For Youth on Course alum Adora Wen, the path from Bay Area greens to a career in New York City was built through opportunity, perseverance, and a commitment to giving back.
Adora’s connection to golf and Youth on Course began when she was just seven years old. $5 rounds at courses like Los Lagos Golf Course opened doors to experiences that would have been impossible otherwise. “It was a game changer,” she said. Those early experiences shaped her passion for the game and her understanding of the power of access.
In 2018, Adora co-founded JuniorCoach, a nonprofit youth mentoring program offering lessons in golf, tennis, robotics, and other extracurricular activities. She shares, “I’ve always wanted to be a self-starter of some kind.”
Inspired by her own experience, she connected with Michael Lowe, Youth on Course’s Head of Impact, to collaborate, bringing the organization into her mission to expand access for other young people.
“Being a self-starter and an entrepreneur is something I certainly admire about her. She was just a high school student when she started JuniorCoach. She inspired some of the things that we’ve developed as an organization, like the Drive Club.” - Michael Lowe
Now, years later, JuniorCoach continues to grow and evolve. Adora shares, “We’re at nearly 50,000 lessons, and a lot of that has been in golf, along with a mix of other extracurriculars like tennis, figure skating, and hockey on the sports side. Academically, we cover primary subjects and some more specialized topics like robotics, chess, and others. It’s still a very important part of my life. I’m currently on the management team, and current high school coaches and talented students are continuing the legacy and creating new initiatives. I’m very happy to see JuniorCoach continue to grow.”
Adora went on to graduate from UC Berkeley with a double degree in Economics and Data Science, balancing academics with extracurriculars, clubs, and golf at the Tilden Course. Reflecting on her college years, she said, “I had a blast at Cal, joining professional and fun clubs like a consulting club and dance team, while still making time for golf. College taught me to focus on what truly matters, and invest time in relationships with family and friends”.
Her journey to Evercore as an Investment Banking Analyst is the culmination of years of focus, determination, and curiosity. Along the way, she explored entrepreneurial ambitions, including running theater shows, launching a clothing brand, and continuing to grow programs like JuniorCoach.
From $5 rounds to running JuniorCoach and inspiring young leaders, she embodies the spirit of mentorship, opportunity, and impact. “I’m grateful to Youth on Course for the support I had since I was young,” she said. “It shaped who I am today, and I hope to help others follow in my footsteps.”