08 May Lambda Lore: Danny Centeno
In this edition of Lambda Lore, meet Danny “Element 6” Centeno, a brother of Lambda Phi Epsilon at George Mason University whose journey was shaped by resilience, leadership, and personal growth. From overcoming the challenges of being a commuter student to becoming an Assistant New Member Educator during his final semester, he found purpose through brotherhood, mentorship, and pushing himself beyond his comfort zone. Through planning one of his chapter’s first large-scale philanthropy banquets, mentoring younger members, and building lifelong connections across the DMV, he developed the confidence and professionalism that continue to drive him today in his career in sales and business development. His advice? “Only join a fraternity if you truly plan on growing from it — not just socially, but by building your skills, your network, and the foundation for your future.” Read his full story below:
Can you share your experience as a member of Lambda Phi Epsilon during college? What were some of your most memorable highlights and any challenges you faced?
George Mason University was a commuter school, and I lived pretty far away from campus. I never lived in-house or in a dorm, per se, so a lot of the events that my fraternity hosted I either couldn’t attend because of the distance and timing with school, or they were just too far for me. That was one of the challenges I faced, and I was able to overcome it by convincing my parents to let me live at the Flats, an apartment right next to George Mason University.
Once they finally said yes, I was able to become much more involved in my fraternity. I started going to more events, and eventually I became the Assistant New Member Educator (ANME) for my class, the Tsubasa Thetas, and I also took on a little more responsibility as well. That was probably one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had because it truly felt like I was part of the brotherhood that I was promised. Seeing everyone always there for each other, and being able to serve as a teacher and mentor to the new class alongside Larry and Ansel, made the experience especially meaningful.
How do you think your involvement in Greek life contributed to your personal and professional development?
My involvement in Greek Life contributed greatly to my personal and professional development because there were a lot of responsibilities that I had to hold myself accountable for. I remember being put in charge of my chapter’s very first philanthropy banquet, which had never been done before. At first, I didn’t really know what I was doing, but instead of complaining, I sat down and figured out the best way to make it work.
The event ended up being a massive success. We had more than 120–150 people in attendance, which was really large considering the size of George Mason. We even had students from other schools come to the event as well. On top of that, we won Best Event of the Semester for it. Since planning and hosting that event, I created a template that is apparently still being used to this day for how members plan their events and responsibilities.
That experience really taught me the value of persistence and problem-solving, and how taking initiative can have a lasting impact. It also transitioned into my professional life because I currently work as an SDR, or sales development representative, where cold calling definitely is not easy. But again, I wasn’t someone who complained—I figured it out. Within six months, I was able to accomplish something that not many 23-year-olds have done, which was helping build a $4 billion pipeline and sourcing closed deals as an SDR. I take a lot of pride in that because not many people can bring that level of impact and contribute directly to closing deals for their company.
What specific skills, values, or perspectives did you gain from your time in Lambda Phi Epsilon?
Definitely being a leader, becoming comfortable in my own skin, and inspiring others. Early on, I was looked down on a lot because people saw me as someone who wouldn’t really do what needed to be done. But in retrospect, I lived far away, so I couldn’t contribute as much as I would have liked to. Still, I did what I had to do and contributed however I could.
Once I moved closer to Fairfax, I became more open and involved with the members of the fraternity. People really started to see how professional, confident, and goal-oriented I was, and honestly, a lot of that growth came because of Lambdas. I always wanted to be the kind of person people could look up to and say, “This is a prime example of a Leader Among Men.” I wanted to show that if you truly go after what you want, you can achieve whatever it is that you set your mind to.
In what ways did Lambda Phi Epsilon help you build a network of connections both during and after college?
During college, it really came together during my last senior year when I was able to become more involved in the fraternity. I was able to attend more chapter reveals, such as at JMU and UMBC, as well as events with some of the sister organizations at UMCP and VCU. I really bonded with a lot of people during that time, and some of them I still talk to to this day.
After I graduated from George Mason University, I used the same networking skills I learned as a Lambda and started networking outside of college with people much older and more experienced than me, whether they were in their 30s, 40s, or 50s. That is honestly one of the biggest reasons why I consider myself successful at my job today. If I hadn’t gained that networking experience and practice through Lambdas, I don’t think I would be in the position I’m in today. Being able to talk with people who are well above my pay grade, learn from them, network with them, and overall just be a sponge and absorb knowledge has been incredibly valuable for my personal and professional growth.
How has being a member of Lambda Phi Epsilon influenced your career path or choices post-graduation?
