What if leadership isn’t about confidence or visibility—but about building systems that expand access for others? In this episode, you’ll meet Jiayuan Tian, a social entrepreneur and graduate student at Columbia University SIPA, whose journey through global education reshaped how he understands inequality, opportunity, and leadership. After studying at Minerva University and living across cities around the world, Jiayuan discovered a paradox: the more global his education became, the clearer it was how inaccessible global learning remains for many, often due to invisible barriers like language fluency, insider knowledge, and financial flexibility.

That realization led him to co-found OneXplore, a youth-led organization designed to make global learning accessible and humane. Jiayuan shares how his view of leadership has evolved—from personal visibility to leadership as infrastructure: platforms, systems, and cultures that continue to serve people even when the founder steps away. You’ll hear why access itself is a leadership issue, why storytelling carries responsibility, and why leadership is always relational. This episode will invite you to rethink how you design opportunities, support young people, and build organizations that endure through shared ownership and trust.

 Under Jiayuan’s leadership, OneXplore has grown into a community of more than 100,000 young people, with partnerships spanning universities, international organizations, embassies, and global nonprofits.

You’ll discover: 

• How leadership can function as infrastructure, not personality
• Why access—not talent—is often the real barrier to opportunity
• What young leaders need most from mentors and employers
• How trust and storytelling shape sustainable organizations
• Why community is foundational to effective leadership

Connect with Jiayuan Tian

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