Recent alumna turns leadership lessons into a career

Through Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute staff and the Leadership Advancement Scholars program, a recent CMU alum was able to take leadership courses, learning more about herself and her core values, tailoring her leadership skills to people’s needs.

Emma Orzech, a LAS scholar and recent sports management graduate, wanted to be involved in the Leadership Institute when she was a participant in Leadership Safari her freshman year.

Orzech was also a Leadership Safari guide and core guide, and a student section leader. She also worked in Athletics Marketing and Fan Engagement and was a member of the Academic Athletic Senate Committee as well.

“The guidance they have given me throughout everything and knowing I can go to them with anything I need, whether it was personal or professional,” she said.

Orzech chose to attend Central Michigan University after high school thanks to the LAS program.

“When attending the LAS competition day, hearing Dan Gaken’s speech and being in that community, it really solidified things and I decided this was a community I really want to be a part of,” Orzech said.

Orzech was required to take certain leadership courses as an LAS scholar. During her freshman year, she took two main leadership courses, focusing on discovering her leadership style to build her foundation and then there are other courses to build on top of her requirements. These scholars must get involved in RSOs and attend two multicultural events each year as well.

Mentorship plays a big role in LAS. Incoming freshmen are paired with an older student to make the transition to college easier. Students can receive guidance with any questions they may have from fellow leaders.

“The support from staff and faculty through the LI has stayed with me all four years,” she said. I remember talking to the graduate assistant at the time, Brandon Skiles at competition day when I was a senior in high school. He works for the Leadership Institute now. Skiles was recently honors with a Staff Excellence Award.

Orzech was involved in leadership in high school, but she never knew that was something she could transform into her college career.

“Just knowing CMU has a specific designated leadership institute is super cool and I think more people should know about that,” Orzech said. “I owe my last four years to LAS and the LI for just getting me so involved in so many experiences that I would’ve never had at a different university.”

Leadership Safari was unforgettable for Orzech. Every year, it always put a smile on her face, and she met some of her closest friends. Safari is a valuable way for freshmen to start college on the right foot, she said.

Orzech always had a passion for sports, especially soccer. She didn’t know a sports management major existed until she started touring college, but she knew she wanted to be a part of the sports business.

“Being a woman in the sports industry, just having these skills and knowledge, puts me apart from other people who didn’t have that education,” Orzech said.

Over her time at CMU, she held leadership roles in the Sports Management Association and the CMU Women’s Club Soccer Team. She also helped found the Women in Sports student organization.

Just before graduation in May of 2026, she was in Chicago, IL, during the spring semester, working for the Blackhawk’s Ice Center as a guest services associate and also did an internship with the Chicago Sky WMBA team in ticket sales. She also worked for the Detroit City Football Club and for the Lansing Lugnuts.

Leadership skills Orzech developed through the LAS program and LI helped her get a job as a group events account representative for Grand Rapids Rise.

“Definitely get involved in everything that you can,” she said. Find your passion and once you find it, the sky’s the limit, whether it’s starting up a student organization, finding people in your class that share the same passion, or even having Brandon or Dan to help you out with something.

“LAS was my backbone and helped me gain knowledge that some people don’t get. I was able to hone in on who I was as a leader and a person and how I could take it elsewhere beyond the classroom.”