20 Years of YPN: YP Summit - A Legacy Left for Other YPs

Back in 2017, YPN leadership, led by our Advisory Council Chair Amanda Gadacz, brought to the table an idea that would bring young professionals together for more in-depth professional and personal development. With this, the YP Summit was born! Our first Summit, held in the fall of 2018 brought out more than 300 YPs at the Century Center for a half-day of learning and connections.

“When discussing what we felt YPs were looking for to help empower their careers & sense of belonging, we realized that the best parts of YPN were often siloed. Professional networking opportunities, mentorship, socializing, and professional development were all typically separate events. As a young professional with a desire to lead others toward their highest potential & support our local business community, it felt natural to provide all of that in one concentrated event,” said Gadacz, a financial advisor for Edward Jones. “It was also important to show YP's what was possible by putting others on stage who they wanted to emulate but also give direct access to that person. That is truly what differentiates the YP Summit from other professional conferences.”

Former Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Coach Muffet McGraw kicked off the day right by showcasing her wisdom and wit during the opening session of that inaugural year. Many of the YPs were attending a YPN event for the first time or had never been to a conference.

“Anything you do for the first time can feel intimidating. However, you will not regret attending. You never know what connections you could make or skill you could learn that could spark something spectacular in your life. The feeling of regret is far worse than the temporary feeling of trepidation,” Gadacz said. 

“Some of my most cherished connections were built while we were putting the first annual YP Summit together. We built a village. I always felt like I was surrounded by people who had my best interest at heart. Everyone in YPN wanted to help each other grow, and we were all invested in each other's success. I can tell countless stories about helping connect people to better career opportunities, supporting YPs as they took next steps into bigger things, celebrating successes, working through challenges, and leveraging talents to give back to the community. To this day, many of those peers are someone I call when I have a question or need help; a few of them blossomed into meaningful friendships I still cherish and now experience the "OP" part of life with!”