Welcoming the 2022 SIC Challenge leads
Get to know our new Leads for the 2022 Social Innovation Challenge!
In preparation for the upcoming year’s SIC, five dedicated Support Team Members recently took on new roles as Challenge Leads. We look forward to their leadership next fall as they guide the organizing team in putting on a phenomenal program for our 11th Cohort of Social Innovators. We would love to give a warm welcome to Adele, George, Jonathan, Mara, and Connor!
George
Business with Community Action & Social Change Minor, Class of 2024
Co-President
Why did you want to join the leadership team?
I want to inspire others just as the previous leadership team inspired me. I've always been so interested in the crossover between business and social impact, and through optiMize, I'm learning how to make that crossover a reality in my everyday life.
How do you hope to grow while you’re in this role? optiMize creates such a mindful space at all of their meetings, and I want to learn how to bring that mindfulness into small moments throughout my day.
What are you excited for this year? I'm really excited for all the new project teams of course (fingers crossed for some sustainability ones)! But most importantly, I'm excited for all of the amazing impacts I'm going to witness from the previous cohort.
What would the title of your autobiography be? Controlled Chaos
Adele
Cognitive Science with Urban Studies & Entrepreneurship Minor, Class of 2024
Co-President
Why did you join optiMize? I joined optiMize because I was looking for an entrepreneurial community on campus. What I found within optiMize was so much more. I have loved meeting people with all types of interests, and am always left inspired by the passion and optimism that everyone in optiMize has for their work, and for the community as a whole.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I look forward to supporting the challenge lead team and working with SIC teams to grow their ideas. I hope to learn from my fellow challenge leads, the SIC project teams, and the rest of the optiMize community about innovation and social impact.
What would the title of your autobiography be? Adele: Not the Singer
Jonathan
Business Administration, Class of 2024
Community and Organizational Culture
Why did you want to join the leadership team? Being on support team, I saw first-hand the commitment and dedication the leadership team shows the participants of the SIC. Being a part of the leadership team allows me to further my impact on both the organization and the student projects.
What impact do you hope to make on the organization? I hope to further cultivate the amazing culture at optiMize. I'm looking to expand upon optiMize's work to make every team member and participant feel like family. Additionally, I'm looking to further help create an inclusive environment for everyone, whether they are joining sessions online or in-person.
What would the title of your autobiography be? Living Off Coffee
Mara
Political Science, Class of 2024
Creative
Why did you join optiMize? I love helping people and seeing them succeed. Whether it’s giving my friends a ride, sharing my notes with a classmate, or pointing project teams towards the resources they need to launch their idea. Seeing the joy on everyone’s faces whenever they achieve a goal is something that optiMize consistently facilitates for me and I’m so glad I am where I am today thanks to it.
What do you hope to get out of the experience? I hope to learn how to create and maintain an enjoyable and fulfilling work environment. I want to be the glue to a successful, purpose-driven team of people who are constantly motivated by their passion for an organization we all love so much.
What would the title of your autobiography be? The Life of a Dairy Addict
Connor
Business, Class of 2024
Mentorship
Why did you want to join the leadership team? I love the idea of working with a passionate team that is dedicated to making the optiMize experience better for everyone. The optiMize mission is empowering and being a part of this family couldn't be better.
What are you excited for this year? I'm excited to be around the optiMize community more, especially as we continue making progress on hybrid/virtual events! Also, I look forward to growing personally and professionally in an environment where everyone is so supportive.
What would the title of your autobiography be? Friends, Family, and Flicks
Our new Social Innovation Leads are excited to get to know and work with everyone! Join us in welcoming them to the community!