Chi Omega - University of North Carolina

L indsay Shookus '02 grew up in Buffalo, New York, and every spring break, she and her family would drive from Buffalo to Florida. One year when she was 10, they stopped off I-40 in Chapel Hill, and Lindsay declared UNC was where she would attend school. Coming from the north and not knowing many people, Lindsay knew the importance of having a community. She knew that joining a sorority would give her access to a strong female group and fast friends. At a time when she was wondering who she was and who she could be herself around, Chi Omega was a perfect fit. "For the first time in my life, I was around a bunch of people who were raised very differently than I was," she shared. "This was really exciting, and it allowed me to thrive." Lindsay has been a leader since she was 5 years old, and she was encouraged to continue to be one at Chi Omega; her older sisters mentored her, making her feel like her voice mattered. When she served as Chapter president, it was a challenge. "It was an exercise in learning how to compromise, but also realizing that with every decision, you can't please everyone," she said. "You can't lead an organization without making tough decisions. That was something I've carried with me throughout my career." Lindsay worked on Saturday Night Live for 20 years, working her way up for 10 and producing in the last decade. Some of the core characteristics of working successfully in the television industry were already instilled from her experience as president. Now, Lindsay has moved on to make a positive impact through her women's network, WWFH. She and her co-founder, Kristin O'Keeffe Merrick '01, believe the world is a better place when we help one another, and they want to help women help women by encouraging them to find easy connections to build a stronger community. They offer mentorships and highlight female-founded businesses. "I am building a career and company that will have a big voice for women," Lindsay shared. "The older I get, the more I realize how important that is to me." When Lindsay isn't empowering women, she's helping other people in her life—it's what brings her joy. She loves to surround herself with positive energy in all forms and enjoys making new relationships and figuring out how to work together. Lindsay enjoys fitness, meditation, reading, spending time with friends and family, and dancing with her daughter. She texts seven of her Epsilon Beta sisters every day; they are her closest girlfriends in the world. Whether she helps one person or a larger group, Lindsay aspires to leave a legacy that has everything to do with impact. You can connect with her at shookuslindsay@gmail.com to learn more about her entrepreneurial journey. The Perch THE EPSILON BEta ChapTER OF CHI OMEGA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL SPRING 2023 INSIDE: Six Months Until Our Centennial Page 2 Meet Our Centennial Committee! Page 3 Recruitment Is a Group Effort Page 3 Supporting Our Community Page 4 Alumnae News Page 5 Centennial Plans Page 6 Lindsay (left) and her WWFH co-founder, Kristin O'Keeffe Merrick '01. Creating Positive Energy in the World LINDSAY'S CAREER ADVICE FOR HER CHI O SISTERS If you take steps every day to push yourself to do uncomfortable things, it gets easier. It's like going to the gym. You have to train yourself to get better at doing hard things. It is okay to not have it all figured out. I'm 42, and I don't have it all figured out. There are days when I am soaring and days when I am dragging. Both are okay. Lindsay Shookus '02 Shares Passion for Empowering Others "I don't know exactly where I am heading... ...but I know I am building something that makes me very proud; it fills my heart with positive energy and joy."

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