Values in Action: Why Principled Leadership Still Matters

Posted On April 8, 2026 By AKPsi Headquarters In Blog Articles, Career Development, Professional Development /  3

Alpha Kappa Psi was founded on a simple but demanding conviction: principled leadership is not optional in business — it is foundational.

In 1904, our founders sought to elevate business into a respected profession at a time when favoritism and informal networks often determined opportunity. They believed merit, education, and character should outweigh cronyism and backroom advantage.

That belief was not merely moral; it was structural. Markets function best when participants trust the system itself. Trust depends on predictable rules, transparency in transactions, and accountability for misconduct.

The founders were aware of the business environment, illustrated by the decades of patronage and scandal that surrounded the New York Customs House, which was only a couple miles from the New York University campus. Although reforms took place in the early 20th century, there remained questions about the political and economic power the Customs House wielded, including the former head of the Customs House, Chester A. Arthur, who became the 21st president of the United States in 1881.

In AKPsi’s tradition and history, this discipline has been mentioned as “square dealing” — fairness, transparency, and honesty in action. Square dealing is not abstract idealism. It is economic infrastructure. It protects honest actors, strengthens institutions, and reinforces confidence in the marketplace.

In complex environments, incentives can reward speed, leverage, or short-term gain. Principled leadership resists those pressures and safeguards the systems that make innovation, opportunity, and growth possible.

That is why Alpha Kappa Psi develops principled business leaders — not simply to succeed within markets, but to strengthen the conditions that allow markets, organizations, and communities to thrive.

Values in Action:
 
Alpha Kappa Psi was founded in 1904 on a bold idea: that business could — and should — be a respected profession defined by character, competence, and accountability.
 
This blog series is designed to recognize the principles that shape healthy markets, ethical leadership, and long-term prosperity.
 
The Alpha Kappa Psi founders recognized favoritism and informal networks that  often determined opportunity in their era. They held a common belief that business instead should be based on fair pay for fair products and services.
 
More than a century later, that conviction remains central to AKPsi’s identity. Today, business operates in a complex, fast-moving environment that tests judgment and character. Markets depend on trust. Trust depends on transparency, accountability, and consistent standards. These are not abstract ideals; they are the foundations that allow organizations, communities, and economies to flourish.
 
Each post in this series begins with brief factual context and interprets contemporary business themes through the lens of business principles, such as Accountability, Integrity, Service, Courage, and Growth.
 
Values in Action reflects our commitment to developing courageous and principled leaders to succeed in business and to strengthen the systems and institutions that make societal prosperity possible.
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Join the Brotherhood of Businesses: The Business Edge Exchange Is Live

Posted On March 9, 2026 By akpsi In Career Development, Career Opportunities, Professional Development /  

Alpha Kappa Psi and the Commonwealth Leadership® Alliance are excited to announce the launch of the Business Edge Exchange — a new online marketplace built exclusively for AKPsi-owned and operated businesses. Whether you’re a seasoned alumnus running your own firm or a recent graduate getting your first venture off the ground, this platform is designed to connect our brotherhood through commerce, collaboration, and mutual support.

Your Business Deserves a Brotherhood Behind It

The Business Edge Exchange is more than a directory. It is a dedicated space where AKPsi members can showcase their businesses to a network of thousands of brothers, family members, and supporters who want to invest in their own community. When you list your business, you are not just gaining visibility, you are tapping into a network of principled business leaders who understand the value of supporting one another.

Think about it: every dollar spent within our Brotherhood strengthens the community that helped shape us. The Exchange makes it easy to find, connect with, and support AKPsi-owned businesses across every industry and region.

Why List Your Business Now

Getting started is simple and completely free. Visit the Business Edge Exchange, create your listing, and put your business in front of the AKPsi community. Share what you do, how you serve your clients, and what sets you apart.

Here is the best part: the first 50 businesses to list will receive free access to the enhanced posting feature, giving you premium visibility and additional tools to stand out on the platform. Early movers get the advantage so do not wait.

Whether you are running a consulting practice, a restaurant, a tech startup, a creative agency, or anything in between, there is a place for your business on the Exchange.

How It Works

For business owners: Any AKPsi student or alumnus can sign up and list their business at no cost. Create your profile, describe your services, and make it easy for fellow brothers and the broader community to find you.

For everyone else: The Exchange is open to the public for browsing. That means your listing is not just visible to AKPsi members, friends, family, and anyone looking for trusted, values-driven businesses can discover what you have to offer. Share the Exchange with your personal and professional networks and help drive real business to our brothers.

A New Way to Live Our Values

Alpha Kappa Psi has always been about developing principled business leaders. The Business Edge Exchange extends that mission beyond the chapter room and into the marketplace. By supporting each other’s businesses, we strengthen the careers, livelihoods, and legacies of brothers across the country and around the world.

If AKPsi helped launch your career, this is your chance to invest in someone else’s. And if you are building something right now, this is your chance to let the brotherhood rally behind you.

Take Action Today

The Business Edge Exchange is live and ready for your business. Do not miss your chance to be among the first 50 to claim the enhanced posting feature.

List your business now at businessedgeakpsi.membermarketplaceinc.com.

Not a business owner? Browse the Exchange and make your next purchase from a fellow brother. Share the link with your chapter, your alumni network, and your family. Together, we can build a brotherhood of businesses that elevates us all.

