For Lily Griffin, leadership is built on connection, collaboration, and the belief that small steps can lead to lasting change.
A member of the Metropolitan State University chapter, Griffin is serving as a GW–UNESCO fellow with the George Washington University and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in San José, Costa Rica. Her work centers on rural education, financial and economic literacy, and advancing UNESCO’s mission to build peace, eradicate poverty, and foster intercultural dialogue.
The position is an achievement built on passion and dedication, after years of preparation.
Building on a Leadership Foundation
Griffin credits both her academic journey and her experience with the NSLS for shaping her path.
“The National Society of Leadership and Success and True Nature Travels Education in Costa Rica propelled me to pursue my passions in international education at a graduate level,” she says. “Through the experiential and service learning in Costa Rica, I fell in love with intercultural exchange, sustainability, and global citizenship.”
NSLS members receive discounts on service-travel experiences with True Nature, which Griffin took advantage of to develop her leadership skills and make an impact on the local community. After the trip with the NSLS and True Nature in 2023, Griffin set a clear goal: return to Costa Rica to make an even larger impact. But turning that vision into reality required more than passion.
“I relied on SMART goals to assist me in the process, which I learned through the NSLS Executive Level Leadership course,” she says.
Besides the Foundations of Leadership (FOL) program, which is what members complete to become inducted, the NSLS offers additional leadership development opportunities, something Griffin has completed in her own leadership journey. These include both the Advanced Leadership and Executive Leadership courses, which takes the learning from FOL a step further in a member’s education, earning certification in the process.
“My primary SMART goal, and stepping stone, was to apply to graduate school,” she continues. “Breaking down a large goal into individual steps — researching a university, writing a personal statement, applying for scholarships — allowed me to take actionable steps and build my confidence with each step complete.”
The same framework carried her through the competitive and complex UNESCO application process, which required approvals across the globe.
“I have used the SMART goal framework throughout my time as a graduate student and in my professional and personal life to achieve goals I could have only dreamed of,” she says.
Inspired by Grassroots Leaders
While Griffin’s work takes place on a global stage, her sources of inspiration are rooted in local communities.
“With my current research in education in rural contexts, I am inspired by leaders in rural and indigenous communities who, each day, face challenges to ensure the human rights of their community are respected,” she says.
“There are countless community leaders and members across the globe who are advocating and advancing the rights of their community,” she continues. “I admire those who make small, incremental steps towards progress and equality each and every day.”
It’s a perspective that mirrors her own belief in the power of persistence and incremental progress toward a larger goal.
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Designing the Life You Envision
For Griffin, leadership development has always been about mindset.
“The NSLS provided the framework for SMART goals and opened my eyes to understand a series of steps and small goals can transform one’s life,” she says. “I was particularly inspired by design thinking and designed a new life of my wildest dreams in the Executive Level course. As soon as I dreamed my wildest dreams, I realized they weren’t so wild at all. To this point, I have achieved the life I designed, and it keeps getting better as I dream bigger and bigger.”
So, where will SMART goals take her next? Law school, with a focus on international human rights and advancing economic, social, and cultural rights worldwide.
“Like the SMART goals I used to apply for graduate school, I will break the large process down into small, actionable goals,” she says.
Lily’s Advice for Future Leaders
Griffin’s advice is something we hear from many leaders: don’t let fear hold you back. Once you allow fears and discomfort to destabilize you, progress becomes a hurdle.
“You are capable of anything, as long as you can organize your thoughts and overcome your fears of failure,” she says.
She also reminds aspiring leaders to focus on breaking big visions into small, actionable steps.
“Large goals are just a series of smaller goals,” she says. “Break everything down, write it down, journal about it, but don’t give up on it because it seems too big. Everything is manageable taking it one step at a time.”
When asked how she would define leadership, it comes back to this point, and also sharing your vision with a community of like minded leaders.
“[Leadership is] small steps toward relentless incrementalism and sharing the abundance of this mindset with everyone who wants to do the same,” she says.
Want to learn how to set and achieve SMART goals? Learn more on how this goal-setting strategy can work to drive your success.
