25 Years of YP: ‘The catalyst for my growth and development began with Young Professionals’

By Morgan Scruggs, Coordinator, Leadership Programs

Average reading time: 2 minutes

To celebrate 25 years of Young Professionals (YP), presented by Fidelity Investments, the Dallas Regional Chamber is highlighting a series of alumni to learn more about their experiences in YP.

Casey Sharp, Director of Enterprise National Accounts at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, discovered YP while looking for opportunities to build new connections.

“I first heard about the DRC YP program through my employer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, when I was looking for a way to get more involved in my community while expanding my professional network. I am extremely lucky to work for an organization that encourages and promotes community involvement.”

Once she joined YP and the LEAD YP cohort program, Sharp realized how to integrate her own leadership talents into her professional roles.

“The YP program and LEAD YP helped me gain confidence and understanding of how to best use my natural strengths,” Sharp said. “This helped me learn how to lean into my unique personal leadership style as a Connector/Promoter, develop those personal strengths, and make them my superpower.”

Later, Sharp joined the YP Advisory Council to help oversee programming for YP and LEAD YP.

“Being involved with the YP Advisory Council allowed me to learn how to quickly identify and collaborate in a group with diverse leadership styles. When I was an emerging leader, this helped me learn the importance of flexibility, and it allowed me to put into practice several of the skills I learned from LEAD YP.”

One of Sharp’s most memorable experiences in YP was when she heard Dale Petroskey, President & CEO of the DRC, talk about lessons in leadership.

“In one of Dale’s speaking engagements with YP, he spoke to the importance of relationships and always taking notes on the details. This advice from Dale allowed me to remember those details and use those details to help me connect with people to build authentic relationships in the future.”

Sharp’s YP experience shaped her professional and leadership trajectories.

“Since joining the YP program in 2019, I have moved from an individual contributor role in my organization to a people leader, and I have continued to develop my skills to be tapped into now leading statewide projects for my organization. This progression with YP built the experience and skills I needed to become part of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2025.”

Sharp recommends YP to anyone looking for networking opportunities and leadership development through the DRC.

“The DRC understands how to use YP to attract top talent from across North Texas. Joining YP will allow you to meet with and learn from the rising young professionals in the region while building a robust and talented professional network. Fun fact, I hired one of my current team members after meeting them at a YP event!”