Loris Durrant has been the senior staff accountant for Golden Key for over 15 years. Durrant said what drew her to Golden Key were the society’s values centered around helping students excel. “In 2006, my family and I relocated from Florida to Georgia, where I found an opportunity to join this great team,” said Durrant.

She believes that the best benefits of Golden Key are the scholarships, networking, workshops, and the excitement of building a community together. She said what made her proud to be a part of Golden Key this past year was how flexible they became with allowing everyone to work from home.

Durrant explained that Golden Key put a lot of effort into ensuring that everyone worked in a stress-free environment, and the executive team has been very approachable. “This type of environment allows others and me to grow and feel secure in the place we are working for,” said Durrant.

She believes a great leader must have strong listening and communication skills. “I also believe one of the greatest skills to have in life are warmth and relatability,” said Durrant. “My inspiration comes from the golden rule, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Durrant said her longtime best friend was the best person she had ever worked with. “We socialized and traveled together, always looking out for one another,” she said.

She said the best career advice she has ever received was, “Whatever you are doing, do the best until you leave, and don’t burn any bridges.” The top advice Durrant would give new members is to network and take advantage of personal development opportunities.

“If I could recommend one thing to watch or listen to, it would be good reggae music from Bob Marley, Beres Hammond, and many more,” said Durrant. “It will get you through any rough patches, chores included!”

Gillian Cloete has been the Relations Manager at Golden Key for over five years. However, she has been involved with the Golden Key Structures for over ten years. Cloete was initially drawn to Golden Key as a member and part of the team because she wanted to be part of a global network focused on excellence and serving the community.

Cloete said she had seen the development of members over the past year and how they have grown and driven themselves to be impactful industry leaders. Witnessing this development firsthand has made her proud to be a part of Golden Key. She explained that she’s inspired by young people making a difference in communities.

“Many young people are focused on becoming social media sensations, making millions, and being better than the next person,” she said. “[However,] when I see exceptional young leaders getting up and giving back, it gives me a sense of inspiration and hope for a better world tomorrow.”

Cloete explained that the best career advice she has ever received was to do something she’s passionate about, and she will never work a day in her life. She said, “as a very passionate individual, this has always stuck with me.”

Cloete said that Dr. Elmie Castleman is the best person she has ever worked with. “She is such a passionate, assertive, and dynamic leader,” she said. “She absolutely loves what she does and strives for excellence every second of every day.”

Cloete explained that a great leader celebrates and helps each team member develop their strengths and talents. She said that a great leader allows teammates to grow as individuals within a team.

Cloete explained that the best skill to have in life is the ability to work interdependently. She said, “this [will] assist in having respect for the different ways people think, learn and process information. Increases self-awareness and appreciation for others.”

Cloete loves all of Golden Key’s benefits and recommends everything on the Golden Key Academy. She said, “it is like a treasure chest of growth and development opportunities.”

She also encourages all new members to participate and constantly push their limits. Cloete said, “you cannot grow when you are in a position of comfort.”

For members looking for a recommendation outside of Golden Key Cloete, the book The 5 am Club by Robin Sharma is recommended.

Ian Sankey has been the Canadian Director of the Golden Key International Honour Society for more than 13 years. He first heard about the opportunity to become the Canadian Director through a fellow Canadian expatriate in Atlanta, also employed by Golden Key at the time.

“The idea of working with university students across Canada sounded great,” Sankey says.

When first interviewed, he met with a number of the staff and was delighted to discover such a friendly team.

“We had some good conversations,” says Sankey. “I knew it would be a good working environment. I think the people you meet through Golden Key are one of the biggest benefits of being part of the organization. I have met some incredible students, wonderful university professors and administrators that advise the student groups, and really impressive alumni and honorary members. I have come into contact with people from all around the world and grown my personal and professional network far beyond many typical job contacts.”

Although he has met even more people through his role working with Golden Key, Sankey believes these networking opportunities are there to enjoy for all global lifetime members.

“I think the members can experience the same widening of their networks by getting involved with their local chapter and then also expanding their contacts out to other chapters around the world,” he says. “These connections are good avenues to lifelong friendships, work networking contacts, and learning opportunities.”

For Sankey, 2022 has been challenging since the world is already two years into the epidemic, and many schools are operating at least partly online. Nonetheless, he said he is delighted with the student leaders at Canadian institutions for their persistent efforts to unite students and serve their local communities. Student leaders continue to arrange meaningful service projects for their communities, and the pandemic has not deterred them from doing so. Their optimism is uplifting in light of the difficulties caused by the spread of COVID-19.

