David Barahona ’12

History of Board Service:

• YMCA of the USA, Board Member/Chair - Strategic Planning Task Force/Chair - International Committee, 2012-Present

David Barahona ‘12 attributes his passion for social impact to his parents. A son of El Salvadoran immigrants, Barahona learned firsthand how generous individuals and nonprofit organizations could open doors and provide opportunities for his family. Barahona was committed to continuing the work of his parents while at Kellogg.

David Barahona served as a Kellogg Board Fellow at the YMCA of the USA from 2011 to 2012. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, the board is extremely high-profile.

“When I first looked at the roster of individuals, I was a little taken aback at the caliber,” he says. “That feeling was immediately washed away after my first board meeting when I felt instantly welcomed. I also realized how much the board appreciated, and wanted, my perspective as a millennial.”

While in the program, Barahona served on the YMCA’s International Committee, for which he identified potential corporate foundations as donors. Barahona’s success as a fellow earned him an invitation to serve as an official board member after graduating from Kellogg. He now serves as the chair of that same committee.

Looking back, Barahona sees the program as an integral element of his Kellogg experience. “It was critical to not only my social impact experience but also to my personal and professional development. I never would have had the access nor firsthand experience to such rich conversations and bold thinking for such complex and challenging issues. The experience also tied together, in my mind, the Kellogg differentiation - understanding how to lead in a world where business, governments, and other stakeholders work together to solve complex interconnected issues.”