We’re thrilled to spotlight Aaric Mullins as our Volunteer of the Month! For three semesters, Aaric has served as a Leadership Coach, empowering Fellows at Northern Illinois University (NIU). Guiding Fellows during the Braven course gives him a way to put that value into action — sharing his own mistakes so others don’t have to repeat them.
For Aaric, it comes down to a simple belief: “I have always valued placing myself in a position to be of service to others. A life without service is a life wasted.” Coaching Fellows gives him a way to put that value into action — sharing his own mistakes so others don’t have to repeat them.
That belief was shaped long before Braven. Aaric served in the United States Marine Corps, an experience that still influences how he leads today. “I have always waited for my mentors to tell me I’m ready,” he reflects. “What I have found, and still believe, is that good leadership isn’t something that you can learn. Sometimes, leadership looks like doing the thing that nobody wants to do.”
What’s kept him coming back is what he’s gained from the Fellows themselves. As a 20+ year professional, he shows up with stories of both failure and success, and finds that Fellows meet him with real appreciation and trust in return.
“I am constantly reminded of the power of words,” he shares. “Fellows are the future. I have to be that voice and that presence that allows them to enter into the professional realm with confidence and positivity.”
Through volunteering with Braven, Aaric says this experience has made him a stronger communicator and a more grounded professional: “Once you become a Braven volunteer, you tend to walk a little straighter, speak a little clearer, and strive to be someone of integrity and trust.”
His advice to Fellows, the next generation of leaders: “Be fearless. Listen more. Pick your head up from the phone and recognize the beauty in others and their experiences.”
Thank you, Aaric, for giving back your time and inspiration, and for empowering the next generation of leaders to enter the professional world with confidence.