Prior to joining Golden Key, Sankey worked in various positions in the non-profit and education fields. He explains that it was in a previous role at the Maritime National Park in San Fransisco that he met the best person he’s ever worked with, a fellow instructor at his job.

“We became roommates, and he is still one of my best friends to this day,” says Sankey. “Working with him was always fun and interesting, and his quick wit and wonderful storytelling ability kept the students engaged and entertained. We played off each other very well as instructors. He later became a writer and book publisher. It is always great to work with people who really enjoy their jobs, and you can feel that their enthusiasm and talents are well aligned with the job.”

The best professional advice Sankey ever received was to seize chances when they presented themselves. A few years back, at a GK New Member Recognition Event, he was listening to a presentation by a Golden Key honorary member. One of the speakers was a doctor who dedicated their career to understanding how the brain works and how it develops.

The speaker reminisced about meeting a neurologist at a party while he was just out of medical school. They had considered family practice, but he had always been fascinated by the brain’s inner workings. After a late-night neuroscience discussion, the neurologist invited him to join his team and participate in an upcoming research study. He shifted his focus to neurology and hasn’t looked back since. Because he was curious and willing to seize possibilities as they presented themselves, that fortuitous encounter led him onto a new route (which he now enjoys).

“I think the general idea is to not be afraid to try different things and to take opportunities when they arise,” he says.

Sankey said that an excellent manager and leader can inspire and motivate their team to achieve their goals.

“It is great if you are very capable and talented at what you do,” explains Sankey. “It is even better if you can also help others around you and lift them up by helping them when they need it and trusting in them as well so they can shine on their own.”

Sankey also believes that a consistently good attitude can do a lot for a person.

“I don’t want to sound like a daily affirmation poster but being able to stay positive and shift how you think about things is a powerful mental tool,” says Sankey.

Sankey explains that unknown challenges, adversity, self-doubt, and the occasional “what the heck is going on?” will affect most of us. He advises that everyone keeps going, keeps working, keeps trying, and reaches out to connect with people and activities that are important to them.

According to Sankey, things will typically work out for the best if people are friendly to themselves and try not to worry too much. He says that his parents were the first people to inspire him.

“They have always been there for my brother and myself, and I am fortunate enough to get to spend time with them every week,” he says.

“My wife and kids also inspire me,” he continues. “My wife is an amazing person who has a great career and a wonderful family, she is a great mom and partner, and she somehow always knows how to buy people the perfect gift.”

Sankey also considers his children to be a source of his motivation and he wants to serve as a positive example for them.

“Their playful natures and inventiveness keep me engaged and motivated to show them the world and provide them with the best education possible,” he says.

Finally, his top piece of advice for new members? Get involved!

“There are a lot of ways to make the most of your lifetime membership,” he says. “Apply for Golden Key scholarships, attend events put on by your local chapter, register and explore the Golden Key Academy, or join a student leadership team and organize events yourself if you have the time. Golden Key can be much more than a line on your resume, and I think those who put themselves in the position to meet other people and get involved in activities can really take their membership to the next level. There are a lot of member stories at www.goldenkey.org/canada that demonstrate how other members have made Golden Key a big part of their university experience and beyond.”

“As a staff member, I’d say what attracted me most to Golden Key was to grow my chapter experience into a regional, national and international one,” Melissa says. “I was thrilled to learn how our chapters collectively work together to make a difference on university campuses around the world, and I absolutely loved the challenge as a non-profit association leader to determine ways to best support them. I tell people daily the international scope of our organization is truly unique. We meet with members, volunteers and leaders morning, noon and night.”

Melissa’s journey with Golden Key started many years ago when she studied at the University of Central Florida. 

“I was a junior at UCF majoring in communications when I got my invitation to join Golden Key,” Melissa explains. “I was also a creature of habit and realized I was only interacting and present on a small portion of our campus. I realized that the society had members from all majors and backgrounds. I knew that they would introduce me to other student organizations, events and more people at the university than I ever would meet on my own. I also appreciated the fact that GK members in the top 15% of their class understood not only the pressure to achieve academically but also the desire to do our absolute best in our undergraduate and graduate careers.”

When asked to pick what she thought was the best benefit of Golden Key, Melissa found it hard to narrow down. 

“I think there are so many benefits of Golden Key,” Melissa shares. “First is the simple fact that GK is a lifetime membership. This means you pay your membership dues when you join, and you get all of the programs and benefits GK offers for the rest of your life. Where else can you get that?”

