Arcadia University Athletics

The Leadership Circle is an annual, cohort-based leadership development program that provides touchpoints that highlight leadership strategies and practices for those who have a formal leadership role on their team. As participants in a signature program in the department, student-athletes get to explore ideas and concepts, and individually assess how they can make them better leaders, mentors, and role models on their own teams. The Leadership Circle is a program geared towards unpacking effective athletic/team performance, and content centers around what it takes to establish a culture of high achieving athletic performance. Student-athletes also meet, bond with, and establish a support group with other team leaders. Participation is open to student-athletes from all teams who are nominated by an internal committee of coaches and staff members. 200 student-athletes have participated in the program since its creation in 2021.
 
2024-25 Leadership Circle: By the numbers

• 53 student-athletes earned a certificate of recognition for successfully completing the program
• 26 sport programs represented
• 100% of participants agree: “Participating in this program has helped me grow as a leader”
• 100% of participants agree: “Participating in this program has empowered me to contribute to my team’s success”
• 100% of participants agree: “I would recommend this program to peers.”*

"I learned about my own strengths as a leader and the skills I bring to my team. I learned valuable lessons through our group discussions. I felt that it was very important to hear from other leaders from other teams and how they choose to handle challenges within their designated teams. It gives a sense of relief knowing that all teams face positives and negatives and that we are all working together to create a strong environment."

- Survey Respondent
 
"Participating in the Leadership Circle provided me with the ability to become more confident and patient in myself as a leader as well as working with my fellow teammates. I learned how to approach others who don't learn the same way as I do. This is important as there are many women on my team trying to achieve the same thing, just through different pathways. I also became more confident in my skills as a leader. I realized that every person has a voice and it is important to hear everyone person out so they know they are heard and supported."

- Survey Respondent

"The impact it had on our team through the season is indescribable. I think that it has help our team in ways we can’t always pinpoint. We were able to build a closer relationship mid season because of something we learned through the session and I plan to carry this with me into my senior season as a captain."
 
- Survey Respondent

*These statistics and quotes have been gathered from a post-program survey that all 2024-25 Leadership Circle participants were invited to complete