M.A.D. (Making a Difference) in March 2024

YPA members were treated to not one, but two fabulous speakers from Textron at Le Chat Noir on March 19. Triyoko Boatwright, Sr. Talent Management and Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Specialist at Textron Specialized Vehicles, encouraged YPA members to show up M.A.D. (Making a Difference) as she shared her insights on building a personal brand.


“We all should have our own personal brand,” she advised. “We are our brand. Who’s going to market for your brand? Who’s going to talk about you when you’re not there? Who’s going to remember you from yesterday?”

Triyoko urged YPA members to unlock the power of storytelling, and to network in order to exchange knowledge with others. Toward the end of her presentation, she brought up colleague
Shiamante Grimes, University Relations Lead and recruiter at Textron, to share advice on making your personal brand appealing to recruiters, especially on LinkedIn.

Shiamante's takeaways included:

  • While many are turning to AI (and register for our April meeting for more on AI!) to assist in resume-building, authenticity comes out when you’re speaking and engaging with others.

  • "Soft skills" are out. "Essential skills" are in!

  • Want to learn more? She recommends reading FYI For Your Improvement. 

Follow each of our insightful guests on LinkedIn:
Triyoko Boatwright

Shiamante Grimes

Driving Growth in Augusta

What an exciting February!

We were honored to sit down with members of the Rotary Club of Augusta on Feb. 13. They graciously shared their insights at the Crowne Plaza North Augusta as part of a speed networking event.

"I enjoy talking to young professionals because you're really the future," said Bill Keogh, president of the Rotary Club. "It's your generation that's going to drive the growth."

If you are interested in learning more about the Rotary Club, they are offering a mentorship program exclusively for YPA! You can apply here. 

We also had a fun time grabbing drinks and networking at Indian Queen. Check out pictures from the various events below and keep scrolling to see what's coming up in March, from events to YPA-exclusive deals!

What to Do with an Idea

Darin Myers

“Take the tough assignment. Take the different road."

We had so much fun kicking off the new year at Ubora Coffee Roasters with special guest Darin Myers, who shared his insights on "What to Do with an Idea: Exploring Entrepreneurial Opportunities within Your Position or Your Pursuits." 

Myers, who has spoken to YPA on accountability in the past, urged listeners to be realistic as they maximize ideas for success.

"I think in society, there's an instant gratification," he said. "There are a lot of things in your career worth going after. The journey is rewarding, challenging and frustrating like life... Take the tough assignment. Take the different road."

Myers works to empower local entrepreneurs through The Alternative Board (TAB). Follow TAB-CSRA on Instagram for more tips and strategies. 

Thank you for the valuable advice, Darin!