Melissa is also very proud of the Golden Key Academy website that launched in September 2020.

“I’m also extremely proud of our newest member benefit, the Golden Key Academy, which is our online platform for lifetime personal and professional development,” Melissa reveals. “It has allowed us to engage Golden Key honorary members and global thought leaders to bring incredible learning opportunities for our current student members as well as our alumni members.”

Melissa is extremely grateful, and in awe of everyone that makes Golden Key the organization it is today.

“I have been completely blown away by our chapter advisors, officers and volunteers during the past two years of the COVID-19 global pandemic and all that they have endured,” Melissa remarks. “Our chapter leaders had to deal with challenges on their own university campuses, dealt with switching to a virtual classroom and operational spaces on top of dealing with additional stresses at home and in their day-to-day life. On top of that, they still found time to dedicate to our organization, to our members and our mission. We cannot ask for a better network of volunteers. They really are the lifeblood and backbone of this organization. They make me proud every day.”

If Melissa could offer one piece of advice to new members, it would be to embrace all the different things they can do through Golden Key.

“Get involved,” Melissa encourages. “GK has so many ways to begin your membership in our society. From virtual learning events to chapter activities and service projects. No matter where you are or what level of involvement you are looking for, GK has a way to connect you. Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter and check out what our Golden Key Academy has to offer.”

Given Melissa’s seasoned professional experience, she has received plenty of useful advice. But one piece of advice stands out better than the rest. 

“Never say ‘that’s not my job’,” Melissa comments. “You should always contribute, whether or not it is your responsibility – and even if no one is watching. You should do what needs to be done or find a way to help someone else find a solution. Period. I believe the professional growth I’ve experienced in my life has directly come from this simple philosophy. Leaders especially need to demonstrate a willingness to serve their teams in any capacity, no matter how big or small.”

Moreover, Melissa shares her ideas on what makes a great leader.

“I’ve always thought that a great manager/leader shares with team members the big plan AND their role in the success of that plan,” Melissa states. “Great leaders listen to their team and their career aspirations and find ways to support those goals both inside and outside of work.”

Melissa explains what she feels is the best skill to have in life. 

“I believe the only constant in life is change, and therefore I think the best personal/professional skill we can possess is to be agile and embrace change,” Melissa expresses. “If we can apply self-reflection and learning as a constant part of our day-to-day life and control how we react to change (hint: lean in!)I believe it is how we truly grow and evolve. It won’t happen overnight, but I believe this is one of the most valuable skills an individual can possess.”

Melissa is honored to have worked with every one of her coworkers, past and present, but one particular person stands out in her mind.

“I’ve had the privilege to work with and for so many incredible leaders in my career,” Melissa shares. “I was so fortunate to begin my career many years ago with a great mentor and leader, Gert Garman, at the University of Central Florida. Gert is one of the most creative human beings I’ve ever met. Each day she pushed me to define the challenges in front of us, think outside of the box and be willing to do anything, big or small, to support those around you, regardless of your title or position. She is an incredible networker, and she taught me that genuine interactions are the foundation of a strong professional base. I’ve also never laughed as hard as we did when Gert was around. Her sense of humor is unmatched, and I learned never to take myself too seriously. She continues to inspire me today as a business owner of Broad Perspective and applies the philosophy she taught me to her own life. She is currently battling Guillain-Barre syndrome and is sharing her ‘joy in the journey’ despite the challenges she is facing. I’m so blessed to have learned – and continue to learn – from such an incredible person.”

One person who inspires Melissa is GK honorary member Desmond Tutu. “Reverend Tutu was an unbelievable force for anti-apartheid and human rights. I was lucky to hear him speak twice in my life – as well as his daughter. He was a pillar of integrity and equality. His smile, spirit and faith quite literally changed the world.”

Still, Melissa is inspired by much more.

“I am inspired by people who are brave enough to chase their dreams,” Melissa says. “Too often, society tells us who we should be or what we should do, and I’m inspired by those who are willing to dedicate hard work and determination to fulfill their dream.”

When asked about one interesting thing that she thought GK members could read, watch or listen to, Melissa had a particular podcast in mind.

“I’ve just discovered ‘How to Fail with Elizabeth Day’,” Melissa replies. It’s a podcast centered around embracing and learning from failure, and she interviews everyone from athletes to politicians, where they share how failure has shaped their careers. It is fascinating.”

If you are interested in joining Golden Key, we would love you to join Melissa for one of her regular live webinars where she talks about Golden Key, explains the benefits and answers questions. Click here to register for free.