Made to Lead

In today's episode, the ILC Education team comes together to discuss "Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds" and the leadership themes involved with the novel.

In this week's episode, Rachel is joined by Hunter Stone and Grant Voller, two graduating students at UIUC. Together, they discuss their post-graduation plans and reflect upon their time at UIUC.

In this week's episode, Rachel is joined by Hannah Driscoll, a new ILC assistant director. Together, they self-reflect on their own experiences with different leadership competencies while playing a leadership learning game.

In this week's episode, Rachel is joined by Nick Bonanno, an ILC assistant director. They discuss how leadership competencies and skills are present within the online gaming world, along with areas of growth for better leadership skills within gaming communities.

In this week's episode, Rachel is joined by Joy Das, an assistant director here at the Illinois Leadership Center. They discuss decision-making and how it affects the community, along with how to better improve decision-making skills in a community leadership setting. 

In today's episode, Rachel is joined by Colin Alberts, a UIUC graduate student who has amassed over 39k followers on TikTok. Rachel and Colin discuss the role of leadership in influencing and followership, along with Colin's experiences in data analytics as a Senior Data Analyst for UIUC's baseball team.

In this week's episode, Rachel is joined by DaVinci Calcara, an advertising major here at UIUC. Rachel and DaVinci discuss how to grow a personal brand on social media platforms, along with why diverse representation within media matters and how it affects the public. 

In this week's episode, Rachel is joined by Lilly Hicks and Caitlin Wepfer, the VP of Social Affairs and VP of Professional Development for UIUC's Society of Women in Business. They discuss how to become more involved on campus, dealing with rejection, the importance of female mentorship, and women empowerment. 

In this week’s episode, Rachel is joined by Daniel Brandys, a UIUC alum. They discuss their personal experiences in expanding their professional networks, the importance of community and Daniel’s experiences as the VP of the Ukrainian Student Association, along with how they improved their self-confidence. 

In this week’s episode of Made to Lead, we are joined by Evan Lorenz, an assistant director here at the Illinois Leadership Center. We discuss self-management, how to build sustainable new habits, and why self-management in important in leadership. 

This week on Made to Lead, we are joined by Ryan Lee, a Student Athletic Training Aide for the UIUC football team. We discuss his experiences as a student AT aide, along with how to navigate communication and conflict in the workplace. 

In this episode of Made to Lead, Rachel introduces herself as the new host for Season 4. She is joined by Becky Rookard, a Media Communications major at Point Loma Nazarene University. Together, they will discuss Public Relations, the Entertainment Industry, and how being a leader looks different in everyone with reviewing their Cliftons Strengths.

Saying hello to what is and goodbye to what was is just a fancy way of saying "we change"." Join host Emily Albert-Stauning for the season 3 finale of Made to Lead as she explores how leaders can create meaningful goodbyes.

Thanks for listening to this season of Made to Lead. Made to Lead will be back for a new season with a new host next Fall 2022. 

"What do you wish you knew about leadership before starting college?"

Join Made to Lead Host, Emily Albert-Stauning for an interview with Sophie Arostegui. Sophie is a member of The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Class of 2022 and Illinois Leadership Center Student Employee. 

For more information about how to get involved with The Illinois Leadership Center, please visit: http://leadership.illinois.edu/

Join Emily Albert-Stauning for an interview with Illinois Leadership Center pro staff employee, Seth Yoder for a conversation about his childhood heroes and leadership experiences. 

How did your childhood hero's influence the way you view leadership? What lessons do you carry from the people, characters, or stories from childhood? 

Join Emily Albert-Stauning for an interview with Illinois Leadership Center student employee, Bhavya Pardasani for a conversation about her childhood hero and leadership experiences as a Illinois Leadership Center Employee. 

Ever wondered what it's like to organize a major event as a college student? How about what it's like to mentor other students on campus?

Join Made to Lead host Emily Albert-Stauning for an interview with Selena Salgado-Espino & Jordan Brown (Student Leaders/Committee members for The Black and Latinx Leadership Summit 2022) to learn more about student leadership and mentorship on campus.

To learn more about The Black and Latinx Leadership Summit: 

https://oiir.illinois.edu/la-casa-cultural-latina/la-casa-events/2021-black-latino-mens-summit

https://oiir.illinois.edu/la-casa-cultural-latina/la-casa-events/2020-black-latina-womxns-summit

Join host Emily Albert-Stauning for an interview with Molly McQuaid. Molly is the Wellness Manager for Public Affairs. She drives the development, implementation, and management of centralized mental health and wellness initiatives for the university and coordinates the Wellness Ambassador program. After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in May 2020, Molly worked part-time for Public Affairs as the Coordinator of the Wellness Ambassador program until starting full-time in her current position in August 2021.

