Every year, oikos Chapters go through change. It is both the challenge and the beauty of being a student-led organization.
Students graduate. New members arrive. Teams evolve, priorities shift, and chapters continuously reinvent themselves. At times, it can feel volatile, uncertain, and even chaotic. Yet across the oikos network, chapters continue to grow, adapt, and create impact. Their resilience comes from something deeper than structures or processes. It comes from people willing to step forward when their community needs them.
Leading in an environment of constant change is not easy. It requires commitment, courage, and the support of those around you. As a new generation of chapter presidents begins their journey, we asked them:
“What was the moment when you decided to step into the leadership role of your chapter? What called you to it?”
Their answers reveal something powerful: leadership rarely starts with a desire for authority. More often, it begins with belonging.
“It is that community that made me want to step into a leadership role.”
— Salomé Naef, president of oikos St. Gallen
For Salomé Naef of oikos St. Gallen, the decision grew out of the community she found within the chapter. What began as an opportunity to apply classroom learning became a place where she felt connected, included, and inspired to contribute more deeply. Stepping into the presidency became a way to support that community and help carry its mission forward.
A similar theme emerged from Suraj Baranwal of oikos New Delhi. Rather than a personal ambition, his journey was shaped by the encouragement of teammates who believed in him. After a year of navigating events, challenges, and ideas together, saying yes to the role felt less like accepting a title and more like representing a collective effort built on trust, friendship, and shared purpose.
For Eve Bouvier of oikos Lausanne, a relatively short time in oikos was enough to experience profound personal growth. Inspired by the energy and commitment of her new team, she chose to step forward because she wants future members to experience the same sense of belonging, learning, and possibility that she found within the community.
“This role feels much more like representing a team effort than an individual achievement.”
— Suraj Baranwal, president of oikos New Delhi
Others were driven by a vision of impact.
For Cecily Bullock of oikos St. Andrews, the presidency represents an opportunity to create meaningful experiences that empower students while strengthening connections with the local community. Her focus is on creating lasting legacies through leadership development, sustainability initiatives, and collaboration.
For Michaela Sofia Feddes Zorrilla of oikos Barcelona, the journey began with a beach cleanup that introduced her to a welcoming community and a new understanding of how sustainability can be translated into action. After growing through leadership roles within the chapter, she was inspired to lead the association as it expands its impact and demonstrates how sustainability can be embedded into everyday life.
For B. Hari Vandana of oikos Jamshedpur, leadership is deeply connected to service. Growing up in a family of civil servants shaped her belief that meaningful change happens when people are willing to step forward and create opportunities for others. Through her experience in oikos, she saw the potential of student communities to move from awareness to action and became motivated to help build platforms where young people can contribute to lasting societal change.
“Leadership is not about position or visibility—it is about creating spaces, enabling collaboration, and driving meaningful impact.”
— B. Hari Vandana, president of oikos Jamshedpur
Although each story is unique, a common thread runs through all of them: these young leaders are stepping into their roles not because they have all the answers, but because they care deeply about the communities they are part of. They believe in creating opportunities, supporting others, and building spaces where students can turn their values into action.
As chapters across the world begin another year of transition, experimentation, and growth, these new presidents remind us that leadership in oikos is not about standing above a community, it is about standing with it.
To all incoming chapter presidents: thank you for answering the call. We cannot wait to see where your leadership takes your chapters next.
