Volunteer Spotlight: Nicole Pecoulas & All Stars

Tell us about All Stars

All Stars is a privately-funded national non-profit organization founded in 1981. Its mission is to transform the lives of youth from poor and underserved communities using the developmental power of performance in partnership with caring adults, giving everyone the opportunity to grow.

It started in New York and finds disadvantaged youth in underserved communities and offers them a chance to take part in talent shows that reach the whole community. The organization also involves 16–25-year-olds in development and leadership programs where young people learn to perform as professionals and attend events in community centers and private corporate offices.

The underlying idea is the developmental power of performance. These young people learn to perform on stage and off. All Stars helps them develop their ‘performance’ for their future lives, personally and professionally.

What exactly do you do?

I mentor young people and work directly with them in the All Stars Development School for Youth.

I see lots of crossover between theatre and business—how you carry yourself, interact with others and the ‘performance’ you put on in the business world.

I say to these kids, that you don’t need to change you, but sometimes you need to learn the ‘power of performance’ in the corporate world. For example, how to appear confident, how to shake hands, how to do small talk—these are all things they learn in this program. They’re small acts but they will make their entry into and progression through the corporate arena smoother.

We also do online sessions that include resume building and teaching skills such as how to carry yourself in an interview and how to be present.

It’s all about demystifying the business world and letting them know every opportunity within it is open to them too.

Barings teammates in the Chicago office prepare the All Stars for their summer internships in 2022.

How did you get involved?

I first got involved in 2015 through Barings. Elena Walsh, a Chicago-based managing director in real estate equity was approached by an industry colleague at CBRE to co-chair a fundraising luncheon for All Stars. Given her busy travel schedule, Elena asked me to co-chair, igniting a longstanding partnership between not only myself and the All Stars, but engagement from several other Barings Chicago and New York teammates.

Although I was an economics major at college, I also acted in several theatre productions, so was really attracted to the concept of the talent show and performance, bringing the two worlds of business and theatre together.

Why do you do it?

Quite simply, I want to give back. These young people have the intelligence, they have the desire, they have the grit, they just haven’t had the opportunity.

“These young people have the intelligence, they have the desire, they have the grit, they just haven’t had the opportunity.”

I say to the kids, you’re already a winner because you’ve signed up with the All Stars, and you’re taking control of your life. Sometimes in life, you have to seek out the opportunity, it’s not just given to you—so this is my way of helping them navigate the business world and helping them broaden their horizons.

Nicole, third from left, was honored during the All Stars Partners with Youth benefit reception in 2018.

What does it mean to have Barings’ support for All Stars?

Barings’ support has been great, not only financially, but through events at our Chicago office, virtual workshops with Barings Black Network (formally Barings Black Alliance), and overall Barings teammate engagement for these events. I’m very proud to work for a company that is so focused on social impact and giving back to our local communities. We all of course have full-time jobs but Barings gives us the space and encouragement to get really involved in the charities we’re passionate about.

This cause is very near and dear to my heart, so the fact that Barings’ social impact strategy is in full throttle is very meaningful to me. It means a lot that we’re very intentional in our strategy, and think deeply about where to give financial assistance, and where the most impact will be.

“I’m very proud to work for a company that is so focused on social impact and giving back to our local communities.”

Barings teammates, including those from the Barings Black Network (formally Barings Black Alliance), during a virtual interview workshop with All Stars in 2021.

What has been your highlight?

I measure success by each individual that I meet but one young man that I mentored through the Development School for Youth named James stands out to me in particular. Through All Stars, he secured a summer internship at Goldman Sachs. James impressed them so much, they offered him a permanent position. Fast forward another year and he had the opportunity to earn his Masters at the University of Miami. He asked if I could write his letter of recommendation, which was an honor. I am so incredibly proud of him—and yes, he was accepted to the university.

What has been your biggest challenge?

The only challenge is time, I wish I had more time to devote to All Stars.

What would you say to those thinking about getting involved in volunteering?

Don’t think, just do it. It will give you a fulfilment unlike anything else. When you give a little time to these young people and they start achieving their goals, you feel so proud of them—there’s no greater feeling than that.

23-2928603