Hi, I am Lily, a business student at the University of Washington with a minor in Leadership.

My background lies in STEM education, health advocacy, and nonprofit fundraising; thus, I strive to find the intersection between business and areas like science, arts & culture, and leadership development.

I’m dedicated to pursuing a career that focuses on the ripple effect authentic connections can have on progressive change. It all starts with building meaningful relationships and fostering collaboration.

In my day to day life you can find me exploring a new museum, engulfed in my astronomy lecture, drawing in my sketchbook, or at a rock concert.

When I think of my why -- as in, why do I do what I do -- I often think why not?

Why not take a class on astronomy, rush a business fraternity and find a community, speak in front of a crowd, go to a music fesitval, travel abroad, make mistakes, talk to someone new, take risks, give a compliment, advocate for change, make art, fight against health inequities, share memories with family and friends, and so much more?

There are places to be explored, connections to be made, ideas to be challenged, and a lifetime of experiences to be had.

Philosophy

What does leadership mean to you?

Like many things, I’ve learned that leadership is very fluid. Our paths are never linear, and leadership is truly in the eye of the beholder. To me leadership means being adaptable, empathetic, and open-minded, recognizing that every individual brings unique strengths and perspectives to the table. True leadership involves continuous learning and growth, and the courage to take risks and make decisions that align with core values and principles. Leadership is a journey, not a destination, and it evolves with each experience and challenge faced along the way.

What are key principles of effective leadership?

Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes; but, personally, I believe some common themes and essential principles of effective leadership are gratitude, network, and impact.

Gratitude: Often overlooked, gratitude is a cornerstone of effective leadership. By expressing genuine appreciation for the efforts and contributions of others, leaders foster a positive and motivating environment. Gratitude encourages a culture of recognition and respect, and also a practice of crucial self-reflection. When leaders show gratitude, they build trust and loyalty, with both themselves and those around them, creating a solid foundation for growth.

Network: Yes, a very business-major thing to say; however, I do believe that networking is important and possesses a scope beyond just pure professional motives/goals. An effective leader understands how to leverage their network to make impactful change. A diverse network is crucial because hearing different perspectives, understanding various points of view, and adapting to new environments creates insightful and empathetic leaders.

Impact: Leadership is a two-way street, and to practice leadership means to be both impactful and impacted. As a leader, you are a role model, a changemaker, and a visionary. But you are also a listener, a learner, and an adapter. Effective leaders acknowledge that there are always areas for growth and that impact can go in so many different directions.

How has your understanding of leadership evolved over time?

I used to boast about having a very open definition and understanding of what leadership meant. I knew that anyone could be a leader and that these leaders come from many diverse backgrounds. And while I could talk the talk, I struggled to walk the walk. For a long time, I considered myself an inadequate leader because I wasn’t the most outspoken person in the room. I am reserved, an introvert, and a listener. All traits I thought great leaders didn’t emphasize.

As time progressed, I am grateful to have had crucial experiences, supportive mentors, and a substantial amount of self-reflection to help expand my understanding of leadership. I now know that leadership is stylistic and situational. And most importantly, it’s boundless. There’s no such thing as a perfect leader. Instead, it’s about how individuals leverage their traits, and the traits of those around them, to their advantage.

I’ve learned that my reserved nature allows me to listen deeply and empathize genuinely with others. My introversion has given me the ability to think critically and reflect thoroughly before making decisions. And I’ve discovered that leadership doesn’t always have to be about being at the forefront. Sometimes, the most powerful leaders are those who empower others quietly from behind the scenes. They are the ones who recognize the potential in others and provide the support and encouragement needed for them to shine.

Delta Sigma Pi is the nation's largest and first co-ed professional business fraternity that encourages the personal and professional development of individuals pursuing careers in business. It has played a key role in my college experience and has provided me with a community to call family.

I joined DSP’s Sigma Upsilon Chapter in my first quarter at UW, and it has seen me through every step of my collegiate journey. I’ve been able to take advantage of the plethora of experiences DSP has to offer. As a freshman, I was able to connect with upperclassmen whom I could call mentors and friends. In my sophomore year, I took on the role of VP Fundraising and had the opportunity to get creative, lead fundraising intatives of all sorts, and spread the word about DSP to the wider community. Going into my junior year I’m excited to give back by serving as the chapter’s President and continously building strong relationships with my brothers.

