The Big Leap: Finding Purpose Through Volunteering
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." – Pablo Picasso
Sometimes, life’s challenges push us to uncover purpose in the most unexpected ways. For me, that purpose revealed itself through volunteering, a path I took out of curiosity, but one that transformed my life in profound ways.
From Curiosity to Purpose
When I moved to the U.S., I found myself in an unfamiliar place, waiting for a work permit, with time on my hands and uncertainty on my mind. I wanted to understand the norms, meet new people, and simply keep myself occupied. What started as a simple curiosity about my new surroundings quickly became something much bigger.
It wasn’t just about helping others; it was about building something meaningful in a new country where I was still trying to find my footing.
My journey began in my daughter’s classroom, volunteering as a parent helper, and grew into something far beyond what I imagined. From those small steps, I found myself on the board of a nonprofit organization, taking on roles that pushed me out of my comfort zone and into the heart of purpose-driven work.
The Transformative Power of Volunteering
As Fundraising Chair and later Social Media Head for a 30-year-old nonprofit, I got my first glimpse of the transformative power of giving back. During the height of the pandemic, I pivoted the organization’s fundraising strategies to an online platform, ensuring that critical funds continued to flow during difficult times.
In my role as Social Media Head, I diversified the organization’s outreach by modernizing its approach, introducing platforms like Instagram and Twitter to expand its reach and amplify its mission. For an organization that had relied on traditional methods of publicity, this shift brought a fresh perspective and renewed energy to its purpose.
These experiences exposed me to a new way of thinking about giving back, not just as an act of kindness, but as a way to build connections, create impact, and find deeper purpose in my own life.
Pic : Board of directors and volunteers for a Nonprofit preschool for 2019-2020.
Building Belonging and Connection
Through volunteering, I built a network in a foreign land, forming connections that grounded me and gave me a sense of belonging. The relationships I developed, the projects I led, and the impact I witnessed reminded me that giving back isn’t just about helping others, it’s about discovering your own strength and finding your place in the world.
Pic: Recognition for my contributions for the NGO.
This spirit of giving didn’t end when I transitioned to business school. It followed me into every opportunity I embraced.
Carrying the Spirit Forward
As a Student Ambassador for Business school, I had the privilege of speaking with prospective students, helping them navigate one of the biggest decisions of their lives, choosing a program that could shape their careers.
Video: Recorded as part of ambassador program.
As VP DEI for the iDegrees Graduate Business Association, I collaborated across teams to foster a sense of belonging for students from all over the world. My focus was on creating initiatives that celebrated diversity, built inclusion, and ensured that every voice felt heard.
Pic: Recognition for my contributions as VP DEI.
Each of these roles deepened my understanding of leadership, adaptability, and collaboration while reinforcing the spirit of giving back.
Pic: Business school Ambassadors and Volunteering leaders for 2023-2024.
Discovering My Strengths
Volunteering was never just about giving back; it became a transformative journey of self-discovery. Through countless challenges and opportunities, I unearthed three invaluable strengths that have reshaped not only how I see myself but also how I approach every aspect of my life:
1. Leadership Qualities: Guiding with Empathy and Vision
Leadership doesn’t always come with a title; it often emerges in moments of necessity. Leading fundraising efforts during the pandemic was one of those moments. With in-person events no longer an option, I stepped up to pivot the organization’s strategy to online platforms, ensuring funds continued to flow during critical times.
As VP of DEI in business school, I had the privilege of building a sense of belonging for students from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. This role wasn’t just about organizing events; it was about creating spaces where every individual felt valued and heard. Leadership, I learned, is about vision, but it’s also deeply rooted in empathy and trust, qualities that inspire action and bring teams together toward shared goals.
2. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Aligning Diverse Perspectives
Working across roles and teams taught me the art of collaboration by finding a common ground among differing perspectives and creating harmony in complexity.
As a Social Media Head for a 30-year-old nonprofit, I collaborated with individuals who were accustomed to traditional approaches while introducing modern platforms like Instagram and Twitter. Balancing the old and the new wasn’t easy, but it required me to listen, adapt, and align everyone around a unified vision. The result? A revitalized outreach strategy that brought fresh energy and visibility to the organization’s mission.
3. Adaptability and Innovation: Thriving in the Face of Change
When the world shifted during the pandemic, so did the way we worked. Instead of seeing it as a roadblock, I viewed it as an opportunity to innovate.
I transitioned traditional fundraising strategies to virtual campaigns, connecting with donors in new ways that kept the nonprofit afloat. Similarly, I modernized its communication channels, helping the organization connect with younger audiences while retaining its established supporters. These experiences reinforced a critical truth: adaptability isn’t just about surviving change, it is about turning uncertainty into opportunity and thriving in the process.
Why These Strengths Matter
Each of these strengths; leadership, collaboration, and adaptability has become a cornerstone of who I am today. They’ve shaped how I approach challenges, work with diverse teams, and build meaningful connections.
Volunteering may have started as a way to give back, but it has given me so much more. It has revealed what I’m capable of, ignited my passion for purposeful work, and reminded me that growth often comes from stepping into the unknown.
The journey wasn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. These strengths continue to guide me as I navigate new opportunities, and I’m excited to share how they shaped the next chapter of my story.