YES 2025 March Meeting

By Sophie Cho

At the March meeting of the Youth Entrepreneur Society (YES), members were inspired by a dynamic presentation on the energy industry and received valuable life advice while continuing to develop their YES Launch projects. The meeting kicked off with President Sally Wang introducing this month’s guest speaker, Timothy Go, CEO of HF Sinclair, a Fortune 125 company that produces fuel products.

Mr. Go delivered an insightful presentation, debunking common myths about the energy industry and sharing his personal career journey. He began by addressing three prevalent misconceptions about renewable energy and their impact on businesses within the sector. These myths included the high costs associated with processing and storing renewable energy, the environmental drawbacks of electric car production, and the ongoing need for traditional energy sources despite the rapid growth in global energy demand. Mr. Go emphasized how these misunderstandings affect the strategies and operations of energy companies.

Moving on to his personal career path, Mr. Go offered the YES members valuable advice drawn from his own experiences. From switching majors in college—from premed to chemical engineering—to his roles at Exxon and ultimately becoming a CEO, Mr. Go highlighted the importance of flexibility, risk-taking, and embracing failure as part of the learning process. He also stressed the importance of understanding one's core purpose in life and staying true to it. For him, that purpose includes family and faith. He advised students to choose a college that fosters not just academic growth, but also personal development in areas such as social, health, and spiritual well-being. Above all, he reminded the group that life is not about climbing the career ladder but about finding a deeper sense of purpose.

The members of YES were deeply inspired by Mr. Go’s words and will undoubtedly carry his advice as they navigate their own college and career journeys.

Following the presentation and a brief break, YES members regrouped into their YES Launch teams to continue developing their business ideas. Each team had previously brainstormed innovative product concepts and, with the guidance of their mentors, began working on refining their ideas into full-fledged business plans. The members are excited for the months of collaboration and creative brainstorming that lie ahead.