Productive Relationships

Interpersonal Interaction

Productive relationships truly are the backbone of this organization. We have so many mantras, traditions, and practices that emphasize this idea. And our culture is built on the act of cultivating strong, productive relationships between the members.

Both personally and professionally, I know I can lean on my brothers when I need help. Whether that means career-advice, academic support, or builidng personal connections, each relationship within DSP is built with care and intentionality.

Personal Contributions

Self Awareness & Development

“My ceiling is your floor” is a common phrase we share to highlight our emphasis on support and mentorship, as well as giving back. We want to leave DSP better than we found it by giving back.

DSP has been an outlet where I have been especially engaged in giving back to the community. Through planning and hosting fundraising events, representing our chapter at national conferences, and now serving as the President, I am proud of my contributions to the chapter. Furthermore, I’m eager to continue leaving an impact on this incredibly special community.

LEAD 100: Learning Leadership in Theory and Practice, is the first foundational course of the undergraduate Leadership minor, where my academic-focused leadership origins began. While I had practiced leadership in various capacities, LEAD 100 completely transformed the way I approached leadership. Learning about theory challenged my biases and expanded my perspective.

When I was asked to fill a teaching assistant role for the course I was both excited and nervous. It was an incredibly rewarding learning experience. I saw so much growth in my confidence and facilitation skills as I practiced leading class workshops and giving constructive feedback on assignments. Most notably it taught me how to build meaningful connections with the students in the class. I was put in a supportive, mentoring position, which I was quick to embrace.

Listening

Communication

The class is all about using theory to reflect on our individual leadership journies. Given this context, it was my job as a TA to listen to the stories and reflection of the students. Both inside class during discussions and presentations, and outside of class while grading reflections and papers. I had many opporutnities to practice active and intetional listening.

With effective listening I saw that I could be a more supportive resource. Moreover, each story I heard from class was inspiring, and each insight impacted my outlooks.

Mentoring

Interpersonal Interaction

As an underclassman this was one of my first opportunities to be a mentor to others. I especially enjoyed getting to know the students through their reflections and classtime and sharing my own insights and advice with them.

I also made an effort to share other leadership opportunities I knew about on campus and encouraged students to engage with these programs and events. I was excited to see students take advantage of these opportunities, follow up with me, and ask me further questions.

My first class at the University of Washington was the Early Fall Start class ART 131: Alternative Approaches to Art and Design. In this class, we explored various experiences of public space through art, together as a class. We noticed how each of our experiences, while shared, carried different perspectives. We explored where we each lived, and investigated how our actions, such as touring Seattle and viewing public art, can become art itself.

This class was unlike any I have previously taken. This class was meant to offer the opposite experience of a typical university class - a mobile class that kept us on the move most days and completely changed my outlook on art, the world, and myself.

Reflection & Application

Learning & Reasoning

This class challenged my notion of reflecting on my past, present, and future, and how they can all intersect. We discussed how our definition of art has shifted throughout our lives and how we will continue to shape it in the future.

A big aspect of the class was the exploration of Seattle, and we were tasked with traveling through our various destinations with a creative, unique, and reflective lens. We documented our journies through videos, photos, journal entries, voice memos, souveniers, and more. We went against the norm and applied our innovative ideas to each assignment.

Vision

Strategic Planning

Our final in the class was completely student organized and led. Our professor told us to channel our vision of what this class meant to us and come up with a final that we felt fulfilled this vision. While it was a very vague request, it was a call to action and my classmates and I were eager to bring our vision to life.

We created an interactive journey for our professor in the form of a scavenger hunt. Students were stationed at each location that he had previously taken us to where he shared stories with us. As we went to each stop more and more students added on. By the end we had led him to a mural we created for him, and with all the student together we presented him with a message of gratitude.

As an avid astronomy nerd, this was one of my absolute favorite courses I have taken at the UW. It was a course where we learned how to use the UW planetarium and curate a personalized astronomy talk using this software.

Through my talk my goal was to invoke the awe that sparks when looking up into the sky and wondering, are we alone in the universe? The concept of alien life has captivated humanity for centuries and saturates our popular culture. As an alien enthusiast myself, I wanted to discuss the search for life in the universe with a scientific lens, while also acknowledging the fictional aspect that people know and love. I thought it was important to keep that twinge of magic that accompanies discussing extraterrestrials while also channeling that awe into the scientific facts.

