Pack Leadership Initiative
Find Your Way to Lead at NC State
Pack Leadership Initiative
The Pack Leadership Initiative (PLI) is an applied leadership experience for undergraduate and graduate students who want to grow their leadership skills, connect with others, and turn their interests into action.
Whether you are passionate about planning events, serving your community, leading a student organization, building your professional network, or creating meaningful change, PLI gives you the opportunity to explore leadership in a way that fits you.
Learn More About Our Leadership Tracks:
ENGAGE:
Create experiences. Build community. Make things happen.
Create experiences. Build community. Make things happen.
Explore leadership through event management, collaboration, and implementing sustainable change. This interest is a great fit for students who enjoy bringing people together, planning experiences, organizing initiatives, and turning ideas into action.
SERVE:
Connect with community. Lead through service.
Connect with community. Lead through service.
Explore leadership through active citizenship, community engagement, and direct service. This interest is a great fit for students who are passionate about giving back, working with communities, and using leadership to contribute to something larger than themselves.
LEAD:
Find your voice. Influence others. Shape what comes next.
Find your voice. Influence others. Shape what comes next.
Explore leadership through public speaking, networking, facilitation, strategic visioning, and leading others. This interest is a great fit for students who want to strengthen their presence, communicate with confidence, and develop their ability to lead teams and ideas.
Not sure which interest is right for you? That’s okay. PLI is designed to meet students where they are. Your leadership interests may overlap, and your experience in PLI can help you discover new ways to lead.
What Will You Gain?
Through PLI, you will:
- Develop a stronger understanding of your leadership identity, values, and strengths
- Build communication, facilitation, and public speaking skills
- Strengthen your ability to collaborate, navigate challenges, and work with others
- Explore how leadership can create meaningful and sustainable change
- Develop strategies for influencing others and leading without relying on a formal title
- Build confidence in professional, academic, and leadership settings
- Apply what you learn through a hands-on leadership/capstone project
Time Commitment and Expectations
PLI is designed to be a meaningful leadership experience that fits alongside your academic and extracurricular commitments.
- Kick Off Meeting: Wednesday, October 7 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Attend weekly Meetings On Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- October 14, October 21, October 28, November 4, November 11
- Capstone Presentation: November 18 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
General Program Overview
Every particpant in the program will have three core workshops that they attend on October 7, October 14, and October 21 and then will break out into their tracks. The core session workshops can be found below:
Kick Off Meeting- October 7 2026
Learn more about leveraging your Clifton Strengths and how to apply your strengths to the various groups and roles you hold. We will also provide an indepth overview of the program.
Social Change Model- October 14 2026
Learn more about the social change model and how it applies to every day leadership moments. Leadership is about small actions that can lead to a BIG impact!
Conflict to Consensus- October 21 2026
Conflict to Consensus helps you develop practical skills for navigating disagreement and turning conflict into opportunities for collaboration. Participants will explore strategies for understanding different perspectives, communicating effectively, and finding common ground. Through interactive activities, students will practice moving from conflict toward productive, shared solutions.
After completion of the core sessions, participants will break out every week into their track specific workshops. Please read below to view the different track topics!
Track Specific Workshops: ENGAGE
Event Management- October 28 2026
Explore the essentials of creating meaningful events, including planning, budgeting, and managing the details that bring an idea to life.
Implementing a Sustainable Culture – November 4 2026
Learn how leaders can create positive, supportive cultures through intentional communication, leadership transitions, meetings, and building buy in.
Idea to Action & Advocacy– November 11 2026
Learn how to turn ideas into action through advocacy, strategic communication, and identifying opportunities to create meaningful change.
Track Specific Workshops: SERVE
Active Citizenship & Direct Service- October 28 2026
Explore what it means to be an active citizen and how direct service can contribute to meaningful community change. Learn how civic responsibility and service connect to creating lasting impact.
Community Partnerships & Engagement- November 4 2026
Learn how to build meaningful relationships with community partners, understand community needs, and work collaboratively to create positive impact.
Positive Service & Impact Design- November 11 2026
Explore how to design service experiences that create meaningful impact. Learn the importance of preparing for service, engaging intentionally, and reflecting on your experience afterward.
Track Specific Workshops: LEAD
Public Speaking & Networking- October 28 2026
Build confidence in communicating your ideas, speaking with others, and developing meaningful professional and leadership connections.
Facilitation- November 4 2026
Develop the skills to guide conversations, create inclusive spaces, and help groups work together toward shared goals.
Strategic Visioning- November 11 2026
Learn how to think strategically, develop a vision for the future, and turn big ideas into actionable goals.
Contact Us
Connect with our team below or via email at [email protected].
Assistant Director for Student Leadership Development
919-515-3323 [email protected]