Resources for Wellness at The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign: https://campusrec.illinois.edu/programs/student-wellness/

What does it mean to turn pain into purpose?

Join Made to Lead Host Emily Albert-Stauning for an interview with The University of Illinoi alumni Mike Bushman and Colleen Malany. Colleen Malany founded the J.Kyle Braid Foundation in honor of her son, Kyle who tragically lost his life to suicide as a sophomore in high school. Mike Bushman is author of the book Pain to Purpose. Pain to Purpose sheds light on Kyles life and details the way the J.Kyle Braid Foundation came to be.

Trigger Warning: This episode of The Made to Lead Podcast includes discussion of suicide, depression, mental health, and other topics that may be triggering for some listeners. If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicide crisis or emotional distress, please call The National Suicide Prevention lifeline at 800-273-8255. The hotline is available 24/7 toll free to anyone who calls. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

More resources for mental health are listed below

Other Resources for Immediate Mental Health Assistance:
Champaign County Crisis Line: (217)-359-4141
Emergency Medical Services: 911

Resources for Short Term Mental Health Support:
The Counseling Center at The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign - http://counselingcenter.illinois.edu/

* Please be aware that students will be referred to an outside community service after a certain number of appointments.

Resources for Long Term Mental Health Support:
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

Better Help: Betterhelp.com

Join Made to Lead host, Emily for an interview with Dr. Ben Lough of The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (The School of Social Work) about his experiences as a leader in the non-profit sector. 

"What can student employment teach us about leadership?"

Join host Emily Albert-Stauning as she interviews AJ Paramo, Greer Durham, and Bree Kazinski about their experiences with student employment and leadership at University of Illinois. 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

UIUC Job Board: 

https://osfa.illinois.edu/types-of-aid/employment/virtual-job-board/

Food insecurity Resources: 

https://www.disability.illinois.edu/campus-life/resources-food-insecurity

Resources for *students without an address ( otherwise known as homeless students) *term used to emphasis the person rather than the situation. 

https://champaignil.gov/emergency-shelters/

"What does leadership in business look like? What can student leaders do to join the business community? What is the relationship between leadership and commercial gain in business?"

Join Made to Lead host Emily Albert-Stauning for an interview with Meighan Newhouse CEO and Co-founder of the Inspirant Group Ms. Newhouse is an award winning business aficionado and UIUC alumna. Tune in to better understand leadership in business and how students best prepare themselves to be the leaders of tomorrow. 

This week on Made to Lead we ask the questions: "What does leadership look like in the arts? How does leadership vary in artistic disciplines? How does leadership impact the way artists tell stories? How do artists represent leadership in their work?"

Join Made to Lead host Emily Albert-Stauning as she interviews Assistant Professor Nisi Sturgis (School of Theater at University of Illinois and Award-Winning Actress)  Professor Sturgis had worked at professional theaters around the US (on Broadway and off Broadway) She has appeared on TV shows such as Boardwalk Empire and New Amsterdam. She also serves as a coach, director, and researcher. Tune in to gain prospective on leadership, storytelling, and what leaders can learn from artists. 

Join Made to Lead host Emily Albert-Stauning she explores the questions "How does stress impact our ability to lead? How can we "hack" our physical response to stress to remain calm under pressure? What are techniques and tools available to mange stress? When should we seek professional help for stress?" This episode features interview with Dr. Christopher Menard - Associate Professor of Psychology (Clinical) and leader of the "Mindful Teacher Program" For more information on accessing stress and mental health resources at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign please visit: http://counselingcenter.illinois.edu/ 

"How does one foster trust, respect, and productive when leading a group?" 

Join Emily Albert-Stauning for an Interview with Professor Micheal LeRoy (College of Labor and Employment Relations and College of Law at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign) as we explore this key question on episode 2 of the Made to Lead Podcast. 

Welcome to Season 3 of the Made to Lead Podcast brought to you by The Illinois Leadership Center at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Meet season 3 host Emily Albert-Stauning as she begs the questions "What is leadership? How does the world around us influence how we view leadership?"  For more information about the Illinois Leadership Center, please visit: https://leadership.illinois.edu/ Thanks for listening! 

In the finale episode of Season 2 of Made to Lead, Felicia closes out Season 2 by reflecting on her own perspectives on leadership, lessons she's learned this year, and answers three questions: "What advice would you give to someone looking to grow as a leader?" "Talk about a challenge or lesson you learned in a leadership role," and "What makes you believe you are made to lead?"  

