Gopi Nadella started his career in the Navy. He served for 20 years as a Navy JAG, and we would like to thank him for his service! Before his career, Gopi attended Baldwin Wallace University, where he was a 2001 graduate of the Ohio Zeta chapter. Due to global assignments with the Navy, it was difficult to get engaged with SigEp as a volunteer. About 7-8 years ago, Gopi decided to volunteer and has not looked back. Gopi has taken on many roles since he started volunteering, including mentor to the vice president of finance and a member of the Cal Beta Beta Alumni and Volunteer Corporation; balanced man steward for his home chapter Ohio Zeta, and district governor for District 38 in Southern California. In support of the new Balanced Man Program, Brother Nadella is a DISC-certified volunteer who helps chapters implement Pathways to Potential — SigEp’s version of the DISC assessment — to drive communication and teamwork.

Gopi has been an outstanding district governor for Southern California and has implemented a lot of positive change with the chapters he works with. He has helped all of his chapters live by the Rite of Brotherhood. He has also recruited dedicated volunteers for the six chapters he oversees. Gopi says the volunteers he works with are the greatest blessing he has in his role. Those volunteers helped our Southern California chapters recommit to the Ritual; navigate tough situations and build up all chapters in the district. Gopi also would like to thank Jon Catanzarita,PennWest ’11 and Renato Villacorte, Cal Poly-Pomona ’91 for helping guide him in his role as a district governor and setting an example for how to mentor and support chapters. Brother Nadella, thank you for all that you do for Sigma Phi Epsilon!

Q&A with Gopi Nadella

What is your favorite thing to do as a volunteer?
I love that I get to be a teacher, mentor, and coach for young adults that share the same values that I do. I love interacting with undergraduates and coaching them towards a goal. I believe volunteering can help provide a project to help retain skill sets from the past. And I love fixing a problem and seeing mentees use my wisdom and their own knowledge to fix a problem.

What keeps you up at night as a volunteer?
I wonder if I have lived my values to the best of my ability during that day as a volunteer. It sometimes causes me stress and makes me do something very late or make it my first priority the next day. I question where I’m failing myself when I need to improve a situation for an undergraduate chapter.

What is your biggest accomplishment/impact you have had/made during your time as a volunteer?
Ohio Zeta hadn’t been to Conclave the last two or three years. But that changed this year, 7 guys went to Carlson, 4 guys went to Conclave, and it has been great to see the chapter get engaged with leadership opportunities and buy-in to the national organization. Also they have a Tragos Quest to Greece scholar this year as well.