Creating Opportunity Through the Power of Partnership

Anita Pahor believes that lasting social change happens when people come together around a shared purpose. As Founder of Larita Academy, the flagship corporate social responsibility initiative of LK Group, she has helped build a collaborative model that connects young people experiencing disadvantage with businesses, mentors, employers and community organisations.

Drawing on experience across the corporate sector, international development and humanitarian work, Anita has dedicated her career to creating opportunities that help people thrive. Through Larita Academy and its companion training program, Larita EmPath™, she works alongside youth organisations, business leaders and volunteers to help young people build confidence, develop meaningful connections and create pathways into employment.

We spoke with Anita about her career journey, the importance of collaboration and why she believes opportunity grows when communities work together.

Tell us about your career journey.

My career has taken me through the corporate sector, international development, humanitarian work and now business-led social impact, but throughout each chapter, one thing has remained constant: people.

I've always been interested in how we support one another, build meaningful relationships and create environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Leading corporate social responsibility at LK Group gave me the opportunity to explore how business could contribute more meaningfully to the community. Around 2019, we began working closely with Whitelion, who were responding to research showing that many young people lacked confidence, opportunities and access to real-world work experience, making sustainable employment much harder to achieve.

Those conversations became the foundation for Larita Academy.

What started as a corporate social responsibility initiative has grown into a collaborative community of youth organisations, employers, business leaders, volunteers and supporters who share a commitment to creating opportunities for young people experiencing disadvantage.

Along the way, we also co-developed Larita EmPath™, a training program that helps youth organisations, coaches, volunteers and employers better support young people before, during and after their participation in the Academy.

I'm incredibly grateful to work alongside so many generous people who contribute their expertise, time and care to help create brighter futures for young people.

What inspires you in your work?

I believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't.

Many of the young people who come through Larita Academy have overcome challenges that many of us have never experienced. They bring enormous resilience, strengths and potential. Often, what's been missing isn't capability—it's access.

Access to networks. Access to workplaces. Access to mentors and people who can help them imagine new possibilities.

Sometimes the biggest turning point is simply someone believing in you, offering encouragement or welcoming you into a space where you feel you belong.

That's what everyone involved in Larita Academy works to create.

Our youth organisation partners build trusted relationships with young people long before they arrive. Our coaches, volunteers, employers and guest speakers generously share their knowledge, experience and encouragement throughout the program.

It is genuinely a collective effort, and Larita Academy simply wouldn't exist without that shared commitment.

Watching so many people come together to support young people reminds me of what's possible when communities collaborate. Together, we help young people build confidence, expand what they believe is possible and take practical steps towards employment, education and futures they can shape for themselves.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I'd tell myself to trust that every experience has value, even if it doesn't seem connected at the time.

Looking back, I could never have predicted that experiences across business, international development and humanitarian work would eventually come together through Larita Academy.

Each chapter taught me something important—about leadership, partnerships, dignity, resilience and the incredible strength of communities.

I'd also remind myself that leadership isn't about having all the answers.

Some of the most meaningful progress happens when we listen carefully, stay open to different perspectives and create space for others to contribute their ideas and strengths.

Stay curious. Trust your values. Surround yourself with people whose strengths complement your own.

The path doesn't need to be perfectly planned. Often it's the unexpected experiences that prepare you for the work you're ultimately meant to do.

Is there a philosophy you live by?

One belief I come back to often is that people are beautiful.

It sounds simple, but my experience with Larita Academy has reinforced it again and again.

I've watched young people arrive unsure of themselves and gradually discover strengths they never realised they had. I've seen business leaders generously give their time, youth workers provide unwavering support and people from very different backgrounds come together with kindness, curiosity and respect.

When people feel safe, valued and connected, remarkable things can happen.

I also believe care is most meaningful when it becomes action.

It's not enough to hope things improve. We all have a role to play in creating the partnerships, opportunities and environments that allow people and communities to flourish.

For me, Larita Academy is a reflection of that shared effort. It reminds me that when people come together with generosity and purpose, we can create opportunities that help others grow, contribute and thrive.

What are you currently watching, reading or listening to?

I recently read Don't Believe Everything You Think (Expanded Edition): Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning and End of Suffering by Joseph Nguyen through my book club, and I really enjoyed it.

The book explores how many of our struggles are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves, and it offers a thoughtful reminder of the value of self-awareness, perspective and compassion. Those ideas resonate strongly with both my personal outlook and the work we do at Larita Academy, where helping young people build confidence often begins with changing the way they see themselves and what's possible.