What YPO Taught Me About Leadership, Confidence, and Belonging
by Chef Stefano, CEO & Co-Founder of MightyMeals
One of the organizations I’m most grateful to be part of is the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).
If you had told me years ago that I’d be sitting in rooms with founders, CEOs, and leaders of incredibly successful companies, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.
And honestly, when I first joined, I felt a little out of place.
Walking Into Rooms That Felt Bigger Than Me
I was often one of the youngest people in the room.
Many of the members had built massive companies, led organizations at a scale I had never experienced, and carried decades of leadership experience. Some were operating businesses at levels I could barely comprehend at the time.
Naturally, imposter syndrome showed up.
You start asking yourself questions like:
- “Do I really belong here?”
- “What value could I possibly bring to conversations with people operating at this level?”
I think a lot of entrepreneurs experience that feeling at some point—especially when you’re surrounded by people you deeply respect.
Realizing Growth Isn’t About Having All the Answers
Over time, though, my perspective started to shift.
I realized YPO isn’t about pretending to have everything figured out. It’s about growth. It’s about surrounding yourself with people who challenge your thinking, push you to become a better leader, and remind you that everyone—regardless of success level—is still learning in some way.
That was an important realization for me.
The people I admired most weren’t the ones acting like they knew everything. They were the ones willing to be open about challenges, mistakes, pressure, and uncertainty.
Finding Confidence in My Own Experience
One of the biggest things YPO gave me was confidence.
Not the loud kind. Not arrogance or pretending to have all the answers.
But the confidence to speak up. To contribute. To trust that my experiences building MightyMeals had value too.
Over time, I stopped seeing myself as “the youngest guy in the room” and started realizing something important:
I had earned my seat at the table.
That mindset shift changed a lot for me—not just professionally, but personally.
The Value of Being Around Great Leaders
Some of the best lessons have come from simply listening.
Hearing how other leaders navigate growth, hiring, culture, setbacks, scaling, and the pressure that comes with building something meaningful has been incredibly valuable—especially in the food industry, where things move quickly and the margin for error is small.
Having access to a community of people who genuinely want to help one another succeed is something I don’t take for granted.
You Were Invited Into the Room for a Reason
One thing I’ve learned through YPO is this:
Growth starts the moment you stop assuming you don’t belong in the room and start realizing you were invited there for a reason.
Very grateful to be part of the YPO community and to continue learning from some truly inspiring leaders.