Since I started my own consulting business, Toward Safer LLC, about a year ago, two unexpected things have made a big impact: volunteering and social media. Let me explain.
1. VOLUNTEERING
By volunteering, you may be thinking of helping at a shelter, picking up trash on the side of a highway, or doing chemistry experiments with kids at an outreach event. Those are all worthy and valuable contributions.
However, in this post I’m talking about volunteering professionally. For me, that has been through professional societies, non-profit organizations, and other professional endeavors.
It’s a way to give-back but also to advance your own career. Volunteering can give you the leadership opportunities, connections, and professional recognition that you may not get through your regular day job.
I don’t think it’s ever too early or too late to start volunteering, but the sooner you start, the more it can benefit your career.
I didn’t really think of doing any professional volunteering until about 10 years ago when I was asked to get involved with my local chemical society chapter. My volunteering has really snowballed in the past year.
Here’s some tips for how you can volunteer, with examples of how I've done it this year:
1. Get active in your local chapter of a professional society. This is an excellent way to diversify your network with local professionals and take on leadership roles, plus these organizations are likely seeking volunteers. They may also have student groups at nearby colleges/universities.
>> In one example, I co-organized a highly-attended day-long symposium on the new federal regulation of chemicals (TSCA) that brought together chemists and toxicologists, jointly held by the local chapters of the American Chemical Society and Society of Toxicology. While I've been engaged with the local chemical society for years, this strengthened my ongoing involvement with the local toxicology chapter.
2. Get active in a professional society at the national level. Join a committee. Get active in a technical division or specialty section. National societies are often seeking involvement from their members on these types of activities.
>> Because of my involvement on a national committee, I co-led a team running a workshop in June 2018 and I'm now leading the writing of a paper to jumpstart integration of green/sustainable chemistry into the formulated products' supply chain.
3. Propose a symposium for a conference. Better yet, do it with a collaborator to bring in different perspectives. Many conferences have a process for submitting proposals. And then if it's accepted, the real fun begins.
>> I organized a spring 2019 conference symposium on green chemistry in small businesses; because of the success of lining up excellent speakers, I was invited to collaborate with My Green Lab on another symposium, Holistic Approaches to Sustainability in Chemical Businesses, for fall 2019 (stay tuned, the call for abstracts will open in January).
4. Volunteer with a local non-profit organization. Preferably find one that is aligned with your professional interests.
>> I connected with Bethesda Green - Be Green Hub to meet local small businesses, and then had the opportunity to mentor several small green tech start-ups. This led to a relationship with another company and participation in the AccelerateDC program for local start-ups.
5. Collaborate on a publication. This can be a way to publish if your regular work does not give you that opportunity. Publishing can lead to wider professional recognition and other benefits.
>> I collaborated extensively in the past year with a professor and graduate student to finish a paper on Analyzing chemical substitution decisions among chemical and product manufacturers, which was just published online.
6. Mentor students and new colleagues. You can mentor someone who is less senior than you or who is new to your organization or field. If you are in need of mentoring, don't be afraid to talk to a more senior professional for advice; they will likely be thrilled that you asked for their advice.
>> Now that I am considered mid-career, I find myself more often a mentor than a mentee. This year I enjoyed mentoring young professionals and students at a local career day event and at a national women chemists networking breakfast. I've stayed connected with several over LinkedIn.
7. Seize opportunities as they come.
>> I was invited to help organize the 2nd International Symposium on Alternatives Assessment and then got involved with the formation of the new Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment (A4). It has been exciting to work with experts in my field.
I'm proud of this volunteer work - it was professionally very fulfilling. It also gave me opportunities to lead, recognition from my peers, new contacts, and several new business opportunities.
2. SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a way to connect and stay connected, share news and accomplishments, communicate about your business, and remind people that you’re available for consulting projects.
I admit, before starting my business last year, I had about 3 LinkedIn connections, hadn’t used Twitter in about 5 years, and had never blogged (or used Facebook). I am a late-comer to social media, at a time when others are departing. However, it doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming to get your social media up and running and it can benefit your business.
I’ve used social media in several different ways this year:
1. Blog.
Through my blog, I’ve shared my viewpoint on topics that interest me and provided resources and inspiration to my readers.
>> For instance, I'm learning what resonates the most with my audience and my business. My most popular blogs were: Taking the Leap into Consulting and Nobel Prize in (Green) Chemistry.
2. Twitter & LinkedIn. I use Twitter and LinkedIn to learn about what’s going on, hear about potential business opportunities, meet new people and reconnect with others, feel connected between meetings, and share my own news and opinions.
>> One of my LinkedIn posts brought me a new collaborator for a project proposal, which I heard about through Twitter. We didn’t win the contract, but I learned from the experience and I’ve since worked with him on organizing two conference sessions and joined a professional small chemical business group.
I am thankful for the fulfilling year I’ve had. I think my extra volunteering and professional connections on social media are the reasons for feeling more fulfilled and thankful.