As the Leadership FMWF Class of 2026 approaches graduation, the focus shifts. 

What started as learning and exposure turns into something more defined. Participants begin to see how they lead, where they add value and how they want to show up moving forward. 

For Jared Meyer, Karmen Riley and Mikayla Young, that clarity is already taking shape.  

Jared Meyer

Senior Branch Underwriting Specialist, NAU Country Insurance Company 

Jared’s role centers on supporting independent crop insurance agents across North Dakota and northern Minnesota, helping them deliver coverage to farmers and ranchers. Through Leadership FMWF, that work has expanded beyond technical expertise. 

The program has strengthened how he collaborates across teams and pushed him to step into new responsibilities with more confidence. It has also shifted how he approaches relationships, both inside his organization and across the community. 

One of his biggest takeaways is the role connection plays in growth. 

“The program really showed me how important it is to network and get involved with the community if you want to grow both personally and professionally.” 

That mindset is already influencing how he thinks about his future. While his core goals in crop insurance remain steady, he’s increasingly drawn to opportunities that allow him to connect with others and build relationships. 

Looking ahead, his focus is on giving back. 

“Whether by volunteering regularly with a nonprofit or serving on a board, I hope to support the community I call home and help make it better for future generations.” 

His advice to the next class is to take the risk. Be open, stay engaged and don’t hold back. The experience moves quickly, and the value comes from what you’re willing to put into it. 

Karmen Riley

Absence and Recruitment Management Coordinator, Fargo Public Schools 

Karmen’s work in human capital brings her into contact with students, educators and future talent every day. It’s a role that requires adaptability, strong communication and a clear sense of purpose. 

Leadership FMWF has helped sharpen all three. 

Through the program, she has built confidence in how she leads and developed a stronger understanding of what leadership actually looks like in practice. Not just managing people, but how she shows up, the example she sets and the way she interacts across her organization. 

“Leadership is much more than simply being in charge of people. It is about how I show up each day, the example I set and how I interact not only with my immediate team, but with every employee.” 

The experience has also pushed her outside of her comfort zone, something she now sees as essential to growth. 

“You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.” 

Sessions focused on communication and collaboration have given her practical tools she now uses daily, while learning alongside others in the class has brought new perspectives she continues to apply in her work. 

As she looks ahead, her focus is on continuing that growth while contributing to efforts that create long-term impact in the community. The Community Change Initiatives reinforced what’s possible when people align around a shared goal. 

Her advice to future participants centers on fully engaging in the experience. Speak up, build relationships and take advantage of the moments outside the sessions. That’s where connections deepen and the program becomes something more lasting. 

Mikayla Young 

Development Director, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley 

Mikayla’s work is rooted in relationships. 

She leads fundraising efforts that allow families to stay together during medical care, connecting donors, volunteers and partners to a mission that depends on trust and understanding. 

Leadership FMWF refined how she approaches that work. 

The program has pushed her to be more intentional, asking better questions, listening more closely and thinking about how people and ideas connect across the community. That shift has strengthened both her leadership and the way she engages support for her organization. 

Her biggest takeaway is simple, but it changed how she operates. 

“Leadership isn’t about having the answer. It’s about deciding to step in anyway.” 

That mindset has made her more honest about how she spends her time and where she focuses her energy. 

“It didn’t completely change my path, but it sharpened it. It helped me get clearer on how I want to lead.” 

Looking ahead, her impact won’t be defined by visibility, but by consistency. Creating experiences where people feel valued, where details are handled well and where nothing falls through the cracks. 

Her advice to the next class is to stay grounded. Don’t overthink how you show up. Be yourself, stay engaged and trust that you don’t need to have everything figured out to contribute. 

What comes next 

As graduation approaches, the impact is already taking shape for the class of 2026. 

It shows up in how they lead at work, how they engage in the community and the decisions they’re more willing to step into. 

That’s the part that carries forward.