Leadership is personal for 2nd Lt. Alison Gaynor. She understands personal sacrifices are often necessary to ensure her subordinates have what they need.
Her most rewarding cadet experience was when she served as first sergeant for Foxtrot Company. She motivated and encouraged her freshman cadets.
"Sometimes you put so much effort into a project and it seems like there's no impact, but even if you improve one person, you succeeded," Gaynor said. "A lot of people get stuck on the big picture, and they forget about the individual."
Gaynor was one of 10 female student leaders recognized by the Women of UNG in 2021.
Gaynor, who graduated and commissioned as an Army officer in the quartermaster branch in May 2021, earned a degree in marketing.
The Dallas, Georgia, native knew her straightforward approach didn't work for everyone.
"You definitely have to change your leadership approach with different people," Gaynor said. "Some people react well to tough love, and some don't."
As Gaynor's mentor, retired Sgt. 1st Class Chris Cato, UNG's assistant director of military operations, delivered honest assessments of where Gaynor needed to improve. She took his advice to heart and appreciated how it shaped her as a leader.
"He let me figure it out for myself and helped me learn that it's OK to ask for help," Gaynor said.
Gaynor said her proudest moment at UNG was learning that a freshman female cadet chose UNG because she was inspired by Gaynor's accomplishments.
"Being able to lead in a way that showed other women they can do this too, it helped them imagine themselves in this position," Gaynor said. "I wanted to set the standard for other women and show them we can accomplish anything the men can do."
