. Follow the show, share with a friend who leads by example, and leave a review with your best lesson on delegation—we’ll feature a few in a future episode.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:10):
Okay, everyone, welcome back to the Idea Gen
Global Leadership Summit.
Today the Idea Gen Foundationsponsors the Idea Gen Foundation
Future Global Leaders panel.
And I'm honored to have with usGeorge Tefakis II, who will
serve as the moderator alongwith Alexis Tefakis to moderate

(00:32):
this future global leaderspanel.
Here we go, take it away.

SPEAKER_02 (00:36):
Hello everyone.
Welcome to the Future GlobalLeaders Power Panel.
My name is George Tefakis.
I'll be starting us off with thefirst question.
What does leadership mean to youpersonally, and how have you
applied those principles in yourschool, community, or other
activities?
So I can start us off with thisquestion.

(00:57):
What leadership means to mepersonally is leading by
example.
One thing I've done in my lifeto lead by example is raising
$2,500 for the Leukemia LymphomaSociety, helping to support
those who are struggling withcancer.

SPEAKER_01 (01:14):
Yeah, so for me, leadership is less about title
and more about influence andservice.
I believe true leadership isrooted in listening, building
trust, and empowering others tosucceed.
A strong leader doesn't juststep forward, they also know
when to step back and letothers' strengths shine.
In my school and community, I'vetried to live out those

(01:34):
principles in different ways.
As a part of healthcare clubsand externships, I've worked to
create and thrive inenvironments where students feel
supported and engaged.
When organizing events for myclubs, I focus on giving
everyone a chance to contributemeaningfully.
And in youth panels like thisone, I see leadership as
amplifying not just myperspective, but voices of

(01:57):
others my age who may not alsohave the same platform.
To me, leadership is aboutbringing people together to
achieve something bigger thanourselves.

SPEAKER_03 (02:08):
Yeah, so I to me, I think leadership is about being
able to be a part of a group andlisten to those around you while
also being able to take actionwhen you're needed and really,
really understanding how to workwith people and communicate and
collaborate so you can achieve acommon goal.
And I think I've really beenable to apply this going to

(02:30):
school at Washington, DC.
We're the only high school inthe nation that has a homeless
campus, a homeless shelter onour campus, which I regularly go
and serve at and practice beinga part of my community and
listening to people around me.

SPEAKER_04 (02:44):
Hi, my name is Taylor Smith, and I've been a
student ambassador for the IdeaGen Foundation.
For me, leadership is aboutempowering those in my
generation and giving youth avoice, the tools, and the
confidence to lead with purpose.
I believe that this requiresunderstanding both the big
picture and the connection withpeople that you lead.
So for me, I work with Idea Genon global issues and advocate

(03:08):
for youth leadership oninternational stages, helping to
shape large-scale solutions.
But I also believe that localleadership is crucial.
So, for example, I'm thepresident of my school's Girls
Who Code chapter, and I use myAI and machine learning
certifications to teach youth,especially young women, tech
skills that could benefit theircareer opportunities while also
creating space for them to growas programmers and future

(03:31):
leaders.
Beyond tech, I lead a peermentorship initiative that
trains youth to be prepared forall of the opportunities and
challenges that come withleadership.
I guide them through the basicswhile stepping back with support
so that they can learn to leadin their own way.
So for me, leadership meansproviding support, uplifting
others, and preparing others tolead confidently now and in the

(03:52):
future.

SPEAKER_05 (03:54):
Fantastic, Taylor.
Leadership to me is just aboutbeing proactive, constantly
finding new opportunities to getinvolved in your community.
And I love what each one of youhad to say because everyone had
something different to say.
Leadership, there isn't just onedefinition of leadership.
And I love how we're all doingdifferent things, and kind of

(04:17):
brings us to another thing Iwant to talk about with this
group, which is if we can sharespecific challenges that we
might have faced as a leader andhow you've overcome it, uh, and
what you might have learned fromthat experience.

SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
Yeah, so a challenge I faced as a leader came when I
took on too manyresponsibilities at once.
Between school, clubs, volunteerwork, leadership roles, and
extracurriculars, at first Ithought being a good leader
meant just saying yes toeverything.
However, it became harder togive my best to the people and
projects that really needed me.
The turning point came when Irealized that leadership isn't

(04:55):
about doing it all, it's aboutprioritizing and creating
balance.
I started delegating more,trusting others with more
responsibilities instead oftrying to carry everything
myself.
I also learned that to beintentional with my time,
focusing on quality rather thanquantity.
What I gained from thatexperience is the understanding
that sustainable leadershiprequires balance.

(05:16):
If a leader burns out, the teamfeels it too.
By setting boundaries andtrusting others, I've learned
that leadership becomes moreeffective, collaborative, and
impactful.

