Igniting Fearless Courage in Next-Gen Student Leaders.
LEAD U is a student leadership program under the 501(c)(3) JLB Scholarship Fund. High school juniors, seniors and college students learn leadership, entrepreneurship, arts and design — with real mentors, scholarships, and college-to-career pathways.
Our core areas
Four pathways. One fearless journey.
Leadership Development
Cohort-based training in communication, presence, and community leadership.
Entrepreneurship
Turn student ideas into ventures with mentors, micro-grants, and pitch nights.
Arts & Design
Real client work through internships in branding, film, and social storytelling.
College-to-Career
Direct pathways to internships, scholarships, and college recruitment.
Behind Lead U: Short-Doc
A short documentary that goes behind the scenes of LEAD U — meet the founders, mentors, and students building the next generation of fearless leaders.
Watch now
LEAD U Summer Institute
Five weeks, four pathways, one fearless cohort — inside the 2026 LEAD U Summer Institute.
Read post
Fearless 1X 26 Highlights
Showcase night — cohort members took the stage to present their projects and celebrate a fearless summer.
Read post
LEAD U 26/27 Cohort Is Now Open
Applications are open for the 2026/2027 LEAD U cohort — camps, workshops, the summer institute, and the on-campus college program.
Read post
Recap
LEAD U Summer and F1X26 Recap.
Five weeks. Four pathways. One fearless cohort. Students trained in leadership and entrepreneurship, worked real client projects in arts & design, explored careers with mentors, and closed the summer on stage at the Fearless 1X showcase.
- 40+
- Students served
- 4
- Scholarships awarded
- $3000+
- Given in scholarships
