Here’s a helpful article by org. psychologist Adam Grant at Wharton. One of my take-aways is that there’s a whole spectrum with many “ambiverts” (withdraw in some situations, light up in others) as well as those who are more purely innie or outie.
https://www.quietrev.com/5-myths-about-introverts-and-extroverts/
One of the most gregarious and outgoing people I know - capable of hobnobbing with intellectuals and schmoozers alike - was not only a “Committee on Social Thought” major at University of Chicago (back in the days when the College didn’t have anywhere near the enrollment or social activities it does now), but also went on to obtain a PhD in theology! As the head honcho at a prestigious educational institution, he is skilled both at thinking deep and hitting up the big guns for money. In contrast, most academic PhD’s I know detest the burden of administrative leadership with its various committee responsibilities and loathe fundraising. They just want to be left alone to work on their stuff. Some of these types will or have won a variety of academic accolades including the Nobel so they clearly are leaders in their field.
My mother-in-law was always sociable and outgoing and used to entertain constantly. She’s the type to be surrounded by 1,000 of her “closest friends” at a party. In contrast, I’d much rather invite just one or two “real” friends for a wonderful evening of spirited and interesting conversation - anything larger seems superficial to me. Both she and I served in a variety of leader posts in our respective high schools and colleges.
My mom was always personable but very introverted and uncomfortable in crowds of people she didn’t know well. She was elected class president her senior year of high school, despite admitting to me that the cheerleaders would send her into an angst tailspin with their constant cheerfulness and energy.
My large public high school was FILLED with both natural “people leaders” and quieter, introverted types. Looking through my old yearbook, I notice that some of the quietest were also involved in a variety of clubs and leadership positions - they just all gravitated to stuff they enjoyed doing. My kids’ high school experience is pretty much the same. When D graduated last year, one of her friends elected to speak at commencement was extremely nervous. The other - piece of cake. The two kids were very different from one another and yet both were elected by their peers to give a public address to hundreds and hundreds of watchers (and many many more via livestream). This same scenario happened at my college - the student body president (outgoing - people leader) had exactly the same number of votes as an extremely shy, gentle and brilliant philosophy major. Both gave great speeches. And to bring this long narrative back to topic: both ended up at UChicago. One attended a professional grad school; the other is tenured faculty.