SPEAKER_02 (05:26):
Yes, I love that answer.
If anyone has anything else toadd, I will go to the next
question.
So, how do you balancecollaboration with taking
initiative when leading a teamor project?

SPEAKER_04 (05:38):
Yeah, so for me, I like to lead by creating
structure and then steppingback.
So I offer support while givingothers the space to take the
reins and really make projectstheir own.
So, like I said before, I am thepresident of a leadership
initiative at my school thatgives 10th through 12th graders
opportunity to leave lead eventsand peer advisories for
freshmen.
In my role, I guide theseupperclassmen as they step into

(05:59):
leadership roles while alsogiving them space to learn to
lead in their own way.
To balance collaboration withtaking initiative, I try to do a
few things.
First, I provide a basicframework or suggested format
for what needs to be done duringevents, but then I step back and
give creative control to thepeople participating so that
they can really make it theirown.
I also encourage team members totry different positions,

(06:21):
including planning, organizing,and facilitating so that they
can build up a variety of skillsthat can be used in future
leadership opportunities.
Finally, I stay available in thebackground during events,
working on behind-the-sceneslogistics while they are
face-to-face with the community.
I try to only step in ifsomething is truly off track,
giving them the opportunity toproblem solve, take ownership,

(06:42):
and build confidence in theirleadership.
Through these strategies, I tryto provide direction and support
while creating spaces for themto grow into the types of
leaders they want to become.

SPEAKER_05 (06:53):
Yes, delegating.
Delegating is so importantbecause, like Taylor said, in
high school and in college, wehave so many group projects that
we're working on, and it'sreally easy to be in your head
and be like, I want it done thisway, and want to spearhead the
project, but delegating actuallymakes group work so much more

(07:14):
meaningful and important, andreally does just produce a
better product.
Uh and that brings us to thesetraits of what we're best at and
delegating.
So, who inspires us in ourleadership journeys?
I know, Paul, you had somethingthat you wanted to touch on with

(07:34):
this.

SPEAKER_03 (07:34):
I think uh the person that inspired me most
throughout my leadership journeywould um probably be my father.
Um, watching him growing up,leading a leading a company
alongside my grandfather and myaunt and my uncle.
It really showed me what itmeans to lead by example and
listen to the people around youand not making yourself the boss

(07:55):
and taking taking account whateveryone has to say.

SPEAKER_05 (07:58):
Absolutely.
And I can relate to that aswell.
My dad is always nailed in, be aleader, not a follower, which is
a very simple saying, but it'strue.
Always lead and bring bring thegroup together.

SPEAKER_02 (08:15):
100%, I agree.
To bring us to the nextquestion.
Looking ahead, what role do youhope to play as a leader in your
community, future career, or inaddressing global challenges?

SPEAKER_01 (08:26):
Yeah, so I think I'll speak on this one.
Looking into the future, I hopeto become a leader who brings
healthcare, community, andglobal advocacy.
My goal is to pursue thehealthcare healthcare field, but
I see that role as more thanjust a career.
It's a way to serve, to connectwith people, and to help address
inequities in access tohealthcare.
Beyond my profession, I want tocontinue speaking up as a part

(08:49):
of a generation of youth leaderstackling global issues.
Whether that's through buildingprograms that connect students
to service opportunities,advocating for greater
healthcare access, or creatingspaces where young people from
different backgrounds cancollaborate, I want to
contribute to solutions thatlast.
At the heart of it, I want to bea connector, which is someone

(09:12):
who brings people together,encourages collaboration, and
inspires others to be to stepinto their leadership roles.
Because real change doesn'thappen through one individual.
It happens when many of us leadwith courage, compassion, and a
shared vision for a betterfuture.

SPEAKER_04 (09:30):
Okay, so for me, looking ahead, I want to ensure
youth voices aren't just heardbut are valued, giving the next
generation a seat at the table.
I've been extremely fortunate tohave platforms like Idea Gen to
share my voice, but not enoughyouth have these same
opportunities.
Since we are the ones who willbe stepping in leadership roles,
it is crucial to start preparingnow by creating spaces that

(09:51):
empower youth to speak up, lead,and contribute to solving global
challenges that will beimpacting our future.
Whether it's in my community oron international stages, I will
continue contributing toleadership and empowerment
initiatives that bridge gapsacross skill levels and sectors,
empowering and equipping youthwith the tools and range of
abilities to become resilient,confident, and globally minded

(10:12):
leaders who uplift themselvesand those around them.

SPEAKER_05 (10:16):
Yes, yes.
Empowerment, being proactive inour communities, there are so
many opportunities if we justlook that we are capable of
being involved in, which is whyI'm so grateful to be a part of
this panel today with you all.
Global leadership, we are thefuture, and be proactive, stay

(10:38):
involved.
So fantastic, everyone.
Thank you all.