The ESA Student Affairs Committee and Leadership Development Committee organized a symposium at Entomology 2025titled “Unlocking Leadership Potential to Stand Out in Entomology.” The goal of the symposium was to inspire and empower students and ECPs to take on leadership roles in ESA and elsewhere in their professional career. (Photo by Peter Nijenhuis via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

By Kushal Naharki and Akriti Adhikari

Editor’s Note: This post is part of a series contributed by the ESA Student Affairs Committee. See other posts by and for entomology students here at Entomology Today.

Leadership is key to the success of any organization. The Entomological Society of America (ESA) offers a diversity of leadership opportunities at multiple levels for its membership. However, many entomologists, especially students and early career professionals (ECPs) hesitate to take on leadership roles due to lack of knowledge, skills, and imposter syndrome. The ESA Student Affairs Committee (SAC) and Leadership Development Committee (LDC) organized a symposium at Entomology 2025titled “Unlocking Leadership Potential to Stand Out in Entomology” with Kushal Naharki, Sabita Ranabhat, Ph.D., and Sujaya Rao, Ph.D., as the organizing committee.

The goal of this symposium was to inspire and empower students and ECPs to take on leadership roles in ESA and elsewhere in their professional career. This symposium brought together entomologists across agencies who have served in diverse leadership roles for sharing their leadership journeys to inspire others to be leaders in tomorrow’s world. The symposium addressed the urgent need for inclusive leadership pipelines and for equipping younger generations with tools to drive entomology forward by providing attendees with practical skills, knowledge, and networks for leadership and service at a variety of ESA levels to unlock their leadership potential, bridge generational divides, and create lasting impact in the ESA community.

The Entomology 2025 symposium “Unlocking Leadership Potential to Stand Out in Entomology” included presentations from eight speakers. (Figure by Kushal Naharki)

Speakers addressed mentorship tools, tech-forward ideas, and a roadmap for shaping the future. They aimed to help attendees navigate career advancement, build impactful professional networks, and embrace innovative approaches in the field by incorporating insights and experiences from their own work and showcasing real-world examples and practical applications. Here are the key themes discussed during the symposium:

1. Leadership can be defined in many ways. It is not just a position but rather a set of qualities we carry. It can mean integrity, always doing what is right, or accountability, taking responsibility for our actions. It can also be humility, listening and learning from others, or excellence, striving to do our best every day. Adaptability is also an important trait, which means being able to face change and challenges with confidence.

2. There is a difference between a leader and a manager. A leader looks ahead, inspires people, and pushes ideas forward, while a manager focuses on organizing work, keeping things running smoothly, and maintaining stability. Good leaders think creatively, support others, and inspire new ideas.

3. Leadership is not an acquired character. Anyone can lead, no matter their career stage or role. Leading where you stand means taking ownership and acting with integrity. Even experienced presenters get nervous, and their hands may shake. With practice and time, we improve. We just need to stay ready and open to learning.

4. Volunteering opportunities abound. There are volunteering opportunities at many levels, including school (student council, community/volunteer organization), community groups, and professional programs (EntoMentos mentorship program, Professional Advancement Career Training, Collaborative Publication Program). ESA offers many volunteering opportunities during both the Annual Meeting and Branch Meetings. These experiences help students break the ice and connect with others. Organizing symposia or workshops can build confidence, and these activities also create strong opportunities for networking.

5. You are not growing if you are not at least slightly uncomfortable. This means personal and professional growth comes from facing challenges. Difficult situations push us to learn, adapt, and develop new skills, whereas staying in our comfort zone keeps us stagnant. In other words, feeling a little discomfort is a sign that we are stretching ourselves and moving forward. Persistence and a clear sense of purpose—knowing your “why”—help you overcome those difficult times and continue progressing. The panel discussion highlighted simple habits like writing down personal achievements and revisiting them during difficult moments. These practices can help maintain motivation and forward momentum.

Speakers and organizers at the Entomology 2025 symposium “Unlocking Leadership Potential to Stand Out in Entomology” included, from left to right: Sabita Ranabhat, Ph.D., Katelyn Kesheimer, Ph.D., Joana Schroeder de Souza, Michelle Boone, Ph.D., Surendra Dara, Ph.D., Karla M. Addesso, Ph.D., Mark Wright, Ph.D., Hannah Tiffin, Ph.D., Sajjan Grover, Ph.D., and Kushal Naharki. (Photo courtesy of Kushal Naharki)

6. Leadership matter directly shapes the work environment and culture. People who lead from where they are can positively influence culture and drive innovation. Engaging in leadership and taking initiative will benefit the team. It can also open doors to new opportunities and career growth. The discussion also emphasized that the workplace functions differently from the academic world. When someone concentrates only on GPA and struggles to express themselves, adjusting to real workplace challenges can become much harder. Leadership skills help bridge that gap and prepare us to navigate complex work situations.

7. Sometimes we may need to cope with difficult leaders. We can do this by focusing on the positive traits we can learn from them. Hence, building strong leadership qualities within ourselves helps us navigate and manage even the poor leaders we may encounter.

8. Balance is important. Find things that bring you joy and match your values. Make time for what truly matters to you. When you stay true to yourself, you can lead with confidence and clarity.

9. We should express ourselves. Sharing our achievements, publications, and work highlights our capabilities, demonstrates our efforts, and opens new opportunities.

10. “No” is a complete sentence. It is okay to say no sometimes, and it’s even better to keep a “no for now” journal to revisit opportunities later. We cannot do everything at once, and trying to engage in everything is not a good idea. We should learn to prioritize the things that matter most and give our full effort to them.

Kushal Naharki is a Ph.D. candidate at West Virginia University studying aerial detection of invasive species and using natural enemy insects for their management using drones. He is the 2026 chair of the ESA Student Affairs Committee. Email: [email protected] or [email protected]. Akriti Adhikari is a graduate research assistant at Tennessee State University, working on conservation biological control and observing the effects of herbicides. Email: [email protected] or [email protected].