Career Path Of A Manager Of Volunteer Programs At Adler Planetarium
Grace's career path, beginning with an English major and screenwriting minor, unexpectedly led to finance due to a preference for "a dynamic, something that changed every day" work environment. A desire for more purpose led Grace from finance compliance roles to nonprofit volunteer management, culminating in their current position coordinating 300 volunteers at the Adler Planetarium, where they appreciate the "fast-paced, ever-changing" nature of the work and its impact on the organization.
Volunteer Management, Nonprofit Sector, Career Pivoting, Dynamic Work Environments, Passion-Driven Careers
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Grace Souza
Manager of Volunteer Programs
Adler Planetarium
Loyola Marymount University
N/A
English, Writing & Education
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Human Resources (HR)
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Grace's career path highlights a flexible approach, pivoting from an English major with no direct career path to a thriving career in volunteer management. She emphasizes the importance of identifying desirable work environments—dynamic and challenging—rather than focusing solely on a specific major.
2. Her experience in the finance industry, although ultimately not her preferred field, provided valuable skills and insights into what she did and didn't enjoy professionally. This experience helped her define her priorities and preferences for future roles.
3. Grace's volunteer work played a pivotal role in shaping her career. Starting with volunteering at an animal shelter, she transitioned into a volunteer management position, which solidified her interest in this field and ultimately led to her current role at the Adler Planetarium. This highlights the value of volunteer experience as a stepping stone to a career in a related field.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
In college, I majored in English and minored in screenwriting. I really loved to write, and that's what influenced my decision. While I enjoyed the major, career-wise, if you're not going to be an English teacher or enter academia, there isn't a direct path into a specific role.
Instead of searching for a career that way, I thought about the type of work environment where I would thrive. In college, I had a few different jobs and was involved in honor societies. I was very busy, and I found that I really thrived in that kind of pressure cooker experience.
So when I started my career search, I knew I wanted something dynamic and that changed every day. That led me into finance, where I worked in compliance, regulatory roles, new accounts, and a little bit of sales. It was exactly what I was looking for: something different and challenging every day.
I learned a lot, including what I did not like about working in the finance industry. I wanted to move to an organization that did more than just make money, and that led me to nonprofits. I had continued volunteering throughout my early professional career.
I was volunteering with an animal shelter when a position opened up there to manage the volunteer program. Both of my interests aligned: a dynamic, fast-paced, ever-changing work environment, but with more purpose and passion for me. It kind of worked out.
What drove me to that role was the animal welfare aspect. However, I really fell in love with volunteer management and everything that went into that role. It involved working with people and program development, which fueled my drive to find larger organizations to perform that role.
I moved on from the animal shelter to the museum where I work now: the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. We have about 300 volunteers that I coordinate in various roles throughout the museum. They are guest-facing and internal, touching every aspect of the organization. That's probably one of my favorite parts about what I do.
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