Ahmed Zouhair in the USA
In this new blog series, I’d like to ask four questions to people from different countries, backgrounds, professions, and genders who have all one thing in common: volunteering. I hope you’ll get inspired by their journeys and take the leap into volunteering.
Notice: The positions, views and information contained published here are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily represent my views or opinions.
Ahmed Zouhair DBA, PMP, ITIL is an expert, Funder & CEO of PMTC, author, and speaker, a
serial entrepreneur, Business coach for Startups & Entrepreneurs with SCORE, and techstars, & the Newchip Accelerator. He is volunteering as a Vice president of Launchpad job club in Austin, Texas. He is a seasoned Business Consultant with 20+ years of professional services. His international roster of clients includes companies and individuals from the education, IT, telecommunications, digital security, oil and gas, finance and banking, and non-profit sectors. Compassion, cooperation, and collaboration inform his ikigai, or reason for being to inspire and help people reach their full potential.
How did you begin to volunteer?
In 2012, I joined PMI Austin Chapter as the Director of Community Outreach (DCO).
Why did you continue volunteering?
Short answer. I want to continue growing and learning.
How has volunteering helped you in your career?
Volunteering has helped me meet some of the great people that helped guide me into the right direction and also kept me out of trouble as a young professional.
In my example, When I was working for an organization. I was not able to be of the strategic planning because of my role as a PM. You have to be a director and or an executive to sit in their strategic meetings. When I decided to volunteer with PMI Austin, TX. I was volunteering as a community outreach director. I was fortunate to have 2 mentors Anne Cruz and Chris Hartsfield who helped me with a seamless transition to my role. I was able to join the board for boards for the whole day during the strategic planning for the PMI Austin Chapter, participate in the requirements and the budget as well as the objectives of that fiscal year 2013.
I was also given the opportunity to volunteer to teach the PMP certification with the PMI Austin Professional Development. I was able to work with so many seasoned professionals who became my mentors and friends to this date. Teaching at PMI Austin helped opened up a lot of opportunities of teaching and training like with the University of Texas Professional Development, Central Texas College, University of Phoenix and much more.
Launch Pad Job Club is a networking, support, and job lead sharing organization that aids and supports job seekers in their search for The Perfect Job.
I was speaking at LPJC event and I was approached by the executive director Shannon Mantrom if I want join their club to help folks that are looking for job and or in transition. I joined the club as a volunteer board member to help our members grow and become successful.
Would you encourage other people to take up volunteering, and if so, why?
If you think you don’t have time to network, learn and grow. Think again. Stop wasting your time. Start volunteering. It is non-negotiable activities especially if you just graduated , in between jobs, and or in need of personal and professional experience.
