Student Spotlights

Hailey Gilman

Hailey Gilman is a junior at Miami majoring in English Literature and Marketing. Sharon Kootin-Sanwu, one of the Leadership Development Specialists in Wilks, talked with Hailey about her ideas surrounding leadership.

Q: I know you’re really involved in Stage Left at Miami. Can you talk more about this? What are some of the challenges you face as a leader within this organization?

I got involved with Stage Left during my first year at Miami. I attended the meetings and started going to all of the activities. Little did I realize how much I would fall in love with the people and work of this organization! As a sophomore, I accepted the role of Public Relations Director for Stage Left, and I began to build up our social media presence as well as manage our show and event advertising on campus. It was a demanding role, but I loved every bit of it!  Now, as President, I deal with many of the behind-the-scenes aspects of the organization’s logistics. I acquire the rights to perform our shows and I assist in planning, managing the executive board, and ensuring that each of our events represents Stage Left appropriately on campus. 

At this point, my main challenge is simply managing everything that we do! Our organization is always busy, but I can say that I have such a great team working with me helping to run things, which makes everything exponentially easier.

Q: What are some of your other involvements?

I am the Vice President of Marketing for the Business Student Advisory Council, which entails working with the Farmer School of Business’ (FSB) External Relations Team to manage the FSB social media accounts and internal event advertising. Truthfully, this has been one of my favorite projects of the year, as we’re currently working to generate greater social media engagement and put a face on the Farmer School’s postings.

Additionally, I am on the Recruitment Committee for Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE), one of the professional business fraternities. I help the rest of our team members with the recruitment process, organizing events, scheduling interviews, and helping to administer material throughout the season. Again, this is so rewarding, as we are key components that help to select the next class of PSE members!

And finally, I am a University Tour Guide. I’ve been providing tours since my first year on campus, and each tour allows me to meet excited prospective students and their parents, often Miami alums. I can’t recommend this job enough!

Q: What is your definition of leadership?

To me, leadership means being a passionate guide for others. The more I’ve held leadership positions and observed others in such positions, the clearer the importance of passion and self-motivation becomes. I stand by the fact that I do not think one can lead without being intrigued and concerned about their cause. 

Q: What is your favorite leadership quote?

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” –John C. Maxwell

Q: What is some advice you would give students at Miami interested in pursuing leadership opportunities?

Don’t be afraid to start on the ground floor! I remember leaving high school, with a full plate of leadership positions under my belt, but I still had to start as a general member at Miami in all of my involvements. And, I fully expect to start at the bottom again when I enter the workplace after graduation. There is nothing shameful in working your way up, and truthfully, this work is what makes you the best leader when you reach your position at the top!

Spring 2014 Semester Student Spotlights

Carlos Suarez & Emily Ritter: Sigma Alpha Pi Executive Board Members

Carlos and Emily are fantastic student leaders at Miami and serve as the President and Vice President, respectively, for Miami’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Pi: The National Society of Leadership and Success. Emily and Carlos were selected as student spotlights because of their commitment to leadership development and growth. Here’s a bit more about each of them and their answers to some of our leadership-related questions.

Carlos  Suarez

Carlos is a senior at Miami double majoring in Economics and International Studies with a minor in Chinese. Carlos is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and at Miami he is the President of Sigma Alpha Pi: The National Society of Leadership and Success, a member of the Club Tennis team, served as Student Senator and Sustainability Chair in Associated Student Government, and interned at the First Miami Student Credit Union.

Emily Ritter

Emily is a junior at Miami majoring in Marketing and double minoring in Decision Sciences and Management and Leadership. Emily is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and at Miami she is VP of Sigma Alpha Pi: The National Society of Leadership and Success, a member of the Market Research division of Miami Business Enterprise, and works in the Advanced Learning Technologies department.

Q: What’s your personal definition of leadership?

Carlos: My favorite way to define leadership is "Getting Things Done Through People." I like this definition because it's very concise and to the point. The first half (getting things done) highlights the importance of performance and delivering results. The second half (through people) emphasizes the idea that leadership is built on relationships, communication, and a shared vision.

Emily: Leadership is the ability to inspire others and catalyze action for a meaningful purpose.

Q: Why do you choose to be a leader?

Emily: Managers plan and problem solve, but leaders set visions, align people behind those visions, and motivate and inspire. While both are necessary, leaders are the future. 

Carlos: To me, being a leader means that you are in a position in which you can influence other people's ways of thinking, their actions, and even their entire lives. That takes a great deal of courage and responsibility. I choose to be a leader because I want to be recognized for changing people's lives in a positive way. I enjoy helping people, and by doing so, I know that I'm contributing to making this world a better place.

Q: What’s your favorite leadership quote?

Carlos: “A great leader knows how to take a vision and make it a reality.”

Emily: "Leadership is not what you do, it's who you are." - Megan Gerhardt

Q: What's your favorite leadership-related book, article, or TED Talk?

Carlos: I recently watched a TED Talk by Hans Rosling titled The Best Stats You've Ever Seen. It's a truly innovative way on how to take hard facts and present them as an exciting story to an audience. I highly recommend it!

Emily: My favorite TED Talk is by Simon Sinek entitled How Great Leaders Inspire Action.

Q: Favorite leadership-related experience you’ve had at Miami?

Carlos: Last year, I planned and implemented a new leadership program called Read 2 Lead for Sigma Alpha Pi members. In keeping with Sigma Alpha Pi’s mission to “Build Leaders Who Make a Better World,” this program was founded to help students fully develop their leadership abilities. Participation in Read to Lead involved reading the work of some of the nation’s bestselling authors and participating in team discussions. Students are also eligible to apply for a $300 scholarship award at the end of the program. Some of the recent titles have included:

• Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
• The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell
• Turn this Ship Around: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders by L. David Marquet

Emily: My favorite leadership-related experience at Miami is being on the e-board of Sigma Alpha Pi. This year as a committee through personal ambitions of my own and others, we are improving the direction of an already inspirational organization. 

Q: What's a piece of advice you would give students at Miami interested in pursuing leadership opportunities?

Emily: One piece of advice I have for students at Miami interested in pursuing leadership opportunities is to be authentic. Play to your strengths and recognize your weaknesses. Everyone has pros and cons about themselves, but it is what you do with them that separate leaders from the average.