Verbal Communication

Communication

“An estimated 100 billion galaxies are in the universe, home to an unimaginable abundance of planets! So, what are the odds we are really alone? The search for extraterrestrial life has captivated our imaginations for decades and we strive to answer one of the most fundamental questions in human history: are we alone in the universe?”

This is an excerpt from my final presentation and highlights my enthusiasm I aimed to convey through my verbal communication. In a presentation like this one, it’s crucial to use verbal communication to spark inspiration and tap into the audience’s curiousity.

Follow-Through

Personal Behavior

During one of my busiest quarters, this talk was something I had to stay on top of and follow through with. It was up to us individually to practice using the software, set up time to do trial runs in the actual planetarium, and practice our talk before sharing it with the class.

On top of this it was crucial that I follow-through with my research to present my topic effectively. I couldn’t have done it without the encouragement and constructive feedback from my peers and instructors. This experience also further encouraged me to stay engaged with the UW Astronomy department and follow through on my goal to continue fueling my curiousity for the cosmos.

The Undergraduate Business Council is the umbrella organization for the Foster School of Business. It oversees and supports all Foster RSO’s, and represent Foster to the greater community. We aim to cultivate a diverse and inclusive community that thrives on student involvement within the Foster School.

My role in UBC as VP of Community Engagement has been one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had in the business school. The flexible, engaging and creative nature of the role allowed me to give back to the community through events and do so while meeting other student leaders from various student organizations. On top of that working with the incredible UBC team was a truly transformative and inspiring experience.

Collaboration

Interpersonal Interaction

As the VP of Community Engagement it was only natural that I discuss collaboration. During my time I implemented the “Foster Frenzy” which was a weekly tabling event in collaboration with another RSO where we would hand out upcoming event information and community building materials, along with other swag and treats.

Furthermore, internally, while each board member has their assigned role, a big part of UBC is collaborating with each other and helping out when needed. Ultimately, UBC is built on the idea of collaboration and it plays a huge role in its mission and vision.

Others’ Contributions

Interpersonal Interaction

UBC is unique because unlike other student organizations it is a small board responsible for supporting the wider Foster School community. Although we have different responsibilities we acknowledge the accomplishments of each team member as an accomplishment of the overall team. This goes hand in hand with our emphasis on collaboration.

We also work hard to spotlight and acknowledge others’ contributions. We celebrate our RSOs through various events including an end of the year Spotlight Dinner Celebration

“The intersection of ideas, the overlapping of concepts, and the reflection that can come when we are faced with a dilemma.” The TEDxUofW Team is committed to ideas worth spreading and it was an incredible experience to have supported the culmination of the 2023-2024 conference: CROSSROADS.

As a member of the logistics and production team, it was an invaluable experience to gain more event planning skills and work closely with the amazing student-led team. The dedication and passion that everyone brought truly made this event memorable.

Plan

Strategic Planning

On the logistics and production team our plan of action was essential. In fact, our entire year’s work was to create an effective plan for the conference. Our scope stretched from pre-event preparation, to day-of run of show, to post-event reflection. Throughout the entire process it was crucial to maintain clear communication and collaboration among all team members.

Reflecting on the journey, it was clear that our dedication, teamwork, and meticulous planning were the keys to our success. The conference not only achieved its goals but also strengthened our bond as a team, setting a high standard for the future.

Inclusion

Civic Responsibility

One of our overarching goals as an organization is to be an inclusive space, providing a platform for leaders to share their ideas worth spreading. Our lineup of speakers was nothing short of phenomenal. From Professor Chirag Shah’s insights on intelligent information access systems to Emily Lago Anderson's mission to eradicate the racial equity gap in tech, each speaker brought a unique perspective and left us all inspired.

Jeff Nguyen's work with BobaTalks, Nash Fung's empowering magic, Dr. Noha Polack’s advocacy for positive body image, and Dr. Zarya Rubin, MD’s expertise in functional medicine all reflected the versatile theme and added inspiration to the event.

MGMT 300 is one of the Foster School of Business requirements and focuses on how managers become effective leaders. Through the class, we examine the basic principles of managing people and make use of theories that transcend the workplace, including the psychology of individual and group behavior.

