Explore student career roles
Delegations representing high schools or student organizations across the state will:
Choose a field for innovation and receive a portfolio with local case studies, data, and primary source documents.
Take on a career-aligned role and receive relevant career coaching (see descriptions below!)
Develop a civic solution: A campaign, plan, innovation, or partnership to solve the field’s challenge.
Present to a panel of civic and business leaders (shark-tank style)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Vision / Strategy / Impact
As the CEO, you are responsible for steering your delegation toward a high-impact, feasible solution to your chosen challenge. You connect the dots across all departments and lead your delegation in setting a clear mission, managing trade-offs, and communicating a compelling vision to both civic leaders and the public.
You’re the delegation's anchor and final decision-maker — making sure your solution is innovative, actionable, and aligned with your civic values.
Key Questions
What is the big picture problem we are solving? Can I explain it in 1-2 sentences?
What is our mission? Why does our solution matter, and who does it serve?
What does success look like for our project? How will we measure impact?
Are we designing something that is equitable, scalable, and realistic?
How do we navigate different delegation members' ideas and make final decisions?
Tools & Responsibilities
Set the delegation’s North Star. Keep everyone focused on your vision for solving the problem.
Run delegation meetings. Facilitate discussions, resolve conflicts, and ensure progress.
Coordinate departments. Make sure the CFO, CMO, COO, and CPO are aligned.
Deliver the pitch. Lead or co-lead the final presentation to judges or civic leaders.
Drive community impact. Ensure your solution considers who benefits and who might be left out — then address that gap.
Field-Specific Prompts
Climate: What’s our long-term clean energy strategy, and how do we ensure fairness across communities?
Education: How do we mitigate chronic absenteeism while catalyzing higher attendance? What is our guiding principle?
Media: How do we create a solution that rebuilds trust across differences — not just in one bubble? What values drive us?
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Strategy / Systems / Execution
As the COO, you are the operations lead — turning your delegation’s big idea into a working system. You design how the solution will actually function on the ground. That means managing logistics, timelines, and partnerships. You ensure that the solution is not just visionary, but also implementable, efficient, and scalable.
You’re the delegation’s builder and organizer, focused on making the plan real and sustainable.
Key Questions
What steps are needed to make our idea work in a real-world setting?
Who needs to do what, by when, and with what tools or support?
What barriers or risks could get in the way of implementation?
How does our solution grow or adapt over time?
Are we using resources wisely (people, time, materials, funding)?
Tools & Responsibilities
Design a step-by-step implementation plan: who, what, when, where.
Build an operations timeline (phases, launch strategy, deadlines).
Identify key partners needed to execute (government, community, private sector).
Assess risks and propose contingency plans.
Ensure coordination between departments and make sure all parts of the plan fit together.
Field-Specific Prompts
Climate: How does our clean energy strategy get built or launched? Who manages it, and what infrastructure does it require?
Education: What is the process for getting our absenteeism solution approved, built, or funded? How do we overcome the practical barriers?
Media: How is our solution delivered across platforms and media outlets? What’s the rollout strategy?
Final Deliverable Support
Present your implementation plan in a clear and convincing way.
Include a basic timeline or roadmap that shows your project in action.
Be ready to answer: “How does this actually work?”
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Messaging / Branding / Engagement
As the CMO, you are the delegation’s communications and outreach strategist. Your job is to craft a powerful message that gets people to care, participate, and take action. You build the public-facing side of the solution — from awareness campaigns to stakeholder engagement.
You are the voice of your delegation, making sure your work connects with real people and builds momentum.
Key Questions
Who needs to hear about this, and why should they care?
What’s the most powerful story we can tell about this problem and our solution?
What strategies will help us engage youth, community leaders, or the media?
How do we build trust across different audiences and identities?
What platforms or outreach tools will we use to spread the word?
Tools & Responsibilities
Craft a clear and inspiring message for your delegation’s solution.
Identify your target audiences and how to reach them.
Design a basic communications strategy or campaign (social media, flyers, events, videos, etc.).
Build in feedback loops so you can listen to your audience and adjust.
Coordinate with the CEO to ensure your messaging aligns with the delegation’s values and mission.
Field-Specific Prompts
Climate: How do we build public buy-in for climate solutions, especially among those who are skeptical or left out?
Education: How do we shift attitudes on the value and necessity of education? How do we build awareness of obstacles without stigmatizing these barriers?
Media: How do we create media strategy that builds civic trust and engagement without sounding preachy or partisan?
Final Deliverable Support
Present a mock campaign, flyer, video script, or social media concept.
Show how your delegation will influence public opinion or build momentum.
Be ready to answer: “How will people hear about this — and why will they care?”
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Budget / Feasibility / Investment.
As the CFO, you are the financial strategist for your delegation. Your job is to make sure the solution your delegation proposes is fundable, cost-effective, and sustainable over time. You’ll identify how much your idea will cost, where the money could come from, and what return (financial or social) it could create.
You’re the delegation’s realist and resource manager, helping ensure that great ideas don’t fall apart from lack of funding.
Key Questions
What are the key costs of our solution (materials, labor, outreach, tech)?
What would a basic startup budget look like for this idea?
What funding sources could we tap (grants, public-private partnerships, corporate sponsors)?
Can this solution sustain itself over time? What’s the financial model?
What value does our solution create — and who benefits financially?
Tools & Responsibilities
Build a basic budget using realistic cost estimates.
Identify funding strategies (public grants, foundations, private partnerships).
Explore sustainability models (subscription, co-op, tax credits, etc.).
Collaborate with the COO to ensure the operations plan is financially doable.
Prepare a return-on-investment story for sponsors, funders, or the public.
Track-Specific Prompts
Climate: How do we fund clean energy projects? What are the financial incentives or savings?
Education: What makes school financially accessible or not? How can we finance the resources families need to overcome practical obstacles such as transportation?
Media: Who pays for public education or local media? What creative models could make this sustainable?
Final Deliverable Support
Present a summary budget or cost model.
Explain your funding strategy and why it’s realistic.
Be ready to answer: “How much does this cost, and where does the money come from?”
Chief Policy Officer (CPO)
Law / Governance / Systems Change
As the CPO, you are your delegation’s public policy expert and civic strategist. You make sure your solution aligns with local or state laws — or propose how to change those policies to make your solution possible. You also help your delegation think about long-term systems change, government partnerships, and civic responsibility.
You’re the systems thinker on your delegation, linking innovation to civic institutions.
Key Questions
What public policies affect the problem we’re trying to solve?
Are there current laws or regulations that block or support our solution?
Who has the power to implement or support our idea (elected officials, agencies, commissions)?
How can we work with or influence public institutions to adopt our solution?
What are the equity and justice implications of our policy choices?
Tools & Responsibilities
Analyze existing laws, policies, and systems related to your delegation’s track.
Propose policy changes or new initiatives if needed.
Map out the civic pathway: who needs to say “yes,” and how do we get them on board?
Identify legal risks or ethical concerns.
Ensure your solution addresses equity and serves the public good.
Field-Specific Prompts
Climate: What local, state, or federal policies shape how communities reduce emissions or build resilience?
Education: How do legislative policies around absenteeism or truancy help or hurt attendance rates? What could change?
Media: What rules govern digital media — and how can policy improve trust?
Final Deliverable Support
Present a policy summary or recommendation.
Explain who has the authority to act — and how your delegation would influence them.
Be ready to answer: “How does this fit into Minnesota’s laws, and what civic actions are needed?”