References when you are the founder/president/leader???
Hi everyone! I’m applying to med this cycle and trying to choose references.
I founded and am the leader of an organization, and the person who can speak most specifically to my leadership is someone who has been involved with it for a couple of years. They have seen me coordinate projects, manage a team, delegate tasks, make decisions, navigate conflict, and respond as the organization has grown.
The grey area is that while they are part of the organization, we are also close friends. They are not just a random friend writing a reference, but they also aren't a supervisor or community member. I just feel stuck because they have the closest view of how I lead and can speak the best about who I am and my character.
For schools that say “peers” are not appropriate referees, how would you interpret this? Would a long-term volunteer/team member in an organization you founded be considered a peer, or could they be appropriate if they directly observed your leadership in that setting? If not, who should you use as a reference when you are the founder?
Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks everybody!