How do you become a leader?

Oklahoma State University students spent the week listening to the advice of experts and alumni on how to do just that.

The Hargis Leadership Institute hosted its third annual Lead Week from Sept. 8-11. Its goal? Teaching OSU students how to be life-giving leaders who will make positive impacts in their classes, careers and communities.

Lead Week is a campuswide initiative that provides students with leadership development opportunities through various events, workshops and networking opportunities. According to Dr. Josh Taylor, the director of HLI, the goal of Lead Week and HLI is to “create a dynamic culture of student leaders on this campus who have the leadership skills to make a positive difference.”

The theme for the week was “Becoming.” Throughout the week, students were encouraged to envision the kind of leader they want to be and discover how they can begin the process of becoming that leader today.

The week began with a keynote address with BOK Financial, HLI’s partner for Lead Week. OSU President Jim Hess offered words of encouragement for students looking to grow as leaders.

“You are influencers,” Dr. Hess said. “You have the ability to set an example for others that truly influences a change in someone else's life, and I know that's a responsibility. And you may not have intended to sign up for it, but nonetheless, you are leaders.”

The keynote speaker was Mindy Mahaney, an OSU alumna and chief risk officer at BOK Financial. She shared her career path from her time at OSU to the present. She also advised students on how to become strong leaders in their careers.

“You have to continue to learn,” Mahaney said. “The most important choices you'll make are whether you're willing to learn, whether you'll do hard things and whether people can trust you. If you get those three things right, opportunities will come your way.”

Each academic college and several student groups hosted events throughout the week. Additionally, students participated in giveaways, raffles and question-and-answer sessions.

First Cowgirl Angela Hess wrapped up the week with the OSU Legacy Talk. She provided students with advice and steps to become effective and inspirational leaders. She shared some of her journey to becoming First Cowgirl and empowered students to share their skills as sources of inspiration for others.

“As you step out into the world that desperately needs your intellect and your courage and your creativity and your resilience, I challenge you to never ever stop growing, never settle for comfort, never let fear dictate your boundaries,” Angela Hess said.

Lead Week provided an opportunity for all students on campus to understand what it means to be a leader and to uncover leadership abilities they might not have been aware of previously.

“The whole goal was to help students understand who they are and the legacy that they hope to be able to leave here at OSU,” said Yokolanda Speight, assistant director of leadership programs at HLI.

Lead Week was a visible testimony to OSU students’ drive to grow as leaders.

LEAD Week 2026

Story By: Adrienne Frye | adrienne.frye@okstate.edu