ECS CEO Elizabeth Fitzsimons alongside four Laurels for Leaders ASB presidents after her keynote address. February 2024.
At ECS, nothing is more important than uplifting the community. On Tuesday, Feb. 13, that community spirit extended toward young leaders in the San Diego region at the 67th Laurels for Leaders Celebration. Laurels for Leaders is an annual event that supports and acknowledges the work of Associated Student Body (ASB) presidents from high schools across San Diego County. Stacy Brandt, the current president of Laurels for Leaders, shared that the event provides workshops for student leaders, including a financial literacy workshop, a place for ASB presidents to connect with each other, and the opportunity for student leaders to connect with community leaders. “The community leaders of today get to meet the community leaders of tomorrow,” Brandt said. One such “leader of today” is ECS’ own CEO, Elizabeth Fitzsimons.
Fitzsimons was selected as this year’s keynote speaker for the luncheon. Brandt emphasized that Fitzsimons’s focus on “leadership and improving your community, taking care of the people in your community,” is what earned her the honor of keynote speaker. “She’s followed her heart and given back to the community,” Brandt said.
From a journalist at The San Diego Union-Tribune to Vice President of Leadership & Engagement at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce to being a mother of three, Fitzsimons has held a variety of roles and leadership positions throughout her career. The one constant: her optimism, spirit, and compassion that she lends to every role. She shared this wisdom in her speech to the student leaders present.
Fitzsimons opened her speech with “I see so much possibility” in the room of young leaders. She focused her remarks on Creating Possibility and shared her own stories of how she grew as a leader and took new opportunities, even if she felt intimidated. The core of her presentation centered around three key practices to create possibility for yourself and the people around you: say yes, raise your hand, and empower others.
The ASB presidents had the opportunity to learn from Fitzsimons and have conversations with leaders like her, but those leaders also received the chance to learn from the younger generation of aspiring leaders. Brandt shared that his favorite part of the event was connecting with the students. “It’s so inspiring, it’s so different the experiences they have, but they’re all trying to do the same thing: make their schools a better place,” he said.
Piper Zaben of Clairemont High School shares her experiences as an ASB president. February 2024.
Piper Zaben, an ASB president who attended Laurels for Leaders, shared her experience as a student at the celebration.
“It’s been, honestly, a wonderful experience. Never in my life did I think I’d come to an event like this and celebrate everyone who is so talented and does so much for their community,” she said. “I really appreciate being here and being thought of as someone who takes charge in their community. It’s an amazing experience.”
Piper is applying to several top California schools and wants to study cell biology to become a dermatologist. For now, she is leading her school as ASB president, which to her means “to take charge and represent your school… and enjoy the community that you’re in and that you helped create.”
Laurels for Leaders is “a chance for the adults in the room to learn from the kids and vice versa,” Brandt said. Sharing ideas and experiences between generations helps strengthen the community and provides hope for the future. “We all need someone who believes in us, shows up for us,” Fitzsimons said in her speech. “And you are showing up in a big way for these young people.”
ECS is proud to have its CEO featured as the 2024 Laurels for Leaders keynote speaker and is excited to connect with young leaders who are working to transform the San Diego community, alongside ECS.