 

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A woman hiking with her dog while on vacation

The Case for Vacation and How to (Really) Unplug from Work

Posted On July 6, 2022 By Nicole Klemp In Career Development, Professional Development /  

While taking time off throughout the year is important, the warm summer months provide a great excuse to unplug. And summer vacations aren’t just for fun in the sun — science says they’re good for your career too. 

Taking time off from work gives your body and mind time to rest and rejuvenate. Unfortunately, Americans are taking less vacation time than at any point in the last four decades, and more than half (52%) leave at least some vacation time unused.

Let’s take a look at what research tells us about taking those hard-earned vacation days, unplugging from work (truly), and normalizing rest as part of a healthy career.

People who take vacations get promoted more often

While “hustle” culture has made it trendy for business influencers to brag about growing a business on three hours of sleep a night, that behavior is neither healthy nor sustainable. 

Running on too little sleep isn’t going to get you ahead in your career — it can even have the opposite effect. In fact, according to the Harvard Business Review, taking a vacation can actually increase the likelihood of getting a raise or a promotion. People who take all their vacation time have a 6.5% higher chance of getting a promotion or raise than people who leave 11 or more days of paid time off on the table. 

Another thing to consider is the value of your unused vacation days. If you’re a salaried employee and don’t take all your paid vacation time, you’re essentially accepting a pay cut. That vacation time is part of your compensation package, so if you don’t use it and your company doesn’t offer some kind of buy-back option, it’s like handing your money back to the company.

When you recharge, you’re more engaged & productive

In his book, The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor shares research showing that when the brain can think positively, productivity improves by 31%, sales increase by 37%, and creativity and revenues can triple. His findings suggest that a positive and engaged brain is the most significant competitive advantage in the modern economy. But to be truly positive and engaged at work, our brains need breaks and time to rest. If we’re constantly “on” and responding to stimuli, we don’t give our minds a chance to get our thoughts and ideas in order.  

According to the National Science Foundation, our brains are still very busy even when we’re at rest. Marcus Raichle, a professor of radiology, neurology, neurobiology, and biomedical engineering at Washington University, has studied this phenomenon for many years. 

“A great deal of meaningful activity is occurring in the brain when a person is sitting back and doing nothing at all,” says Raichle. “It turns out that when your mind is at rest, dispersed brain areas are chattering away to one another.”

Taking mental breaks throughout the day using methods like meditation and mindfulness can be really beneficial. But it’s vital to take extended periods of rest too, where you can fully unplug from work and technology for days or weeks at a time.

Leave things in a good place when you head out

Some people avoid taking time off because they’re too worried about returning to a mountain of work. They may have been burned before and returned from vacation feeling more stressed and overwhelmed. This can be avoided by getting all your ducks in a row before you leave for vacation — and getting a few other ducks to help take care of things while you’re out.

When you have a vacation coming up, focus on prioritization. Make a list of the tasks that must be accomplished before you go, and coordinate with your manager on those priorities to ensure you’re both on the same page. 

Once you have your must-do list, tackle those things and try not to add anything new to your plate. If people try to send more work your way, politely say something like, “I’m currently focused on getting some essential projects buttoned up before heading out for vacation, but I’d be happy to chat with you about this when I return.”

As your time off approaches, discuss any outstanding items or things that need to happen while you’re out with a trusted colleague and ask if they could cover for you. (If there are several things, asking more than one teammate for help may make sense.) Just be sure to provide them with any critical information they may need while you’re out when you establish the handoff. Nothing can take your mind away from vacation more than a call from a frantic coworker. 

Get more tips from the Business Edge Podcast 

Hear from Raquel Tamez, Chief Inclusion and Engagement Officer for Charles River Associates, as she discusses the importance of rest and sleep for better productivity and a thriving career.

Listen to the episode > 

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two business women meeting talking about how to improve manager relationship

How to Improve Your Relationship with Your Manager

Posted On June 29, 2022 By Nicole Klemp In Blog Articles, Career Development, Professional Development /  

The relationship a person has with their manager or supervisor significantly influences how satisfied and engaged they are at work. Not getting along with your boss or feeling unsupported by them can be a considerable obstacle to your career growth and even harmful to your mental health.

The American Psychological Association found that 75% of Americans say their boss is “the most stressful part of their workday.” Another Gallup study found that one in two employees have left a job “to get away from their manager” at some point in their career.

You can’t fix a truly bad boss (nor should you have to). Fortunately, in most cases, managers just need a little guidance from you on how you prefer to work and be treated. So before throwing in the towel and leaving your team or company altogether, see if it’s possible to change the dynamics of your relationship for the better.

Read on for some constructive ways to handle different personalities, set boundaries, and help your boss understand what you need from them to thrive.

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Members at Chapter Congress holding signs that read 'aye' while voting on legislation.

5 Reasons to Attend Alpha Kappa Psi Convention This Summer

Posted On June 22, 2022 By Nicole Klemp In Blog Articles, Professional Development /  

In August 2022, Alpha Kappa Psi brothers from all over the world will converge in Miami, FL, for the fraternity’s 61st Convention. Convention serves as the business meeting of AKPsi, where Chapter Congress convenes to influence positive change within the organization. 

The four-day-long fraternity event will be held from August 3-6 and will educate student and alumni members on fraternity knowledge, business knowledge, and professional development through the College of Leadership. 

Convention was traditionally held every other year on odd years, but the last Convention scheduled in 2021 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Now with the move to 2022, it will be held on even years going forward.) 

It’s been a long break for us all, and there’s never been a better time to gather with your AKPsi brothers.

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