Leadership Tips for Graduate Students: Leading Without a Title
Blender Muzvondiwa is a doctoral student in UAlbany’s Doctor of Public Health program. In this blog, she shares her first-hand experience and tips to develop leadership skills as a graduate student.
“Being a leader doesn’t require a title. Having a title doesn’t make you one.”
These powerful words were shared by the Executive Deputy Commissioner of Health in New York State, Johanne Morne during the “Principles of Healthcare Organization and Management” class I was enrolled in. As the President of the College of Integrated Health Sciences’ (CIHS) Graduate Student Organization (GSO), these words have become like fire in my bones. They reshaped how I view leadership, especially in the context of service. Throughout my life’s journey, I have occupied many leadership positions and encountered numerous friendships, people, and creeds. Nevertheless, I have realized that leadership is about showing up, serving others, and doing the work passionately, no matter your formal role. Titles may come and go, but the heart of true leadership lies in selfless action.
What Leadership Really Means
Often graduate students wait for a title or role to lead but that can hold you back. If you truly care about something, act; no one can bring you forward but yourself. Whether you’re in a formal leadership position or not, your commitment to service and your mission will speak volumes. You don’t need to have all the answers. The willingness to collaborate, learn, and share with others will help you grow. This is especially relevant in the GSO president role, where leadership is about actively driving initiatives and building lasting collaborations. With this mindset, I have inspired many students to step into leadership and contribute meaningfully, regardless of their formal position.
Where to Start?
Leadership can start anywhere - within your family, community, school, or workplace. The key is to embrace opportunities for growth, no matter where they arise.
How to begin:
As a the GSO president, I have found that students approach me with questions that extend beyond the confines of CIHS. This has taught me the importance of being prepared to offer mentorship and to be deeply organized in all I do.
In this role, I know that I represent a group of incredible individuals, each with unique talents and aspirations. I must honor their potential by understanding their needs, values, and struggles while showing empathy in every interaction. There was one moment when a student approached me and asked, “How are you so organized? How do you do it?” That question stopped me in my tracks because it made me realize how much this role has shaped me. It is a true privilege to serve, and moments like these highlight the profound impact that leadership can have - not just on the people you lead, but on you as well.
Since becoming president, I’ve learned the value of cultivating others to become dynamic, adaptable, and distinct. As I help them grow, I am constantly reminded that leadership is not just about giving direction, but about fostering a space for others to find their own voice and potential. This process has challenged me to always embody humility, loyalty, enthusiasm, and creativity - qualities I continue to develop and refine with every day I serve.
Above all, I’ve learned that leadership means breaking new ground and exploring fresh ideas. It’s easy to fall into the trap of tradition, but as president, I’ve realized the importance of embracing change and establishing new paths, even when the way forward feels uncertain. My actions and my authenticity are my strongest tools in this journey, and I strive to let them speak louder than any title or position ever could. Serving future leaders is a responsibility I don’t take lightly, and in doing so, I continue to learn and grow alongside those I lead.
Key Message
Leadership is about the difference you make and how you inspire others to do the same.