Phoenix, Arizona played host to one of the most energizing weeks our organization has been a part of. Our founder, Brandon Tran, attended this year's Forbes Under 30 Summit, and the experience left a mark that will carry into everything we do next.

The summit is unlike most professional gatherings. It doesn't feel like a traditional conference. It's built around the idea that the next generation of leaders isn't waiting for permission to change the world, and the people in attendance reflect that. For Brandon, being in that environment was both motivating and clarifying.

The week kicked off with a day built around sport and connection. Attendees hit the trails for a morning hike, gathered on the basketball courts, and capped the evening with a concert from Don Toliver. It set the tone early: this wasn't going to be four days of panels and name tags.

The following two days brought the core summit programming, and the speaker lineup alone made the trip worth it. Legends like Dwyane Wade and Michael Phelps took the stage alongside entrepreneur Marc Lore, among many others. What stood out wasn't just their accomplishments, but how candidly they spoke about the road it took to get there. While the main stage was home to the headliners, the smaller breakout sessions were arguably even more valuable. There, Brandon had the opportunity to connect with listers and other industry leaders, such as Alliyah Logan and Sophie Beren.

The moments between sessions were just as valuable. Brandon had the chance to share meals and real conversations with a remarkably wide range of people: a pro athlete turned venture capitalist, an AI futurist advising companies like OpenAI, a Twitch streamer who pioneered an entirely new gaming genre, and rising professionals from companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Deloitte who are just getting started on what will likely be impressive careers.

On the final day of summit programming, for before the community impact day, Brandon was able to connect with the nonprofit community at the summit through a coffee meet-up and dinner. He says that this was bay far his favorite part of the week as it helped ground the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of the event in something that felt more familiar and personal. The day culminated in a final, unforgettable closing party filled with energy and personality.

The final day grounded the whole week with a community impact and volunteer day, a fitting reminder that the point of building something isn't just personal growth. It's what you do with it.

Brandon says he returned with fresh energy and new perspective on where ChallengeUS is headed. We've always believed that young people have the ideas and the drive to take on the world's biggest challenges. Spending a week surrounded by people who are already doing exactly that only strengthens that conviction.

The best of ChallengeUS is still ahead. We're working on it every day.