I received the best compliment just the other day - an intern who has been working with us for over a year or so, starting during her last year of University. After graduation she chose to volunteer with us, and has progressed to mentoring the new interns with the Chocolate Festival and the Chefs Conference.
Out of the blue, she asked me to explain our business model, and what exactly we do. What a wonderful compliment.
She had seen parts of the business, much of the volunteer side of who we are, and, quite frankly, was curious as to how we could survive as a business, with everything we did pro bono...
So, in a nutshell, this is the answer:
The bulk of our business is consulting – speaking, teaching, strategic planning, business development and event production.
However, as an entrepreneur, I am all about the big picture; too many charities and events see only one aspect of their business model – especially volunteer event committees.
Therefore, when I get involved with a business or association, I am usually able to identify the areas they are missing, the areas that they haven’t identified as a necessary part of their success, and attempt to create the strategic plan, and operations plan, that allows them to "understand" the big picture.
Normally people reach out to me because I am seen as a business developer, association manageress and event guru - someone who can create events that always makes their targets - financially or otherwise. Events that create the Return on Investment the client is seeking - it may be product awareness, an marketing campaign, a recognition or awards program, membership drive - you get it - the ROI.
Think of me as a hired gun CEO – a trouble shooter who comes in to assist companies/charities/events. We are the actual chair behind the chair in most cases. We offer training so the volunteers/company are able to reach their level of success, usually a 3 to 5 year plan for each company and event.
As for the interns and mentor programs, this has truly developed over the last fifteen years. We believe in offering education to volunteers, and to committees. To give people a chance or experience they may not get otherwise. To invest in their work experience.
Nevertheless, I started finding some committees and boards were committed to having their name in the program, not to the actual mandate, so we needed to build a team of volunteers/interns to support the committees. In essence truly defining and developing the roles of the Steering Committee and the Operations Committee.
With the autonomy and experience we offered the volunteers/interns it was relatively easy to create these teams. This takes a lot of our time to teach, mentor, and run two committees for every project, but it is rewarding for all involved.
The chocolate festival strategic plan is the formalization of the mentorship program we created – whereby we have succession planning and mentorship year after year…event after event.
This model is extremely successful for career building resumes, hands on work experiences, and true opportunities for our youth - someone offering them the opportunity to learn, apprentice, and have ownership and responsibility of a project - with measurable results and return on their investment.
After the above conversation, our fabulous young intern had motivated me and perhaps re-inspired me to continue the pro bono work for a couple of major associations and events. Her feedback was amazing. She reminded me of the many letters of thanks we have received from past interns, charities, not for profits, committees, and Chairs of Committees - that our team, and our many volunteer hours really made a difference.
Funnily enough, her interest in what we do, and how we actually pay the bills, came at a particularly challenging time. (inspiring people seem to know when they are needed the most - thanks, young intern!)
A group of volunteers, responsible for a major event in their industry, have been making excuses for not meeting time-lines, deadlines, and truly important revenue commitments with the same old statement- "We do everything last minute" "What do you expect - we are only volunteers" and the best of it - "we don't have time to read all the information" - can you bring us up to speed - again.. (*two years of this, by the way)
I was at the point of removing all pro bono work, and concentrating strictly on our business - after all, to do what we do means 16 hour days, often 7 days a week. Then, out of the blue, this compliment came in - reminding us of why we chose, many, many years ago, to make a difference.
Thank you, interns - you inspire me - you keep us current, and, you make a difference.
