Why?
I decided to apply for the Lead Forward program because an executive member of the committee I lead was unable to fully participate in our meetings and events due to a lack of accommodations. It was important to me that every member of my team felt valued and included. I wanted to ensure that I supported my team by listening and advocating for everyone. After the grant was approved, we were able to obtain accommodations for our meetings and events. However, during this process, I challenged my own knowledge and became aware of the large amount of inaccessibility across the Purdue campus. From there, we expanded our initiative to help all student organizations implement accessibility by creating a comprehensive accessibility resource guide.
My drive for this project is not simply rooted in empathy, but also a motivation to solve problems and help others. As a leader, I have realized that it takes meaningful action, not understanding alone, to support others and create real change.
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HonorServes volunteers at Food Finders Food Bank, utilizing CityBus for accessible transportation.
Philosophy for Social Impact Leadership
Social impact leadership, in its broadest sense, is about collaborating with others to create meaningful change in society. Leadership as a whole is not a natural born trait, nor a title earned through a selection process. Instead, it is a skill that requires continuous effort and evolution to make thoughtful decisions and inspire one’s team to work together toward a shared cause. The core principles of social impact leadership include connection, meaningful action, passion, active listening, and self-reflection. Without all five, even the most well-intentioned projects can fail. Projects can collapse due to weak relationships, lack of motivation, poor execution, failure to listen to the community being served, or a lack of reflection on the impact of one’s actions.
The most important factor in making a real difference is having open and honest conversations with the communities we aim to serve. For example, without engaging in conversations with the Disabled community, we might misinterpret their needs and not support the change they seek. Everyone’s version of change and meaningful impact is different. As leaders, we cannot assume that we know what a community needs without truly understanding their goals. Regardless of our intentions, we can cause more harm than good and actually deter from the ambitions of those communities. Ultimately, genuine communication with relevant communities is the key to being a successful social impact leader.