Next-Generation Leader Profile: Max Jansen

Max Jansen doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. In fact, as he puts it, “There’s power in being willing to be the opposite of faultless.” That mindset is driving his work and his growth as an early-career leader at United Way of Southern Nevada.

A former middle school teacher, Max stepped into nonprofit work with the same commitment he brought to the classroom. “I’ve always wanted to create change from the ground up,” he says. As Volunteer Engagement Manager, he’s building something tangible: enhancing United Readers into Clark County. The literacy intervention program, founded by Krystal Nevada of United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, helps kids strengthen their foundational literacy skills. 

Max is quick to point out that the problem isn’t simple. “There are so many reasons kids fall behind—COVID, family challenges, how the system is set up. You can't fix it overnight.” Still, he’s determined to do what he can, where he is. “We're starting with four United Readers Mentors at two schools, which could be seen as small, but that’s real impact. That’s a starting point.”

There are so many reasons kids fall behind—COVID, family challenges, how the system is set up. You can't fix it overnight.”

Launching a direct-service program has meant calling on his teaching experience to train others and leaning on peers across the United Way network to troubleshoot everything from recruitment to reporting. The collaboration, he says, is a strength. “I treat every United Way colleague like someone with expertise I can learn from. I’m not the expert. I want to listen.”

That spirit of humility has deepened through his participation in the Next-Gen Leadership Initiative. While much of the first year focused on theory, Max found practical takeaways in unexpected places. He’s now planning community conversations at partner schools, a strategy he picked up through the cohort, and credits Next-Gen with expanding his toolkit as a leader.

Launched to cultivate a pipeline of early-career leaders within the United Way network, the Next-Gen Leadership Initiative program combines leadership theory, community practice, and peer learning to grow diverse talent. Max entered the program through the encouragement of a colleague and quickly recognized its value. “Even if just one idea sticks with you, it can reshape how you lead,” he says. For Max, the program didn’t just sharpen his perspective, it affirmed his place in the network of changemakers rising across the organization.

Looking ahead, Max is focused on nurturing the long-term success of United Readers. “As a first-year program, we are stepping into uncharted territory, but I know we can do this. There's going to be mistakes sometimes, and I’m going to own that. That’s the kind of leader I want to be. One who listens, learns, and keeps building.”