Unlocking the potential of young adults
ages 14 to 30+ from affluent families
through mentorship from business owners and senior executives at major companies worldwide, and a community of ambitious peers
By young adults, we mean older schoolchildren, university students, university graduates, and successors.
Winner of the SKOLKOVO Award:
one of the top 100 projects of 2025
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mentors — business owners and senior executives from around the world
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countries represented by the families we work with
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years of proven results with our proprietary method
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+
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young adults have taken part in programs built on our method
We immerse young adults in real-world challenges, projects, and internships
We spark and sustain a drive to grow
We help young adults identify a direction
We build a community of ambitious peers
The trajectory of an entire life depends on whether you have found your own path
Stanislav NatapovFounder of the Grand Mission program, author of Social Capital
Constructive trajectory
Destructive trajectory
Knows themselves
and their path
and their path
No sense of self
or their path
or their path
CareerGrows in their
own field
own field
MoneyFinancially
self-sufficient
self-sufficient
FoundationRelies on themselves
and their own compass
and their own compass
HealthEnergy and
interest in life
interest in life
FamilyThe parent is
a partner and friend
a partner and friend
Family capitalFamily resources
become a foundation
become a foundation
CareerA job
without drive
without drive
FoundationLives by someone
else’s script
else’s script
MoneyCannot cope
without parents
without parents
FamilyMutual disappointment
in the family
in the family
HealthAddictions,
psychosomatic illness
psychosomatic illness
Family capitalLoss
of assets
of assets
Constructive trajectory
Knows themselves and their path
CareerGrows in their own field
MoneyFinancially self-sufficient
FoundationRelies on themselves and their own compass
HealthEnergy and interest in life
FamilyThe parent is a partner and friend
Family capitalFamily resources become a foundation
Destructive trajectory
No sense of self or their path
CareerA job without drive
FoundationLives by someone else’s script
MoneyCannot cope without parents
FamilyMutual disappointment in the family
HealthAddictions, psychosomatic illness
Family capitalLoss of assets
Is not taking action:
…has not learned to make decisions
…says all the right things but does not follow through
…does not see why they should do anything when life is already comfortable
…spends all day on their phone or computer and interacts only online
…says all the right things but does not follow through
…does not see why they should do anything when life is already comfortable
…spends all day on their phone or computer and interacts only online
Cannot find a direction:
…does not know what they truly enjoy
…does not see a future for themselves in the family business
…cannot decide where to focus their development
…is interested in nothing
…does not see a future for themselves in the family business
…cannot decide where to focus their development
…is interested in nothing
Lacks motivation:
…has lost the motivation to study
…has no motivation of their own and moves only when pushed
…has no motivation of their own and moves only when pushed
Is struggling with their education or career path:
If a young adult…
…has dropped out of school or university
…starts things and abandons them
…cannot find a first job or internship
…cannot find where to apply their abilities
…starts things and abandons them
…cannot find a first job or internship
…cannot find where to apply their abilities
Hear what can be done about it:
Watch the full-length versions:
20 minutes
40 minutes
Young adults: stories of progress
From following his father’s path to earning his first income on his own
Dmitry
This is the story of a young man in his third year at a top university abroad who had no career strategy. His father made every major decision for him. One year later, Dmitry approaches companies himself, secures internships, and knows exactly where he is heading next.
From “I was not considering anything” to a confident choice of direction
Arseniy
This is the story of a young man who did not know where to apply to university and was afraid to take the first step. Within six months, Arseniy had settled on a direction and chosen his degree programs and universities, and the internship that followed only confirmed his interest.
From “Dad will handle it” to building his own path into a career
Program participant
This is the story of a young man whose parents had invested in his development for years without seeing progress. He came to us at his lowest point: after moving to another country, struggling with dependence, working far below his abilities, and losing his sense of self. Within a few months, he had a portfolio, a career direction, and, most importantly, the ability to rely on himself.
From “I want to get away from my father” to a 50/50 joint venture
Petr
This is the story of a son who had worked in his father’s company for years and dreamed of leaving. His father hoped he would eventually take over the business; the son simply wanted to earn his first $500 anywhere else, on his own. Six weeks into the program, Petr approached his father with a proposal to lead the launch of a new production facility as an equal partner.
From “Nothing interests me” to building projects with his father
Roman
This is the story of a young man who lived behind a computer screen and spoke to his parents only in arguments. His father suggested sports, the family business, anything at all—nothing reached him. One year into the program, Roman wanted to explore business for himself. He and his father are now discussing a family investment fund in which Roman would join as a junior partner.
