Leadership Highlight

Symone Mitchell The Undergrad President of Zeta Phi Beta in Milwaukee Opens Up About Leading a City-Wide Chapter

Photo Credit: @__acj_

In an effort to highlight the young leaders who are leading undergraduate chapters across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to the women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.’s Lambda Lambda Chapter at Marquette University and did an interview with Symone Mitchell the president of Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s city-wide undergraduate chapter.

The position of chapter president is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes as the undergrad president in Zeta. 20-year-old Mitchell has used the position to gain new leadership experience, improve the lives of other students on campus and help the community around her.

We interviewed the Finance and Information Systems major and talked about her position, goals, future and what it means to be a leader of an undergraduate chapter of a Black sorority in the digital age.

Read the full interview below.

What does it mean to be a chapter president to you?

The most important thing about being a chapter president to me is the amount of growth and development possible. Developing better leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and communication skills have been priority to me. Being able to be a representative for my organization on campus and across the city plays a key role in being a chapter president.

Photo Credit: @__acj_/

What made you decide to attend the Marquette University for undergrad?

I chose Marquette because of our nationally recognized college of business. I knew that I wanted to be a business major, but did not know I’d eventually choose two very complimentary majors that will allow me to work in various positions post-graduation. Marquette has so many resources within the Business school and outside that I am grateful to take advantage of.

What specific initiatives is your chapter heading up this year and how do you think they will improve the campus/surrounding community?

One thing we’ve been focused on is building relationships with other organizations. We do not have a strong Greek life in Milwaukee and it would make our communities more inclusive and overall better.

What made you want to pledge Zeta?

Finer Womanhood in its purest form. Every Zeta I have met has shown me a great deal of sisterly love and has exemplified finer womanhood beyond belief. I have been around other sororities growing up and in college, but Zeta had always been the realist, most down to earth to me. I have never found myself pretending to be someone that I am not nor have I gotten that vibe from any of my sorors.

What is it about your specific chapter that makes it so unique?

Being a city-wide chapter and being able to connect with ladies across several different campuses makes Lambda Lambda unique. Historically, our chapter has never been huge but has always gotten the work of Zeta done.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think undergraduate chapters across all orgs need to do to represent themselves online in 2018?

Be present. An active social media page goes a long way. Share all NPHC events going on around campus if possible. Also, build good relationships with the other Multicultural organizations around campus. But, be careful what gets posted!

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership means not only being able to lead but being able to follow. A strong leader does not have all the answers, but surrounds themselves with people who together will have all of the answers. In order to lead, you have to have great listening, communication, and collaboration skills. No one wants to follow a leader who does not accept criticism or feedback.

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black greekdom?

Watch the Yard highlights Black Sorority & Fraternity life in a way that no one else does.

What does sisterhood mean to you?

Sisterhood is accepting each other and having each others’ backs always. Someone that you can fight with today and laugh with tomorrow because your relationship is that strong and that loving. Taking care of one another when necessary and being there for each other. Sisterhood is a lifelong bond that is not formed overnight, but strengthens day by day.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After graduating, I want to work in the FinTech industry, preferably in Southern California. I plan to continue to always work and serve in the name of Zeta on the local, state, and national levels.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Mitchell for her work as the president of the Lambda Lambda Chapter in Milwaukee which has a long legacy that spans back to 1981.