Mara D’Amico is the Hillary Rodham Clinton Communications Fellow at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. She served as an AmeriCorps VISTA from 2010-2011 at Miami Dade College and as an AmeriCorps Public Ally from 2011-2012 at the University of Miami. She has a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service, and a B.S. in International Business from Central Michigan University. Recently, she was awarded a Judith O’Connor Memorial Fund Scholarship from BoardSource which honors emerging nonprofit leaders.
Everyone leads. During my service as an AmeriCorps Public Ally, I came to more fully understand this idea that is so central to the model and core values of that program. For much of my life, I prescribed to the idea that society perpetuates that leadership is a position someone holds—something heroes are suddenly thrust into. That an employee is not a leader until they become a manager or CEO. That a figurehead is a better leader than someone in a strong support role. I believed an individual needed a certain collection of skills and qualities to lead.