Lead Forward Portfolio

About Me

My commitment to social impact leadership is deeply rooted in the belief that every young person deserves someone who sees their potential, believes in them, and walks alongside them as they navigate life's challenges. This conviction was profoundly shaped by my experience volunteering under Khali Sweeney, the founder of the Downtown Boxing Gym youth program. Growing up in Detroit, he faced numerous obstacles, including dropping out of high school and losing his friends. Yet, instead of succumbing to these challenges, he transformed them into a mission to uplift others facing similar issues. Witnessing firsthand how empathy could transform young lives, I recognized the potential of blending existing leadership frameworks with youth development theories. 

At Purdue, my understanding of leadership evolved through SOAR, where I embraced these values by designing intentional, research-backed activities based on Corey Seemiller’s "Competency-Based Model for Youth Leadership Development." Seemiller’s philosophy reinforced my belief that leadership should not equated to authority but rather as a tangible set of skills accessible to everyone. As a chair for SOAR’s Activity Squadron, I have the privilege of designing experiences that cultivate confidence and empowerment in young people, particularly those who traditionally lack access to leadership development opportunities. SOAR’s mission is to empower youth through structured programming, facilitating long-term growth in leadership competencies by offering engaging activities grounded in scholarly research and game-based learning. Our vision is to cultivate an inclusive environment where every young person can harness their capacity to advocate for themselves and positively influence their communities, subsequently redefining leadership as a universally attainable skill rather than an exclusive title.

My definition of social impact leadership is informed by both servant and transformational leadership theories. Social impact leadership is fundamentally about serving and uplifting others, ensuring that our actions consistently reflect and reinforce our core values. Transformational leadership, as defined by James MacGregor Burns, centers on mutual growth between leaders and their communities, raising each other toward higher levels of motivation and understanding. Servant leadership complements this by emphasizing a leader’s role as a caretaker, placing the needs of others first to create environments built on mutual respect. 

The principles I adhere to include authenticity, intentionality, empathy, and systems thinking. Authenticity ensures congruence in my actions and decisions, establishing trust and fostering an inclusive atmosphere. Intentionality drives my commitment to creating structured, meaningful experiences that align closely with our organization’s desired outcomes. Empathy allows me to adapt to challenges and remain responsive to the diverse needs of our stakeholders. Lastly, systems thinking has provided a broader perspective, helping me understand and address the elements that impact long-term youth leadership development within my community. From experience, successful social impact leadership requires persistent dedication, adaptability, and the resilience to navigate challenges.

Conclusion

Participating in the Lead Forward Fellowship has been the highlight of my time at Purdue. I grew up believing that I would never be a leader because I was quiet, anxious, and avoidant. Through SOAR, I learned how to lead with resilience and intentionality, allowing me to help design and implement our research-based social impact initiative. The program gave me the structure to turn my abstract passion into a tangible impact, along with the reflective space to recognize and internalize my own growth. 

I am grateful to my peers in the fellowship who challenged and encouraged me, to my squadron within SOAR who showed up week after week, and especially to our mentors, Dr. Adam Watkins and Dr. Shaunta Scroggins, whose belief in our vision helped push it forward. I am also deeply thankful to the John Martinson Honors College for providing the resources and scaffolding necessary to bring an initiative like this to life, and to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lafayette and Lafayette Mentors staff for welcoming us and allowing us to work with their students.