Is volunteering good for business? Because it is a large part of our cultural psyche. Millions of us give up time on a regular basis to do voluntary work.
I remember back to my BMO days when I was a Branch Manager and we supported Kids Help Phone. We were all asked who might like to give some of their time to raise funds and run the Bool-A-thon. Not everyone puts up their hand when the opportunity presents itself. I did and had a great time doing it. I met some great people from around the region and at the organization and had a lot of fun the day of. There were many times at the branch where I was able to get my son involved and show him the many benefits of giving back. Including when we secured funds for the soccer field that he played on for years.
There are many reasons to volunteer. It helps develop & practice soft skills, such as leadership and communication, as well as to apply professional expertise in fresh environments. Volunteering boosts your health, increases life satisfaction and increases self-esteem. It supports mental health in a number of ways;
- Opportunities to meet new people
- A sense of achievement and having made a difference
- Feeling part of a community
- Gaining confidence
- Discovering new interests
It also boosts your reputation and demonstrates social responsibility. It is an opportunity to do good in the communities that we are a part of.
Over the years, I have been involved in some great initiatives and organizations. In 2106 I was an ambassador and the KeyNote Lead for the Exhilarate 2016 CPPA Annual Conference. This experience led me to connect with one of my best friends.
From 2017 to 2019 I was a Mentor for the Woodstock & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre to support Economic Empowerment. As a Business Mentor, I hosted workshops and worked with local small business owners to help motivate and reassure them, enhance community connections, and keep them focussed on short and long-term goals. Business Mentors volunteer their time and expertise to help your business prosper. The business owner I was supporting that year won Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Award/Young Professional Award.
The Scotiabank Women Initiative is designed to increase economic and professional opportunities for all women and non-binary people. Empowering women to take their business to the next level, I have been a proud mentor in the program since October 2022.
The Scotiabank Women Initiative specializes in supporting women entrepreneurs as they grow, scale and operate their businesses. So far, I have mentored 3 business owners in the program and am excited to see how they continue to progress beyond our time together.
Zoë David-Delves shares her experience partnering with me in the program. “ I met with Jennifer as a mentee of a women’s mentorship program. Within minutes, she was able to give me valuable, strategic and measurable insights as to how to improve my small business. I would recommend Jennifer as a consultant to any business owner!”
In September 2024, I was recruited here on LinkedIn to join the ACMP Ontario Board of Directors. In my role as Regional Director of Professional Development for the Ottawa area, I help to facilitate learning interventions, engage our change professionals community and support in-person and online events. More and more evidence is coming forward that a professional coach be engaged in large change transformation work from the beginning in a dedicated role. The coach and change management roles would be separate but complementary: the change manager focuses on supporting the change outcome, and the coach focuses on supporting the change leaders. Our aim in 2025 was to partner ACMP with ICF to provide enriched discussions and formal events to continue this conversation.
Kimberley Snage, Director of Partnerships shares her experience working with me on the board. “Jennifer’s leadership and expertise was invaluable to help our board of directors collaborate effectively on our strategic plan. Her coaching, change management skills, and deep business acumen, combined with her passion for academia and research, provided invaluable insights. I highly recommend Jennifer for her strategic thinking, innovative thought leadership and coaching expertise.”
Sharon McLaughlin, President of ACMP ON Chapter shares her experience working with me on the board. “Having Jennifer on our board at ACMP Ontario this year is a true asset. Her capacity to envision the big picture and drive initiatives forward with energy is remarkable, all while adeptly managing multiple demands and competing priorities. She excels as both a business and change leader!”
This Volunteer Appreciation Week, I received a heartfelt THANK YOU for being one of the incredible judges behind the 2025 Change Leader Awards.
“Your dedication to uplifting the change leadership community does not go unnoticed. Thank you for bringing your insight, expertise, and deep commitment to advancing human-centered change. These leaders are helping to shine a light on trailblazers redefining what it means to lead through change—recognizing those making real, measurable impact.” ~ The Change Leadership
Alongside Daria Tippin, Amy Hirtle, Gemma Ramlal and Ochuko Igbeyi, I was able to review, assess and evaluate close to 50 submissions from change professionals from around the globe. I am on a small panel of judges who are scoring the close to 50 submissions.
As we evaluated, we were looking for; Experience level, Vision, Agile approach, Collaboration, Communication, Empowerment, Impact Leadership and Project accomplishments. There is a lot of great work going on in the change space and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn about all of our nominees and their efforts. A privledge to leverage all of the experience gained since becoming a professional coach and change practitioner over 14 years ago. Thank you to Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta and The Change Leadership for the opportunity. It was a pleasure to represent ACMP Ontario Chapter (Association of Change Management Professionals).
This year, I also joined as an ACMP Global Connect facilitator in the Trends & Hot Topics Community. I volunteered to be on a small team of professionals who share our knowledge, spark conversation and keep the dialogue going over in the online community.
Professionals volunteer for a variety of reasons, including the desire to make a difference, expand their skills and networks, and gain a sense of purpose. Volunteering can also provide career benefits like building resumes, gaining practical experience, receiving recommendations for their work style and contributions and even potentially leading to new job opportunities. When we give back, we often get unexpected blessings in return. For example, one of the other things I do for some fun and connection is to manage the social media for McMaster University’s POP account. Parents of Players for the McMaster University Football team that my son plays on. It allows me to have a creative outlet, connect to the community and proudly share what the team is up to!
This week was National Volunteer Week · April 27 to May 3, 2025. We make waves. Together, we create ripples of change.
What volunteer experience have you enjoyed and how did it benefit you?
Join me in the comments by sharing your experience and celebrating the many volunteers who give back to causes they are passionate about.
“The Law of giving is very simple: if you want joy, give joy. If love is what you seek, offer love. If you crave material affluence, help others become prosperous.” – Deepak Chopra
What we think is possible is just the beginning.
