From March 12th through the 14th, students from across the country gathered in Atlanta, Georgia for Global Leadership Summit II (GLS II). Hosted at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, the event brought together 195 student leaders and first-year participants, along with 20 alumni, leadership team members, and staff for three days of training, connection, and preparation for the summer ahead.
GLS II continued this year’s theme, “Path to the Peak,” encouraging participants to focus on the daily habits, mindset, and preparation required to reach their highest potential with Southwestern Advantage.
A Strong Start on Thursday Night
The summit kicked off Thursday evening with a general session that welcomed attendees and set the tone for the weekend. Leaders shared good news from the field and emphasized the importance of doing the work now in order to see results later.
That message resonated with many of the student leaders in attendance. Kylie Henriksen, who is heading into her third year with Southwestern Advantage, reflected on one of the biggest lessons she took from the event: “The number one thing I learned at GLS 2 is that you can either live with the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Meaning that you can choose to do the hard things now or you can wait for life to kind of come at you. So we have the opportunity to do the hard things today to become the best versions of ourselves in life.”
Throughout the evening, sessions focused on practical preparation for the summer, including advanced sales training, mastering the basics, and learning from real experiences in the field. Participants also spent time in smaller director group trainings, allowing teams to connect and discuss strategies together.
Friday Focused on Systems, Skills, and Leadership
Friday started early for those who joined the optional Sunrise Fun Run, followed by breakfast and a spiritual time-out before the morning general session.
One of the highlights of the morning was a leadership talk from Southwestern Advantage alumnus Les Strech, CEO of Varsity Management. Strech spoke about the importance of vision in leadership and shared one of his favorite quotes by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
Strech explained that when people truly understand the vision, their motivation changes. Instead of focusing on the task itself, they begin to picture the outcome—the feeling of reaching the destination.
After the morning session, participants moved into training tracks based on their role and experience. Student leaders, full-time leaders, and first-year participants each attended sessions tailored to the challenges and opportunities they’ll face during the summer program. A strong emphasis was also placed on building a team and developing recruiting skills, helping leaders learn how to connect with, mentor, and grow their organizations.
For many attendees, the sessions reinforced the importance of structure and preparation. Emmanuel Ayala, a first-year recruiter, said his biggest takeaway was simple but powerful: “You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems, and your schedule is your system.”
Throughout the afternoon, attendees rotated through hands-on workshops and product trainings that allowed them to practice real conversations, role-play different scenarios, and sharpen their sales approach. Sessions covered topics like getting a fast start in the summer, understanding the psychology behind the sales talk, and introducing additional educational products when meeting with families.
Friday evening ended with a trip to Ponce City Market, where students spent time together at Skyline Park playing games and enjoying time with friends and teammates.
Facing Fear and Building Confidence
Beyond learning systems and strategies, many participants said the event challenged them to look inward and confront the obstacles that can hold people back from reaching their goals.
For Jade Blanco, who is heading into her seventh year with Southwestern Advantage, one message stood out above the rest: “What I got from this meeting is to address fear. Fear is what holds us back from our goals so address it when interviewing someone and then address it within yourself to hit your own goals.”
That focus on growth and self-awareness carried through the final day of the summit.
Inspiration and Momentum on Saturday
Saturday’s sessions focused on long-term success, leadership, and maintaining momentum heading into the summer. Speakers shared stories, success principles, and practical insights designed to help participants better understand the opportunity ahead of them.
Later in the day, students took part in a scavenger hunt around Atlanta, working together in teams to complete challenges and explore the city before returning for the closing sessions.
The summit wrapped up with a challenge for attendees to continue pushing themselves beyond their comfort zones and commit to the habits that lead to growth.
Moving Forward on the Path to the Peak
By the end of Global Leadership Summit II, students left Atlanta with new ideas, stronger connections, and renewed motivation for the months ahead.
For many, the event served as a reminder that success isn’t just about goals—it’s about the discipline, systems, and courage required to pursue them. As participants continue along the Path to the Peak, the lessons from GLS II will help guide them as they grow their businesses, develop as leaders, and make an impact in communities across the country.