There is a large emphasize on leadership, strategic thinking, team building, and performance, and these themes are interwoven into the class activities. This class quickly became one of my favorite classes despite being a required course.

Watch our final presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x6TTldzfMg

Organizational Behavior

Group Dynamics

The entire curriculum of this class was focused on examining organizational behavior, espeically in the work place. We completed both individual and group projects, linside and outside of class that supported our learning of organizational behavior.

Overall, the curriculum was comprehensive and thoughtfully designed, equipping us with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and thrive in diverse organizational environments.

Analysis

Learning & Reasoning

Our assessment was often based off of analysis in this class, especially within our final projects. Thus, we practiced analysis in most aspects of the class. Whether that meant analyzing a case study to identify OB theory, or conducting analysis of the data that we collect on EMT burnout rates, we really honed in on analysis during this course.

MGMT 320 is known as the “Business Ethics” course of the Foster School and focuses on the political, social, and legal environment of business. In the class, we looked at critical managerial issues from historical, theoretical, and ethical perspectives and their impact on organizations. We also explored corporate political power, capitalism, industrial policy, and corporate social responsibility.

A key part of our course was the Boeing case study that our class specially conducted. Each year our professor, Tod Bergstrom, puts together an extensive case, bringing in a plethora of outside materials and resources including many incredible guest speakers. During this time we heard about the Boeing 737 Max case and uncovered how business, government, and society played a role in the tragedy.

Social Responsibility

Civic Responsibility

The overall mission of this class was to emphasize the importance of social responsibility, especially as we enter our careers in the corporate world. I think my course was built out in a way that achieved this effectively. The content presented all led to themes and lessons that surrounded this idea that it is extremely important to acknowledge the social responsibility that we possess and have to uphold as leaders, especially business leaders.

Others’ Perspectives

Learning & Reasoning

During this course we had a number of guest speakers take the time to speak to our class and share their perspective on the Boeing 737 Max case. We were able to hear their ancedotes and begin to piece together a larger narrative. At the same time it was important to acknowledge that each speaker was sharing their personal perspective, which had its own biases attached to it. Ultimately, it was extremely valuable to hear from all of these individuals and practice understanding and navigating others’ perspectives.

The American Heart Association has been a huge part of my life over the past years. I began my as a high school volunteer for the Denver office, helping them with event planning logistics for the annual CycleNation fundraiser and Go Red for Women Luncheon. After my involvement, my supervisor nominated me to lead my own fundraising campaign with the AHA and compete for the title of Teen of Impact. During my 9-week campaign, I rallied the support of my friends and family and raised over $24,000 in support of women’s cardiovascular health. I went on to serve as a mentor for my close friend Isabella, who led her own Teen of Impact campaign the following year.

I returned to supporting the Denver office by interning with the AHA team to support their STEM Goes Red Conference which works to engage more women in STEM by giving students access to leading experts to get an insider look at what they do.

More recently I was named an AHA EmPOWERED to Serve Scholar recognizing me as a change agent dedicated to improving health outcomes and reduce disparities in my community. This granted me the incredible opportunity to travel to Philadelphia to attend the largest cardiovascular research conference, Scientific Sessions, as well as a scholar-led research symposium in Dallas.

Service

Civic Responsibility

Mission

Strategic Planning

Service is a core value of the American Heart Association and a value that really connects me to the organization. Service encompasses a unique relationship within communities to give back and serve for the betterment of others. This ultimately led me towards pursuing a career in non profit based business as I am fascinated by the strategic networking that influences fundraising, community building, and service efforts.

Working with the American Heart Association has given me the opportunity to adopt its mission and carry it out. It states, “Health and hope for everyone, everywhere.” Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, but women, especially women of color, are underrepresented in cardiovascular research. I haven’t been directly impacted by cardiovascular disease, but why should I wait to care? I adopted the mission of being proactive and agreed to lead my fundraising campaign for the AHA’s Go Red for Women initiative. This experience taught me that my actions should reflect my dedication to a cause. During my time with the AHA I have worked to understand what the organization stands for and how to fight against health inequities in my own community.

The Foster Leadership Academy is a leadership certificate program partnering with UW Athletics where students engage in leadership experiences and reflect on their leadership journey through the lens of Authentic Leadership. Through fireside chats and workshops with community leaders, students engaged with the four pillars of authentic leadership: moral/ethical perspective, transparency, balanced processing, and self-awareness.

