By Molly Jett Heim, YPAL Director of Communications
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 8, 2025) — YPAL turned this Louisville native into a networked leader with a strong connection to the city’s young professional sphere.
“It was a way for me to take the next step forward, and it was an opportunity for me to get more involved in the community and meet more people,” said Hayley Harlow, fundraising manager at the Frazier History Museum.
Harlow describes her YPAL experience as “one of the best decisions she’s made in her career so far.” Her aunt and a close friend recommended the organization to her.
She started her membership journey just a few years ago and already says it “has led to many meaningful connections — both personally and professionally.”
Harlow didn’t just attend the typical events. She’s a Fall 2024 Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) graduate and also attended the inaugural ELP Alumni Bootcamp workshop in July.
ELP is a seven-week, in-person, comprehensive leadership development program that covers topics ranging from diversity, equity and inclusion to emotional intelligence and leadership management. Whereas, ELP Alumni Bootcamp is a resource offered to all ELP graduates, as the next step in their leadership journey. It provides a one-day deep dive into how to tackle communication in both your personal and professional life.
Hayley Harlow attended YPAL’s inaugural ELP Alumni Bootcamp on July 28, 2025.
Harlow said both experiences brought her joy.
“I’m proud to be a part of an inspiring group of young leaders who are change agents and problem solvers across our city,” Harlow said.
She recommends both programs to all young professionals, no matter their career of choice.
“It’s a great group that is welcoming to everybody. On a personal level, it was good because it stretched me outside of my comfort zone,” Harlow said. “It was really helpful, because it dug deeper in a way that I was walking out of it and I felt re-energized and empowered to address challenges and conflict. It was just the right balance of having something, but it was not an overwhelming commitment.”
Harlow says if you’re thinking about joining YPAL, you should.
“There’s a good variety of different things where some of it is just that, like networking, mingling, chatting, meeting new people, but then other things that are topical,” Harlow said. “For example there was an event at Goodwood with Louisville Downtown Partnership’s Rebecca Fleischer and it covered really relevant and practical city topics.”
She welcomes any and all questions about YPAL or either leadership development programs! To connect with Harlow or to learn more about ELP, click here.
ELP Alumni Bootcamp
Give for Good Louisville: YPAL
