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The Bow
Building Leaders for Life Since our founding, Pi Phis have encouraged and empowered one another as confident women leaders. Our Fraternity provides a space for members to practice and expand their leadership skills through officer and volunteer roles, as well as innovative programming and events. At Pi Beta Phi Leadership Institute, collegians explore their leadership capabilities as they learn to drive change. The four-day immersive experience provides young leaders with the tools to make change in themselves, their campuses and their communities— all while connecting with Pi Phis who inspire and challenge them. While the primary focus of the event is supporting emerging collegiate leaders, Leadership Institute offers an impactful development opportunity for the alumnae volunteer facilitators who lead small-group discussions and activities. Sessions on vision, communication, collaboration, relationship building, resiliency and confidence resonate with women along every step of their personal leadership journey. Below, some of this year’s alumnae facilitators share their reflections on the event and what they gained from the experience.
South Dakota Alpha ALISON PILGRIM For me, Leadership Institute was another opportunity to give back to an organization that has given me so much, and to support the newest generation of Pi Phis. I expected to enjoy my time working with our collegians and was not disappointed—our newest members continue to impress me every day with their intelligence, ambition and kindness. What I hadn’t expected was the opportunity to bond with other Pi Phi alumnae in a way that’s completely different from alumnae club activities or serving on an Alumnae Advisory Committee. I learned about my own competencies as a leader and identified some areas I could develop further. Digging into the topic of confidence was particularly impactful. It’s relevant for women of all ages—I’ve had those imposter syndrome moments myself—but it was especially gratifying to see our collegians open up about what positively or negatively impacts their confidence. I hope they all left Leadership Institute with the tools to achieve their purpose and the drive to keep finding new goals to pursue. My Pi Phi cup was filled just by being around other passionate and driven sisters. Our whole Halo Huddle (small group) is still in contact—we follow each other on social media and talk in our GroupMe chat. I especially loved working with my facilitation partner, California Nu RAINEY LYNCH, who I’d first met during the 2019-2020 academic year when she visited the chapter I advised while serving as a Leadership Development Consultant.
Alison (front row, right) and her co-facilitator Rainey (back row, left) with her Halo Huddle small group at Pi Beta Phi Leadership Institute at Washington University in St. Louis.