At the Tauber Institute for Global Operations, we believe in resilience, teamwork, and excellence in leadership. Ella Jo Piersma, a first-year Tauber student about to begin her Tauber Project, just put all three on full display by helping lead her team to a Big Ten Championship in Women’s Swimming and Diving. We reached out to her to ask about the season, the win, and how it all connects back to her Tauber experience.

Q: What did it mean to win this year’s Big Ten Championship?

Ella Jo: Winning the Big Ten Championship my senior year means everything, especially knowing how long it took to get there. My freshman year, we finished 23rd at NCAAs and came in third at the Big Ten Championship three years in a row. This year felt different. We truly believed we could win, and that belief changed how we showed up for each other. Getting to celebrate that moment with teammates I’ve spent so many hours training alongside made it incredibly special and rewarding.

Q: What’s it like knowing you’ll one day share Championship Reunion Weekend with your parents?

Ella Jo: Growing up, my dad used to take me onto the field with him for the Weekend of Champions. This year, I watched both of my parents go on the field from the student section. It took me a minute to realize that I’ll now get to join them one day. I’m incredibly grateful to have shared so much of this journey with them over the past 16 years.

Q: How did you navigate the ups and downs of this season?

Ella Jo: Swimming has a demanding schedule, and this season really required staying mentally resilient. I learned to lean more on my teammates for support, communicate openly with coaches, and prioritize recovery in my free time. Keeping our goal of winning a championship in focus helped me stay grounded through the challenges.

Q: Do you see any parallels between competing at this level and your experience in Tauber?

Ella Jo: Absolutely. In both Tauber and athletics, resilience, teamwork, and being open to change are critical for success. To be adaptable, you have to really understand your values, something we work on in Tauber and in team meetings at the pool. In both settings, getting to know your team and how to work well together is key, because team results are always stronger than individual ones. None of us could have won a Big Ten Championship alone, and the same goes for successful group projects in Tauber.

From the Tauber Institute, we’re so proud to have students like Ella Jo representing what it means to lead, no matter the terrain. Thank you to Ella Jo Piersma for her quick interview. We cannot wait to see what else our students accomplish in the years ahead!