Leading with grace and light

Students and faculty at BYUH said true leadership is expressed through service, teamwork and example rather than titles or authority. Adjunct professor and bishop Logan Gillette said compassion and love is central to how he leads. Student leader Vignesh Nagarajan said collaboration changed the way he thinks about leadership. Relief society president Julana Te’o said leading by example, even when she feels unprepared, helps her strengthen the women she serves.

Photo by Naomi Saenz

Leading through service
Logan Gillette, a BYUH alumnus and an adjunct faculty from the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, said leadership, to him, means leading with Christlike qualities and service. He said, “Charity is the biggest element I have been leaning on.” He strives to show compassion and love especially when guiding others through the repentance process, he continued.

Coming from the Pacific, one of the key focus areas of the university, helps Gillette relate to the students he teaches and guides. Also serving as the bishop of the Young Single Adult 7th Ward, Gillette said he can relate to the students' academic, emotional and spiritual challenges because he had been in their position before. “I see myself in the students, the struggles and the challenges they go through. That relatability is a blessing, that helps break down barriers,” he continued.

With nearly 20 years of higher education experience, Gillette said leadership has taught him he can do hard things. He said he has learned that there are always areas for improvement. “I wouldn’t even say I am the best leader, but I would admit that I look forward to having more opportunities to become a better leader,” he said.

Gillette said he looks forward to the service aspect of being a leader. He said, “A leader is not someone who dominates, a leader is somebody who serves.” He said his approach to leadership as a professor and bishop is rooted in discipleship and service. The best way to feel closer to the savior is by serving, he continued.

Gillette said his desire to serve is rooted to his gratitude to his alma mater. He and his wife’s positive experience during their undergrad inspired them to come back, he added.

Teamwork over titles 
Vignesh Nagarajan, a senior from India majoring in information technology, said developing Christlike traits such as of love, kindness, patience, charity, humility and meekness are all essential to becoming a good leader. One Christlike attribute is not more important than the other, he said. “You have to develop each Christlike trait in order to keep things on track,” he continued.

Photo by Naomi Saenz

Nagarajan said he was the India Club president during the 2024-2025 academic school year. He said he was inspired to be the club president because he wanted to share his culture with others.

Serving as a club president was different from what he expected. He said, “It turned out to be a team effort with everybody pitching in, rather than me telling people what to do.” He said he learned that being a club president is a collaborative effort that required teamwork. He learned to see himself as a teammate, rather than a boss, he continued.

Nagarajan said he was humbled to serve as a volunteer, motivated to share his culture with others. “After serving as a club president, I wouldn’t call it leadership, I would call it a service,” he said.

Nagarajan said that he learned how to emulate patience and kindness while being the club president. He said kindness goes a long way. “Rather than showing them your anger, if you are understanding, they are more willing to help you,” he said.

Nagarajan said his role model was his elementary school principal in India. He said his principal remained patient and kind despite enduring challenges. “I never saw him get mad at anyone,” Nagarajan said. Watching his principal lead with patience and compassion inspired Nagarajan to do the same.

Photo by Naomi Saenz

Called to lead

Julana Te’o, a senior from Utah, majoring in social work, said she has learned the importance of leading by example. “I’m not the best teacher or the best public speaker but if I can be a kind person and help my sisters feel Jesus Christ’s love, then I will feel like I’ve done my job.”

Te’o said she serves as the relief society president in her ward. She said she views her calling as an opportunity for teamwork and collaboration. She said she enjoys extending callings to other sisters to help them feel more involved in the organization. “God doesn’t want us to do things alone anyway, so it’s important to share the responsibilities,” Te’o continued.

Te’o said she has been serving in her calling since April. She said she initially felt inadequate receiving her call, since she was still learning from her previous calling as a relief society counselor. However, she was reminded of a General Conference talk about callings. She said it reminded her that God often calls the unlikely to be leaders because He knows our potential. “I felt so inadequate to do this, but I also knew God would work with me,” Te’o said.