My Davidson | A Student Blog Leading with Authenticity: What Cross Country & Pro ’Cats Taught Me About Teamwork
October 21, 2026
Learn how Davidson College scholar athlete Leah Horgan ’29 developed her authentic leadership style through her experiences with Division I Track & Field, Cross Country and the Pro ’Cats Professional Development & Leadership Bootcamp.
About the Author
Leah Horgan ’29 is from Wilmington, Delaware, and she explores the intersection of Biology and Public Health. Outside of the classroom, she is a member of the Cross Country and Track & Field teams, a member of Warner Eating House, and a tutor for elementary school students.
“As a prospective student, Davidson’s community and beautiful location immediately stood out to me, and I chose it because it’s a place where I never have to compromise between high-level academics and athletics.”
Prior to running in college, I had never had a teammate whom I strongly looked up to. While I had incredible coaches and family members as mentors, I understood leaders primarily as figures of authority. My first year at Davidson transformed that perspective.
For the first time, I had a captain and teammate who exemplified everything I admire in a leader: fearlessness, compassion, discipline and balance. Seeing another scholar athlete who led my team with grace changed the way I approach cross-country, track, and academics at Davidson. As I grew closer to my captain, Molly Sullivan '26, who represented our team in the inaugural Career Advantage Leadership Academy, I learned that leadership is not straightforward and building confidence takes perseverance and self-assurance. Because of her leadership, I began to see admirable qualities in all of my teammates, regardless of their grade level. She inspired me to become the best teammate and leader I am capable of.
Pro ’Cats gave me the space to build on those lessons by deepening my understanding of my own leadership style, professional communication, and networking.
Hosted by the Career Advantage program for Davidson scholar-athletes, the Pro ‘Cats Professional Development & Leadership Bootcamp is an intensive career and leadership program that provides selected participants with the opportunity to develop their professional leadership skills in a small cohort model.
In just three days, I connected with Davidson alumni, learned salary negotiation skills and built strong bonds with student-athletes across different sports. Pro ‘Cats showed me that everybody has a unique leadership style, and collaboration and understanding are most important to function productively. True unity and success don't come from a loud or dominant team dynamic. Rather, a team thrives when there is room for everyone to contribute their unique strengths, values and perspectives.
From this experience, I’ve shifted my academic and professional goals through thoughtful values-based activities and programming. Going into the program, I was hesitantly undecided, but I am now confidently pursuing biology and public health. I am excited to enter the professional world during and after Davidson, knowing what I want to prioritize for my career.
