F E AT U R E
STAYING OPEN TO POSSIBILITY IN A VUCA WORLD
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trong leadership qualities are essential for survival in a VUCA environment. Building "softer" leadership skills — agility, flexibility, positivity and personal resilience — can ensure we thrive in an uncertain world. Tennessee Gamma KELLEY GOLDEN's ability to adapt and reframe challenges as opportunities has helped her turn life's twists and turns into incredible impact. It's also helped her discover her passion for empowering other Pi Phi leaders. As a college freshman, Kelley found herself at the University of Tennessee in unfamiliar surroundings — knowing nobody on campus and separated from her Boston home by hundreds of miles and distinct cultural differences. Although she knew little about fraternity and sorority life, Kelley's roommate convinced her to participate in recruitment. Kelley joined the Tennessee Gamma Chapter after connecting with a fellow Massachusetts native in Pi Phi. When chapter elections didn't go the way she planned, Kelley acted on the advice of Pi Phi's Panhellenic delegate and opened the door to a new opportunity.
Because her collegiate involvement was mostly outside of her chapter, Kelley saw the Leadership Development Consultant (LDC) program as a special opportunity to engage with Pi Phi after graduation. "I felt I could make an impact using my campus leadership skills and what I'd learned as a member of a chapter on probation," she recalls. Kelley was selected as the second-year Resident LDC for the North Carolina Delta Chapter at North Carolina State University and put her experience to work strengthening the chapter's presence on campus. Despite her expertise in leadership and relationship building, Kelley felt a sharp learning curve when it came to chapter operations. "I'd never held a position within a chapter, and realized I was pretty naive in the area of chapter management," she said. "I didn't know what I didn't know. Fortunately, South Carolina Alpha SARAH RUTH “SIS” MULLIS was our Chapter Assistance Officer, and she created a 'safe zone' for me to learn."
"We need to give these women the tools they need to succeed."
"Everyone has a path, and Panhellenic was mine," she says. "I was the only freshman involved in fraternity and sorority governing bodies on our campus. My sophomore year, I was director of Greek Week, and I went on to serve as Panhellenic President my senior year." At the same time, Tennessee Gamma was receiving chapter support, and Kelley knew she could contribute to the chapter's success by promoting Pi Phi on campus. "In an uncertain environment like chapter probation, you need to strengthen your relationships internally and externally," she says. "I connected Pi Phi to the campus community in a bigger-picture role. I had a big voice, so I knew I could bring a lot of people along and create new avenues for women in our chapter to get involved."
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The connections Kelley established during her LDC year later helped her career gain momentum. Introductions and recommendations from alumnae, such as Texas Beta ANA MANCEBO MILLER, helped open doors to jobs in the healthcare and financial services and tech sectors. Along the way, she served Pi Phi in numerous roles, including extension and recruitment assistance, Chapter Support Officer, Alumnae Advisory Committee (AAC) member and Collegiate Regional Operations/Advisor Specialist for Region 9. "Staying connected with Pi Phi as an alumna has given me constant opportunity for learning and growth as a volunteer," she says. "I've learned to lead a team, make mistakes and hold people accountable — all valuable lessons that apply in different areas." Her volunteer service helped Kelley discover and nurture her personal Pi Phi passion: ensuring more
