The Edge
The Edge
Gibson
Robert Chavez on leading through service and perspective
24 minutes Posted Apr 23, 2026 at 6:30 am.
Robert Chavez's journey is a full-circle leadership story. From entering YDI's youth employment program at age 14 to now serving as CEO, Robert reflects on how discipline, fairness, and perspective shaped his career. He and host Alex Rodriguez discuss servant leadership, building strong executive teams, and why supporting families and communities is essential to long-term impact. This episode highlights how lived experience, hard work, and mentorship can become a lifelong edge in leadership.  Connect with Robert on LinkedIn. Learn more about Youth Development, Inc.     Key Takeaways:  What is YDI?
How joining YDI at 14 shaped his entire leadership path
Lessons on managing older, more experienced teams at age 21
Building elite teams through complementary skills at Intel and YDI
Disagree and commit
Staying close to family
Why perspective, not privilege, became Robert's greatest edge
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Robert Chavez's journey is a full-circle leadership story. From entering YDI's youth employment program at age 14 to now serving as CEO, Robert reflects on how discipline, fairness, and perspective shaped his career. He and host Alex Rodriguez discuss servant leadership, building strong executive teams, and why supporting families and communities is essential to long-term impact. This episode highlights how lived experience, hard work, and mentorship can become a lifelong edge in leadership.  Connect with Robert on LinkedIn. Learn more about Youth Development, Inc.     Key Takeaways:  What is YDI? (1:40) How joining YDI at 14 shaped his entire leadership path (4:35) Lessons on managing older, more experienced teams at age 21 (8:34) Building elite teams through complementary skills at Intel and YDI (14:20) Disagree and commit (16:08) Staying close to family (17:38) Why perspective, not privilege, became Robert's greatest edge (18:30