From aiming for a RUB 50,000 monthly salary to launching an investor-backed startup
Maxim
This is the story of a young man who began with the words, “I want an internship in IT,” and no real enthusiasm. He completed his work with us after launching a startup in a field he genuinely loved. An unfulfilled IT student became an energized entrepreneur with advertising contracts and interested investors.
An environment that helps young adults find their own path
Throughout the program, the young adult meets people with different kinds of experience and at different levels of scale — expanding their sense of what is possible and helping them find their own path
In the community
300+ mentors from 20+ countries
with a combined company turnover of over $15bn
How we work
Three steps to find their own path
Our product is a personalized development environment built around the young adult. It is built in three steps: first we understand who they are, then we derive their career formula, and only then do we test fields in practice.
Left half
Core parameters
Innate traits: thinking type, motivation, values. They form early and barely change.
Right half
Dynamic parameters
What holds them back now and can be developed. Measured over time, with recommendations.
Tap a sector to see what it covers
What it is
The set of conditions in which a person works at full strength
What it’s built from · six assessment lenses
Thinking typeHow the young adult analyzes and makes decisions
MotivationWhat truly inspires and gives energy
StrengthsNatural talents and strong competencies
Career
formula
formula
ValuesWhat truly matters to the young adult
Environment and formatWhere and how they thrive
Patterns and behaviorHow they make decisions and interact
Why
Every opportunity is tested against the formula: does it fit them or not? The field may change; the formula stays.
What it gives you
- Selection criteria: what to look for in a field and what to avoid
- 3–5 well-grounded hypotheses about fields to try
We introduce them to owners in the fields that fit and let them try each one from the inside, fast: hands-on practice, internships, real tasks.
↻The cycle repeats with a new fielduntil one truly captivates them. What doesn’t fit is ruled out within months.
1Shortlisting fieldsusing the career formula, we pick what may fit
→2Meeting a mentoran owner from a field that may fit
→3Immersion in the fieldhow it works from the inside, its roles and tasks
→4Testing in practicea trial, a task, an internship — does the interest hold?
The field is found↓
5Deep immersioninto the chosen field: more practice and responsibility
Stage 4
Grand Mission
In the program, the young adult turns the strategy into real action through hands-on experiences, internships, and projects. They meet with mentors and review what they learned with their program advisor each week. Every experience is selected to address a specific development goal.
Participants: the young adult, program advisor, mentors, peers, specialists, and parents.
Outcome: the young adult develops a new way of taking action. They choose the next step themselves, make decisions, and come to the family with a well-reasoned request for specific support or resources.
Stage 3
Growth Strategy
At this stage, we build a comprehensive personality profile: why the young adult's progress has stalled, which roles, types of work, and directions fit them, and what is currently holding them back. Together with the young adult, we develop an individual Growth Strategy and a sequence of next steps.
Participants: the young adult, the parents, and a team of specialists.
Outcome: a comprehensive assessment and individual Growth Strategy developed together with the young adult, including a comprehensive personality profile, a career formula, the limiting factor, and a sequence of next steps.
The first paid stage.
Stage 2
Initial assessment
A specialist from our methodology team meets one-on-one with the young adult, without the parents, to understand how they see the situation. After the meeting, a team of specialists reviews the material, develops preliminary hypotheses about possible causes, and determines what needs to be assessed next.
Participants: the young adult and a specialist from our methodology team. The parents do not attend.
Outcome: a preliminary professional perspective—several testable hypotheses instead of a broad label.
There is no charge for this stage. You do not pay anything until a decision is made to move forward with Growth Strategy.
Stage 1
Meeting with the founder
How we begin working together
You share how you see the situation: what concerns you, what you hope to achieve, and what you have already tried. We separate facts from interpretations and determine what needs to be assessed before recommending a course of action.
Participants: the parent or parents and the program founder. The young adult does not attend.
Outcome: an agreed focus for the initial assessment and a list of questions to explore.
There is no charge for this stage, and the meeting does not commit you to anything.
We always follow the same sequence: two introductory stages at no cost, followed by Growth Strategy, and only then Grand Mission. Open any stage to see who takes part, what happens, what the family receives, and when the stage is considered complete.
Stage overview
Meeting with the founder
Meeting with the founder
A separate meeting with the young adult and an initial assessment. This stage is also provided at no cost.
After the meeting, you have a clear focus for the initial assessment and a list of questions to explore. There is no ready-made solution at this stage: first, it is important to hear from the young adult separately.
The first meeting is with one or both parents. The young adult does not attend, so you can speak openly about the situation, your expectations, and what concerns you.
1. Build a clear picture of the situation
You tell us what is happening, what concerns you, what you have already tried, and what happened as a result. We ask follow-up questions to understand the specific context of your family.
