Rockefeller Leadership Fellow: Taylor Ng ’17

This series introduces the 2016-2017 Rockefeller Leadership Fellows. Each fellow reflects on why he or she wanted to be a part of the program and what aspects of leadership most interests them.

I strongly believe that leadership is an active process rather than just a title. I am always interested in learning more about how individuals can lead in an effective manner from untitled leadership positions without driving a wedge between themselves and those in titled leadership positions. Although I have held several leadership positions at Dartmouth, I have had few opportunities prior to RLF to critically reflect on what leadership means to me, on the effectiveness of my leadership style, and on how differing methods of leadership can prove equally effective in diverse team environments.

I have developed my leadership skills as an Economics Tutor, as a member of the Dartmouth Women's Tennis team, as Interim Director of Big Green Readers, and as Treasurer of Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority. I have learned the most as the founder of a program I recently developed that connects Dartmouth student-athlete mentors with elementary school students in Canaan, New Hampshire to promote health and wellness. Through this position, I learned that leadership entails not just supporting those around you but also knowing when to ask for help. At the start of the program's development, I took on more responsibility than I could handle efficiently, but as I delegated greater responsibilities to my peers on the project development team, I learned that a huge part of leadership entails identifying when you need help and taking action.

Taylor Ng '17 grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High School. At Dartmouth, Taylor is a double major in Economics and Anthropology. She has performed research for the Department of Economics through the Presidential Scholars Program and has worked as an Economics Tutor through the Academic Skills Center for the past two years. She previously served as Interim Director of Big Green Readers and is currently Treasurer of Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority, Founder and Director of the Dartmouth-Canaan Wellness Program, and a member of the Dartmouth Women's Tennis team. Last summer, Taylor interned at an investment banking firm in New York City and would like to someday start her own bakery business.

Edited by Rachel Favors '18, Rockefeller Center Student Program Assistant for Communications