My identity as a family member is my leadership foundation. ...God has called me to serve Him in my family. My identity as a member of the community gives me passion and motivation to serve a broader community. I want to go to church and the workplace to serve others."
—Feifei Song, MA in Leadership (Mandarin) program student
Feifei Song is a student in the MA in Leadership (Mandarin) program. She is an administrator at Passion Family and Community Services. She has worked for Focus on the Family, playing an instrumental role in establishing the organization's presence in China, and has served as its Chief Operations Officer. She is also one of the founders of a social enterprise in her region to serve Christian business leaders, entrepreneurs and university students.
Honouring International Women’s Day at TWU
Every year on March 8, the global community celebrates International Women's Day. It is a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. At Trinity Western, we seek to honour the many women leaders and educators who help our University thrive and advance into the future.
In this below interview we hear from Feifei Song about her leadership journey:
1. What has helped you in your journey of leadership, and what are a few tips you have?
In It's Your Boat, the author Michael Abrashoff writes, "Great leadership starts from self-awareness." My personal leadership journey has started from a clear identification of my roles and my calling, namely, from the two questions of "who am I?" and "what is my mission?"
My identity as a family member is my leadership foundation. I am the wife of my husband and the mother of our son and daughter. No matter what I am and what I do outside the home, I know that my role in my family is my foundational identity. Partnering with my husband to raise our children and foster close family relationships is my unreplaceable and unchangeable mission. God has called me to serve Him in my family.
My identity as a member of the community gives me passion and motivation to serve a broader community. I want to go to church and the workplace to serve others. No matter what roles I have, I am certain that I am a team member to serve others and foster the development of the team. I am able to enter a new workplace and start a new ministry with the belief that "where there is work, there needs to be a team." Collaboration is not only a mode of work, but also an attitude to serve and foster growth in others.
2. Who are some of the women/men who inspire you, and why?
Many people have inspired me in my life, but the person who has given me the most far-reaching and significant influence is my husband. He is truly an inspirer for me. He leads me and our children to be firm Christ followers. In every stage of my growth, he has been available to give me timely encouragement and support so that I have been able to overcome barriers and expand the boundaries of service. His dedication to our family and selfless love for me has inspired me to become a conduit of love.
3. What has been a highlight of your learning at TWU that has benefited you most in your leadership development journey?
At TWU, I would like to give compliments to the 20 peer learners in my cohort. I am also overjoyed to have the opportunity to serve them. Although each of us is faced with huge challenges in our work and studies, we have upheld the spirit of "no deserting, no giving up, and being together." Our cohort has exemplified the values of servant leadership. I would also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Helen Wei, our big sister alum, who introduced us to the MA in Leadership Mandarin program at TWU and each of the MA in Leadership Mandarin faculty and staff. Your behaviour and actions have showed us what transformational servant leadership is in real life.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has five campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, Ottawa, and Bellingham, WA. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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