2. Separate facts from interpretations
“Unmotivated,” “doesn't want anything,” and “needs to get a job” are interpretations, not facts. We clarify what actually happened, what decisions were made, and how each situation played out.
3. Determine what needs to be assessed next
Together, we define the questions for the initial assessment and determine whether we can be helpful in this situation.
You tell us what is happening, what concerns you, what you have already tried, and what happened as a result. We ask follow-up questions to understand the specific context of your family.
2. Separate facts from interpretations
“Unmotivated,” “doesn't want anything,” and “needs to get a job” are interpretations, not facts. We clarify what actually happened, what decisions were made, and how each situation played out.
3. Determine what needs to be assessed next
Together, we define the questions for the initial assessment and determine whether we can be helpful in this situation.
Stage overview 2
Initial assessment
Initial assessment
If the family, the young adult, and our team are ready to move forward, the next step is the Growth Strategy assessment—the first paid stage. You do not pay anything before then.
After this stage, you have a second, independent perspective alongside your own: a preliminary understanding of the situation, its possible causes, and what still needs to be assessed.
At a follow-up meeting, we share the team's conclusions with you. The young adult's exact words and personal details from the conversation remain confidential. We do not draw final conclusions at this stage; that requires a comprehensive assessment.
At a follow-up meeting, we share the team's conclusions with you. The young adult's exact words and personal details from the conversation remain confidential. We do not draw final conclusions at this stage; that requires a comprehensive assessment.
A specialist from our methodology team meets one-on-one with the young adult, without the parents. The purpose is to hear the young adult's own perspective, separately from yours. The conversation remains confidential between the young adult and our team: we share the specialists' conclusions with you, but not the young adult's exact words or personal details from the conversation.
1. Hear the young adult's perspective
The specialist asks how the young adult sees their own life, what concerns them, and what they want; which decisions they made independently, and which they made because that was what others expected of them.
2. Review their perspective
We look for recurring patterns in their choices and experiences—where the young adult acts on their own decisions, and where they are guided by the expectations of others.
3. Develop preliminary hypotheses
After the meeting, a team of specialists reviews the material. Each specialist looks at the situation through the lens of their own field. The team then develops a preliminary understanding of the possible causes and determines what needs to be assessed next.
The team is tailored to the specific situation and may include a specialist from our methodology team, a career consultant, coach, diagnostic specialist, neuropsychologist, psychological assessment specialist, and somatic practitioner.
The specialist asks how the young adult sees their own life, what concerns them, and what they want; which decisions they made independently, and which they made because that was what others expected of them.
2. Review their perspective
We look for recurring patterns in their choices and experiences—where the young adult acts on their own decisions, and where they are guided by the expectations of others.
3. Develop preliminary hypotheses
After the meeting, a team of specialists reviews the material. Each specialist looks at the situation through the lens of their own field. The team then develops a preliminary understanding of the possible causes and determines what needs to be assessed next.
The team is tailored to the specific situation and may include a specialist from our methodology team, a career consultant, coach, diagnostic specialist, neuropsychologist, psychological assessment specialist, and somatic practitioner.
Stage overview
Growth Strategy
Growth Strategy
If the family and the young adult are ready to move from understanding to real action, the next step is the Grand Mission program.
Together with the young adult, we develop a comprehensive personality profile, a career formula, the limiting factor, and a sequence of next steps.
This is not a ready-made answer for the rest of their life. It is a system of criteria the young adult can use to choose directions more deliberately, test them in practice, and determine their own next step.
This is not a ready-made answer for the rest of their life. It is a system of criteria the young adult can use to choose directions more deliberately, test them in practice, and determine their own next step.
Growth Strategy gives the family five connected answers: why progress has stalled, where to go next, why it matters to the young adult, what is holding them back, and how to structure their development step by step.
The young adult, the parents, and a team of specialists take part in this stage. Most of the assessment work is done with the young adult. The parents participate in the discussion of the initial situation and the outcomes of the stage.
The young adult, the parents, and a team of specialists take part in this stage. Most of the assessment work is done with the young adult. The parents participate in the discussion of the initial situation and the outcomes of the stage.
1. Understand what is happening and why
We build a comprehensive personality profile and distinguish the underlying cause from its symptoms. This clarifies what motivates the young adult, how they make decisions, and what is currently limiting their progress.
2. Identify the right direction
We look at which roles, types of work, fields, and environments are the best fit for this particular young adult. Together, we develop their career formula—a set of criteria they can use to choose and test possible directions more deliberately.
3. Develop an individual Growth Strategy
We define the young adult's own level of ambition, identify what is currently keeping them from reaching it, and determine what needs to be developed and in what order. On this basis, we create a personal development plan.
