Becoming a Change Agent: Empowering Future Innovators at INSPIRE

Unveil Team
Jul 27
2 min read

Updated: Sep 15

Earlier this month, Unveil had the opportunity to deliver a dynamic workshop titled “Becoming a Change Agent” at the INSPIRE Summer Camp, hosted by the University of Louisville’s Speed School of Engineering. Aimed at high school students exploring STEM pathways, the workshop challenged participants to think beyond technical skills and consider the character and conviction it takes to lead societal transformation.

What Is a Change Agent?

We began by unpacking the concept of a “change agent,” redefining it beyond corporate buzzwords and into something deeply personal. A change agent, as we framed it, is someone who bridges the gap between what is and what could be—a person willing to envision, speak up, and act boldly in pursuit of a better world.

Students were introduced to the metaphor of a catalyst—a substance that facilitates transformation without being consumed in the process. In society, a change agent acts in the same way: sparking growth in others while remaining grounded and whole themselves.

Recognizing the Need for Change

We asked three core questions:

When is change needed?
Where do we see change happening?
Why is change hard?

Through discussion and journaling, students reflected on real-world problems they had experienced or observed—ranging from injustice in the legal system to inequities in healthcare, climate issues, and education. They were challenged to “become experts in the problem,” not just rush to solutions. Change, after all, starts with deep understanding.

Chasing Paradise: Legacy and Vision

One of the most powerful moments of the session came when students were asked to envision the world they want to leave behind. What values, systems, and opportunities should exist for future generations? What does a “utopia” look like—not in fantasy, but in principle?

Using our 3 C’s model—Capture, Catalogue, Carry—students mapped out visions of equity, sustainability, peace, and opportunity. This future-forward exercise helped them name the kind of legacy they want to build, and the kind of leader they must become to get there.

Embodying the Change

We closed the session by encouraging students to embody the change they want to see—to speak, act, and carry themselves as if that future already exists. This isn’t about delusion—it’s about conviction. Change agents lead from a place of victory, not victimhood. They feed themselves with hope, courage, and optimism, even in the face of resistance.

Because yes, resistance is inevitable. As we reminded participants, the path of change is rarely easy—but it’s always worth it. Everything meaningful costs something. But the cost of inaction? Even greater.

Final Reflections

Being a change agent isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about refusing to stay silent when something needs to shift. Through personal reflection, powerful discussion, and bold imagination, the students at INSPIRE Summer Camp took the first step on that journey.

What’s your biggest obstacle to becoming a change agent?