Maybe you’re new to Austin and looking to connect with some future friends. Or perhaps your business requires you to network with our demographic. As the VP of Membership, I get the pleasure of meeting so many members that make up our great organization. Everyone has a little story to share on what YWA means to them – so here’s mine!
In my constant quest to reinvent myself through changing career paths about every two years, I worked with a career coach as I transitioned from real estate to tech. She suggested finding a networking group so, like most of you, I spent a little time on Google and came to a YWA Information Session. What I thought was going to be a situation where I awkwardly “network” with a group of local women turned into a huge lightbulb moment for me. Why did I not find this group sooner?!
At the time, I’d been living in Austin for 8 years, but I didn’t realize that there were missing puzzle pieces that were keeping me from reaching my full potential. Here are the three most important impacts YWA has made on my life:
Volunteering
I’ve been involved with Dress for Success, Meals on Wheels, and Boys and Girls Clubin the past. But keeping up a weekly commitment when you have a full-time job was starting to wear me down. YWA has a committee dedicated to organizing volunteer events at several non-profits all over the city. It’s fun because you get to know other YWA members and you learn about these amazing organizations and how our help contributes to our community. Plus, all you have to do is RSVP on our website and show up! My favorite events are working the conveyor belt at the Central Texas Food Bank and the lab at Mother’s Milk Bank.
Leadership
Allowing our members to apply for leadership positions within YWA was really a selling point for me. Most of my career has been spent in sales where the only people I managed was my book of business. I’ve always been eager to have a position where I can manage a team and YWA is a great way to explore and hone those skill sets. As the VP of Membership, I manage a team of 4 chairs plus other members and I’m making a difference with my contributions to the board. Not to mention, this is a great resume builder!
Education
I like to tell prospective members that our Speaker Series is the “bread and butter” to our membership. Having a dedicated monthly meeting to mingle with other members and listen to a speaker is usually the highlight of my month. And it’s all because our Programs Committee works really hard to bring quality content to our members designed to inspire. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned from our speakers and workshops and how it’s contributed greatly to my professional development.
I never intended to find a new group to make friends. I thought YWA would be nothing short of meeting people, collecting business cards and hoping I could find my next job. But what I found was a community of inspiring smart women eager to make their mark in Austin. And of course, I found some pretty amazing ladies I’m lucky to call friends.
March is our one time of year where we rally and spread the word through our membership drive. If YWA has made an impact on your life, we would love to hear your story! Keep an eye out on the events page for upcoming events and bring some friends and colleagues that you think would want to join. We have some amazing prizes for the top recruiters, but most importantly, you’ll be giving the gift of opportunity to a future member.
