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Inspiring and empowering young people
Alumni Spotlight: Building Relationships That Last a Lifetime with Alexander Carbone
The most valuable investment Alexander Carbone ever made didn't involve stocks, spreadsheets, or private equity; it was the relationships he started building as a teenager.
For many JA alumni, the Company Program is remembered as a valuable extracurricular experience. For Alexander Carbone, JA helped shape the course of his education, career, and approach to leadership.
Today, Alexander serves as Vice President at Clairvest Group Inc., a private equity firm that partners with entrepreneurs to build strategically significant businesses.
"That experience exposed me to entrepreneurs who were building exciting businesses, I wanted to work more directly with them."
After beginning his career at Monitor Deloitte, he later pursued an MBA at The Wharton School before joining Clairvest, where he now works closely with founders and business leaders to help grow their companies.
While his career has taken him through consulting, business school at Queens, and private equity, he credits JA with providing some of his earliest and most impactful leadership experiences.
"JA was extremely formative in my life," says Alexander, "it put me on the path to attend Queen's University, helped me form lifelong friends and connections, and was my first real leadership experience."
His involvement with JA spanned three years as a Company Program student and later as an advisor while working at Monitor Deloitte. One experience, in particular, stands out above the rest: attending the Next Generation Leadership Forum.
"I had a chance to meet students from across the world who were emerging leaders and learn from their experiences," he recalls. "The event happened to be at Queen's as well, and it definitely influenced my decision to attend there."
Years later, that appreciation for JA continues to motivate him to give back.
"I've always liked that JA allows all students, regardless of family background, financial capacity, or ability, to learn vital leadership skills".
He says.
"I see giving back as a small token of appreciation for the impact the program has had on me."
When asked about the lessons from JA that continue to influence his life and career, his answer is simple but powerful: communication and respect.
"Treat others the way you want to be treated,"
He says.
"You will be remembered for how you acted and how you made people feel."
For current JA students and recent alumni beginning to navigate their own futures, Alexander offers one piece of advice that has only grown more valuable throughout his career:
"Cultivate your network from when you are young. It is a 20-plus-year investment, and you may not feel it is valuable today, but I can assure you it will be later in your life. Formal recruitment goes away as you progress in your career—it becomes who you know and what you are known for."
From discovering leadership opportunities as a student to helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses, Alexander's journey is a testament to the lasting impact of JA.
What is JA Central Ontario’s Company Program?
JA Company Program is an after-school entrepreneurial experience that empowers high school students to start and run their very own business. With the help of a student group and volunteer mentors, students create, manage, and liquidate a business in 18 weeks. Through Company Program, students not only learn how to run a business - they also meet new friends, connect with mentors, network with professionals, and gain the skills and experience to shape their futures.
Interested in getting involved next year? Find out more information and sign up for notifications here.
About JA Central Ontario
Junior Achievement (JA) Central Ontario envisions a world in which young people have the skillset and mindset to build thriving communities. They want to make sure all young people are economically empowered with the skills, confidence and networks to shape the future.
As a youth-centred charity, JA Central Ontario works together with a dedicated network of volunteers, partners and educators to deliver immersive learning in work readiness, financial health, entrepreneurship and more. JA students benefit from mentorship and real-world experiences, transforming their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and aspirations as they build their futures.
JA Central Ontario impacts students in Halton, Peel, Toronto, York, Durham and Simcoe regions. They are part of one of the world’s most-impactful youth-serving social good organizations – JA Worldwide – and they work closely with our national network, JA Canada
