Celebrating 50 Years of Junior Achievement of Lincoln | David's Story

Author: JA Lincoln
Corporate Responsibility
Published: Wednesday, 30 Jun 2021

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Image caption: David Sievers, CEO, Akira Coffee Co.

David Sievers
CEO of Akira Coffee Co., JA Alumni

How did Junior Achievement have a positive impact on your life?

Junior Achievement connected with me as a student in a way that regular school didn't - I failed 8th grade, graduated the bottom third of my high school class, and didn't finish college.

In high school, Junior Achievement's in-school programs were like a lightning bolt. A totally different approach to learning, interactivity in a way that books and tests can't give, and for me, an opportunity to catch a glimpse of what I was supposed to be. I became fascinated with business through in-class programs like JA Titan and JA Stock Market Challenge. Junior Achievement experiences as a student showed me, my teachers, and my parents that I was good at something which gave me the confidence to continue learning financial skills. JA changed my personal trajectory in a way that set me up to eventually start my own businesses.

Junior Achievement changed the course of my life.

What is your favorite Junior Achievement memory?

I won LPS's Most Outstanding Economics Student of the year award and got a trip to the Federal Reserve. I believe this was almost entirely because of JA, especially when factoring in that I was an otherwise underperforming student.

Why did you choose to get involved with Junior Achievement?

I got involved with Junior Achievement because I believe that personal finance and economic skills are among the most fundamental skills needed to create success. I got those skills because of JA, I want to be part of passing that on to today's young people.