Saia, a senior partner at Deloitte, has more than 30 years of leadership experience including as former chief executive officer of Deloitte’s Risk and Financial Advisory business and former chief risk, reputation and regulatory affairs officer of Deloitte.

A few years ago, Saia poured his professional experience and insight into authoring his book, "You Got This, Kid! Words of Advice for Young Leaders.”

“If you don’t leave behind a better tomorrow, you’re not doing your job as a citizen on this planet," said Saia. "No one’s an expert in leadership, but I certainly got enough training that I felt like I had something to say on leadership." 

The book helps young professionals navigate the “corporate jungle” through the attributes of seven different species of the animal kingdom. With advice from his editor, Saia directed the book’s teachings of critical interpersonal soft skills at college students.

“She convinced me that if you bring this book to the college campuses where students are getting taught hard skills these days and not getting taught soft skills, it will find a lane where it fits,” said Saia.

The book, which contributes all sales to assist those affected by Lupus and autoimmune disease as well as to promote environmental sustainability, went on to become the basis for the YGTK Leadership Foundation. The nonprofit organization develops young leaders through training, immersive learning, self-discovery and philanthropy.

“The book led to the foundation and the foundation has led to the impact, in a more precise way, at Quinnipiac,” Saia said.

Several members of the Quinnipiac community are on the YGTK board of directors, including Olamide Gbotosho ’21, who began her YGTK journey as an intern assisting Saia with producing his book. YGTK Board Member Angelina Kaliada ’23, MBA ’24 also interned with YGTK, helping to grow its social media presence and lead a successful brand refresh. Quinnipiac professor of biology, Courtney McGinnis, also serves on the board.

Nationwide, Saia’s charismatic YGTK speaking engagements inspire large corporations including Fortune 50 companies, as well as audiences at major universities and colleges. With Saia’s leadership, the YGTK Leadership Foundation has shepherded a remarkable array of programs, seminars, internships and other opportunities at Quinnipiac which tie back to YGTK’s foundational pillars. As a result, a great deal of YGTK philanthropy is enacted through the foundation’s engagement with Quinnipiac.

Each year, Saia’s highly attended YGTK School of Business Graduate Student Symposium provides priceless lessons on developing an individual “leadership footprint” and navigating a working world populated by different types of leaders. The YGTK Leadership Foundation offers year-long internships for Quinnipiac students which focus on supporting marketing and communications majors. YGTK also funds internships for environmental studies students. YGTK provides sponsorships for Bobcat MBA capstone projects and annually sponsors Quinnipiac Big Event teams. YGTK grants support environmental science student research trips to Portugal. YGTK medical school grants advance Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine students’ autoimmune research.

Hands down, Saia feels one of the most impactful opportunities YGTK creates for Quinnipiac students is its annual six-week summer immersive program at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine.

“We’re going on our fifth year with incoming Netter students involved in a six-week curriculum. It provides conversations on leadership based on my book, educates them on Lupus and autoimmune diseases and educates them on how environmental toxins impact those with autoimmune diseases,” said Saia. “We bring in speakers that are CEOs of early-state startups serving the healthcare space, senior executives from healthcare and leaders from other foundations.”

School of Medicine students also hear from American ICU physician, speaker, author and renowned communication expert Dr. Anthony Orsini.

“Dr. Orsini teaches them about the art of empathy and communication with patients,” Saia said.

Saia said walking School of Medicine students through his book’s mentoring section often helps them to recognize the exceptional support they receive from Quinnipiac’s caring community.

Quinnipiac School of Medicine students completing the six-week program also display inspirational leadership skills, said Saia. Quinnipiac Netter’s Rheumatology Interest Group (RIG) was established by students after they completed the first program four years ago. Now, YGTK is helping RIG find outside speakers and also provides some funding to assist the group.

“We’re teaching soft skills on leadership that is creating a differentiated student,” said Saia. “I would love to see the day that every student that comes on campus goes through the same training that the Netter students are going through every year. There’s absolute proof that our students that are going through the YGTK program are taking leadership positions at Netter. They’re the presidents of their classes, they’re starting RIG and being president of that group, they’re doing things at nonprofits.”

Saia said the leadership program’s lasting effects can serve to strengthen alumni bonds with Quinnipiac, as many graduates who experience the program may go on to serve as mentors or find other meaningful ways to contribute to future Bobcats’ success.

“What I’m hoping for is a flywheel effect,” Saia said. “This year, the Netter students are leaving our first class and we’re going to celebrate that they’re Bobcats for life, but they’re also YGTK for life. We always want to keep our alumni engaged through giving, hiring or just giving time. I think the proof is going to be in the pudding with the students that went through our program. If we’re able to hold onto them and make them YGTK and Bobcats for life, it’s going to be interesting.”

As an alumnus, Saia’s deep commitment to Quinnipiac reflects his pride in the university and his appreciation of opportunities afforded to him by his MBA and bachelor’s degree in accounting and computer science.

As a first-generation college student on one side of his family, and the family’s first-generation MBA, Saia said Quinnipiac’s culture inspired him to succeed.

“At the time, we were a lot of first-generation college students and I think we collectively just had this underdog mentality that we needed to succeed," said Saia. "Maybe we were trying to prove something. But a lightbulb went off and whatever that culture is at Quinnipiac that allows you to succeed as a student and then further on in life, sort of sticks to you. You get proud of it pretty quickly, if you pay attention to the fact that Quinnipiac did that to you." 

He feels not enough alumni may understand and appreciate how their unique Quinnipiac experience has allowed them to be successful in their professional and personal lives.

“If they don’t pay attention to it, they think it would have happened anyway. And I would argue that’s not necessarily the case,” said Saia.

As chairman of the Quinnipiac Board of Trustees, Saia appreciates the great number of alumni who do recognize the value of their educational experience and give back to the university in many ways.

“I have visibility into a lot of good that’s going on. I get a birds’ eye view to see what people are doing and that in itself motivates you,” Saia said. “When I see my fellow Board of Trustees or alumni stepping up, it motivates me to do more.”

Saia has still more ideas for programs and collaborative concepts which can develop opportunities for Quinnipiac students through YGTK and the Saia Family Fund.

“I don’t feel like we’re fully done yet. It’s a fun journey. It’s a unique way to do philanthropy.”