Twenty in their 20s 2026: Gabby Davis, Jada McGuin, Zein Clayton, Alysia Guin and Jacob Ellis

Gabby Davis, 23

Content creator; backstage correspondent, Pro Wrestling 225

A wrestling fan since childhood, Davis has taken her skills honed as a multimedia journalist with WBRZ into the ring. She shares news and knowledge about the wrestling world on social media and conducts interviews with talent during live events. Her conversations with celebrities at conventions have gone viral, but what viewers don’t see is the hard work behind the camera. “I always think about my next goal,” she says, and that goal is a job with a large wrestling promotion like WWE.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

Getting to meet people I grew up watching on TV.

What do you love most about pro wrestling?

I love looking back at past matches and storylines and seeing the impact that female wrestlers have made. Women’s wrestling has come a long way.

How do you define success?

When people tell me they love my content or have seen my content before, it makes me feel as though my hard work is truly paying off. Life is not a rush, and I need to enjoy the process.

Jada McGuin, 28

Business operations manager, Woman’s Hospital; Founder, FITTHOUSE

Health and fitness are at the core of McGuin’s career, from opening a self-funded brick-and-mortar gym at age 23 and launching a fitness app three years later to overseeing the patient access team at Woman’s Hospital. Armed with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in

kinesiology and a master’s in healthcare administration, she’s also an adjunct instructor at FranU and vice president-
elect of leadership for Forum 225.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

Problem solving. I’m a thinker and I love to learn. The fluidity and massiveness of healthcare allow me to do both.

What’s your personal pep talk?

I say “it’s going to be fine” almost 1,000 times a day. Working in healthcare, you never know what to expect.

What’s your next big goal?

I’m working on a rebrand for my business.

Advice for your 18-year-old self?

Don’t worry so much. I’ve become more understanding that I cannot control everything, and I just have to take things as they are.

Zein Clayton, 21

Owner, The Meltdown Snoballs

This Brusly native opened his first snoball stand in his hometown at the age of 16 and has since added two locations in Baton Rouge and one in New Roads, plus a Lafayette outpost opening this year. Each spot offers an assortment of classic and innovative flavors, along with a commitment to consistency and customer service.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I always knew I wanted to be a business owner and self-employed. I just knew I didn’t want to work a regular job forever.

How do you define success?

Success to me isn’t just money or the number of locations. I define success as freedom. It’s employing young people and college students who are figuring out life. It’s building something families can enjoy. It’s creating opportunities and having the freedom to think bigger.

What’s your personal pep talk?

Every morning and night, I remind myself: Success isn’t overnight, it’s consistency.

What’s your next big goal?

Expanding into larger markets like Texas and Florida.

Alysia Guin, 29

Director of marketing and partnerships, Raising Cane’s River Center; Regional marketing director, Legends Global

If you’ve been to a Baton Rouge Zydeco hockey game, you might have Guin to thank—she led marketing efforts for the team’s inaugural season, which drew 110,000-plus attendees, a league record. She also relaunched Broadway in Baton Rouge after a three-year hiatus, and her efforts led to the River Center being featured among Pollstar’s Top 200 Arenas Worldwide. Meanwhile, she also serves as regional marketing director for 17 theaters across the nation.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

Someone once told me that we are in the business of making memories, and I’ve carried that with me every step of the way.

What part of your work do people not see?

I spend a lot of my time analyzing ticket sales data to see what’s working and what’s not. I need to make sure I’m meeting every demographic where they are to maximize the dollars we’re spending on advertising.

What’s your next big goal?

I want to position our city as a must-play, must-meet destination at the national level.

Jacob Ellis, 28

Director of business development, Louisiana Economic Development

Ellis’ strategic vision and collaborative leadership helped the state secure Hyundai’s recent $5.8 billion steel investment along with multiple other high-impact projects. Outside the office, his volunteer efforts have ranged from supporting Cat Haven to serving as a member of the LSU Young Alumni Advisory Council.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

Seeing the tangible impact our projects have on communities and families across the state of Louisiana. Economic development is not just about announcements or numbers; it is about real people. Watching a project move from concept to construction and knowing it will change lives for the better is incredibly fulfilling.

How do you define success?

At this stage of my life, success feels more personal than it does performative. It is about doing meaningful work that creates real opportunity for others while also building a life I am proud of at home.

Advice for your 18-year-old self?

Stop worrying about having everything figured out. Focus on growth, surround yourself with people who challenge and support you, and trust that consistency compounds over time.