Pi Beta Phi - University of Georgia

A fter college, Meredith Stone '13 originally planned to attend nursing school and earn her master's degree. That was until a Pi Phi mentor—past Grand President Paula Pace Shepherd, Texas Epsilon '82—encouraged Meredith to apply to serve the Fraternity as a Leadership Development Consultant (LDC). "How was I supposed to say no to that?" Meredith recalls. "I applied and got the job, and over the course of my year as an LDC, I came to realize that I wasn't going to be happy in a clinical nursing role long-term." Her positive Pi Beta Phi experience helped her find a career path better suited to her strengths. Meredith had no fraternity or sorority family background before joining Pi Phi, but she went into recruitment with an open mind. She quickly found that she wanted to be in the Panhellenic community, and Pi Beta Phi showed her a consistently welcoming experience. "Our conversations felt genuine and natural, and I saw more diversity of interests and personalities among the women," she said. "Pi Phi felt like somewhere I could easily fit in without having to fit to a specific mold." The leadership roles Meredith held, including Vice President Fraternity Development and Chapter President, helped build the confidence she previously felt she lacked. "My Pi Phi sisters built me up, but also humbled me," she said. "Serving in these roles gave me so much more than I could have ever expected." Meredith briefly worked in a recruiting job after her LDC year, followed by a job at Cloudmed in 2019. She was promoted to Senior Consultant in 2021, and she and the firm's diagnosis coding audit team serve hospital systems nationwide. "My role employs a lot of the communication, project management and leadership skills I first learned in Pi Phi—and I get to utilize a bit of my biology knowledge, too. I even work with a few Georgia Alphas and other Pi Phi alumnae!" Serving as an LDC changed Meredith's life by teaching her responsibility and self-motivation early in her professional career. She worked hard each day to give the time and effort she felt that both the position and her collegians deserved. "I learned so much about myself that year— what motivated and fulfilled me, and what I was truly good (and not good) at." On Meredith's last day as LDC, she was asked to serve as Member Experience Specialist for Region Six. She served in this role for three years, contributing to important ongoing conversations, from COVID-19 and member engagement to diversity, equity and inclusion. Meredith feels that both she and the organization have grown for the better in that time, as leaders learn how the college experience and members' needs have changed over the years. She also credits Pi Phi with teaching her to monitor the organization from a higher level, which has helped in her career. "I've also learned that it's necessary to lean into difficult and perhaps uncomfortable conversations/situations if you want to improve yourself and the organization." Today, Meredith is still best friends with her Pi Phi sisters from college; she even attended two of their weddings this fall. She is proud to embody Pi Phi's ideal of "Friends and Leaders for Life" as an alumna. "Pi Phi has afforded me professional opportunities as well as friends to fall back on during difficult times. I want to ensure that collegians have the foundation in place to be able to thrive and connect to Pi Phi in the same way I did." Meredith lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and can be reached at mpstone28@gmail.com. An Everlasting Commitment MEREDITH STONE STILL LEARNING FROM PI PHI PAGE 2 Want to be featured in your chapter newsletter? Or know a sister whose story should be shared? Let us know at pibetaphi.org/member-news. Meredith's Top Three Lessons from Pi Phi 1. Strong female friendships and mentorships are extremely important for all women. 2. When someone else recognizes your potential for a certain opportunity, you should pursue that opportunity. In turn, recognize others' potential whenever you can! 3. How to lead with integrity and empathy.

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