When I was a Lambda, I honestly didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life. Some things happened, but after that, I really woke up and started asking myself, “What is it that I actually want to do with my life?”
I started talking with some of my brothers in the chapter about the things I genuinely enjoyed doing, and one thing that stood out was being able to communicate confidently, influence people, and earn their buy-in. That really paved the way for me to go into sales because one thing I truly love is talking to people, getting to know them, and ultimately building enough trust where they feel comfortable working with me and trusting my judgment.
At the end of the day, I’m very driven and hustle-oriented, but I also genuinely enjoy building connections with people. Whether those connections last long-term or eventually fade, a connection is still a connection, and you can go really far in life because of the relationships and experiences you build along the way.
Can you share any key lessons or defining moments from your Greek life experience that have stayed with you?
If I’m going to be completely honest and transparent, definitely the education process. I was named Element 6 for a reason, and that experience helped drive me every day and continues to influence the decisions I make. It taught me that life is not always going to be rainbows and sunshine. There are always going to be difficult moments and setbacks, but it’s what you make out of those downs that ultimately determines the results you achieve and the future you create for yourself.
Reflecting on your time in Lambda Phi Epsilon, what advice would you give to current college students who are considering joining Greek life?
If you’re joining a fraternity for the connection and the brotherhood that’s promised, you really can’t go wrong with that. But eventually, if you realize you’re only joining a fraternity to be social, attend parties, and just have fun in the moment, you’re probably not going to get very far from it. You’ll just be doing what feels good at the time because you have the freedom and resources to do so.
However, if you’re investing in yourself, stepping outside of your comfort zone, and connecting with like-minded individuals, you can build a really strong foundation for both your professional and personal life. You’ll also be able to develop and strengthen your skill set through those experiences and relationships.
So my advice would be to only join a fraternity if you genuinely plan on growing from it, not just socially, but also by refining your skills, building meaningful connections, and elevating both your career and your personal life at the same time.
What is your favorite memory of your time as an Active?
It was when I was an ANME because I was really able to put an emphasis on the professionalism that students should be developing, no matter how old or young they are. On top of that, we had our reveal, and the turnout on Thursday night was really, really good. It was a pretty large space, but it was filled to the max. We even had people standing all the way at the top of the stairs, and just seeing that amount of support for my kids was incredible. Being an ANME during my final semester at George Mason University was definitely an experience I’ll always remember.
What areas do you think your chapter could work on and what would you like to do more of in the future?
Sometimes people just don’t want to put in the work. A lot of people only want to mix, socialize, and be there for the connections. But when it comes to actually growing the fraternity and putting in the effort to make events successful, not everyone gives it their all. And if you don’t give it your all, people aren’t going to recognize what Lambda Phi Epsilon at George Mason University truly stands for.
One thing I really want members to work on is going above and beyond instead of settling for average. I want them to make a name for themselves and take pride in what they represent. I want them to be able to stand in a room and confidently say, “I’m from Lambda Phi Epsilon,” and have people recognize the fraternity and the values it stands for. At the end of the day, I want people to stand up for what they believe is right and not be afraid to fight for it.
How do you stay in touch with your brothers after graduating?
I usually just reach out to the bros that I know or the ones around my age who are still active. On top of that, I try to attend reveals and crossings whenever I can. I’m definitely very busy now because of work, but I still make an effort to set aside time to go see them and stay connected whenever possible.
What is the benefit of the alumni network and how do you use that to your advantage?
One thing I noticed when I started my job was that there wasn’t really a DMV alumni group for Lambda Phi Epsilon. So I took the initiative to create a group on LinkedIn and started inviting as many people as I could.
There are a lot of networking opportunities for alumni; it really just depends on how well you know your chapter and how connected you are within the alumni network. There are always people willing to reach out and help, whether it’s someone from your lineage at another school or even their Pbros. As long as you ask, there’s usually somebody there who can support you.
I’m always willing to help another Lambda if they come to me. For example, there was one fellow who reached out to me about a job interview, and I was able to help secure him an interview at my company. At the end of the day, if you know your network well and ask the right questions, you can usually find someone who’s willing to help you out.
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About Lambda Phi Epsilon
Founded in 1981 at Los Angeles, California, Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc. has grown to become the world’s largest Asian-interest fraternity. Lambda Phi Epsilon (ΛΦΕ, also known as LFE) aims to guide men on a lifelong discovery of authenticity and personal growth. To learn more, visit https://lambdaphiepsilon.org.
Lambda Phi Epsilon Contact
David Kim, President
Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc.
david.kim@lambdaphiepsilon.org
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