Sara Lowery

How to Create Intentional Moments By Asking “Why?”

Many times, students are challenged in working with their club or organization to gain their desired results. When the challenges become too much, it is easy to forget your mission and lose the motivation to push forward. Sara Lowery has worked as a campus-based Higher Education professional, encouraging and pushing student leaders to achieve success.

Through her high-energy keynote, Sara challenges student audiences to ask themselves one simple question: Why? Why are you involved in this organization? Why do you want to push your organization further? Why should you persevere when challenges come your way? Even when things are going great, sometimes it is important to take a step back to remember why you joined and why it matters.

Sara’s unique blend of humor, energy and experience help her guide students to build a foundation that helps them remain motivated to continue moving through “the tough stuff” that comes their way. She helps show students that only by moving forward can you achieve greatness.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, students will learn:

• how to create a framework to understand the values and mission statement of their club or organization,
• how and when to ask “why?” to be an effective leader with a sense of purpose and value within their organization, and
• ways to apply business principles that have been proven effective for success and greatness.

Shining a LIGHT on Mental DARKNESS

Ever feel like life is more than you can handle? Or feel so alone? Or that no one really understands you? No matter how hard it may seem when DARK moments take over your life, LIGHT is always around the corner. It may not be immediate, but with time LIGHT will appear and those dark moments will begin to fade away.

As noted by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 university students are affected by depression and anxiety. Sara Lowery was one of those students. In this personal keynote, Sara shares her story in hopes that students can learn how to reach out for support during those dark times and search for the light. Students will learn their intrinsic value and strategies to fighting through the feeling of disappointment, fear, and yes even loneliness. Sara will challenge students to really look around to not only find someone whom they can lean on, but also who might need help finding their mental light.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, students will learn:

• how to be more comfortable reaching out for support
• how to take personal responsibility by taking actions to improve their health, and the health of others
• the skills needed to accessing and utilizing healthcare resources on campus and in the community
• how to increase self-awareness, confidence and communication skills

I Don’t Know What To Say

Have you ever heard someone say something offensive that surprised you? A well-intended, statement or question that still caused irreparable harm personally and professionally. Maybe that someone was you? Communicating your thoughts and opinions can be really challenging, but it can become even more intimidating when you are talking about race, sexuality, gender equality, or any subject matter around diversity and inclusion. The nervousness to not offend or potentially make diversity matters worse has people saying “I Don’t Know What to Say”.

In this program, Sara Lowery explores these fumbles and creates a safe environment to engage in conversations that will be meaningful and impactful for both parties involved especially when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Participants will talk about how understanding the difference of intent versus impact can help you create a safe environment to engage in some challenging and somewhat difficult conversations. This is not your typical Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program, it’s a program that bridges differences with respect and grace leading the way.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, students will learn:

• new perspectives on being more open to diverse populations
• how to navigate the ambiguity and complexity that comes with understanding others
• how to ask questions that will require courage and/or humility
• the power of listening while withholding judgment about others and their thoughts and or opinions.

Would you Follow You?

Often times we are put in situations where we have to decide if we want or can follow the leaders that are before us. But how often do we look in the mirror and ask ourselves would we follow ourselves? Do you have the talents and skills and you admire in leaders? What characteristics are you lacking?

In this leadership keynote, Sara Lowery takes an old business approach and reframe it for a more personal leadership approach by starting with assessing ourselves first to determine if we are being the best leader that anyone would want to follow at any time. Sara gives tips and strategies on how to overcome that fear and create the largest impact as a leader.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, students will learn:

• complete self-assessment using an old business assessment tool,
• reflect about their internal leadership/life experiences and how it may or may not influence their current leadership practices, and
• learn how to create a vision that can be shared with any organization they are leading.

Not Us, Not This Time: A New Approach to Hazing Prevention

Sara Lowery believes just because “they” said that every line/class/family had to GO through it, does not mean your class/line/ family can’t GROW past it!

This is not your typical hazing presentation. We can review the definition of hazing with new members. We can educate chapter leaders on the dangers and potential punishments for engaging in the behaviors from suspension, expulsion, or even being arrested. But yet, this doesn’t seem to be enough to stop hazing in our communities.

Sara Lowery’s program Not Us, Not this Time approaches hazing prevention by challenging students to create a sense of brotherhood/sisterhood without the hazing drama. Let’s have the conversation about shifting from endangering the lives of individuals to building a sense of belonging and acceptance. Lets’ create an experience where members are strengthened, empowered, and live up to the original intentions of our founders.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, students will:

• have an understanding of how to create bonds without the use of hazing practices,
• be challenged to think of innovative ways to create a sense of belonging as well as brotherhood and sisterhood,
• be aware of the value that new members can bring to the chapter if they are not torn down and brought in and educated properly.