In this episode of Made to Lead, Felicia is joined by Don Hardin, who was the Head Coach of the Illinois Women's Volleyball Team from 1996-2008. Don currently serves as a visiting lecturer in the Department of Recreation, Sports, and Tourism, where he teaches courses in leadership, ethics, coaching, and sport management. He is also a leadership coach and consultant with the Illinois Leadership Center. In this episode, Don shares what qualities make a good leader and what practices have led to his students' successes. Don talks about group dynamics and what he's discovered through his coaching career makes a good team. Finally, Don gives some advice on how to make the most of students' time at Illinois.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Felicia is joined by Santanu Rahman, the Co-Director and Head Instructor of the Austin Kung Fu Academy in Austin, Texas. Santanu is an alum of UIUC, who graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor's in Psychology and again in 2000 with a Master's in Higher Education Administration. Santanu discusses his work with the Austin Kung Fu Academy and how he fosters leadership development amongst his staff and students. He shares his past professional experience mentoring AAPI students as a Program Coordinator across a variety of university campuses. Finally, Santanu discusses how his leadership philosophy and practice has changed throughout the pandemic.

In this episode of the Made to Lead podcast, Felicia is joined by Tekita Bankhead, the Director of the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center (BNAACC) at UIUC. Tekita shares her experiences and challenges of being the first and/or only black woman in various leadership positions, what this entails, and how she's mastered her own leadership style. We expand on what representation in leadership really means and how we can actually foster long-lasting diversity and inclusion in the professional world. Finally, Tekita shares her creation of The Pedestal Project, an organization dedicated to uplifting black women in the community.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Felicia is joined by by Ali Morallos, a senior at UIUC studying International Business Management with a minor in Political Science. Ali is a member of the Women’s Golf Team, Philippine Student Association, President of the Illinois Sports Business Conference, and the Women’s Golf Representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Ali talks about how the pandemic has changed her leadership experiences, particularly what being a student athlete looks like now and how she has helped transition the Illinois Sports Business Conference to a virtual platform. Ali shares how her organizations have managed to stay connected, and she shares her insight on how we can be better leaders in times of uncertainty. 

In this episode of the Made to Lead podcast, Felicia is joined by Faith Brown, a senior at UIUC studying Dance with a minor in business as well as a certification in Yoga and Leadership Studies. Faith discusses her work establishing Fine and Applied Arts Black and the dance department's Black Advocacy Team, and she shares how these organizations have strived to uplift and strengthen the black arts community on campus. Faith talks about her perspectives on diversity and inclusion and how dance performance ties into these concepts. Finally, Faith shares her perspective on community-building and how the Illinois Leadership Certificate program has helped her achieve her leadership goals. 

In this episode of the Made to Lead podcast, Felicia is joined by Thomas Romanchek, a senior at UIUC studying Bioengineering, Psychology, and Political Science. Felicia talks to Thomas about his journey starting the Brain Matters Journal, a scientific research journal that covers topics on neuroscience, psychology, and biology. Thomas discusses about the challenges of starting a journal and developing neuroscience at the university. Thomas explains what leadership looks like in the STEM field and how he challenges stereotypes as an Engineering Ambassador. Finally, Thomas shares some advice about how to find students can find their passions and how to find courage and joy in the leadership process.

In this episode of the Made to Lead podcast, Felicia interviews Ali Mirza, a senior studying Political Science and Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Felicia and Ali talk about the importance of servant leadership and how it differs from society's traditional notions of what leadership looks like. Ali shares his experience applying this practice serving on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, how he envisions servant leadership fitting in with his future aspirations as a civil rights lawyer, and what inspires him to lead.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Felicia introduces herself as the new Season 2 host. She shares her leadership journey with the ILC, her mission for this season, and what future guests and leadership topics listeners can look forward to.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela concludes the first season of the podcast with a solo episode. In reflecting on what she has learned in her experience as the host of the Made to Lead podcast, in addition to her journey of exploring leadership and leadership education, she dives into why she believes leadership education matters and how her definition of leadership has evolved and grown over time. She opens up about the ILC Leadership Competencies of communication and global competence and their influence on what she brings to the table as a leader, tying them into her story of self-exploration and discovery throughout her time in academia. 