We build a comprehensive personality profile and distinguish the underlying cause from its symptoms. This clarifies what motivates the young adult, how they make decisions, and what is currently limiting their progress.
2. Identify the right direction
We look at which roles, types of work, fields, and environments are the best fit for this particular young adult. Together, we develop their career formula—a set of criteria they can use to choose and test possible directions more deliberately.
3. Develop an individual Growth Strategy
We define the young adult's own level of ambition, identify what is currently keeping them from reaching it, and determine what needs to be developed and in what order. On this basis, we create a personal development plan.
Stage overview
Grand Mission
Grand Mission
The young adult can continue moving forward without constant external direction: they define the task independently, choose an action, evaluate the outcome, and determine the next step. They may still ask for advice and support, but they now set the direction themselves.
The outcome of the program is a new way of taking action. The young adult understands what they want to test, chooses their next step independently, and comes to the family with a well-reasoned request for specific support or resources.
The parents are no longer the sole driving force behind the young adult's development and see changes not only in what they say, but also in how they act. Progress is discussed with the family and confirmed through repeat assessments during the program. What the young adult shares in private remains confidential.
The parents are no longer the sole driving force behind the young adult's development and see changes not only in what they say, but also in how they act. Progress is discussed with the family and confirmed through repeat assessments during the program. What the young adult shares in private remains confidential.
Growth Strategy helps the young adult understand where they want to go and what they need to develop to get there. In Grand Mission, they put that strategy into practice through internships, projects, real-world challenges, and meetings with mentors.
Each young adult works with a personal program advisor. Mentors, specialists, and peers join the program based on the young adult's specific development goals. The parents remain allies, follow the young adult's progress, and provide the agreed-upon support and resources.
Each young adult works with a personal program advisor. Mentors, specialists, and peers join the program based on the young adult's specific development goals. The parents remain allies, follow the young adult's progress, and provide the agreed-upon support and resources.
1. Create real-world experiences for a specific development goal
An internship, project, negotiation, public speaking engagement, or mentor meeting is never selected simply “for the experience.” Each one helps the young adult test a chosen direction or develop what is currently holding them back from taking the next step.
2. Reflect on the experience and adjust the path
Each week, the young adult meets with their program advisor to review what worked, what held them back, and what they could do differently. Each next step is determined by the outcome of the previous one, so the path evolves with the person instead of being set a year in advance as a list of useful activities.
3. Gradually transfer initiative to the young adult
At first, the program advisor helps define the task, prepare for it, and review the outcome. Gradually, the advisor takes less initiative and the young adult takes more. They begin proposing what they want to test, making decisions, and taking responsibility for the consequences.
An internship, project, negotiation, public speaking engagement, or mentor meeting is never selected simply “for the experience.” Each one helps the young adult test a chosen direction or develop what is currently holding them back from taking the next step.
2. Reflect on the experience and adjust the path
Each week, the young adult meets with their program advisor to review what worked, what held them back, and what they could do differently. Each next step is determined by the outcome of the previous one, so the path evolves with the person instead of being set a year in advance as a list of useful activities.
3. Gradually transfer initiative to the young adult
At first, the program advisor helps define the task, prepare for it, and review the outcome. Gradually, the advisor takes less initiative and the young adult takes more. They begin proposing what they want to test, making decisions, and taking responsibility for the consequences.
Videos on how we help young adults find their own path.
Results for the young adult
Takes action:
…makes decisions and takes responsibility for them
…is not afraid to take the first step and try
…builds relationships in person, not only through messages
…has people they can turn to for advice and support
…is not afraid to take the first step and try
…builds relationships in person, not only through messages
…has people they can turn to for advice and support
Has a sense of direction:
…understands what genuinely drives them and why
…can tell which kinds of work fit them and which do not
…sees how to realize their potential in synergy with the family’s opportunities
…has a one-year strategy and knows where they are heading
…can tell which kinds of work fit them and which do not
…sees how to realize their potential in synergy with the family’s opportunities
…has a one-year strategy and knows where they are heading
Moves forward independently:
…gets started without an external push
…sets goals that genuinely matter to them
…takes increasing responsibility for their own future
…sets goals that genuinely matter to them
…takes increasing responsibility for their own future
Has clarity on education and career:
…follows through and delivers results
…finds and secures internships independently
…knows where to apply their abilities and is already testing that direction
…has earned their first income independently
…finds and secures internships independently
…knows where to apply their abilities and is already testing that direction
…has earned their first income independently
Happiness as a result of clear self-understanding, growing ambition, and the ability to turn that ambition into reality in synergy with the family’s resources
After one year, the young adult…
Apply for review
We work with a limited number of families each year. This information does not constitute a public offer. If your application passes our initial review, a member of our team will contact you to schedule a conversation.