The most enlightening lessons I have learned while participating in the Olin/United Way Board Fellows Program with the American Diabetes Association are the opportunity to gain a different perspective on the term “return on investment” and insight into the true meaning of the word “leadership”.

Guest Blogger: Jessica Germanese, MBA’16

As an MBA student, I tend to think of the success of business initiatives in terms of money invested compared to the resulting financial reward. Members of non-profit governing boards typically do make a financial contribution to the organization but the real investments are time and a deep commitment to the mission of the agency. Everyone who serves on the board of the American Diabetes Association is genuinely committed to the mission of the organization, which is to cure diabetes and improve the lives of those who have diabetes. The mission is at the center of all decisions and the “return on the investment” is the enormous impact the agency’s programs have on the health of the community.

The board members of the America Diabetes Association have also taught me what it means to be a leader. Leadership is not about titles, money, status or accomplishments. It is about influencing others to do the right thing and translating a vision into action through motivating others to work toward a common goal. The American Diabetes Association and its board members do this every day through research, education and generating awareness about Diabetes.

The opportunity to serve on a non-profit board is an invaluable opportunity for any MBA student who is committed to impacting the community while developing the leadership skills necessary to be an impactful leader throughout his or her career and I highly recommend the experience!