Leah Finkelman, a junior on the Penn Quakers women’s soccer team, will represent the University of Pennsylvania at the upcoming NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Dallas. Finkelman, who is majoring in cognitive science and minoring in consumer psychology, has been active both on and off the field during her time at Penn.
Finkelman balances her athletic commitments with roles such as tutor, Secretary of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and founder of Jewish Student-Athletes at Penn. She is also involved in the Penn Athletics Wharton Leadership Academy (PAWLA).
She described her approach to leadership by saying, “Leadership, to me, is about being authentic and using your strengths to lift up the people around you. As a leader, I prioritize building real relationships while inspiring and motivating others with my actions.”
Finkelman emphasized that her focus extends beyond just her own team: “I want to create more opportunities for athletes from different teams to connect, support each other, and feel part of something bigger than their individual programs,” she said.
Through founding Jewish Student Athletes at Penn (JSAP), Finkelman aims to foster inclusivity within the university’s athletic community. She explained, “I believe the establishment of Jewish Student Athletes at Penn (JSAP) will provide Penn’s athletic community another avenue to foster inclusivity and cultural awareness. Over the past year, many Jewish students have experienced moments of isolation and uncertainty on campus, underscoring the need for spaces where identity and belonging are actively affirmed.”
At the NCAA Leadership Forum in Dallas later this month, student-athletes like Finkelman will have opportunities for personal reflection and skill development alongside peers from across the country. The event is designed to help participants develop practical leadership skills that benefit themselves as well as their institutions.
“I believe true leadership development comes from learning with and from others,” Finkelman said. “And having the opportunity to travel across the country to immerse myself in an environment full of passionate, driven, and inspiring individuals is something I’m genuinely excited about.”
Looking ahead to life after graduation next year, Finkelman reflected on how being a student-athlete has prepared her for future challenges: “Being a student-athlete at Penn has taught me the value of commitment, discipline, and time management, skills that I’ll take with me anywhere I go. It’s also taught me how to stay present and appreciate the little moments that make the journey meaningful.”
While she has not yet decided on a specific career path after college, she expressed interest in marketing or consumer strategy—fields related to her academic background—and hopes to apply what she has learned both academically and through athletics.
“I’m not exactly sure what career path I’ll pursue yet,” she said. “But I’m interested in working in the realm of marketing or consumer strategy. As a cognitive science major and consumer psychology minor, I’ve become fascinated by how people think, make decisions, and respond differently across different domains. I would love to apply that understanding within professional sports, combining my academic interests with my passion for athletics and continuing to stay connected to the environment that’s shaped so much of who I am.”