From being a member of the 2022-2023 cohort to leading the 2023-2024 academy alongside the incredible FLA team, my authentic leadership journey has been nothing short of transformative. I’m proud to reflect on my personal growth within this program. The opportunity to develop valuable public speaking, facilitation, and listening skills has been truly rewarding.

Synthesis

Learning & Reasoning

My job as student coordinator required me to organize and host events and leadership fireside chats, where I would interview guest speakers and synthesize themes of authentic leadership throughout the conversation. I was ultimatley in charge of leading the speaker chats and presenting the workshops to ensure that authentic leadership concepts were interwoven along the way.

Group Development

Group Dynamics

The goal of the program was to introduce students to the theory and practice of authentic leadership. After every session students were tasked with writing reflections tieing their thoughts back to one of the pillars of authentic leadership. Furthermore, the FLA curriculum had leadership action challenges and an overall final reflection that encouraged students to continue their self development in the program.

As the student coordinator it was my job to share my own self development with the program and encourage the joint group development of the cohort.

The MGMT 440 course covers fundamental concepts of consulting while partnering with

businesses in underserved communities to utilize technology to improve business operations. I truly learned so much from this course, especially through facing failure, mistakes, and opportunities for growth.

Our team worked closely with and assisted our clients, International Examiner, a news media nonprofit. We focused in on solving their technical and developmental challenges by presenting a written and oral recommendation outlining the comparison of CRM fundraising software options. Ultimately, we delivered an extensive implementation timeline to aid in the set-up of the Little Green Light CRM software.

Collaboration

Interpersonal Interaction

Collaboration was a common theme throughout this engagement. Our group of four quickly learned to collaborate with each other often to complete our deliverables.

We also collaborated closely with International Examiner, as we gained insights into their operations and strategic goals. This allowed us to tailor our solutions to meet their specific needs and drive impactful results. On top of that, we collaborated with mentors from consulting firms who provided us with guidance and industry best practices.

Initiative

Personal Behavior

I had little knowledge of consulting before this course, which is exactly why I wanted to try it out. Turns out the rest of my team was in the same boat as me. Immediately, we were thrown into the deep end and I felt like we were sinking. We were struggling to gain clarity on what was expected of us and we had a client to uphold a relationship with.

Despite being the youngest on the team, I took initative to fill a leadership role in our team. I set up meetings, communicated with our clients, mentors, and instructors, and took the time to do outside research on how a consulting engagement runs.

As a member of the Hovind Global Leaders cohort, I had the privilege of embarking on an unforgettable journey to Rome, Italy. I will never forget exploring this beautiful city with my fellow HGLs. Throughout the year, we forged lifelong friendships and made unforgettable memories. During our time in Rome, we had the honor of visiting influential institutions that are shaping global dialogue and action including the U.S. Embassy, the World Food Programme, and Deloitte Rome.

I am immensely grateful to our program directors Christina Fong and Eileen Guo for their unconditional support and encouragement. To my mentor Uyen Cao for her invaluable guidance throughout the program. To my inspiring and remarkable friends within the cohort. And, of course, to the Hovind family for believing in us and advocating for this transformative experience.

Diversity

Civic Responsibility

Diversity is a key component of the HGL program as it brings together a diverse cohort of students. We practice sharing our diverse perspectives through discussion, dialogue, and debate. Beyond being a diverse community we learned about diversity within leadership during our classtime. We covered topics like representation, cultural appropriation, intersectionality, and much more.

These discussions were not only enlightening but also empowering, as they provided us with the tools to recognize and address biases and systemic inequalities. The HGL program truly emphasized that diversity is not just about differences, but about leveraging those differences to create a richer, more innovative, and equitable space.

Self-Development

Self-Awareness & Development

The HGL program focuses in on self-development through looking at our intercultural competency. The beauty of the year-long nature of the program is that we had two quarter to prepare, our study abroad, and then one quarter to return and reflect on our growth. At the beginning of the year we took the IDI Assessment which asessed our individual intercultural competency. I scored within the minimization phase, which means I often focus on similarities and diffuse differences when engaging with an unfamiliar culture. By the end of the program, we took the assessment again, and I had exhbited substaintal growth toward the acceptance stage, understanding, accepting, and embracing differences that I encounter.

Leadership E-Portfolio

lilykasic@gmail.com

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