During my time in Washington, D.C., I had a very enriching experience as a volunteer coach with Women Palante, a nonprofit organization that works to empower divorced women, mainly from Latin America and living in D.C. The team supports women on their journeys at this crucial time, as they recover from personal wounds and restore their self-esteem, confidence and independence.
Working pro bono with Women Palante, I had the chance to support team members as well as beneficiaries. As a coach, as well as a woman, this was extremely rewarding for me. My contribution created yielded tangible results on the ground — which is the dream for anyone in my profession!
One of the team members who felt isolated started feeling more involved. As he better understood the CEO’s vision, he became eager to contribute. Another team member began engaging with her role more actively, finding fulfilment in the social impact she was able to create. Furthermore, the CEO gained clarity around the demands involved in developing the NGO and its profit activity at the same pace and in parallel.
After moving to Delhi, I was eager to see if I could lend my expertise to another worthwhile organization. That is when I heard about TARA, an NGO working with underprivileged children and their families in Delhi. I reached out to them to explore collaboration opportunities and was delighted when they decided to bring me on board as a volunteer coach and consultant.
After assessing the NGO’s aims and functioning, I decided to focus my coaching effort towards their team members, particularly those in operations and support services. I felt they would benefit the most from my experience, which is mainly acquired in the private sector and international development banks, and is complemented by a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
I was especially excited to work with the talented and driven young women at TARA. Our coaching sessions covered many facets of their activities, from identifying SMART* KPIs* to showcasing results effectively to donors.
Together, we worked on vital leadership skills like optimizing tasks, managing through delegation, and leading without micro-managing. We also co-created an engaging training program for a group of staff members with widely varied priorities and perspectives.
Along with coaching staff members, I also took on responsibilities in areas like evaluation, partnerships, operations and communication. My focus here was to enhance effectiveness and ensure that functions were aligned with the mission of the organization.
My time at TARA was filled with thrilling exchanges, brimming with new ideas, visible growth, and an optimism for the future. The dialogue I had with team members was honest, transparent and meaningful. Every moment we shared was filled with hope and a genuine desire for improvement.
The project also offered a valuable learning for me. I realized that even though the structure of a social NGO like TARA was small-scale, local and unique, some of the issues that I coached its management team on were comparable to what I have witnessed and addressed in international organizations and private sector companies. In these overlapping areas, I was able to contribute in ways that I hadn’t thought possible! In fact, I was able to leverage several valuable lessons from my 25-year career as a strategic communicator and project manager.
I believe my humble contribution yielded strong results. Through my coaching, the team was able to form a blended approach that relied both on strategic communication and project management. Applying this new approach, they identified SMART KPIs, customized training for staff members, and developed a clear, confident and fruitful message delivery.
Ultimately, my pro bono work helped to empower TARA’s leaders, increase their efficiency, and support their journey to becoming successful thought leaders. It was an honor for me to aid such a worthy cause! This project also served as an important reminder for me about the immense value of coaching for NGOs.
- SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely
- KPI — Key Performance Indicators