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews one the Pre-Professional Graduate Assistants for the Illinois Leadership Center, Bianca Lopez. In part two on her interview, Bianca walks us through her journey of student employment and how it has shaped her college experience, from community college to working on her Master's degree at UIUC. She opens up about the barriers she has had to overcome as a first-generation college student as they relate to employment, specifically comparison and imposter syndrome, and how they have shaped her personal and professional experiences.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews one of the Assistant Directors of the Illinois Leadership Center, Clair Bryan. In this interview, Clair and Michaela discuss all things Leadership Certificate Program, as Clair oversees this ILC program. In sharing a bit of her journey through higher education both as a student and a professional, Clair and Michaela talk about the importance of cultural competency and the role that it plays in growing as a leader.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews one the Pre-Professional Graduate Assistants for the Illinois Leadership Center, Amari Simpson. Throughout this conversation, Amari talks about the two ideas of sustainability and stewardship, tracing back their importance to his personal and professional growth throughout his time pursing higher education. In addition, Amari discusses how self-reflection, one of the ILC Leadership Competencies, has profoundly impacted the person he is today and shares some tips and strategies with our listeners on how to grow in their self-reflection skills.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews one of the Assistant Directors of the Illinois Leadership Center, Cherise Marks. As the Assistant Director who oversees I-Programs, Cherise gives a short synopsis of each I-Program offered through the ILC, describes how the programs run, and details what students can expect to get out of going to an I-Program. Cherise and Michaela discuss the transferrable skills students can attain through I-Programs and why those are important in building a professional portfolio of skills and abilities. Finally, they talk through the ILC leadership competency of self-knowledge and why it is important to Cherise and her story.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews one of the Assistant Directors of the Illinois Leadership Center, Marcus Kelley. In this episode, Michaela and Marcus talk about the Clifton Strengths assessment, which is a key component of Marcus' role as an ILC Assistant Director. Marcus and Michaela talk about the process of discovering your talents and strengths, why knowing your strengths is important, and how you can use them to grow as a leader. In addition, they discuss the ILC leadership competency of self-reflection as it relates to knowing your strengths, in addition to why it is generally important to engage in self-reflection for your personal and professional growth.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews one of the Illinois Leadership Center Faculty Fellows, Dr. V Chunoo. Dr. Chunoo is an Assistant Professor for ALEC at UIUC; his ILC research proposal and project focuses on cultural responsiveness to leadership, namely in the classroom. By investigating how classroom instructors utilize their resources and specific teaching practices, Dr. Chunoo aims to find out how professors handle, manage, and consider their student’s perspectives on leadership in the classroom. Building on this topic, we discuss the importance of accessible leadership and why diversity education and leadership matters.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews one the Pre-Professional Graduate Assistants for the Illinois Leadership Center, Bianca Lopez. In part one of this interview, Bianca speaks about the work she does in overseeing the Education team for the ILC, which involves managing workshop requests, workshop facilitation, and curriculum design. Bianca discusses her favorite workshop, Dare to Lead, and highlighting the importance of vulnerability in leadership. In addition, Michaela and Bianca dive into the ILC leadership competencies of openness and innovation; Bianca explains why these competencies are so important to her and the professional development she has seen by embracing openness and innovation.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews Dr. Chadly Stern, one of the Illinois Leadership Center Faculty Fellows. Dr. Chadly Stern is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and his ILC research proposal and project focuses on the mental images that individuals create of leaders and the impact these images have on individual's personal perceptions of leadership. Michaela and Dr. Stern discuss the lack of diversity in leadership and the impact that has on how we as a society understand leadership on an individual and global scale. 

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews Dr. Gayle Spencer, the Director of the Illinois Leadership Center. They take a deep dive into the history of the ILC and discover how the Center came to be what it is today. In addition, Michaela and Gayle discuss the ILC Leadership Competencies and Model, how each came into existence, and why they are so important to what they ILC does and how they do it.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela interviews Dr. Jasmine Collins, one of the Illinois Leadership Center Faculty Fellows. Dr. Collins is an Assistant Professor in the College of ACES, teaching specifically undergraduate courses in the Organizational and Community Leadership concentration. Her current research proposal and project focuses on the campus racial climate in the digital age; Dr. Collins aims to understand how students' race-related experiences and observations both on-campus and online shape their overall campus experience.  Touching on her personal and professional background, Dr. Collins and Michaela talk about why Dr. Collins is passionate about this research and the implications it could have on universities across the country.

In this episode of Made to Lead, Michaela introduces how the podcast came to be.  Through responses from the Illinois Leadership Center staff, she explores the question of, “why does leadership education matter?” and explains the 'why' behind this podcast.

Welcome to the Made to Lead Podcast, brought to you by the Illinois Leadership Center at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. We want to unleash your leadership potential, because the world needs better leaders.