How Volunteering Helps Develops New Skills
Volunteering isn't just about giving back; it's a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. This article explores how various volunteer activities, from mentoring entrepreneurs to organizing charity events, can develop crucial skills applicable in the business world. Drawing on insights from experts in the field, we'll uncover how volunteering can refine communication, boost leadership, and enhance project management abilities.
- Mentoring Entrepreneurs Refines Communication Skills
- Volunteer Leadership Boosts Professional Growth
- Creating Healing Spaces Shapes Business Approach
- Charity Event Organization Enhances Project Management
Mentoring Entrepreneurs Refines Communication Skills
I've always been a strong believer in the power of volunteering to develop skills that translate directly to business leadership. One experience that significantly shaped me was when I volunteered with a local e-commerce accelerator program mentoring struggling entrepreneurs.
What started as a way to give back quickly became a profound learning opportunity. I was paired with a founder who had an innovative product but was drowning in fulfillment challenges - orders were shipping late, inventory was disorganized, and costs were eating all potential profits.
While I had expertise in logistics, I realized my communication skills needed refinement. When explaining complex 3PL concepts, I initially overwhelmed him with industry jargon and technical details. I could see his eyes glazing over during our sessions. This forced me to develop what I now consider one of my most valuable skills: translating complex logistics concepts into practical, accessible language.
Each week, I refined my approach - breaking down fulfillment strategies into bite-sized steps and using visual examples rather than technical terms. Not only did his business turn around (he eventually partnered with a 3PL that reduced shipping costs by 23%), but I discovered a communication framework that has become fundamental to how we operate at Fulfill.com.
Today, this skill influences everything from how we explain our matching process to e-commerce brands to how our platform presents complex logistics data. When a business owner tells me they finally understand fulfillment optimization after our conversation, I think back to those volunteer sessions.
The patience and communication clarity I developed while volunteering have been instrumental in Fulfill.com's success. It's a reminder that when you give your time freely, you often receive unexpected skills in return - ones that can transform both your business approach and leadership style.
Volunteer Leadership Boosts Professional Growth
Since 2021, I've had the privilege of volunteering with the AFSP Miami Out of the Darkness Walk. What started as simply attending the Walk quickly evolved into deep involvement, from simple volunteer duties to attending AFSP's national conference in Houston, hosting our Kickoff Event, and eventually stepping into the role of Chair for the Miami Walk. Over these past few years, volunteering has been an incredible catalyst for both personal and professional growth.
One of the most transformative skills I've developed through this experience is public speaking. Whether addressing nearly a thousand participants at the Walk or connecting with attendees at our Walk Kickoff event, I've grown more confident and effective at speaking to diverse groups. Organizing and hosting events has also strengthened my outreach and relationship-building skills, which are critical abilities for mobilizing community members and sponsors around our mission.
Attending the national conference further sharpened my networking, leadership, and strategic planning skills. I learned how to collaborate with people across different regions, manage large teams of volunteers, and approach goal-setting from a place of impact and sustainability.
As someone who also owns two businesses, these skills have been invaluable beyond volunteering. Public speaking and outreach have allowed me to better connect with clients, pitch my services confidently, and build stronger professional relationships. Leadership and event planning experience from AFSP have directly influenced how I organize client projects and scale my businesses more strategically.
Volunteering has truly reinforced that personal growth and community service often go hand-in-hand and that the skills you build while giving back can elevate every other area of your life.
Creating Healing Spaces Shapes Business Approach
Volunteering, giving my time, and thinking of ways to help others have always been an integral part of who I am. Back in 2012, after the Sandy Hook school shooting, I helped organize people from across the country to create the Sandy Hook Healing Center—a space designed to support the Newtown community in the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy.
It was a true group effort. We transformed a donated warehouse into a healing space where people were empowered to grieve and process in their own way. We offered talk therapy, massage, acupuncture, reiki, and aromatherapy. There were therapy dogs, music and dance therapy, a living room-style communal area for knitting and quiet connection, and a specialist offering nourishing meals. There was even a dedicated art therapy space for children, giving parents the chance to rest and heal.
Years later, during the COVID pandemic, I co-founded Open Hearts, an ongoing initiative caring for unhoused individuals during a time when they had nowhere to go and no one looking out for them. It was created by people who were scared themselves but knew they had more than others—and wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of.
Each time I volunteer, I come away changed. These experiences have deepened my empathy and shaped how I lead my fitness company and Women's Strength program. I've learned how to truly show up for people—to create spaces where they feel seen, safe, and valued. While I now earn a living through my work, giving back remains at the core of everything I do.
My husband and I have always said that if we ever made it big, the first thing we'd do is pay every client back—because if we could have done it for free, we would have.
Charity Event Organization Enhances Project Management
Last year, I volunteered to help organize a local charity event, and it pushed me to develop my project management skills in ways I hadn't before. I was in charge of coordinating volunteers, managing logistics, and overseeing the event schedule. I learned how to prioritize tasks under pressure and how to effectively communicate with a diverse group of people. This experience really strengthened my ability to delegate and keep things running smoothly, which I applied to my professional life when managing a complex client project. The ability to stay calm and organized during chaotic moments was something I directly translated into my work, especially when facing tight deadlines or dealing with multiple stakeholders. Volunteering gave me hands-on practice in leading a team, and I've noticed it's made me more confident in my professional leadership role.
