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Personal Philosophy
Personal Philosophy
Jenna Michlin
Wayne State University
The importance of obtaining an education and building a career has been
stressed to me my whole life. I had very strong women as role models; both of my
grandmothers received Bachelors Degrees from Wayne State University. In an era
when women were discouraged from higher education, they both persevered and
worked tirelessly in the medical field for most of their lives. Im unsure if they were
aspiring to be role models, but having them in my life has influenced my course

drastically. Being a role model for women in sport is something that I aspire toward.
I am also passionate about ethnic and cultural diversity in the workplace. Ethics and
leadership are two other areas that are important to me.
I am constantly striving to be a role model for women in sport. Growing up, I
was often the only girl on all boys sports teams, and the only girl who was excited to
play sports during recess. As I grew older, I looked up to women such as Mia Hamm
and Serena Williams who, with the assistance of Title IX, seemed to pave the way for
young girls to carve their own paths. Now, I look toward women like Kathy
Beauregard, Athletic Director at Western Michigan University, and Jeanie Buss,
President of the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, there are very few women who are in
positions of power in Collegiate and Professional sport environments. I strongly
believe in being a role model for the next generation of women; and to be a mentor
and friend. During my professional interview with Elizabeth Godek, Director of
Consumer Sales & Service with the Detroit Pistons, we discussed the role of women

Personal Philosophy

in sport. I mentioned that I hardly know any women who hold higher roles than me
in the sports world. We talked about her desire to be a mentor to women who are
just entering the business. Being able to take on a mentoring role is something that I
look forward to, and I will cherish the opportunity.
There are many traits that define me other than being a woman. I believe it is
important to have respect for ethnic and cultural diversity. Diversity is what makes
our world so great, and the more diverse a culture, the more opportunity there is to
learn. It is very important to me to include people from all walks of life, and to be a
part of an organization that has the same interest. When people from different
ethnicities and cultures interact on a daily basis, they are constantly able to learn
from one another and develop a sense of respect for a different opinion. Not having
respect for other cultures leads to a stagnancy within an organization.
Possessing a high level of ethics is also a philosophy by which I live.
Throughout my short career, I have seen people bend the rules to see what they can
get away with. I do not agree with this philosophy. I like to leave work every day
knowing that I was honest and performed my tasks with integrity. Having good
business ethics is integral in running a sports organization. Over the past few years,
there have been many examples of mismanaged ethical practices in major sports
organizations, including the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State University and
more recently, the Ray Rice Scandal in the National Football League. While these
two instances are rare, the mismanagement of the situation from the organizations
they were tied to, are not. While I am not nave to believe that these issues are

Personal Philosophy

completely black and white, I do know that better ethical practices must be put in
place moving forward.
I have always been a natural leader, and my leadership style has evolved as I
have matured and learned different styles from superiors and peers. I believe that it
is important to lead by example. The bosses and colleagues that I have respected
and learned from the most are those that practice what they preach. As a leader, I
would not put expectations on someone to do something that I would not be wiling
to do myself. I relate to President Theodore Roosevelts philosophy to speak softly
and carry a big stick. President Roosevelts ideology reflects the idea that looking
ahead to combat problems, while still being able to hold the threat of action if crisis
may occur. While President Roosevelt made this statement in reference to war, I
believe it is a great leadership ideology. A good leader is able to foresee possible
problems. A good leader also has the respect of their colleagues. I hope that my
leadership style reflects this ideology.
In conclusion, being a good role model and leader, as well as being ethical
and having respect for diversity are the four pillars that make up my personal
philosophy. Being able to be a person that future generations and other young
professionals respect and look up to is very important to me. It is also important to
me to constantly be learning and absorbing as much information as possible to
better myself as a person and as a professional. While my leadership style and
ongoing knowledge is constantly evolving, my ethical standards will remain steady.