Danielle “Dani” Biggs: A Lifelong Commitment to Leadership and Community

Danielle “Dani” Biggs: A Lifelong Commitment to Leadership and Community

Danielle “Dani” Biggs has always carried a deep connection to service, leadership, and her community. Her story is one of continual growth, learning, and, above all, servant leadership—a concept that she embodies, starting from her college days at Elon University to her current role as a business development specialist at Aon. At the core of her journey is the Sullivan Award, which she received in 2015 at Elon, an honor that still guides much of her work and engagement with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation. Today, she continues to give back to the Foundation that recognized her potential and contributes to building a stronger community of leaders.

The Sullivan Award: A Spark for Lifelong Service

When Biggs heard her name announced as the recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award in 2015, it was more than just a moment of recognition. For her, it symbolized the culmination of her time at Elon, where she had been actively involved in leadership programs and community engagement. “It was such an honor,” Biggs reflects. “To be recognized not just for academic achievements, but for service and leadership—it felt like the perfect end to my time at Elon.”

Biggs, like many recipients, is not certain who nominated her for the award. But the qualities that earned her the honor—leadership, service, and a commitment to others—were clear to anyone who had crossed her path at Elon. As a double major in Dance Choreography and Arts Administration, Biggs was deeply involved in the university’s performing arts department. At the same time, her participation in the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows Program gave her the platform to grow as a leader from freshman year onward.

The Sullivan Award celebrates servant leadership, and Biggs was no stranger to that concept. “Through the Leadership Fellows Program, we were trained to think about leadership not as something we do for recognition, but as a way to serve others,” she said. This philosophy has stuck with her in the years since, driving her continued involvement with the Sullivan Foundation and the work she does today.

A Career in the Arts: Building Community Through Creativity

After graduating from Elon, Biggs entered the world of nonprofit arts administration, working in development and fundraising for major institutions like The Public Theater in New York City and McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey. In these roles, Biggs found her niche in bringing communities together through the arts. “I was working to make sure that the arts remained accessible to everyone, regardless of their background,” she explained. “Art has the power to unite people, and being able to raise funds for that cause felt meaningful.”

But as rewarding as her work was, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the landscape of the arts. Theaters closed, fundraising became more challenging, and the future of the arts sector seemed uncertain. It was during this time that Biggs began to rethink her path. “The pandemic was a moment for me to reflect,” she recalled. “I felt like I had given everything to that chapter of my life, and it was time to move on to something different.”

Returning to Education: A New Direction

In 2020, amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, Biggs took a bold step by returning to school. She earned an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Eastern Gateway Community College and then pursued a master’s degree in Education Policy and Leadership from American University in Washington, D.C., which she completed in 2023. “Education has always been important to me,” she said. “I grew up in a family of educators, so going back to school felt like a natural next step, especially in the middle of such a disruptive time.”

Her return to education also allowed Biggs to explore her interest in policy. “I wanted to understand how education systems work and how I could be a part of making them better,” she explained. It was a new direction that eventually led her to make another career pivot, this time into the corporate world.

Business Development at Aon: Applying Leadership in New Ways

Today, Biggs works as a Business Development Specialist at Aon, a global risk management and insurance firm. Her role involves supporting sales initiatives and special projects across the company’s Northeast region. It’s a far cry from her work in the arts, but Biggs sees many parallels between the two fields. “At the core of what I do, whether it’s fundraising in the arts or business development at Aon, is community-building,” she noted. “I’m always thinking about how we can use our resources to make a positive impact.”

At Aon, Biggs helps the company engage with the nonprofit sector, leveraging her fundraising experience to advise on sponsorships and community impact. “One of the things I love about Aon is that the company really cares about giving back,” she said. “We’re not just selling insurance policies—we’re thinking about how we can support communities, whether through donations, partnerships, or employee involvement.”

Staying Connected to the Sullivan Foundation: Facilitator, Advisor, and Advocate

Even as her career has evolved, Biggs has remained deeply involved with the Sullivan Foundation. A few years after graduation, the Foundation reached out to her about becoming a facilitator for the IGNITE Retreat, a weekend retreat designed to help college students explore their passions and develop their leadership skills. “Being a facilitator was an incredible experience,” said Biggs. “It was amazing to connect with students who were in the same place I was a few years earlier and help guide them as they thought about their futures.”

During the pandemic, she continued to work with the Foundation virtually, leading masterclasses and discussion groups on topics related to leadership and community service. More recently, Biggs joined the Sullivan Foundation’s Alumni Advisory Council, where she helps the organization engage with alumni and plan events. “It’s been really special to stay connected to the Foundation and give back to an organization that gave me so much,” she explained.

In fact, Biggs played a key role in organizing a Sullivan Award alumni event in New York City earlier this year, where she connected with other award recipients living in the area. She is also involved in planning the Foundation’s centennial celebration, which took place on September 20, 2024, in New York City—a fitting tribute to 100 years of recognizing servant leaders.

A Legacy of Leadership

Throughout her life, Biggs has exemplified the values of servant leadership that the Sullivan Award celebrates. Whether in her early days at Elon University, her work in the arts, her return to education, or her current role at Aon, Biggs has always found ways to serve her community. “Leadership isn’t about standing at the front of the room and giving orders,” she said. “It’s about listening, learning, and helping others succeed.”

As the Sullivan Foundation prepares to celebrate its centennial, Biggs’ story serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of the Sullivan Award. “The Foundation has done an incredible job of staying connected to alumni and building a network of servant leaders,” noted Biggs. “I’m honored to be a part of that, and I’m excited to see where we go in the next 100 years.”

For Biggs, the centennial celebration is not just a milestone—it’s a call to continue the work of building communities, supporting others, and leading with integrity. It’s a mission she has embodied throughout her life, and one she will undoubtedly carry forward for years to come.