brandi efiom

Director of employment & training

What do you like about your job?

I love work that connects people to real opportunities and helps remove barriers between where someone is and where they want to be. I'm especially excited about getting to work alongside such a passionate team and building partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for young people.

Where did you work before YJC?

Before YJC, I served as a Director of Community Impact & Strategy at Evanston Cradle to Career, where I worked across community partnerships and initiatives focused on workforce development, education, early childhood, and economic mobility.

What was your first job?

My first job was a shampoo technician at iKandi Hair Studio.

What did you learn from your first job?

I learned so many of the soft and hard skills that I have carried throughout my career. That role taught me the importance of active listening, the importance of professionalism, and to be willing to take on new challenges. I knew absolutely nothing about hair when I started, so I also learned pretty early that you don't have to know everything before saying yes to an opportunity. Sometimes you learn by jumping in and figuring out.

Has your career path gone how you expected?

Not at all, and I'm grateful for that. My career has taken me through hair, education, community impact, workforce development, and more. Each experience has taught me something different and helped shape the way I approach people, opportunity, and the work I do today.

Fun fact:

I’m the only person in the world with my exact first and last name!