RDA Strategies

On April 6, 2017, nonprofit professionals, alumni, and community leaders gathered at Orangewood Foundation for the annual spring mixer hosted through the Cal State Fullerton Alumni Association Nonprofit Professionals Chapter, a network created to strengthen professional development, mentorship, and connections among nonprofit leaders and students pursuing careers in service and social impact.

Serving on the chapter’s board, I contributed to efforts to support alumni engagement, networking opportunities, and pathways connecting emerging professionals to the nonprofit sector. The chapter’s work extended beyond events, including scholarships for students pursuing nonprofit careers and initiatives designed to strengthen leadership development and community engagement.

The conversations reinforced something I continue to see: Purpose-driven work becomes more sustainable when people have access to mentors, relationships, and communities willing to invest in their growth.

Creating opportunities for connection can influence not only individual careers but also the strength of organizations and communities they eventually serve.

On January 12, 2017, Los Angeles leaders gathered for an IMPACT 2030 CSR Mapping Workshop to explore how employee volunteer programs and corporate social responsibility efforts could align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The discussions centered on poverty, inequality, climate change, and how businesses might connect employee engagement with broader global priorities to create measurable, long-term impact.

The workshop reflected growing recognition that corporate responsibility can extend beyond philanthropy or one-time volunteerism toward coordinated approaches addressing complex social challenges.

The Sustainable Development Goals focus on issues including poverty, inequality, climate action, education, and economic opportunity. Through IMPACT 2030, companies were encouraged to align employee volunteer efforts with these goals to strengthen communities while advancing business engagement in social impact.

The conversations offered an early reminder that continues shaping my perspective: Progress often requires collaboration across sectors, with businesses, nonprofits, government, and communities contributing to shared outcomes.

Grateful to United Way of Greater Los Angeles, IMPACT 2030, and community leaders advancing these discussions.

On November 19, 2016, I joined the 7th Annual Circle of Change Leadership Conference as a panel speaker for Leadership Meets Social Impact, a discussion designed to connect emerging leaders with professionals advancing community engagement, corporate responsibility, philanthropy, and public service.

The panel brought together leaders from diverse sectors, including Dr. Corneil Montgomery, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Impact at Bank of the West; Nason Buchanan from the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity; Sally Chan, Vice President of Community Engagement at Warner Bros.; and Patricia Neri, Program Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility at The Walt Disney Company.

Conversations explored leadership, social responsibility, community impact, and the evolving role organizations can play in addressing inequities through partnerships, philanthropy, employee engagement, and advocacy.

Circle of Change was created to provide students and emerging leaders opportunities to gain insight directly from professionals across industries, strengthening pathways to leadership through mentorship, exposure, and connection.

The experience reinforced something I continue to observe: Leadership expands when people share knowledge, invest in others, and help create pathways for future leaders to see possibilities beyond their current circumstances.

From October 24 to 26, 2016, nonprofit, corporate, and corporate social responsibility leaders gathered in Chicago for VM Summit 16, hosted by VolunteerMatch, one of the nation’s largest digital volunteer engagement networks connecting millions of individuals with nonprofit and community service opportunities.

The conversations explored employee volunteerism, the evolving role of technology in engagement, and how organizations might address the growing engagement gap, the challenge of connecting people meaningfully to causes and communities.

The summit reflected growing recognition that volunteering can extend beyond one-time service. When aligned thoughtfully, employee engagement and corporate responsibility efforts can strengthen nonprofit capacity, expand resources, and contribute to broader community impact.

The experience reinforced something that continues to resonate: Complex challenges rarely belong to a single sector. Progress often depends on how businesses, nonprofits, and communities choose to work together.

On September 21, 2016, I returned to California State University, Fullerton as a guest lecturer to discuss purpose-driven careers, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and pathways to creating impact through work.

There is something meaningful about returning to the place that helped shape your own journey. I graduated from CSUF cum laude with a degree in Communications: Public Relations, a minor in Human Services, and a certificate in Nonprofit Organizational Leadership.

Over the years, the relationship continued to evolve, from student to alumnus, to guest lecturer during Communications Week, and later returning as keynote speaker for the Student Leadership Institute Awards Banquet.

The conversations with students often centered less on titles and more on questions: How do you build purposeful work? How do you align career choices with values? What impact do you hope to have?

One of my favorite moments remains seeing a perspective shift or a new possibility emerge during discussion.

The experience reinforced something I continue to believe: Meaningful work is not defined by title, industry, or position. It grows through curiosity, relationships, and a commitment to using our strengths in the service of others and the communities around us.