Youth unemployment is a pressing challenge that transcends borders, affecting nations and communities worldwide. The repercussions of youth unemployment are far-reaching, encompassing not only economic ramifications but also social and psychological burdens.
Lolita Beylina is an example of a pioneer who is not only addressing this prevalent issue but is working towards finding potential solutions to reduce its impact.
For Lolita, being a pioneer means embracing the uncertainty to bring about meaningful change into the community and across industries.
Fittingly, featuring as a pioneering woman in this issue, we look into the vision of Lolita Beylina, her journey, as well as her individual struggles.
The Early Years
Raised in a household of immigrant women who came as refugees from Ukraine, Lolita’s early life was marked by various challenges.
At the age of 3, Lolita was evaluated to have the language development of a 13-month-old. Her inability to articulate sentences comprehensively in English or Russian made her earliest academic years difficult.
However, her determination and creativity shone through, and she eventually found her academic footing. She recalls, “I lacked the strong logical reasoning skills, but creativity was a distinct cognitive side I relied on to excel in education. I went from being in a special education needs program with an IEP to earning a sweep in honor roll and Dean’s List awards.”
Years later, Lolita’s entrepreneurial spirit was ignited during high school when she participated in the Junior Achievement Company Program. The program is for empowering high school students to create a successful startup business, developing transferable entrepreneurship skills, and receiving direct mentorship from an assigned company throughout the program.
Under the mentorship of Accenture, Lolita and her team brainstormed a business named “Portify,” selling portable charger products. “We presented our business against other high-school students at the program’s local competition.”
This experience ignited her passion for entrepreneurship and marked the beginning of her pursuit of a meaningful career.
Empowering Youth through Hopeworks
Today, as a Career Readiness Coach at Hopeworks, Lolita Beylina plays a pivotal role in empowering young adults (aged 17-26) to secure living-wage opportunities and enter the workforce with confidence.
She mentions, “Each day, I foster a collaborative environment with my caseload to help them envision and strategize their future goals.”
Her daily responsibilities involve guiding individuals through comprehensive training and internship programs, enhancing job readiness, and optimizing their professional profiles, including LinkedIn.
In addition to her core responsibilities, Lolita goes the extra mile by capturing professional headshots for her clients and curating job opportunities to help them secure lasting employment. She also coordinates Listen-and-Learn (L2) network events, where subject-matter experts share their knowledge and skills with young adults, enriching their career journeys.
“In essence, my day-to-day efforts are dedicated to ensuring young adults on their career path of lasting success and breaking barriers,” Lolita asserts.
Reflecting Back
Lolita Beylina’s career journey is a testament to her adaptability and unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth. She acknowledges that, in hindsight, committing to psychology earlier might have expedited her academic path.
Nevertheless, as the first woman in her family to achieve both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she takes immense pride in her accomplishments.
Lolita started her professional career right after high school at the age of 18 as a retail associate.
After losing her first job at 21, she struggled to secure a new job, facing multiple rejections and lack of worthwhile employment opportunities. During these eight months of struggle, she persevered and honed her skills in resume building, interview preparation, networking, and more.
She explains, “I’ve learned to view each stage of my professional life as purposeful, seeing challenges not as roadblocks but as opportunities for learning and development. Shifting from asking “Why is this happening to me?” to “What is happening for me?” has been crucial in navigating and gaining value from my experiences.”
This innate ability to turn challenges into opportunities has been instrumental in her continued success.
The Pioneer’s Mindset
For Lolita Beylina, being a pioneer is about embracing uncertainty to create meaningful change. Her career is a testament to this philosophy, as she has continually sought innovative ways to drive positive impact in both communities and industries. Through proactive mentorship, innovative workshops, resourcefulness, and networking, she has woven a pioneering spirit into her leadership style.
Lolita’s journey is defined by her holistic approach, strategic thinking, data-driven decisions, community engagement, and an unwavering commitment to continuous learning.
Leveraging this mindset in her advocacy of reducing youth unemployment, she points out the following key strategies:
- Innovative program development aimed at addressing creative solutions to break any barrier for youth and young adults entering the workforce.
- Establishment of partnerships with diverse stakeholders leveraging a supportive ecosystem within the community.
- Technology integration to enhance career development programs with digital tools promoting neurodiversity, such as online training and job matching.
The Vision Ahead
As Lolita Beylina looks ahead, her vision remains clear. Professionally, she is dedicated to designing experiential learning programs and breaking barriers to youth unemployment. She aims to foster strategic partnerships and integrate neurodivergent-friendly technologies into career development initiatives.
On a personal level, Lolita envisions self-improvement and a thriving family life. She also aspires to write a self-help autobiographical fiction series titled “The Glow-Up Formula,” chronicling her journey of reflection and transformation over the last five years.
