Volunteer Spotlight - Lisa Hackard
Author: Ed Grocholski
Community Involvement
Published:
Monday, 05 Apr 2021
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Image caption: Lisa Hackard
Volunteer Spotlight - Lisa Hackard
“Our primary role as JA volunteers is to help the students, yet I always find my own knowledge grows from their shared insights. I encourage adults to view young people as reverse mentors, as they will become the next generation of leaders. Understanding what’s important to them and inviting them into dialogue will help us improve today.”
A partner in the Audit Practice at KPMG, Lisa Hackard wears many hats. Among them are responsibilities serving public companies, leading large teams, sharing best practices to address challenges across the U.S., and leading the firm’s disabilities network. These qualifications combined with her passion for advancing young people are what drives Hackard to not only volunteer for Junior Achievement, but also to sit on the Board of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of JA.
One volunteer experience Hackard describes being among her favorites is a day spent at JA Finance Park. During this time, Hackard coached students in making financial decisions within the confines of their imaginary real-life scenarios where each teen was assigned a persona, family unit, and profession and had to make decisions to manage their finances and lifestyle. “Every discussion was uplifting, as the students researched the life choices they had to make” shared Hackard. “Ultimately, students realized that the higher they aimed, the more they achieved. They learned the power of knowledge, having choices and that they could control more than they thought.”
Hackard herself participated in JA as a teen and began volunteering with JA in 2011, so not only is volunteering with JA personal, it’s about paying it forward and community. “I can’t think of a better return on investment than sharing a few hours with a group of teenagers and seeing their engagement in the community increase. We are all in our community together, and it is our responsibility to help educate others and build financial literacy, especially when that knowledge is not readily accessible otherwise.” Hackard added, “I want students to see that they are a critical part of our communities and to recognize that they have a voice, whether they know it or not, they are actively using it already.”
Ultimately, Hackard wants students she mentors to carry the knowledge gained through their JA experience with them to understand the importance of where money comes from and where it goes, and that decisions they make now can have a great impact on long-term financial planning – for themselves and others.
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