Women’s Volleyball League members playing sand volleyball at Bohemian Flats Park.
It all started with a simple question: What if we started our own league?
My friends and I loved volleyball, but we found a gap at the University of Minnesota. Club volleyball felt too competitive and expensive, while intramurals were too casual. We wanted something in between, a space for women to play, connect, and belong.
What began as a group chat of five friends quickly turned into something real. By Spring 2025, we had partnered with UMN Recreation to reserve gym space, recruit players, and form eight teams of six-to-eight women each. The goal wasn’t competition, it was community. That vision became the Women’s Volleyball League, a community built for students who love the game, but don’t want the intensity of high-commitment athletics. Whether they played competitively before college or just enjoyed a casual match, our league offers a place to stay active, make friends, and share a love for volleyball on and off the court.
This project soon became one of the most meaningful leadership experiences of my Carlson journey, showing me how business education extends far beyond the classroom.
Emily (left) and Vice President Lily (right) hold up the Women’s Volleyball League poster in front of Huntington Bank Stadium during Explore U.
STRATEGIC THINKING
I-Core, Carlson’s foundational business curriculum, taught me how finance, operations, and marketing interconnect, lessons I applied directly. When gym rental costs rose midseason, I used those budgeting frameworks to reallocate funds and keep the season running smoothly.
When we launched our bi-weekly open gyms, we quickly realized we were responsible for insurance and rental fees totaling hundreds of dollars, an expense we hadn’t anticipated. Instead of panicking, we regrouped that same week to find a solution. After brainstorming, we decided to introduce semester dues so we could afford the space and insurance while keeping the league sustainable for future players.
We communicated the change transparently through social media, explaining why dues were necessary and framing it as a fun, team-driven way to support the community. That experience taught me one of the most valuable business lessons: when unexpected challenges arise, the key is to stay calm, think strategically, and make decisions rooted in collaboration and clarity.
LEADERSHIP AND TEAM MANAGEMENT
Our officer meetings became mini management labs. Setting clear goals, delegating responsibilities, and fostering open communication mirrored everything I learned in Carlson’s leadership courses.
From assigning officer responsibilities to planning our next event, or even having honest conversations when someone wasn’t meeting expectations, clear communication kept our league organized and respectful. Those same skills carry directly into Carlson’s group projects and class discussions, where teamwork and accountability are everything.
The confidence I built through leading league meetings showed up beyond the gym. During my internship, I found myself stepping up in brainstorming sessions, facilitating discussions, and leading with the same collaborative energy that kept our league thriving.
Women’s Volleyball League members gathered at the Marshall Apartments sand volleyball court for the first ‘Digs and Dogs’ event, kicking off the Fall 2025 semester.
BRANDING AND PROMOTION
I built our league’s identity through social media and creative storytelling. Our first Instagram post with big smiles and the caption “Welcome to Women’s Volleyball League at the University of Minnesota, we are SO glad you are here!” perfectly captured who we were: inclusive, spirited, and full of joy.
The same marketing mindset helped us grow engagement, recruit players, and promote our open gyms, social events, and Gopher volleyball watch parties. It was a chance to merge my passion for design with real-world marketing, and to see how branding builds community.
LEADERSHIP BEYOND TITLES
As I head into my junior year and begin interviewing for internships, I’ve realized how meaningful it is to have the Women’s Volleyball League as part of my story. When employers ask about leadership, this is the example that immediately comes to mind – because it’s leadership in its truest form.
Carlson offers endless opportunities to lead, through group projects, clubs, and collaboration, but leadership doesn’t always mean holding a high title or being “in charge.” To me, it’s about being the person others can go to for support, guidance, and encouragement. It’s about being strong and kind, someone others know they can rely on.
Carlson has shaped how I see leadership. In business, titles often define hierarchy, but here, I’ve learned that leadership is about connection, consistency, and compassion. The Women’s Volleyball League reminded me of that every week, whether I was planning open gyms, coordinating schedules, or helping teammates navigate challenges.
The league also reignited my love for volleyball itself. It gave me a chance to share that joy with others while bringing in the skills I’ve developed as a Content & Design Assistant, using social media and marketing to grow our presence and build excitement.
We’ve hosted social events, watched Gopher volleyball games, organized open gyms, and partnered with the Women’s Walking Club for a joint social. We’ve faced challenges, from budgeting hundreds of dollars in court fees to keeping players engaged, but we’ve done it together.
What’s made it worth it is seeing the impact firsthand. One member told me, “This group is the reason I have fallen back in love with volleyball again.” Moments like that remind me that every meeting, every rally, every shared laugh shows that leadership isn’t about doing it all; it’s about bringing people together to make something meaningful.
Women’s Volleyball League members at Honour Coffee for their first social outing event with the Sunday Morning Club, featuring Emily (left).
ADVICE FOR FUTURE BUILDERS
For prospective students: Carlson won’t just teach you business, it will teach you how to build. You’ll gain the confidence and tools to turn ideas into action.
For current students: Don’t wait for permission to start something meaningful. See a gap? Fill it. Combine your coursework, network, and creativity to make it real.
Passion sparks ideas, but drive, collaboration, and communication bring them to life.
FULL CIRCLE: COMMUNITY, CONNECTION, AND GROWTH
Today, the Women’s Volleyball League is more than a set of teams, it’s a growing community where women connect, play, and belong. It’s become a source of joy, empowerment, and friendship. It’s also a living example of Carlson’s spirit of innovation, proof that leadership doesn’t always happen in a boardroom. Sometimes, it happens on a volleyball court. Founding this league reminded me that leadership isn’t a title: it’s about bringing people together to create something that matters. If you’re passionate about something, start it, build it, and watch it grow.
Emily Elletson is a Marketing major at the Carlson School of Management, minoring in Strategic Management. She’s a Content & Design Assistant for the Carlson School undergraduate program and actively involved in the Student Marketing Association and Women in Business.
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