The Clifton Strengths Institute at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln partnered with the Ikigai Knowledge Institute (IKI) to launch the inaugural IKI Fellows program, a leadership initiative that connects entrepreneurial, purpose-driven students with senior industry leaders to foster meaningful change. This one-year program, grounded in the Japanese concept of ikigai—a sense of purpose—aims to cultivate the next generation of socially responsible leaders through mentorship, experiential learning and strengths-based development.

The IKI Fellows program includes nine juniors and seniors from the university's Clifton Builders Program, a selected group of students learning to build businesses, teams and communities. As IKI Fellows, these students participate in workshops, collaborative projects and networking opportunities with IKI members who are established professionals from industries ranging from fintech to nonprofits. Together, they explore how to align their talents and passions with societal needs.

“IKI Fellows exemplify the courage to step into the unknown with curiosity and intentionality. Clifton Builders are a perfect fit as fellows because they are natural change makers who are willing to take on challenges with others might back away,” said Sam Ushio, '99, founder of Ikigai Lab and Clifton Strengths Institute advisory board member who initiated the IKI Fellows partnership. “This program introduces next-generation talent into an ecosystem of purpose-driven leaders, offering students unique opportunities to grow personally and professionally while contributing to meaningful initiatives.”

The program kicked off in November with a summit in Seattle, where fellows engaged in leadership workshops, attended professional networking events and explored the intersection of personal values and professional aspirations. Students also participated in moai meetings—small group discussions rooted in the Okinawan tradition of mutual support—to address challenges and develop actionable solutions.

“IKI Fellows has encouraged me to be more intentional in my actions and open my mind to new perspectives,” said Claire Sobansky, a senior Clifton Builders management major from Lincoln, Nebraska. “Through the program, I’ve gained insights from professionals who genuinely care about our experiences and have inspired me to take action on my vision for the future.”

Combining leadership development utilizing CliftonStrengths and ikigai, the IKI Fellows program equips students to align their innate talents with purposeful leadership. Timothy Hodges, Joan Heiser Endowed Presidential Chair, executive director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and assistant professor of practice in management, shared how this pairing works to positively impact these students.

“CliftonStrengths identifies and develops individual talents, while ikigai aligns passions, skills and purpose. Together, they create a powerful framework for purpose-driven leadership,” said Hodges. "The program builds on the Clifton Builders' curriculum by taking students who've honed their entrepreneurial and leadership skills and pushing them to connect these skills with a deeper sense of purpose. It challenges fellows to apply problem-solving, resilience and initiative to real-world, purpose-driven projects."

Hodges emphasized how this partnership benefits the students and professionals alike.

“Our students are positioned as peers with mid-career executives, engaging in meaningful discussions about values, purpose and leadership," he said. "This experience adapts their focus from simply building businesses to building businesses and communities that create lasting societal impact.”

As a pilot initiative, the IKI Fellows program is designed to evolve based on student feedback. Kaitlin Ferris, assistant director of the Clifton Builders Program, highlighted the program’s emphasis on flexibility and collaboration.

“The IKI Fellows program balances structure with adaptability, allowing students to explore their passions while engaging with professionals across industries,” said Ferris. “This unique approach ensures students are prepared to lead in a rapidly changing world.”

For Naree Philavanh, a senior marketing and Clifton Builders management major from Lincoln, the program has been a transformative experience.

“IKI Fellows helped me reconnect with my values and build confidence as I pursue my career in professional sports,” Philavanh said. “The connections I’ve made through this program will stay with me long after graduation.”

As purpose-driven leaders ready to make a difference on campus, in their communities and beyond, the IKI Fellows are currently participating in a semester-long project. Their project involves planning an event on Wednesday, April 16, 1-3 p.m. in Hawks Hall room 111, where people can learn more about ikigai and their experience as IKI Fellows, participate in activities to clarify their values, and hear from a panel of purpose-driven community leaders.

Following is a full list of students who participated as IKI Fellows, listed alphabetically by hometown, with their year in school and academic major(s) or program.

NEBRASKA

Ansley: Carli Bailey, junior management

Chappell: Grace Timm, junior agribusiness

Kearney: Carter Goff, senior finance and management

Lincoln: Chase Kavanaugh, senior accounting; Emersyn Liljehorn, junior agricultural leadership, education and communication; Naree Philavanh, senior marketing and management; Claire Sobansky, senior management

ELSEWHERE

Fort Collins, Colorado: Conor Maguire, senior management

Rogers, Minnesota: Jacob Ripley, junior management