Think deeply.
Lead responsibly.
Build something that matters
Glory Divine Yougang Tahon helps young people become more intentional about who they are becoming, how they lead, and what they build.
Through keynotes, workshops, and student programs, she challenges young people to dream boldly, take responsibility for their growth, and turn what they care about into meaningful action.
A speaker who has built what she talks about.
Glory Divine Yougang Tahon is a young founder, nonprofit leader, speaker, and builder whose work sits at the intersection of leadership, education, technology, social impact, and personal development.
She founded Educate Young Girls during her first year at Smith College and grew it while still a student into an organization with 8+ full-time staff and 60 volunteers, reaching more than 2,000 girls each year across communities in Cameroon.
She graduated cum laude from Smith College with a B.A. in Computer Science and Psychology before beginning her professional career as an Associate in a firm in NewYork.
Her own journey shapes her message. She does not believe young people have to wait for a title, more experience, or permission to become the person they want to be.
GLORY SPEAKS AT SMITH COLLEGE
HOW CAN GLORY HELP?
KEYNOTES
Unforgettable performances that entertain, engage, inspire, and move your audience to shift their mindset and begin creating a lasting impact on everyone around them. Glory combines stories from her own journey, practical frameworks, and questions that stay with students long after the event ends.
WORKSHOPS
Interactive and practical workshops that give young people the opportunity to take the ideas further.
Students reflect, discuss, solve problems, and leave with practical tools they can apply to their own lives, leadership, projects, and future.
YOUNG LEADER COACHING
Glory loves working one-on-one with young leaders and students. She helps them clarify what they want to build as they take action and grow.
Some young people do not need another presentation. They need someone to sit with them, ask better questions, challenge their thinking, and help them follow through.
WHO ARE YOU BECOMING?
I believe young people should dream more, try more, build more, and be more audacious about what they believe they can contribute to the world.
But ambition alone is not enough.
The bigger the life we want to build, the more important it becomes to ask:
Who are you becoming?
What happens to your character while you pursue achievement?
Can you handle responsibility, work well with people, admit when you are wrong, succeed without losing your humanity, and build something meaningful without becoming consumed by it?
That is the work I care about.
I help young people develop the clarity, character, conviction, and practical skills to pursue meaningful lives and carry responsibility well.
Dream boldly. Build responsibly. Become someone capable of carrying what you build.
THE RIPE FRAMEWORK
When I was eight, I ate pineapple that was not ready.
My tongue started itching. My mouth swelled. It was a disaster. For the next ten years, I decided I hated pineapple.
Then one day, my uncle was eating some. I told him about my experience, and he said: “You ate an unripe pineapple. Try this one. It is very sweet.”
So I did. And I loved it.
Today, I eat pineapple in fried rice, salads, pizza, and just about anywhere else I can put it.
Sometimes, our definition of success is like that unripe pineapple.
Young people are introduced to success as money, influence, recognition, titles, or achievement. They learn to chase what looks impressive from the outside, without always building what is happening on the inside. And in that pursuit, they become burned out, lose relationships, carry the weight of their ambitions, and struggle with their mental wellbeing. Some may eventually resent the very thing they were taught to chase.
But what if the problem isn’t success? What if our definition of success is simply incomplete?
That is why I think about success through four dimensions:
R | RELATIONAL
How are you treating and relating to people?
I | INTERNAL
Are you becoming someone you respect? Is your path shaping your character and reflecting your values?
P | PROCESS
Are you embracing the journey? Success is not only a final destination.
E | EXTERNAL
How can you acquire the resources, opportunities, skills, and influence to bring your vision to life? External success matters. It just is not the whole picture.
Success should not only look good from the outside. It should be good for the person living it, and it should be reflected in their character and in how they interact with others.
FEATURED KEYNOTES & WORKSHOPS
WHO ARE YOU BECOMING?
How Personal Growth Becomes Leadership
We spend a lot of time asking young people what they want to become. This keynote asks a different question:
Who do you need to become to carry the life you say you want?
Students explore self-awareness, responsibility, discipline, communication, resilience, and the connection between personal growth and leadership.
FROM IDEA TO IMPACT
Turning What You Care About Into Action
You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin.
Drawing from her experience building Educate Young Girls, Glory shows young people how to move from seeing a problem to taking a first step, working with others, learning along the way, and creating something that matters.
BEFORE THE TITLE
Becoming the Person Behind the Profession
A career title tells people what you do. It does not tell them how you will do it.
This session challenges students to think beyond preparing for a profession and start preparing to carry it well through initiative, responsibility, communication, teamwork, resilience, and ownership.
TESTIMONIALS
WHAT STUDENTS & EDUCATORS SAY:
This workshop has significantly boosted my confidence in taking action as a leader.
I like that we talked about confidence in the classroom and in college. You aren’t alone and you can always ask for help. That makes me feel much better going into college. I’m definitely a little less scared
The girls loved meeting with you and all left feeling inspired.
Glory was very poised presenting to our students, and made positive changes based on the audience
WHAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH GLORY SAY:
Her leadership style combines empathy, strategy, and decisiveness. Working with Glory was a transformative experience, and you will never stop learning once you get to work with her
Glory is an exceptional leader who combines a clear vision with patience, encouragement, and professionalism. She empowers the communities and teams she works with, making sure that everyone feels that their ideas are valued.
Glory is highly organized, future-oriented, and able to see both the big picture and the details. Her compassionate mentorship and clear direction shaped both our team and our work.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
6+ HIGH SCHOOLS
Leadership, college readiness, and personal development sessions with students across 6+ high schools.
2× PROJECT FOR PEACE AWARD
Student-Led Social Impact: Recognized twice for student-led social impact work organized by Middlebury College.
COMPETITIONS
Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs ; Innovate for Joy Challenge Competition & 5+ additional entrepreneurship competitions
FOUNDER
Educate Young Girls : Founded during her first year at Smith College and had grown the organization to reach 2,000+ girls annually across Cameroon.
