Photo story: Plan youth take over KFC

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, we’re highlighting some of our partnerships that are empowering today’s girls to become tomorrow’s leaders. Together, we’re building a world where every girl can learn, lead, decide and thrive.

At Plan International, we believe every young person, no matter where they live or what their background is, deserves a fair chance to succeed. We know the path to a more equal world includes giving young people the tools they need to build good lives for themselves and contribute to their communities.

We also know that many young women don’t always get these chances. That’s why we work with supporters like you and corporate partners like KFC to change that. Together, we’re rewriting the narrative through initiatives like our “Takeovers.”

[Read more: Girls take over leadership in Malawi]

Takeovers provide a space for emerging young leaders to exercise their leadership skills and participate in decisions that affect them, gain real-world experience and increase their opportunities to harness their own power.

In Thailand and the U.S., emerging leaders participating in Plan’s programs took over KFC Global’s corporate offices and their restaurants to get hands-on experience in leadership positions.

Nadtanaht, Aliya, Sunisa and Jiraporn (left to right in white t-shirts) joined the KFC corporate team in Thailand to get hands-on experience at the company. | ©Plan International

Pear (left) and Shirlyn (right) took over the KFC corporate office in Plano, Texas for a day. | ©Plan International

Both groups of young women toured the corporate offices, met with employees and learned about KFC’s story of growth and plans for the future. In the U.S., Shirlyn took over as chief people & culture officer, while Pear assumed the chief development officer role.

At a large town hall team meeting in the Thailand office, the young women got to introduce themselves and talk about their work with Plan. | ©Plan International

KFC recognizes the power of opportunity and belonging in leadership, understanding that equal opportunity for all is good business. They successfully achieved parity among women and men across their corporate offices in 2024 and keep this balance through mentorship, leadership training and fostering environments where women can thrive at all levels.

At the U.S. office, Pear and Shirlyn spoke with executive officers about their roles and career journeys, gaining valuable insight into creating a high-performing work culture and how to plan business strategies in an ever-evolving environment.

Pear and Shirlyn with KFC’s Meetings and Event Specialist, Clarissa Angel, who coordinated the Takeover’s activities. | ©Plan International

In one-on-one meetings with their respective mentors, the young women had a chance to talk about their own goals for the future and receive advice on networking and taking advantage of new opportunities.

Shirlyn, a Plan Youth Leadership Academy alum, is particularly interested in a career in show business, and got to make a connection through the chief people officer she shadowed for the day.

Pear and Shirlyn filmed day-in-the-life videos to document their experiences at KFC. | ©Plan International  

In Thailand, Sunisa, Aliya, Nadtanaht and Jiraporn spoke with executives about similar topics, hearing from women in leadership at KFC about the challenges they’ve overcome throughout their careers.

“I feel proud seeing women in these managerial positions,” Aliya says. “It’s motivating because it shows me that I can do it too. They’ve done it, and I have the same potential. Maybe I haven’t had the opportunity yet, but in the future, I might. And when I do, I’ll make it happen.”

At a team meeting, Aliya shared her idea about a new product concept at KFC. | ©Plan International

Sunisa, along with the rest of the group, created videos about their Takeovers at KFC. | ©Plan International  

“I feel really proud,” Sunisa says, reflecting on her experience. “In the past, I would’ve assumed only men could be leaders. But today, seeing the KFC office, I feel so proud. I saw so many women here who are managing their own work and leading their own teams.”

Pear and Shirlyn with Plan’s Senior Director of Corporate & Foundation Partnerships Laura Willis (left) and Youth Economic Empowerment Technical Advisor Colton Hubbard (right). | ©Plan International

“What’s truly empowering about being here at KFC is how [the team] really saw value, and showcased that value, in giving us the opportunity to come visit today,” Pear says. “Opportunities and experiences like these really break down the barrier and give me the empowerment and confidence to pursue my own dreams.”

These Takeovers are just one example of how Plan, with the support of corporate partners like KFC, is opening doors for young people everywhere. When you support Plan, you become part of a powerful community — one where your generosity helps young women step into leadership and drive change.

Together, we’re creating a world where girls and young women have the chance to learn, lead, thrive, and build a more equal world. Every girl deserves the chance to fulfill her potential, and we’re committed to making that a reality because her future starts now.