​​​“Leadership is about empowering others to achieve things they did not think possible.”

- Simon Sinek​

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Leadership involves a willingness to encourage and ground a group through both beautiful and challenging moments. As a leader I intentionally strive to demonstrate adaptable leadership which involves being willing and able to shift my leadership style based on the needs of the team I am working with. At times, this means my leadership might show up as hands‑on group management and facilitation. In other situations, my leadership is quieter and centered around delegating tasks and serving as a sounding board for others.

 

An integral piece of leadership that also demands adaptability is communication. Effective leaders must be able to communicate clearly with their team and adjust their communication style to fit the situation related or individual needs. To truly center equity and inclusion as a leader, I place the responsibility of understanding my team’s communication styles on myself rather than expecting my team to conform to the style that I most easily interpret. I strongly believe that as leaders we must gain comfort with communicating in diverse ways while respecting and accommodating individual preferences.

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When I was younger, I strongly believed that a specific role would “make” me a leader. In middle school and high school, I viewed my involvement in supporting gym class programming or helping with freshman orientation as the moments that defined my leadership. At the time, I didn’t realize that I had been developing and demonstrating leadership skills long before these roles, particularly through my ability to adapt across different environments. 

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Growing up with divorced parents meant spending my formative years moving between two households every few days. For someone who thrives on routine, this was challenging. Yet it became one of my earliest experiences in adaptability. Navigating two distinct household dynamics required awareness and flexibility, two skills that quietly shaped how I engage with others and adjust to changing circumstances. I also began practicing adaptability early in my education through group work in school. As someone who loved learning and deeply valued everyone participating, I often took on the responsibility of ensuring that everyone’s perspectives were heard. My ability to create this cohesive work environment required a different approach depending on each group's dynamics; this group related adaptability is something I continue to practice today in undergraduate group projects. Reflecting on these experiences, I now understand that leadership is not defined by a title or position. Being a leader is not something one becomes through a role alone, but instead leadership is something that can be practiced, developed, and embodied every day.