Lessons for leaders
Samantha Piergiovanni is a second-year PharmD candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Leadership in pharmacy school rarely looks the way you imagine it will. You picture polished speakers, confident decision makers, and people who seem to always have the right answer. In reality, student leadership is often messy, humbling, and deeply formative. Through involvement in the APhA Student Community and other student organizations, many student pharmacists quickly learn that leadership is not about having authority; it’s about responsibility.
As the president-elect of my chapter at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an attendee of the 2025 APhA Summer Leadership Institute, I’d like to share some of my leadership lessons with you.
Listening builds trust
One of the earliest lessons for leaders is that listening matters more than speaking. Whether serving on an executive board or leading a committee, the most effective leaders are those who create space for others to be heard. Listening builds trust, and trust is the foundation of any successful team. Student pharmacists work alongside individuals with different strengths, backgrounds, and goals. Valuing those perspectives strengthens not only your organizations but also your ability to collaborate as future health care professionals.
Be adaptable
Another critical lesson is that leadership requires adaptability. Plans change, events fall through, and unexpected challenges arise—often during the busiest points in the semester. Strong leaders learn to pivot without losing momentum or morale. This flexibility mirrors real-world pharmacy practice, where patient needs, health care systems, and policies are constantly evolving. Learning to stay grounded while navigating uncertainty is a skill that will serve us far beyond pharmacy school.
The importance of service
Leadership also teaches the importance of serving, not standing out. Titles may open doors, but impact is created with follow-through. The most meaningful leadership moments often happen behind the scenes—checking in on a teammate, staying late to ensure an event runs smoothly, or mentoring a younger student who is still finding their place. These acts of service define leadership far more than recognition ever could.
Embrace growth through discomfort
Finally, leadership challenges one to embrace growth through discomfort. Giving feedback, making difficult decisions, and acknowledging mistakes are not easy tasks. However, these moments are where growth happens. Student leadership provides a safe space to learn these lessons early, surrounded by peers and mentors who support development rather than perfection.
Student pharmacists are not just preparing to lead organizations, but also to lead within health care teams, communities, and the profession itself. The lessons you learn now shape the pharmacist you will become. Leadership is not about having it all figured out; it’s about being willing to learn, serve, and grow along the way.