The Southwestern Advantage 2025 Kickoff Meeting in Nashville, TN (October 2–4) brought together student leaders, recruiters, and alumni for three days of training, inspiration, and networking. Designed to energize the recruiting season, this annual summit offered practical workshops, alumni testimonials, and team-building activities that prepare participants for success in the year ahead.
Whether you’re a current student leader or an alum who’s seen the long-term impact of the program, the Kickoff Meeting shows how Southwestern Advantage is more than just a summer opportunity—it’s a foundation for leadership, financial independence, and lifelong growth.
Day 1: Launching with Vision and Connection
The Kickoff Meeting began Thursday evening with the premiere of Southwestern Advantage’s brand-new commercial, which set an exciting tone for the entire weekend. The commercial captures the sentiment that Southwestern Advantage is a summer experience that teaches lifelong skills.
That idea carried through the evening’s General Session, featuring an Awards Presentation by Trey Campbell and the unveiling of exciting new promos for the year ahead.
Student Leader, Sandra Perez shared, “I’m so excited to be here at Kickoff—to be in rooms surrounded by other growth-minded leaders, to have a place where you can fail forward and have the mentorship to succeed. It’s the best place to grow as a leader.”
The session set the tone for a weekend of growth and excitement. Afterward, meeting attendees enjoyed team-building at Topgolf Nashville, where new and returning leaders connected in a fun, casual setting.
Day 2: Training, Growth, and Alumni Inspiration
Friday blended professional development with personal reflection. The morning General Session focused on leadership, setting meaningful goals, and understanding the long-term financial benefits of the Southwestern Advantage experience.
Interactive workshops gave participants tools to build a three-year vision, define goals, and create an action plan. Other sessions like The Art of Connection and Brand “You” on LinkedIn helped leaders sharpen communication skills and professional presence.
Current student leader Jade Blanco, now entering her seventh year with Southwestern Advantage, shared what stood out most, “The time to just really bond with my group, post-summer, and just create a collective momentum of growing our leadership skills—our love for each other, how to connect with people, and grow our relationships…”
In the afternoon, the program highlighted the cycle of recruiting and featured alumni speaker Jason Kolb, MD, who shared how his Southwestern Advantage experience continues to shape his career as an Emergency Medicine Physician with US Acute Care Solutions. Alumni voices offered proof of the program’s lasting impact, showing participants what’s possible when they commit to building long-term.
The evening wrapped up with a group dinner, offering more opportunities for leaders to deepen friendships and learn from each other. These shared meals played a vital role in creating a culture of connection throughout the weekend.
Day 3: Skills, Alumni Wisdom, and Momentum
Saturday emphasized practical recruiting skills and financial empowerment. After updates on Recruiting and the launch of new CRM tools, participants split into training tracks by experience level to practice prospecting, approaching, and three-way texts to prepare for a strong recruiting season.
A highlight of the day was hearing from alumnus Luke Aull, CFP and President of Seven Arrows, LLC, who shared insights on money and financial independence. His message—backed by over 20 years of financial advisory experience—reinforced the theme that Southwestern Advantage isn’t just about a summer paycheck; it’s about building habits that create lifelong financial freedom.
Alongside alumni, current participants like Ray Petroski and Anna Kolarsky shared their own stories of growth and resilience. Their experiences showed peers that success is achievable right now, not just in the future.
Anna Kolarsky stated that, “I love working with a company that innovates and has people who are problem solvers and that really care about the mission of the company—which is to help young people develop the skills and character they need to achieve their goals in life. So it’s going to be a great year!”
The afternoon sessions tied everything together with training on career fairs, branding personal stories, and building large teams. A reflection on the legacy of Spencer Hays underscored the values that continue to guide the Southwestern Advantage mission.
The event closed with director group training, giving each team space to finalize strategies and prepare for the months ahead.
Why Alumni Make the Difference
One of the defining strengths of Southwestern Advantage is the alumni network. Alumni like Jason Kolb and Luke Aull illustrate the long-term rewards of leadership, financial discipline, and perseverance. Their presence at the Kickoff Meeting connects today’s student leaders with tomorrow’s possibilities.
If you’d like to read more about the lasting impact of Southwestern Advantage, explore our Alumni Stories.
More Than Training—A Launchpad for 2025
The 2025 Southwestern Advantage Kickoff Meeting combined training, alumni inspiration, and team-building to create a launchpad for the best recruiting season of the decade. Between hands-on workshops, alumni wisdom, networking dinners, and team activities, leaders left Nashville feeling motivated, equipped, and ready to succeed.
Six-year participant, David Siaw, shared that the best part of his weekend was, “…catching up with people and hearing their story and what they’ve been through to be here now and what they’re looking to do in life. In this day and age, it’s kind of hard to find people who are willing to actually go outside of their comfort zone—and there are so many young entrepreneurs here who are willing to do that.”
With new promos, advanced tools, and the strength of the alumni network, Southwestern Advantage leaders are ready to make 2025 a year of record growth.
Want to learn more about how Southwestern Advantage prepares young people for success? Visit our Program Overview to see how you can start building your future.
